Arsenal beat Sunderland 2-0 to stay perfect in league

Arsenal maintained a 100 per cent start to the Premier League season with a 2-0 win at Sunderland on Saturday, a result decided by two goals in the space of just over two minutes midway through the second half.

David Raya saved a penalty from Enzo Le Fee low to his left, and 121 seconds later Bruno Guimaraes broke the deadlock with a long-range strike into the top corner — his first goal for the club.

Bukayo Saka added a second from the spot deep in stoppage time to seal three points at the Stadium of Light, taking Arsenal to 12 points from four league games.

Guimaraes, who joined from Newcastle in the summer, was introduced at half-time alongside Jurrien Timber — making his first appearance since the Champions League final — and made an immediate impact despite being booed by the home supporters.

Arsenal had struggled to break down a well-organised Sunderland side in the opening 45 minutes. Kai Havertz went closest before the break, heading a layoff from Martin Odegaard over the bar from six yards, while the hosts posed a threat through Brian Brobbey's physical hold-up play.

Sunderland won the penalty after referee adjudged Ezri Konsa had hauled down Dan Ballard at the near post from a Kevin Danso long throw. Raya's save kept the scores level and Arsenal punished the hosts almost immediately through Guimaraes's finish off the underside of the crossbar.

Arsenal's next fixture is a Carabao Cup third-round tie against Ipswich Town on Tuesday, followed by a Premier League visit to Brighton the following Saturday.