“Three decades later, Sunderland’s new home is arguably more iconic than its predecessor. Its name is a tribute to the once thriving coal mining industry, and the light of the Davy lamps, which kept the miners safe from gas explosions in the dark of the coalpits.”- John Gillard

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ITS the GAME of the DAY across all of Sports. Top of the League Arsenal playing inside the Stadium of Light and taking on the top4 Black Cats of Sunderland. Massive Game!

Massive is an understatement. I’ve looked forward to this game for about 5 weeks when Sunderland started to show some staying power in the Premier League top 6. They’ve started strong and haven’t looked back. You and I have been there every step of the way. Sunderland is an underdog worth cheering for–

Every day but today. COYG!

The Home side are led by former Arsenal Captain Granit Xhaka. We know his passion and energy well.

The players will be walking out on the pitch shortly. Let’s get the lineup sorted.

ARSENAL XI

• GK Raya
• RB Timber
• CB Saliba
• CB Gabriel
• LB Calafiori
• CM Zubimendi
• CM Rice
• CM Eze
• RW Saka
• ST Merino
• LW Trossard

We’ll unroll the bench as they are subbed on. It’s gametime.

FIRST HALF

-7th Minute Merino went down with a head injury and he was allowed to return to play after receiving treatment for nearly three minutes. He’s back on the pitch and ok. Slow start. 0-0

Arsenal in the Away navy jerseys with red stripes down the sleeves and Sunderland in their striking Home Kits: Red and white vertically striped jerseys and black shorts.

-14th Minute Sunderland with an errant kick into the hip of Gabriel concede a foul within striking distance. Rice over the ball…strong shot on target and a strong clean doubled fisted punch by the goalie sends the ball out for a throw in. The fans are cheering their goalie in full voice. The Stadium of Light is alive. As one living breathing unit–“it is alive!”

It’s good to see Granit Xhaka on a team that suits him. He’s always preferred to play a more physical style and that suits him well up North. It’s only fitting that he’s the captain. You can see his influence on the other players; they all seem to want to get physical. He’s on the right team and a proper captain.

-24th Minute: No real chances as of yet. Shots from both sides but nothing worth mentioning. The physicality has slowed the game’s pace a bit, but the ‘chippiness’ is entertaining. Both teams getting their share of knocks on the shins and noggins.

-28th Minute Timber down with a knock on the head. Looks to be bloody above the right eye. This ain’t Saturday morning orange slice and juice box type of soccer. This is the grown man’s version. Buckle up Bucko!

-31st Minute: Timber still receiving treatment. He now dons a charcoal head band holding his bandage in place. 32nd minute back to play.

-34th Minute: Here we go again. Xhaka clears out Merino late and two more players clash of heads. The referee saw nothing wrong the actions and we play on. I hope the Gunners brought the armor for this battle. The entire Arsenal will be needed in this one.

-36th Minute: Yellow Card Zubimendi for slowing the break. Harsh for me, especially in this dog fight of a game. Silly yellow.

• GOAL! Sunderland. 37th “With froth and belief!” A shot full of piss and vinegar beat Raya top corner. No freaking chance to save it and, my days, the Stadium of Light is about to take flight. The fans in North England believe! And they should. I love this sport and Sunderland help provide one of the reasons why. What a place.

I wish it wasn’t against us, but I do truly have love for this Black Cats team. Their fans are full of joy, full of passion, full of song. It’s uplifting to hear 50,000 humans cheering in one song. Even if it is at the expense of my team losing. I’m a fan of love and positivity and both are on display in the Sunderland crowd.

COYG! We have to fight back!!!

-The first goal we have conceded since the last week of September. Unreal. At least it was a top corner no doubt strike and not a silly own goal.

-Sunderland have narrowed the pitch for this match and brought the barriers in closer to the lines. This is done in order to tighten Arsenal’s preferred free flowing style and the barriers are to prevent the long throw-ins we have become accustomed to. They have truly tried to seize an advantage anywhere possible. Only up.

-43rd Minute: The home side are in control leaving the Gunners on their heels. Saka is getting tested.

-YELLOW CARD 45th Minute: Granit Xhaka. Needed.

-45th Minute: Clever from Timber and Eze of the right. Something to build upon the second half. The best link we have seen this half.

-ST Gyokeres officially out of the starting lineup with a muscular injury. I’d love to see him in a game like this. He’s a physical dude. Get well soon Viktor.

HALF 1-0 SUN (Ballard Goal)

-With a win today, Sunderland would move to second in the standings. Last season they were running the gauntlet of the Championship level desperately seeking promotion. You wouldn’t know it. This team looks like they never left the Premier League.

It’s games like this that add to my season long point as to why Sunderland AFC is so important to this league. At the end of the day, games up North just mean more. The passion and belief that flows out of their hardened fan base is contagious and can be felt in my drop-down den 4700 miles away. or 7500 kilometers for anyone outside the U.S.

That’s a long way for positive energy to travel, but it is. Right now, in the present, I want to be in those stands singing their songs and feeling their belief firsthand, but I could never.

“You can pick another wife, but you can never pick another football team.” That’s a real statement that these two ears have heard at least once from a red-faced Irishman. It’s a little redundant to write, but he was full of whisky and confidence and had all of life’s troubles sorted. “Drink til you forget. Then start over again the next day.”

–ALL of this mumbo jumbo to say once again– COYG! We’ve got to show our abilities in this half. The league is ours to win. Show some moxie and get out of here with a win!

SECOND HALF

-52nd Minute: One or two shots but again–nothing of note. Arsenal looks as likely to concede again as they do to score.

• GOLA!!!! 54th Minute: SAKA!! On his weaker right foot, he slotted the ball past the keeper off a beautifully paced pass from Merino. 1-1! COYG!

Here we go! The energy has shifted in our direction. The away fans can be heard ‘loud and clear’ and each player has a bit more bounce in their step. The first time all game that we haven’t looked on the heels.

-58th Minute: Trossard with an elite thru ball that was squandered in the end by Zubimendi. The vision and skill to see the pass and then weight it so perfectly were nothing short of elite. The Belgian has plenty of those moments in him.

-61st Minute: Arsenal upping the ante. Pressure and shots coming from all directions. Neither team seem content with 1-1.

This is a much cleaner half so far. Still intense and physical but without the extra elbows and kicks.

-63 Minute: Sunderland make three subs.

-65th Minute: Zubimendi drills the crossbar square.

-66th Minute: Free Kick Arsenal 21 yards out…this is a dangerous area. Rice can go for goal here. 24 yards out officially…Rice opted for a cross and the ref whistled for a foul on the goalkeeper. Tempers flared momentarily.

-YELLOW CARD 72nd Minute: Sunderland. Rice over the ball on the right for a free kick. It’s crossed into the middle of the box and headed away, Arsenal retain possession.

• GOAL!!!! TROSSARD! A perfect strike. What a finish. What a moment! One yard outside the box he dribbles himself free of his defender and rifled the shot into the top corner. Special. Truly special. Trossard is special. 2-1 ARS. COYG!

It was out of nowhere. The Belgian made it happen all on his own. It was his moment, and he didn’t waste it. True elite brilliance from the Belgian. I’d love a waffle or a trip to Brugge. Arsenal travel to Brugge December 10th.

-78th Minute The away fans are out singing the home crowd at the moment. The Stadium of Light is beginning to dim for the evening. Can the Black Cats find an equaliser?

-79th Minute RAYA with a double save! It was eventually ruled offside but, in the moment, he made the impressive saves. 2-1.

-81st Minute: Sunderland player goes down with an injury off-camera. No replay as of yet. A bit of concern in the referee’s urgency for the medical staff. #20. He’s in the seated position and talking to the trainers….two minutes later, all is well and the player is back on the field. Seemed fake. We move on.

-85th Minute: RAYA with another elite block. Gabriel helped the dazed goalie locate the ball that was resting just behind him a mere three feet from the goal. Ice baths and whirlpools all around after this one.

One doesn’t leave North England with a win without surrendering some bumps and bruises.

-87th Minute: No Subs so far for the Gunners until now. CB Mosquera on for CM Eze. It’s time for some lock down defense. The young spaniard has been brilliant this season. Full of tenacity, instincts, and skill.

This has been a dog fight and Arteta has left his ‘dogs’ on the field.

7 Minutes of stoppage time. Sunderland forcing the issue.

• GOAL! SUNDERLAND “This place has a heart” screams the announcer. Oh my days! I love this game. I love this place. I love the pageantry that exists in the beautiful game.

It was awkward. Gabriel and others are arguing for a foul, but the ref is having none of it nor is VAR who just cleared the goal. Brightness shines on the faces of the fans inside the Stadium of Light. It’s against my squad, but I don’t care. COYG!

-ARSENAL nearly, nearly scored but the goal scorer, Ballard courageously threw his body in the way and sent it out for a corner. One final chance.

Ballard and Trossard are the players of the game. Stars on this day.

-Still playing. Well past the seven minutes. Boos, cheers, and whistles rain down on the ref.

and Final 2-2 Draw. What a game!

Not bad for the Game of the Day.

It was gritty. Maybe a bit nasty at times but it was a hard fought, well-played game by both sides.

The 3rd placed Black Cats, and their fans are elated, while top side Arsenal is gutted to have conceded a goal that late. Such a stalwart defense that is full of pride will take conceding two goals personally. We can only improve for the next one. COYG!

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Thanks for reading along. Arsenal will be back November 23rd against Tottenham. See you then.

Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’

Whit W.