Three Things We Learned from Arsenal's tough trip to Sunderland 

Arsenal's clean sheet run came to an end as the Gunners battled to a point on a tough evening in Wearside

Here are three things that stood out for Gooner Fanzine print writer Ian Mills 

1 - Best test we have had so far:

– away to a newly promoted side who started the season strongly, late kick off and live on a tv channel that has somewhat of a dislike for us, the pre match portents were not good.

I had an optician’s appointment on the morning of the game and wore an Arsenal tracksuit top to it.

I was asked by a guy in the shop if I was confident about this game and I said ‘no, I think it will be really tough and could well be a draw’.

In truth, Sunderland were at us from the off and it was not a great surprise when they took the lead through a former Gunner, Daniel Ballard, who brought to an end our clean sheet run with an emphatic finish. We were poor throughout the first half.

We needed something different to turn the tide in this game however attacking options were wafer thin as we had no Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Odegaard, Gabi Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke or Gabriel Jesus to call on for this match.

In previous seasons, I think this is a game we may have well lost, yet we dug in well to respond with a well taken equaliser from Bukayo Saka (more of him shortly) after good work by Declan Rice and a thunderbolt from Leandro Trossard.

The home side's late, late leveller was a sucker punch although I fully expect Sunderland to take plenty of points off of the so called ‘’bigger’ teams this campaign. We still almost won it when Merino’s late effort was well blocked by Ballard.

2 - Saka leads the way:

– our Starboy looked fully fit in this game and was something close to his best.

He took his equaliser superbly finding a tight angle to beat the impressive Roeffs in the Sunderland goal.

It was his teasing cross then led to Martin Zubimendi’s excellent effort that left the home side’s crossbar shaking. He also found Riccardo Calafiori at the back post for a late header after we were hauled level.

In Martin Odegaard’s absence, he is leading by example with the armband in tow.

3 - International break comes at the right time:

– we entered the previous international break one point clear of Liverpool and three ahead of Manchester City.

We enter this one eight points clear of Liverpool and four ahead of City having now visited Old Trafford, Anfield, St James Park, Craven Cottage and the Stadium of Light and played City at home.

We have the best defensive record and are the third highest goal scorers in the division.

Liverpool are almost, but not quite out of it, while Chelsea continue to blow hot and cold.

We should be boosted by the return of some if not all our attacking options when the Premier League returns and there is nothing quite like a North London Derby to focus the mind.

There is a very long way to go, but we should be rightly proud of the start we have made and we will need to continue this form throughout the season as City will undoubtably challenge us all the way.