Missing element for Sunderland is silverware

Nov 21 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

Arsenal are ravaged by injuries as they head to Sunderland but Phil Bardsley tells Chief Sports Writer Luke Edwards why they will still be a formidable foe

Nevertheless, Sunderland have more than held their own against the top sides this season. They have already beaten Liverpool at home, drawn with Manchester United away and outplayed Tottenham in their last Premier League game despite a 2-0 defeat.

Bardsley added: "We have had time to recharge our batteries. We feel great. We don’t have a break now until February so there will be exciting times ahead.

"The top teams we have come up against this year, we have done well. Arsenal are a top team and our application and approach will have to be exactly the same again.

“If we show the same attitude as we have done against United and Liverpool we will do well again.

“It has been an up-and-down season so far, but we have made good progress. The manager has come in with Eric Black and brought in his own ideas about where this club should be going.

“It is going in the right direction and we always give 110%. We have done that so far – but we have got to show more consistency, even though we are heading where we want to be.

“We are all right when were have the ball, but when we haven’t got it that is where we have to improve and make it harder for teams. We have done well against the top teams and home, but we have to do it everywhere.”