Published: 08 Feb 2026, 12:44 pm
Arsenal strengthened their grip on the Premier League summit with a commanding 3-0 victory over Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday night. The North London outfit, inspired by Mikel Arteta’s tactical acumen, now holds a nine-point advantage over Manchester City, placing the club firmly in control of the title race.
The game was set alight late in the first half when Martin Ødegaard’s long-range strike broke the deadlock. The Norwegian midfielder’s precision from 22 yards left Sunderland’s goalkeeper with no chance, sending the Emirates faithful into raptures just before the interval.
The second half saw Victor Góyoċeres emerge as the hero. Introduced as a substitute, the Swedish forward doubled Arsenal’s lead within six minutes, sending a clear signal that Sunderland’s hopes were dwindling. He later completed his brace with a composed finish during stoppage time, marking his fourth consecutive match on the scoresheet this season.
With only 13 games remaining and 39 points still up for grabs, Arsenal are now firmly in the driving seat. For the first time in 22 years, the prospect of lifting the Premier League title is looking increasingly tangible for the Gunners.
| Minute | Player | Event | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kai Havertz | Chance | Header goes just wide of the post in first 22 seconds |
| 42 | Martin Ødegaard | Goal | Long-range strike from 22 yards opens the scoring |
| 66 | Victor Góyoċeres | Goal | Substituted in; doubles the lead for Arsenal |
| 90+3 | Victor Góyoċeres | Goal | Completes brace after Gabriel Martinelli assist |
From the opening whistle, Arsenal set the tone with attacking intent. Despite Sunderland showing glimpses of resilience in the second half, Góyoċeres’ first strike effectively extinguished any remaining hope of a comeback. The final goal, orchestrated by a surging run from Gabriel Martinelli, underscored Arsenal’s clinical finishing and teamwork.
The Emirates crowd, waving scarves and chanting “We are top of the league!”, reflected the growing optimism surrounding Arteta’s side.
Meanwhile, Manchester City face a stern test later today against Liverpool at Anfield, with Pep Guardiola’s men aiming to reduce the gap in what promises to be a pivotal encounter in the title race.
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