Manchester City’s six-game Premier League winning run ended in a goalless draw at Sunderland, a result that handed Arsenal a four-point cushion at the top heading into the first weekend of 2026.
Bernardo Silva had an early effort ruled out for a marginal offside, while City dominated possession without finding a breakthrough.
Sunderland, unbeaten at home this season, matched the visitors’ intensity and threatened regularly on the counter.
Goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarumma and Robin Roefs were central figures, producing a string of saves to deny Erling Haaland, Savinho, Joško Gvardiol and Sunderland forwards Brian Brobbey and Eliezer Mayenda.
Despite late pressure from City, the Black Cats held firm to secure a rare point against the champions, their first in eight Premier League meetings.
The stalemate also preserved City’s long-standing record of avoiding defeat in their opening league game of a calendar year since 2012.
