Arsenal 3 : Sunderland 0 - Struggling Sunderland crashed to their fourth consecutive defeat in London this season and there could be no complaints about a comprehensive 3-0 Arsenal victory which may well have been even greater.

Sunderland never recovered from a nightmare start, conceding two goals in the opening four minutes.

Midfielder Patrick Viera opened the scoring after just 80 seconds, taking advantage of an error from USA skipper Claudio Reyna.

The Gunners increased their lead when Dennis Bergkamp fired home from close range after a volley from Thierry Henry.

Sunderland might have pulled a goal back in the 16th minute but leading scorer Kevin Phillips fired in to the side netting after taking the ball past goalkeeper David Seaman.

But Arsenal looked a different class at times and were three up through Sylvain Wiltord after great work by Bergkamp on the half hour.

Phillips brought a good save from Seaman on 50 minutes and then the England keeper managed to parry a close range shot from Reyna in a good spell of pressure.

But to add to Sunderland's woes Phillips was hurt in a clash with England central defender Sol Campbell after a left foot shot straight at Seaman and was replaced by Kilbane in the 76th minute.

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