BROBBEY'S ON THE BEAT

Black Cats strike at the death again to share spoils

- BY IAN MURTAGH

ARSENAL have overcome many things this season but they could not contain Sunderland's incredible ability to score late, late goals.

Substitute Brian Brobbey acrobatically hooked home a 94th-minute goal - his first in English football - to end the Gunners’ 10-match winning run and preserve the Black Cats’ unbeaten home record. After Ajax striker Brobbey pounced then half-volleyed into the net with his right.

The opening period had stretched to 55 minutes after two lengthy delays, with Arsenal's Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber both requiring treatment for head injuries.

It wasn't so much stop-start as play invariably grinding to a halt at times.

But the tempo was suiting Regis Le Bris and his Sunderland side who, despite struggling to break the Arsenal press, never allowed themselves to be bullied.

And as they won more and more of the 50-50 duels, the hosts began to have their moments with Wilson Isidor flashing a shot across the face of goal eight minutes before Ballard struck.