Sunderland’s only shot on target in the weekend defeat to Arsenal was from the penalty spot.
Sunderland manager David Moyes has said the side is lacking quality at the top end of the field as they succumbed to another defeat at the weekend, the Sunderland Echo reports.
The Black Cats were thumped 4-1 by Arsenal, despite levelling on the hour-mark against one of the Premier League’s pace setters.
After falling behind to an Alexis Sanchez header, Jermain Defoe equalised from the penalty spot before two goals from Olivier Giroud and another from Sanchez meant Sunderland tasted defeat once again.
The result meant that Sunderland have officially made the worst start to a Premier League season, having picked up just two points from their opening 10 games.
Moyes quoted in the Sunderland Echo, saying: “We are lacking quality at the top end to really make the difference as you can probably see as well. But we are definitely trying to find a way of doing it better.
“I said to the players I was disappointed with the goals we lost, but a lot of the stuff, I have to say ‘well done’ for sticking at it.”
Defoe’s penalty was just the seventh goal Sunderland have scored in the league this season and was their only shot on target in the game on Saturday. According to BBC Sport, it was one of only three shots on goal from the home side.
So, Moyes is right in that Sunderland are lacking in quality in the final third. They may be playing against a top class side, but the statistics suggest a pitiful effort from his own team going forward.
As for at the back it seems to be the same old story. There was undoubted quality on the part of Arsenal, but switching off in defence has been one of the reasons the Black Cats have failed to keep a clean sheet so far this season in the league.
While Moyes has plenty of analysis to offer on Sunderland’s woes, he needs to show he can come up with solutions.
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