Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has congratulated Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat for surviving relegation but he believes that the future is bleak for the Black Cats.

Sunderland held Arsenal to a goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday to ensure their top flight status for yet another year - their ninth straight season in England's top flight.

In his column for the London Evening Standard, Scholes wrote: 'Well done to Dick Advocaat for keeping Sunderland in the Premier League.

'I have to admit I thought that would be a job too far for him, but they have managed to go unbeaten in five games. It will be telling whether he wants to stay next season.

'Sunderland have finished in the bottom half of the table for all but one of their eight seasons in the Premier League since promotion in 2007, and the signs are that it is getting harder to survive every year.

'They do not seem to be getting any better.'