Sunderland midfielder Alfred N'Diaye can understand Arsenal being interested in team-mate Simon Mignolet, feeling he is a better keeper than the Gunners Wojciech Szczesny. "Simon is a quality keeper. When I came here I had not seen him or heard of him, but every time he plays he is fantastic. The quality is there for all to see," said N'Diaye.

"I can understand why he has been linked with other teams because this is normal. It is very normal for that to happen when you play as well as he does.

"He is better than the keeper at Arsenal, Szczesny, he is better than him - no doubt about it.

"Mignolet was brilliant against Southampton and he is like that every week. He is such a good keeper and that is why he is being linked with other clubs."