Viktor Gyokeres’ double against Sunderland sends Arsenal nine points clear

Arsenal secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Sunderland in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The hosts could’ve taken an early lead inside the opening 30 seconds of the game when Leandro Trossard sent in a cross for Kai Havertz to meet, but he dragged his header wide.

At the other end, David Raya fumbled a corner, and the ball broke kindly to Brian Brobbey, who saw his shot blocked off the line by Havertz.

In the 23rd minute, Trai Hume almost turned Noni Madueke’s cross into his own net, but his clearance flew just over the bar, before Declan Rice sent his effort from range wide of the near post.

Martin Zubimendi broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute after he was found by Trossard at the edge of the area, and the Spanish midfielder drilled in a low shot into the bottom corner off the post.

Moments later, Gabriel Jesus thought he had given Arsenal a penalty after he was brought down in the area, but after a VAR review, the spot-kick was chalked off for offside in the buildup.

On the stroke of halftime, Havertz saw his curling effort sail just over the post as the Gunners went into the break with a precious lead.

Four minutes after the restart, Raya was called into action as he was at full stretch to deny Chemsdine Talbi as the Black Cats searched for an equaliser.

In the 66th minute, substitute Viktor Gyokeres doubled Arsenal’s advantage as Trossard and Havertz combined to tee the Swede up, who found the bottom corner.

Moments later, Rice found Eberechi Eze with a through ball, but his English compatriot sent his effort just wide.

Deep into stoppage time, Gyokeres completed the scoring when Gabriel Martinelli found him after a blistering counterattack, and the Swede tapped home into an empty net for his second of the afternoon.

Arsenal have now gone nine points clear at the summit of the Premier League.