Arsenal 3 : Sunderland 0 - THE GAP between the two sides - at different ends of the Premiership table - was immense.

And even the most die-hard fans would admit that Sunderland, for all their second-half fight, were fortunate to escape a comprehensive thrashing as they crashed to their fourth consecutive defeat in London this season.

Sunderland, two goals down in a whirlwind opening four minutes, were sadly a long way second best to a star-studded side which their manager, Peter Reid, believes will now win the Premiership.

But Reid hauled his side over the coals for not heeding his pre-match warning that Arsenal were likely to stage an early attacking onslaught.

Reid had watched the Gunners' 2-0 FA Cup victory over Newcastle United on television a week earlier and knew that his defence would have to be on red-alert right from the first whistle against arguably the best attack in the top flight.

"Against Newcastle Arsenal were 2-0 up after seven minutes and I told our players that they would have to be prepared for a quick start," explained Reid afterwards.

"Arsenal are a side which is really quick out of the blocks and we had talked about it - but we shot ourselves in the foot.

"Arsenal have tremendous attacking players and you don't need to give them any help, but we did. It was sloppy defending.

"Players like Henry and Bergkamp will always get chances in games because they are top quality, but our defending was very poor.

"It was crazy against a team like Arsenal."

Sunderland had hardly caught their breath when they found themselves a goal down after only 80 seconds.

A mistake by young midfielder Paul Thirlwell - a surprise choice ahead of Republic of ireland international Kevin Kilbane - was punished by the immaculate Patrick Vieira, who swept home a right foot shot.

Two minutes later Thierry Henry cracked in a volley and Dennis Bergkamp poked home a close-range shot.

Reid knew that as well as having to defend well his team could not afford to waste any chances which came its way. But in the 16th minute 11-goal leading scorer Kevin Phillips took the ball past England keeper David Seaman, only to strike his shot into the side netting.

"It was a terrific chance and perhaps the turning point of the game, but at the moment it is just not going for the boy."

A goal then might have taken the wind out of the Arsenal sails, but Sunderland were made to rue the miss when more great work by the classy Bergkamp was clinically finished on the half hour by Sylvain Wiltord, who punished slack marking by fullback Michael Gray.

And with Vieira in elegant form behind the front line it looked as though the floodgates would open. The Sunderland fans behind the goal must have winced as Wiltord and Henry came close to adding to the scoreline before the relief of the half-time whistle.

But Reid rallied his troops by saying at half time they were playing for their pride, and with big Niall Quinn renewing his partnership with Phillips after disappointing on-loan signing Patrick Mboma limped off and promising Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Thomas Butler seizing his chance as substitute for the hot-headed Jason McAteer - booked just before the break - Sunderland were to give a better account of themselves.

Whether it was a matter of Arsenal taking their foot off the throttle is debatable, but Seaman woke from his slumbers to make good saves from Phillips and United States skipper Claudio Reyna.

But Sunderland could not get the lift of a goal and when Phillips - their best player - limped off after again testing Seaman in the 76th minute, Sunderland seemed to slip back and allowed Arsenal to take charge again.

Central defenders Jody Craddock and Joachim Bjorklund had their work cut out keeping tabs on Arsenal substitutes Kanu and Francis Jeffers and goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen had to make two inspired saves to keep the score-line respectable.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: "We decided to start as quickly as possible and I think our pace and fierce early pressure caught Sunderland by surprise.

"They came back at us in the second half and gave us a hard battle, but the damage had already been done."

The travelling Sunderland supporters might have disappointed with a third consecutive away defeat - but they were relieved that their favourites had not been ruthlessly put to the sword, as it might so easily have been the case against an often majestic Arsenal side which certainly has the credentials to win the Championship.

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