Bent dents Arsenal's title challenge

Nov 21, 2009 - 8:55 PM By CHRIS TUPLING STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Darren Bent scored the only goal as Arsenal, second-placed before the kick off, lost surprisingly 1-0 at the Stadium of Light to an in jury-hit Sunderland.

Without the absent Robin van Persie, Arsenal provided little threat and Sunderland won more easily than the score suggests.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger also left out Russian star Andrey Arshavin from the starting line up and as a result his team failed to score in any competition for the first time this season.

Sunderland were also weakened by injuries to goalkeeper Craig Gordon, and, most importantly, to Bent's strike partner Kenwyne Jones.

There was an element of luck about Bent's winning goal in the 71st minute when his header struck the knee of substitute team-mate Frazier Campbell and came back into his path to score from five yards.

But Sunderland manager Steve Bruce praised Bent who earned a measure of notoriety for his recent winner against Liverpool which struck an errant beach ball on its way into the net.

Bruce said: "I thought Bent was outstanding and not just for his winning goal. He brought so much more to our play, linking up with the midfield and working so hard up front on his own.

"Darren was terrific, absolutely stunning. I think it might have been his best performance for us and he is getting better all the time since he joined us."

Wenger decided to start with Croatia striker Eduardo up front and he made no impact before being replaced by Theo Walcott with 15 minutes remaining.

Alex Song came close to converting Eduardo's pass in the 33rd minute while Cesc Fabregas shot over the bar from a good position.

Fit-again Thomas Rosicky might have done better with an opening early in the second half before Arshavin entered the fray as a 60th minute substitute for the disappointing Aaron Ramsay.

Bruce sent on Anton Ferdinand and Bolo Zenden for Andy Reid and John Mensah in the 76th minute but Arsenal failed to mount the expected late pressure.

The nearest Arsenal came to equalising was in the 89th minute when a strong shout for a penalty after substitute Carlos Vela had been brought down was rejected.

Wenger admitted that van Persie's absence with an ankle injury was a decisive factor in his team's failure to continue their remarkable scoring record.

Wenger said: "I do not want to use van Persie's injury as an excuse but he is a very important player for us and of course he was missed.

"This was a big setback and a disappointment. We did not play at our usual level. Maybe that was because of the international break and some of my players seemed to struggle to get motivated and ready."

Delighted Bruce said: "It is always nice to beat in a top four team. I was delighted with the performance, the spirit, the life. Arsenal are such a fluid side we had to stifle them \2013 and we did."