Arsenal beat Sunderland 3-0 in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Kai Havertz made a vital clearance in the fifth minute to deny Brian Brobbey from giving Sunderland an early lead.
Arsenal’s first real opening came in the 23rd minute when Trai Hume nearly turned Noni Madueke’s cross into his own net.
Declan Rice came close to breaking the deadlock on the half-hour mark with a shot from outside the area, but it went wide.
Fresh off scoring against Leeds United, Martin Zubimendi put Arsenal ahead in the 42nd minute, fizzing a shot past Robin Roefs at the near post.
Zubimendi has now scored five league goals this term – surpassing his personal best of four goals in the 2023/24 season.
Gabriel Jesus thought he had won a penalty when Daniel Ballard brought him down, but he was deemed offside in the build-up.
Havertz was inches from doubling the hosts’ lead with a left-footed strike in first-half stoppage time.
David Raya made his first save after the break, going down to parry Chemsdine Talbi’s strike as the visitors pushed for the equaliser.
Raya was almost punished for a poor clearance, but William Saliba was at the right place to clear the danger.
Substitute Viktor Gyokeres gave the leaders a two-goal cushion after scoring for the second consecutive league game.
Gyokeres sealed the victory in stoppage time, putting the ball into an empty net after a fast break.
The Gunners have now extended their lead at the top of the table to nine points.
