The Gunners appeared set for a second Barclays Premier League defeat in as many matches on Saturday - following last weekend's setback at home to Hull - until a Cesc Fabregas header deep into injury-time equalised substitute Grant Leadbitter's outstanding strike from distance for the Black Cats.

On a day when a late goal also had a telling impact at the JJB Stadium - Jeremie Aliadiere giving Middlesbrough a 1-0 win in the 89th minute against Wigan - Wenger admitted his side were not at their best.

But asked if the result was fair, the Frenchman said: "It is a result. It depends what you call fair.

"I believe if you take the possession and the initiative, it was all us. But they defended with great spirit and were resilient for the whole game.

"I like to think usually the team that takes the initiative should be rewarded, but it is not always like that in football.

"They gave us the ball and said, `Listen, we are happy with 0-0, do what you want' 0 and the story of the game was they didn't only almost get the 0-0, they almost won the game.

"It was a frustrating day for us, because we didn't create the chances we usually do - and I must say Sunderland defended very well."

Wenger's opposite number Roy Keane was unrepentant.

"I am pretty sure if I had different players available, we might have been a bit more attack-minded," he said.

"But I have to look at the squad of players I have available to me - and for today, that was a good option for us. Next time we play them, it might be different.

"We have to get the balance right with our own team and maybe Arsene Wenger should focus on his own team."

The outcome might have been different had a 56th-minute Robin van Persie strike been allowed to stand - television replays casting doubt over a decision to disallow it because the ball had gone out of play before Theo Walcott crossed.

Blackburn boss Paul Ince had to admit his team were well beaten, 2-0 at home to Manchester United, for whom Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Anderson were outstanding.

Even so the ex-United midfielder was frustrated about his old club's first goal - which came after goalkeeper Jason Brown clashed with Nemanja Vidic and fell to the ground as Wes Brown nodded the ball into the net.

"It was disappointing," said Ince, of referee Steve Bennett's decision not to award a foul.

"I am not saying we would have won - but you never know. We were still in the game at 0-0 when it happened."

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson unsurprisingly did not share Ince's opinion.

"The ball was in the air long enough. It was his (Jason Brown's) ball, and he should be taking it," he said.

After Rooney had scored a pedigree second goal, Ferguson added: "That was his best performance of the season for us."

Boro boss Gareth Southgate hailed his stand-in defensive heroes after his team's first away win of the year in the league.

Injuries forced Southgate to call in Chris Riggott and bring Jon Grounds back from a loan spell at Norwich. But the result was a rare clean sheet, and three points.

"We were excellent across the back five today," said Southgate.

"It's the type of game where centre-halves get the opportunity to stand out - and they certainly did that."

Wigan manager Steve Bruce declared his side had been "well and truly mugged" - but admitted he could have few complaints after they failed to take advantage of a series of chances.

Saturday's only other fixture saw striker Roman Bednar score the only goal, just after the hour, as West Brom beat Fulham at The Hawthorns to move up to eighth.

Bednar also hit the bar from 35 yards and was denied at point-blank range by Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, and Baggies manager Tony Mowbray said: "We know we played against a decent team today, particularly in the first half - and with Clint Dempsey dropping off the front, they gave us plenty of problems.

"They reminded us of our team at our very best in the first half. They moved the ball around well. Jimmy Bullard and Danny Murphy are top players.

"On the second-half performance, I think we warranted the victory."

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson felt his side deserved more.

"I did think had we taken one of the many chances that came our way, we wouldn't have been trying again to come back from 1-0 down," he said.

"It is not getting the results, and that is a very frustrating situation to find yourselves in."