Newcastle United ace Hatem Ben Arfa has taken a swipe at Sunderland ahead of the derby.

Ben Arfa has spent enough time in the city to realise what the rivalry is all about and has even ventured to watch Gateshead FC matches since arriving from Marseille to get a feel for Tyneside and the public he is playing for.

Yet when asked if ever visits Sunderland, he told the Evening Chronicle in tongue-and-cheek manner: "I don't, perhaps because there is nothing there?"