It was the 2 ex-Arsenal males – Xhaka and Ballard – who maybe epitomised Sunderland's battling spirit finest.
Xhaka was the chief on the pitch, orchestrating issues within the center, whereas Ballard drove the opener previous David Raya, offered an help for the equaliser, and made an excellent block within the ultimate few seconds to forestall Arsenal snatching the win.
Ballard began his skilled profession on the Gunners, having been within the membership's academy for the reason that age of eight, however didn't make a first-team look for them earlier than becoming a member of Sunderland in 2022.
“It is a good morale increase to indicate we will go in opposition to a extremely prime group – in all probability among the best in Europe on the minute – and delighted with that,” Ballard informed Match of the Day after Saturday's sport.
“However it is only one level and we have a variety of work to do to attain our aim of staying up this 12 months.”
Former England striker Alan Shearer informed BBC Match of the Day: “Ballard epitomised every part Sunderland have achieved so properly, along with his aggression and stopping Arsenal play.
“They're actually, actually powerful to play in opposition to and there have been so many examples of him and his group placing their our bodies within the line. Arsenal is not going to have many more durable video games than that this season, and Sunderland totally deserved the purpose.”
The draw means Sunderland stay unbeaten at house they usually have 19 factors from 11 video games, properly on the way in which to avoiding relegation as they sit 9 factors above the underside three.
“Sunderland went bodily in the present day however throughout the legal guidelines of the sport, aside from one second within the first half when Dan Ballard challenged Mikel Merino within the field,” Match of the Day pundit and former Arsenal ahead Theo Walcott mentioned.
“They have been properly organised and I did not assume they'd have the ability to stick with it for 90 minutes.
“There is a cause why Sunderland shall be positive on this league. The Stadium of Mild is just not a straightforward place to play soccer.
“It was essentially the most rattled I've seen Gabriel and William Saliba this season.”
