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He dominated Sunderland: Arsenal look like they've signed another Rice

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Published Sep 13, 2026, 8:10 AM GMT+1

Matt specialises in football analysis, transfer insight and original feature writing across the Premier League, EFL and Scottish football.

A sports writer for 15 years, Matt graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in 2018 and has developed particular expertise in Arsenal and the wider Premier League while also reporting on clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United, Celtic, Rangers and teams across the EFL. He joined Football FanCast as part of its writing team in 2019 before progressing to Assistant Editor and then becoming a Senior Editor in 2021.

His work combines authoritative reporting with data-led analysis, tactical insight and informed transfer assessment. Matt regularly examines how players fit into different systems, what their underlying numbers reveal about their performances and whether transfer targets represent realistic solutions for clubs. His analysis aims to go beyond the headline, explaining not just what has happened but what it means for a team, manager or player.

Matt's journalism has also appeared through the Press Association, with his work featured by Sky Sports and the Daily Mail. He previously served as Arsenal and Premier League Editor at VAVEL and gained first-hand club-media experience with Chesterfield FC. Over his career, he has interviewed figures including Arsène Wenger, Ray Parlour, Alan Smith, Lucy Bronze and Steph Houghton. Matt's voice has been heard across Arsenal Fan TV and Love Sport Radio.

Through his reporting, analysis and features, Matt brings readers credible football insight grounded in research, statistics, tactical understanding and years of experience covering the professional game.

Today, Matt leads Football FanCast's features team as Senior Editor, overseeing the publication's opinion coverage while helping shape its overall editorial standards and content strategy.

These are the nights Premier League champions are made. It's cliche, sure, but Arsenal's 2-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday evening was the making of a title winner.

This was not a straightforward victory, there was nothing routine about it. Then again, were we expecting that?

Nearly a year ago, the Gunners were held to a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light when Brian Brobbey crashed home a 94th minute equaliser. This year, there were no repeat heroics.

Mikel Arteta's men were more professional about things on this occasion. There was no chance they were going to let their hosts score a goal.

How Arsenal overcame the tough test of Sunderland

In 2026/27, we have so far seen every version of this great Arsenal team. Against Coventry on the league's opening night they were swashbuckling and freeflowing during a 3-0 win.

A week later they had to dig deep to defeat Aston Villa and then against Chelsea, they were dominant and played with a certain arrogance you'd expect from the Premier League winners.

Well, against Sunderland, there was a steely determination about them, a never say die attitude, even if Bukayo Saka spurned a chance in either half with some wasteful finishing, not for the first time this week after a terrible miss against Napoli in the Champions League.

Truth be told, in the opening half there was not much to separate between the two teams but the game changed on the 56th minute mark. The Black Cats were awarded a penalty only for Enzo Le Fee to see his spot kick saved brilliantly by David Raya.

It was an extraordinarily good stop, diving down to his left hand side and tipping the ball onto the post. Arteta may well think justice was served. Ezri Konsa bundled Dan Ballard to the ground in clumsy fashion but it was still a soft decision to give.

That seemed to spark something within Arsenal. 121 seconds later, the Londoners were ahead. Who else but Bruno Guimaraes, back in the north east, to score the game's opening goal.

Still, from that moment, the Gunners were not certain of the points until deep into injury time. It was another tale of a penalty, this time involving Saka.

The winger was fed the ball and as he was racing into the penalty area, Mackems defender Reinildo brought him down and was subequently shown a red card. Up stepped Saka who found the bottom corner.

Robin Roefs was unable of replicating Raya's heroics. He won the Player of the Match award but isn't the only Gunner deserving of praise.

Arsenal's new Declan Rice has been unleashed

What a win this was for Arteta's men. Sunderland is an immensely tricky place to go to but under the lights, they prevailed.

Raya will earn most of the plaudits. So he should. His penalty save was jaw-dropping; Le Fee could not have hit it more sweeter but this only served to prove why the Spanish stopper is the best gloveman in the Premier League.

He set the foundations for the win and for that magical Guimaraes goal. It was vintage Bruno and it was typical that his first strike in Arsenal colours came against Sunderland; Newcastle's fiercest rivals.

Fed the ball by Declan Rice, the Brazilian took one touch to set himself on the edge of the penalty box and then bent the ball into the top corner. It had the power, it had the accuracy, it had the finesse and it had the curve to leave Roefs with no chance of keeping it out.

Still, while supporters were dumbfounded by the technique on show, those back at St James' Park will not have been surprised. After all, only Anton Stach (5) has scored more goals from outside the box in the top-flight since the start of last season than Bruno's haul of four.

What a way to make a name for yourself this was. There were shades of Rice about it. Cast your mind back to 2023 and you will recall a tricky a game at the Emirates against Manchester United.

Arsenal eventually went onto win the match 3-1 but only went ahead in the 96th minute when Rice lashed home a fierce effort that beat the goalkeeper to make it 2-1. The scenario and opposition were different but his first goal for the club will always live long in the memory. The same can be said about Guimaraes' opener on Saturday.

Bruno Guimaraes celebrates scoring his first goal for Arsenal

His performance was about much more than that beautiful finish, however. It was Rice-esque; coming up in a clutch moment and driving his team forward with an immense midfield display.

The 28-year-old didn't even start the game either. Subbed on at half-time in place of Myles Lewis-Skelly, the summer signing went on to win five of his seven duels, complete 92% of his passes and amass nine carries.

Guimaraes vs Sunderland

Minutes played	45
Touches	21
Accurate passes	12/13 (92%)
xG	0.07
Shots	2
Fouled	2x
Successful dribbles	1
Carries
Tackles	1
Ground duels won	4/5
Aerial duels won	1/2

Much like when Rice joined three years ago, this is a Premier League-proven player capable of making an impact immediate. Despite a stop-start few weeks at the Emirates due to injury, he's certainly already made a positive impact.

Like Rice, he's a leader, he's the man you call when the going gets tough. This performance away at Sunderland demonstrated just how impressive a signing this will prove to be.