Sunderland Boss Regis Le Bris Admits Clever Tactic To Stop Arsenal’s Long Throws In Thrilling Premier League Draw

It was one of those unforgettable Premier League nights at the Stadium of Light — full of passion, drama, and a touch of cheeky tactical genius. Sunderland stunned Arsenal with a thrilling 2-2 draw, but the real twist came after the game when Regis Le Bris admitted to a subtle move that helped neutralize one of Arsenal’s key weapons — their long throws.

A Thrilling Night In The North

The home fans roared as Dan Ballard gave Sunderland a deserved lead midway through the first half, heading home after Arsenal failed to clear a corner. The goal sparked life into the encounter, with the underdogs matching Arsenal’s famed intensity every step of the way.

After the break, Mikel Arteta’s men responded as expected. Bukayo Saka tapped in the equalizer before Leandro Trossard curled in a brilliant strike to put Arsenal ahead 2-1. The visitors looked set for another comeback win — until Sunderland scripted their own late drama.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Ballard flicked on a long throw into the Arsenal box, and Brian Brobbey produced an acrobatic bicycle kick that sent the crowd wild. The Dutchman’s last-gasp strike earned Sunderland a precious point and sent shockwaves through Arsenal’s title race.

Le Bris Spills The Beans

After the game, Le Bris revealed a clever little secret behind Sunderland’s game plan — the club moved the advertising boards closer to the pitch before kickoff, restricting Arsenal’s players from executing their trademark long throws.

“Yeah, we tried to find the details to win the game,” Le Bris told BBC Sport. “They are really strong on set-pieces, and we were good as well. It was absolutely obvious this threat was really important for this game, and in the end, it was balanced.”

The cunning tweak worked like a charm. Arsenal struggled to make their usual aerial impact, while Sunderland stayed organized and compact at the back.

Le Bris praised his players’ resilience:

“The lads worked hard to the end. They believed it was possible to change the dynamic. It was a tough game, as we expected. They are probably one of the best teams in Europe… but we still believed it was possible to score one more goal.”

Arteta: Proud But Frustrated

For Arsenal, it was a frustrating night. Arteta acknowledged Sunderland’s intensity and tactical discipline but also commended his team’s relentless effort.

“Really tough test, we knew that,” Arteta said post-match. “Credit to them because they made it difficult for us. They take the game to the areas they want… very unfortunately, at the end, we conceded a goal.”

Despite dropping points, Arteta chose to look at the positives:

“We’re disappointed with the result but proud of the players. Considering what they’ve done in the last 10 games — winning all of them despite seven injuries — they’ve been outstanding.”

Sunderland’s mix of bravery, tactical nous, and belief earned them one of their most memorable results of the season — and reminded everyone why football’s magic often lies in the smallest details.