Former Arsenal goalkeeper, David Seaman, has blamed David Raya for Sunderland’s stoppage-time equaliser in their 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Saturday night.
Mikel Arteta’s men went into the break trailing after Dan Ballard’s powerful strike handed Sunderland the lead.
However, the Premier League leaders came back stronger in the second half, drawing level through Bukayo Saka before Leandro Trossard’s stunning strike from the edge of the box put them ahead.
Sunderland refused to give up and were rewarded late on when Ballard’s clever flick-on found Brian Brobbey, who acrobatically guided the ball past the advancing Raya to earn the hosts a dramatic point.
Speaking on Premier League Productions (via Metro), Seaman questioned Raya’s decision-making in the build-up to the 94th-minute goal.
“Whether Raya should come, I’d question that,” Seaman said during his analysis.
“And the way he comes for the ball, he tries to catch it, is he aware of the guy [Brobbey] getting close?
“It’s a great finish by Brobbey but I would just question the decision of Raya, whether he should come and try to punch it, rather than try to catch it.”
Despite the late setback, Seaman, who lifted three league titles with Arsenal during his playing days, believes the result doesn’t diminish the Gunners’ strong position in the title race.
“This was a difficult game, especially when you looked at it first half,” Seaman noted.
“It looked difficult, Sunderland were well-organised, and they knew exactly what they needed to do with Arsenal, hit it long, play in Arsenal’s half rather than play it out from the back. When they did play out from the back it cost them a goal.
“But Arsenal… they’re in a good position because this was a big test.”
