Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal match report: The Daily Mirror verdict

Darren Bent admits he could have crumbled after his England nightmare.

The friendly with Brazil in Qatar just over a week ago marked the low point of Bent’s season.

It was meant to be a chance to cement his place in Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad. Instead, after just 13 touches and 54 service-starved minutes, he seemed to have been consigned to the scrapheap.

But a week back in the bosom of his team-mates and Steve Bruce’s morale-boosting backroom staff raised the big striker’s spirits, and he responded at the Stadium Of Light on Saturday with yet another goal against Big Four opponents.

Incredibly, Bent has scored the opening goal in Sunderland’s matches with Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, and now Arsenal. The 25-year-old completed his top-four collection with a strike in the 71st minute, poached when Fraizer Campbell deflected Bent’s header back into his path for a volleyed finish.

The goal put a huge dent in Arsenal’s title hopes ahead of their London showdown with Chelsea. Currently eight points behind the leaders, defeat on Sunday will count them out of the title race.

The Gunners looked jaded after the international break. “That’s the time to catch them,” said Bruce.

Sunderland showed hunger, energy and togetherness to restrict the visitors to just one shot on target and a handful of chances.

Bent said: “My desire to go to the World Cup won’t go away after one bad England result. The England critics have done what they always do, but I won’t let it affect me.

“I am a confident guy. I feel the last two years have made me mentally stronger. Had I had this criticism before I probably would have crumbled.

“No-one can take away my Sunderland goals or my Sunderland form, and I know that the way to be a success with the England squad is to be a success with Sunderland.

“The Brazil game was tough. If a striker does not get the service then it is hard to score, but at Sunderland I know I am getting the service and the chances so I am confident the goals will keep coming.

“If we play like we have in the last two or three games we will win games and I will get goals. The season has started really well for us and I am still really optimistic.

“We beat Liverpool, we drew with United, and now we’ve beaten Arsenal, and none of that is a fluke.” At least if you discount red beachballs.

Sunderland escaped relegation only on the final day of last season so Bruce has done wonders to turn them into European contenders. After 13 games they have as many points as Liverpool.

Teenage midfielder Jordan Henderson turned in a colossal performance on Saturday, shadowing Cesc Febregas.

New defender Paolo da Silva caught the eye, too, and Lorik Cana is one of the toughest midfielders in the league.

What they need to do now is follow impressive performances and results against the Big Four with equally capable displays against less-celebrated sides, starting with Wigan this weekend.

“I have just said to them if we do not perform at Wigan I will kick their backsides and they can walk home,” said Bruce.

“That was the first thing I said when they came off the pitch.

“We are starting to get some consistency. The most important thing is our performances at home. Last year we only won six here and now we have five already.

“When I see the crowd of 45,000 i just think ‘fantastic'. That is why I came here.”

Arsenal missed the injured Robin van Persie more than anyone had guessed. With Nicklas Bendtner also missing, it was a surprise that Arsene Wenger kept Andrey Arshavin and Theo Walcott on the bench until late in the game. “It is not about missing individuals,” snapped Wenger.

Sunderland: Fulop 6, Bardsley 7, McCartney 6, Da Silva 8, Mensah  7(Ferdinand, 82), Reid 7 (Zenden, 77), Malbranque 7 (Campbell 7, 66), Cana 8, Henderson 9, Richardson 7, Bent 7. Subs Not Used: Carson, Nosworthy, Healy, Murphy.

Arsenal: Almunia 6, Sagna 6, Fabregas 7, Vermaelen 6, Rosicky 6 (Walcott, 72), Nasri 5, Eduardo 5 (Vela, 72 5), Gallas 7, Ramsey 6 (Arshavin, 60 7), Song 6, Traore 5. Subs Not Used: Denilson, Silvestre, Eboue, Mannone.