Sunderland’s Bent: Current Arsenal as good as any

Sunderland striker Darren Bent believes the current Arsenal team is as good as the free-wheeling, high-scoring teams that included Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and co.

The Black Cats man, who is preparing to face the Gunners at the Stadium of Light this weekend, has admitted that Arsenal are in devastating form this term and are performing like the Premiership days when Arsene Wenger had them demolishing sides on regular occasions.

“They are on top top form. The keep scoring four a game, which is unheard of,” Bent said.

“That is like the Arsenal of a few years back and the likes of Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Freddy Ljungberg and Dennis Bergkamp. They were giving people beatings of four and five regularly.

“It is going to be a tough game against Arsenal. They were written off for the title at the start of the season but they have shown they mean business.”

Despite that, Bent is confident Sunderland have a good enough home record to produce a positive performance against the high-flying Gunners.

“We have done well at home. We have only lost at home to Chelsea and if we play like we can do, not too many teams can live with us,” he added. “Liverpool found out a few weeks ago, and West Ham found out what we are all about when we were down to ten men and came back.”