Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was looking for a better atmosphere here as his side looked to maintain their title bid, but there was very little to encourage them in the early stages as Sunderland settled into the contest.
The Black Cats very nearly opened the scoring inside 10 minutes after David Raya failed to complete a catch from a Trai Hume free-kick, but Kai Havertz - making his first PL start at the Emirates in over a year - was on hand to block Brian Brobbey’s effort.
The hosts gradually gained control of possession, but the league leaders were struggling to work Robin Roefs.
They were often reduced to efforts from range, and that proved a fruitful avenue for the Gunners, who saw Declan Rice fire agonisingly wide before Martín Zubimendi’s thunderous low drive went in off the inside of the near post.
The Spaniard’s second match opener in as many PL games breathed fresh life into the contest, with Gabriel Jesus only denied a penalty by the offside flag before Havertz curled wide of the target.
Sunderland had been comfortable for large periods of the first half, but trailing at the division’s best second-half side meant they had a mountain to climb after the restart.
Chemsdine Talbi set about beginning the ascent with a low drive that forced a good save from Raya, but that proved something of a false dawn for the Black Cats, whose deficit was doubled just beyond the hour mark.
Within five minutes of coming off the bench, Viktor Gyökeres slammed home despite losing his balance after receiving Havertz’s pass.
It’s the first time the Swede has netted in back-to-back PL matches, and he sealed a 14th successive unbeaten H2H for the Gunners with another strike in stoppage time, finishing off a counter-attack that owed everything to Gabriel Martinelli’s speed and pass.
Régis Le Bris’ visitors slumped to just a third defeat in 10 PL outings, and their wait for an away league win at Arsenal since 1983 therefore extends, while the Gunners edge ever closer to a first league title since 2004.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Martín Zubimendi (Arsenal)
