Alan Shearer raves about one Sunderland player despite defeat vs Arsenal: ‘He’s a real handful’
Alan Shearer was full of praise for one Sunderland star after their performance at the Emirates.
With Premier League safety all but secured for Sunderland, there was very little pressure on them to travel to Arsenal and get a result, which they weren’t able to do.
Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring from distance in the first half, with a double from Viktor Gyokeres making sure of all three points in the second half in a 3-0 win for the Gunners.
However, despite the Black Cats falling to their seventh away league defeat of the season, Shearer had plenty of good things to say about one star.
Brian Brobbey proves he offers a lot more than goals
Brian Brobbey’s late goal in Sunderland’s 3-1 away defeat to West Ham was his fifth of the season, having started just 11 times.
The Dutchman has earned plenty of plaudits for his clinical ability in front of goal, but has earned just as much praise for the way he is able to hold the ball up and bring his teammates into play.
And that was again the case against the Gunners, when the 24-year-old was embroiled in a constant battle with William Saliba, without ever really getting the help from the officials.
That was what caught the attention of Shearer, who praised the way the striker was using his physicality to his advantage.
Via BBC Sport, he said: “It hasn’t been comfortable at all for Arsenal. Sunderland have been impressive and actually had more possession in the first half. Brian Brobbey was a real handful yet again.“
Arsenal encounter amplified Sunderland’s summer priority
Brobbey is the type of striker who can pose a threat on the break, on the counter, from set pieces or when his side is in transition.
But when it comes to players who can do the same thing, the Black Cats are lacking options.
Wilson Isidor has failed to score in any of his last 13 appearances for Sunderland, while Eliezer Mayenda seems to have completely fallen out of favour.
No matter what happens between now and the end of the campaign, it will be deemed as a good campaign for the Wearsiders, but if they are to go that further mile next time out, it’s clear what they need to do.
They need to bring in another striker of a similar profile to Brobbey, to allow them to make the changes in games, and, of course, still have the ability to play the same way should he be unavailable.