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

Darren Bent's penchant for scoring against the top four left Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger looking a picture of frustration on a wet Wearside afternoon.

An animated Wenger waved his arms like a windmill and stared up at the heavens as Sunderland record buy Bent grabbed his ninth goal of the season in a game that showed up Arsenal’s title frailties.

But what was most worrying for Wenger was that without the injured Robin van Persie, their normally free-flowing game looked stilted and stale.

Arsenal, unbeaten in their previous 13 games, failed to score for the first time in 20 matches this term.

Wenger has been sceptical about Van Persie’s decision to seek horse placenta treatment for an ankle from Serbian housewife Mariana Kovacevic.

But on the evidence of this impotent display, Wenger needs Kovacevic’s miracle cure to work and quickly.

Wenger has claimed his side are more mature and resilient, but they couldn’t come back against a spirited Sunderland side who followed up their draw at Manchester United and win over Liverpool with another big performance against a top four club.

The Frenchman admitted a blood-and-thunder Sunderland appeared to want the victory more than his side, who didn’t seem to fancy some of the meatier challenges from Lorik Cana and company.

Wenger said: “Sunderland looked as if they wanted it more than us at times. They

set out to stop us playing, sometimes on the fringe of the rules.

“But we can only blame ourselves. We made a mistake from the corner that led to

their goal. It was Sunderland’s only real chance.”

On a late penalty claim when substitute Carlos Vela went down in the box under challenge from substitute Fraizer Campbell, Wenger said:“It is difficult for us to get a penalty, even the most obvious.”

When asked to explain what he meant, he rapped: “I mean nothing.”

Wenger also brushed aside questions about Van Persie’s absence and his controversial decision to start without Andrey Arshavin.

Wenger said:“I don’t believe we missed Van Persie especially.The defeat was not down to any individual.”

But Steve Bruce had no doubts that his side deserved to win and was full of praise for record buy Bent.

The Sunderland boss said: “To beat Arsenal you have to play well and I thought we thoroughly deserved the win.

“We won it in the middle of the park. We knew we had to stifle them in that area and the players stuck brilliantly to the game plan.

“It’s great for Darren Bent. It has put the smile back on his face after a difficult couple of weeks.”

Despite the clever promp-tings of skipper Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal’s normal ingenuity and flair was in short supply. Tomas Rosicky’s drive that was saved by Marton Fulop was their best chance of a poor first half.

 Sunderland were little better, creating only two moments of real danger in the first 45 minutes, but on  both occasions Steed Malbranque blasted hopelessly wide from good positions.

Lone striker Bent cut an isolated figure as Sunderland’s lone striker until that dramatic second-half intervention.

At times, the lack of service was all too reminiscent of his disappointing return to the England side against Brazil.

But Arsenal were only fractionally more potent up front and Wenger was forced to make the inevitable substitution on the hour, bringing on Arshavin for Aaron Ramsey.

But it was Sunderland who grabbed the winner after 71 minutes.

Bent’s header from Andy Reid’s teasing corner struck Campbell and the England striker was quickest to react, poking the ball past Manuel Almunia from close range.

It meant has scored against all of the big four this season and has repaid a large chunk of his club record £10million fee following his move from Tottenham.