Sunderland's problems at the foot of the Premier League deepened when a smooth-passing Arsenal side scored three times in seven minutes to stroll to a 4-1 win at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Jermain Defoe had levelled the scores with a 65th penalty during a brief bright spell for the home side. But the Sunderland defence buckled alarmingly and would have lost by a much heavier margin but for Arsenal's inconsistent finishing. If it was a logical outcome of a top against bottom clash, the gulf in quality in most positions was frightening.
An eighth defeat just 10 games into the season leaves Sunderland winless, stranded in bottom place and staring relegation in the face.