Sunderland hitman Darren Bent has echoed the sentiments of his skipper Lorik Cana by insisting they can beat Arsenal when they travel to the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

The Gunners have been in scintillating form of late and make the long journey to Wearside on the back of a 13 match unbeaten run in all competitions and having netted a whopping 36 goals in just 11 league games this term.

Cesc Fabregas has been the tormentor in chief for Arsene Wenger's men and continued his stunning form on Wednesday evening as he netted in Spain's 5-1 demolition of Austria.

The Black Cats have also been a potent attacking force this term, especially at home where they have netted 15 times in six games, and Bent has concurred with Cana's earlier assertions in the week that Steve Bruce's men can win.

"We have done well at home," he said in the Daily Mirror. "We have only lost at home to Chelsea and if we play like we can do, not too many teams can live with us.

Bent did concede, however, that the Blacks Cats will have to be in top form if they are to beat the current crop of Gunners stars, who he has compared to the side that went unbeaten during the entire 2003/04 league season.

The 25-year-old added added: "They are on top, top form. They keep scoring four a game, which is unheard of.

"That is like the Arsenal of a few years back and the likes of Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Freddy Ljungberg and Dennis Bergkamp. They were giving people beatings of four and five regularly.

"It is going to be a tough game against Arsenal. They were written off for the title at the start of the season but they have shown they mean business."