THOMAS Sorensen will be out for up to three months after he dislocated an elbow in yesterday's 3-1 defeat at Arsenal, dealing a major blow to Sunderland's survival prospects.
Sorensen, one of Sunderland's best players last season as they finished just one place outside the relegation zone, was hurt at Highbury.
Thomas Myhre, signed in the summer from Besiktas on a free transfer, acquitted himself well after replacing Sorensen.
The Dane received treatment for nearly five minutes after his sickening collision with Thierry Henry.
But Sunderland manager Peter Reid was well aware of the possible dire consequences of Sorensen's upcoming absence as he broke the bad news of his first-choice keeper's injury.
Reid said: "Thomas has dislocated his elbow and it looks like he's going to be out for two or three months.
"He's been to hospital and had it set, and obviously losing him is a blow. But Thomas Myhre did well."
Myhre was one of the few Sunderland players who could hold their heads high as they left Highbury after Arsenal destroyed them to set a Premiership record of 30 games without defeat.
Reid raged at his defence for gifting the Gunners victory, with sloppy defending costing the Black Cats dear.
He said: "We caused our own downfall. If Thierry Henry beats two men and scores from 20 yards out, I'd hold my hands up and say it was a great goal.
"We all know how well Arsenal start games and we impressed that on the players. But the manner of their first two goals was very disappointing from my point of view.
"For the first goal, the corner wasn't hit well but we didn't defend it.
"Then, we had possession and gave it away cheaply, we didn't make a tackle, and it was game over.
"Thomas Myhre then made a great save from the free-kick but Patrick Vieira was sharper than any of my defenders and he scored.
"We made it harder for them in the second-half, but the game was over by then.
"I don't want to take anything away from Arsenal because they're a fantastic team. But they won everything - every tackle and every second ball.
"The desire was there from us but we looked as if we didn't believe we would get a result.
"We've got to get ourselves in gear now. We've got West Ham in two weeks and we have to go at them.
"Most of the players who were out here - Kevin Phillips, Joachim Bjorklund, Stephen Wright, Jason McAteer and Michael Gray - will be back for West Ham. And there might be changes."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger tried to show sympathy for Sunderland's plight, but to be honest he failed abysmally.
He said: "A game against Sunderland can be as difficult as a game against Real Madrid. We try to be relaxed but not complacent.
"We were superior but the gap was increased by the fact that we're on a high and Sunderland didn't have that confidence."
* Exeter have sacked manager John Cornforth following the 1-0 home defeat by York.
Former Sunderland midfielder Cornforth, 34, took charge of City last term after Noel Blake was dismissed for a poor start.
Now the former City midfielder has been axed following a run of results that has seen the Devon club slip to 21st in the table and record only three wins.
Director of youth football Eamonn Dolan has been put in temporary charge of first team affairs but executive vice-chairman Mike Lewis confirmed: ''We will not be appointing from within again. When we bring the new man in, we want new ideas.
''We have got to have someone with fresh ideas and new concepts. It's a shame to see John go, but that's football I'm afraid.
''John did a great job for this club last season and that's forever to his credit but this season things have not gone his way. The team needed to win and they didn't."
Read more about Sunderland here.
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