'Today the game was unprotected' - Arteta fumes but Arsenal survive

What the report says

Arsenal stayed perfect in their Premier League title defence with a hard-fought 2-0 win away to Sunderland, but the match was overshadowed by Mikel Arteta’s anger over a first-half penalty award against his team. The BBC Sport report says the decisive sequence came after Sunderland were given a spot kick for contact between Ezri Konsa and Dan Ballard at a corner, a decision Arteta later called unacceptable and harmful to the spirit of the game.

David Raya rescued Arsenal by saving Enzo Le Fee’s penalty, tipping the ball on to the post. Just over two minutes later, Arsenal broke the deadlock through substitute Bruno Guimaraes, who struck an eye-catching finish from outside the area. That goal helped turn a tense evening in the north-east in Arsenal’s favour and preserved their ninth straight Premier League victory, a run not achieved by the club since the 2003-04 Invincibles season.

The report also highlights Arsenal’s defensive resilience, with the team continuing to post a strong record of clean sheets early in the season. Raya’s save was described as a key moment, and the goalkeeper was widely praised by pundits and Arsenal figures for keeping the visitors in the match during a period of Sunderland pressure.

Beyond the result, the episode has added to ongoing debate over how referees and VAR handle grappling at set pieces, especially after new instructions to clamp down on contact at corners.