Source: Northern_Echo
Bruce defends tactics against Arsenal
ARSENE WENGER claimed that Arsenal dealt with all of Sunderland's long balls, so unsurprisingly Steve Bruce followed up the Frenchman's post-match assessment by suggesting Chelsea will retain their Premier League title.[LNB] Had it not been for Darren Bent's 95th minute equaliser at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, Sunderland would have suffered their second defeat of the season ahead of back-to-back league fixtures with Liverpool and Manchester United.[LNB] Instead, Bent's late leveller has offered the Black Cats further hope for the season after plenty of encouraging signs against the title hopefuls.[LNB] It might have been even better had Cesc Fabregas not scored the most fortuitous of openers in the 13th minute, but Sunderland fans witnessed their team outfox their more illustrious counterparts for the majority of the match.[LNB] Arsenal struggled to deal with the drive from the Sunderland midfield, particularly Jordan Henderson, and Wenger would probably argue that his team were roughed up by the men from Wearside like he has claimed about many clubs recently.[LNB] I've never sent out a team to kick people off the park, but the one thing you've got to do is get up against Arsenal,[LNB] said Bruce, whose tactics clearly worked, to the extent that Alex Song saw red for persistent fouling.[LNB] You've got to stop them playing, but do it in a way that's within the rules. Some of our football was good too.[LNB] There's the other side that you've got to take the ball and you can't afford to give it back to them. We did that too much in the second half when we tired.[LNB] Despite a 20-minute period after half-time when Arsenal should have been out of sight, Sunderland survived a few scares particularly Tomas Rosicky's missed penalty and were the stronger team on the day overall.[LNB] Bent's late strike prevented Arsenal from climbing to the top of the league on Saturday night, a position which Bruce thinks will not belong to Wenger's team come May.[LNB] Let's be fair, they're a fantastic team. Whether they're going to knock Chelsea or Manchester United off their perches is debatable, but still I've got the highest respect for them, said Bruce, who is likely to make a few changes for tomorrow's Carling Cup tie with West Ham at the Stadium of Light.[LNB] I have to say that at the moment Chelsea look unbeatable.[LNB] Arsenal, Man United have got a hell of a lot to do to catch Chelsea. Make no mistake, they'll be there or thereabouts.[LNB] Chelsea are still the team that they have to beat.[LNB] I don't think I would write Arsenal off. They have improved.[LNB] When you start putting Van Persie, Bendtner, back into the mix, they'll have a chance. Whether they'll beat Chelsea, I'm not so sure.[LNB] Arsenal failed to hit the heights that they managed in midweek, when they knocked in six without reply against Braga in the Champions League.[LNB] It is different football to Champions League, said Wenger. Whether you are home and away, they are different games. Saturday was how we expected it to be.[LNB] Overall our central defence and keeper dealt with all the long balls well.[LNB] Sunderland's display heartened Bruce, who has been pleasantly surprised by how quickly his summer signing from Egypt, Ahmed Elmohamady, is settling in.[LNB] Elmohamady might have been responsible for conceding a penalty for tripping Samir Nasri, but he was a constant menace to Gael Clichy down the right flank.[LNB] I saw him in Egypt play for his club and for Egypt on a heap of a pitch two-and-a-half years ago, said Bruce. We nearly brought him here last year but we fell out with the agent.[LNB] I had Zaki and Mido and that was an experience, but you can't target everyone the same. And he's absolutely chalk and cheese. In fact, he's a delight.[LNB] He's such a dedicated kid, I hope he keeps his feet on the ground. I give him every chance that he will. All he wants to do is play. It's quite refreshing.[LNB]
