Sunderland have signed a star who seems to be like their subsequent Le Payment

Sunderland have been left feeling pissed off on Saturday evening after they have been crushed 2-0 by Premier League champions Arsenal on the Stadium of Mild.

The Black Cats received themselves right into a terrific place to take cost of the match after they have been awarded a penalty with the rating at 0-0 within the second half.

Sadly, Enzo Le Payment’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Spain worldwide David Raya, as he received right down to his left rapidly to show the shot away from the underside nook.

The Gunners then went on to win the sport 2-0, due to targets from Bruno Guimaraes and Bukayo Saka, however Le Payment shouldn’t take an excessive amount of of the blame for the consequence.

Why Enzo Le Payment doesn’t deserve any criticism

While the penalty may have been higher from the French attacking midfielder, the Sunderland star struck his effort properly and it could have nestled within the backside nook if Raya had not guessed the suitable means or been so fast right down to it.

It was extra of a terrific save than a foul penalty from Le Payment, who did rating a penalty in opposition to Brentford within the earlier Premier League match, which is why the midfielder shouldn’t face a lot, if any, criticism for the loss to Arsenal.

On high of that, the 26-year-old star has been the membership’s best and dependable performer on the high finish of the pitch because the begin of final season, and must be given extra leeway due to that.

While Brian Brobbey, who was the group’s high goalscorer with seven Premier League targets final time period, can usually take the headlines together with his spectacular bodily attributes, it was Le Payment who led the way in which for objective contributions within the 2025/26 marketing campaign.

REUTERS/David Klein

The French star has proven that he can provide targets and creativity frequently from an attacking midfield place, and he seems to be set to be a key participant for the membership once more this season, regardless of his miss in opposition to Arsenal.

Sunderland have already discovered their subsequent Le Payment

Sunderland want extra gamers to step up with extra targets and assists to enhance the assault, and Brobbey’s lack of targets to date this season doesn’t counsel that he’s on his option to doing that.

REUTERS/Scott Heppell

The Black Cats, although, have already signed an attacker who’s much more thrilling than the Netherlands worldwide and does have the potential to be the membership’s subsequent Le Payment.

After loads of hypothesis all through deadline day, Sunderland finally secured a deal to signal Lyon winger Malick Fofana for £31m on the finish of the summer season switch window, regardless of late curiosity from Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.

The Belgium worldwide remains to be settling into life in England and on the Stadium of Mild and has solely made two substitute appearances within the league to date, which implies that one of the best is but to return from the ahead.

Fofana endured an injury-hit 2025/26 marketing campaign with Lyon, which restricted him to 16 appearances in all competitions, however his kind prior to now for the French aspect means that he might be a Le Payment-esque determine for Sunderland.

While Brobbey’s return of 13 targets in 76 video games for Ajax and Sunderland mixed because the begin of the 2024/25 marketing campaign doesn’t counsel that he’s more likely to ship constantly within the remaining third, Fofana’s performances for Lyon do.

The Belgian attacker racked up 11 targets and 7 ‘massive possibilities’ created in 21 begins in Ligue 1 and the Europa League that season for the French membership.

Fofana, like Le Payment, is an attacking midfielder who can provide targets and assists frequently when enjoying repeatedly, however he has not performed sufficient common soccer, resulting from damage, prior to now 18 months or so.

Sunderland have to supply the 21-year-old winger with the alternatives that he must make an influence within the remaining third within the Premier League by giving him minutes week-in-week-out as a starter.

Le Payment turned a star for the Black Cats by enjoying repeatedly within the Premier League final season, and Fofana may comply with in his footsteps by scoring and creating targets at a formidable price from the wing.

Fofana is much more thrilling than Brobbey due to his spectacular kind for Lyon prior to now, and it’s now right down to Regis Le Bris to get one of the best out of the £31m-rated star.

The younger ahead has already proven that he can produce high quality on the high stage, as proven by his output in France, and it’s as much as him to hold that over to English soccer.