Niall Quinn has launched a scathing attack on David Moyes’ Sunderland claimed the club is suffering “death by a thousand cuts”.
The former striker and club chairman criticised Moyes’ tactics, defence and the lack of leadership in his side, admitting they “look doomed”.
The defeat to Arsenal means the Wearsiders have the worst start in Premier League history beating the Manchester City side of 1995/96 – two points and a goal difference of minus 13.
Three Arsenal goals in under seven minutes in the second half finished Sunderland – to leave Moyes in despair, and Quinn scathing in his verdict.
“The way this team is going now it feels like death by a thousand cuts the way they’re playing,” Quinn raged.
“Most people would think they’re doomed. There’s a lot of soul-searching for them to do.
“I think they need to revert to the sort of game that Sam Allardyce had going on here, where they had a more direct game that the players were comfortable with.
“They looked lost at times trying to do the pass and movement.
“They’ve got to something radical and different now.
“I just don’t think they’re confident enough to play the passing game that David Moyes wants them to play.”
In pictures: Sunderland 1-4 Arsenal
Moyes only took over in the summer but already his reign looks in serious danger, but he vowed to fight on, saying: “I am experienced. I’ve not quite had this before, but I will keep doing what I do.
“I’m really disappointed. We are disappointed to lose four goals. I don’t think we didn’t deserve that. The mood is disappointing.
“I didn’t think we collapsed. We lost to quality goals. The ability to bring Giroud off the bench. Arsenal are good at cutting through you.”
Goals from sub Olivier Giroud with his first two touches and two from Alexis Sanchez demolished the home side who were briefly level after Jermain Defoe’s penalty.
Quinn also laid into the attitiude of the Black Cats players.
He added: “There was a curious incident in my mind (when the goal went in) Jermain celebrated, Watmore tapped him but they all went back to the half-way line sheepishly, the other players went back sheepishly.
“I’m looking for leadership there, I’m looking for other players doing that. I’m looking for the two centre-halves to say ‘Right, you lot we’re pushing on here, we’re looking for the winner.
"What happens? Giroud comes on and scores because there is no leadership and nothing there to suggest they can play the type of football David Moyes wants them to play.”
Quinn hammered the defence of Lamine Kone and Papy Djilobodji, saying: “They had no sense of danger and worse than that, they had no pride in their leadership.
“David Moyes will get criticism. There will be lots of criticism flying about but without that spirit that Sunderland teams have had, they are nothing.”