Arsenal returned to Premier League action in style on Saturday, February 7, 2026, with a commanding 3-0 victory over Sunderland at Emirates Stadium. The match, played in front of a packed North London crowd, was a showcase of clinical finishing, tactical discipline, and squad depth as Mikel Arteta’s side tightened their grip on the top spot in the league standings.
Kickoff was set for 3 p.m. GMT (10 a.m. ET, 7 a.m. PT), and while UK fans couldn’t watch live on TV due to the traditional Saturday blackout, supporters worldwide tuned in via platforms like Peacock Premium in the US, DAZN and fuboTV in Canada, and Stan Sport in Australia. Arsenal.com and the official club app provided pre-match coverage and live commentary for UK fans, with Dan Roebuck and Adrian Clarke on the mic, ensuring no one missed a moment of the action.
Heading into the clash, Arsenal sat atop the Premier League table with 53 points from 24 games—boasting 16 wins, five draws, and only three losses. Sunderland, newly promoted but punching above their weight, arrived in eighth place, just four points shy of the UEFA Champions League spots after a recent 3-0 win over Burnley. The Black Cats, managed by Regis Le Bris, had shown resilience and ambition all season, but the Gunners’ recent form—highlighted by a 4-0 away win at Leeds and a hard-fought 1-0 Carabao Cup semifinal triumph over Chelsea—made them clear favorites.
Team news saw Arsenal missing Mikel Merino (foot) and Max Dowman (ankle), while stars Bukayo Saka (hip) and Martin Odegaard (knock) were both doubtful and ultimately did not feature. Sunderland faced their own selection headaches, with Jocelin Ta Bi (ankle), Granit Xhaka (ankle), and Bertrand Traore (knee) all sidelined. The starting lineups reflected these absences, with Arsenal fielding Raya in goal; White, Saliba, Gabriel, and Calafiori across the back; Havertz, Zubimendi, and Rice in midfield; and Madueke, Jesus, and Trossard leading the attack. Sunderland countered with Roefs in goal; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo in defense; Le Fee, Diarra, Sadiki, Talbi in midfield; and Brobbey up front.
The head-to-head statistics heavily favored Arsenal—out of 18 previous meetings, the Gunners had won 11, Sunderland just one, with six draws. In their last five encounters, Arsenal had three wins and two draws, including a 2-2 stalemate in Sunderland earlier in the season.
From the opening whistle, Arsenal imposed themselves on the match, dominating possession and probing Sunderland’s back line. The breakthrough came in the first half when Martín Zubimendi, orchestrating play from midfield, fired a precise right-footed shot from outside the box that beat Robin Roefs in the Sunderland goal. Leandro Trossard provided the assist, and the Emirates erupted as the hosts took a deserved 1-0 lead into halftime.
The second half saw Sunderland attempt to claw their way back, with Habib Diarra and Brian Brobbey both testing Arsenal’s keeper, David Raya. However, the Gunners’ defense stood firm, marshaled by William Saliba—who was shown a yellow card for a robust challenge but otherwise kept Sunderland’s attack at bay.
Arsenal’s attacking depth soon proved decisive. Viktor Gyökeres, introduced as a substitute for Gabriel Jesus, made an instant impact. First, he latched onto a clever pass from Kai Havertz and slotted home from the center of the box to double Arsenal’s lead. Sunderland, forced to chase the game, made several substitutions of their own, including Nilson Angulo for Trai Hume and Wilson Isidor for Brian Brobbey, but struggled to create clear-cut chances.
With Sunderland stretched, Arsenal pounced again on the counter. Gabriel Martinelli, another substitute, surged down the right and squared for Gyökeres, who finished coolly from close range for his second goal of the match and Arsenal’s third. The Emirates crowd roared its approval, sensing another step taken toward Premier League glory.
The closing stages saw further substitutions and a few injury-related stoppages—Leandro Trossard left the field after a knock, replaced by Christian Nørgaard, while Sunderland’s Noah Sadiki and Enzo Le Fée both required treatment. The referee added six minutes of stoppage time, but Sunderland’s resistance was already broken.
Yellow cards were shown to Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey and Habib Diarra, as well as Arsenal’s William Saliba, reflecting the physical intensity of the contest. Despite Sunderland’s efforts, Arsenal’s back line and midfield shielded Raya effectively, limiting the visitors to speculative efforts and set-piece opportunities.
Post-match, the statistics told the story: Arsenal’s clinical finishing, with goals from Zubimendi and a Gyökeres brace, contrasted with Sunderland’s inability to convert their few chances. The Gunners’ tactical flexibility was on display, with Arteta’s substitutions—Eberechi Eze for Kai Havertz and Piero Hincapié for Riccardo Calafiori among them—helping to maintain control and energy throughout the ninety minutes.
For Sunderland, the defeat was a reality check but not a disaster. The Black Cats remain in the hunt for European football, sitting just outside the Champions League places. Their resilience this season, especially after bouncing back from setbacks, suggests they’ll continue to trouble the league’s top sides.
For Arsenal, this victory marks another statement of intent in the title race. With 56 points now from 25 matches and a Carabao Cup final against Manchester City on the horizon, confidence is soaring in North London. The Gunners’ blend of youth and experience, tactical acumen, and squad depth has them dreaming of silverware on multiple fronts.
Fans around the world will be watching closely as Arsenal’s season gathers momentum. With fixtures coming thick and fast, Arteta’s men know there’s little room for complacency—but on this evidence, they look every bit the champions in waiting.