Zlatan Ibrahimovic felt like Benjamin Button, but it was more a case of Groundhog Day as far as Sunderland were concerned. Manchester United retain a two-pronged assault on Champions League qualification, but all the Wearside club has to look forward to are trips to some of football’s less celebrated destinations in the Championship next season.

Sunderland 1 Arsenal 4: Arsene Wenger is the manager renowned for not seeing pivotal incidents during a match, but it was David Moyes who appeared to be watching a different game on Saturday.

James McClean has warned the boo-boys their taunts will only make him stronger as he attempts to establish himself as a regular for both club and country.

David Moyes has called for managers to be given time to implement their plans as he plots the way forward at Sunderland.

David Moyes has insisted he is not being defeatist by admitting Sunderland are engaged in yet another Premier League relegation fight just two games into the new season.

So the Italians will rest their star performers on Wednesday to afford Ireland an easy ride to joining them in the knockout stages of Euro 2016? Well, think again.

Sam Allardyce has admitted his overwhelming emotion will be relief rather than celebration if Sunderland secure their Premier League status tonight.

John Terry could have played his final game for Chelsea following his sending-off at Sunderland.

Martin Olsson scored in stoppage time to earn Norwich a vital 3-2 win over a Newcastle side now staring at Premier League relegation.

Sunderland 2 Man Utd 1: John O’Shea didn’t need to give an answer, the question he was posed said it all about United’s continuing woes.

Judging by the irritatingly incessant whining of the WOB (Wenger Out Brigade), despite the fact that we’re currently looking down on every other club in the country, there are far too many Gooners who simply can’t comprehend that the vast majority of fans spend their entire lifetimes waiting, mostly in vain, for their teams to win something.

Sunderland will open talks with Sam Allardyce today as they attempt to fill their vacancy for a new head coach.

First there was the Great Escape, then last season an almost equally implausible sequel.

“Lee is the controller of the side. He is a motivator, a leader and central to the success of our team."

Sunderland midfielder Seb Larsson hopes the Wearside club can move on to better things next season after the club secured their Premier League survival on Wednesday night.

Manager Arsene Wenger expects to add to Arsenal’s “core” this summer, but believes if Francis Coquelin had cost £40m (€55.6m) in January rather than coming back from loan at Charlton, there would be little criticism of the squad’s depth.

Christian Benteke scored his eighth goal in six games to hand Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood a winning return to Tottenham.

Sunderland 0 QPR 2

Team news for tonight's Premier League games .

FA Cup fourth round replays: Cambridge boss Richard Money has likened his side’s chances of FA Cup fourth-round replay success at Manchester United to winning EuroMillions, having already claimed a Las Vegas jackpot and a winning lottery ticket.

Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet has backed Jermain Defoe to be a game changer for the Black Cats as they look to avoid a Barclays Premier League relegation scrap.

Sunderland 0 Liverpool 1: Where’s Niall Quinn when you need him?

Sunderland 1 Leeds United 0

Sunderland 1 Hull 3 Sunderland were tormented by the ghost of Christmas Past as Steve Bruce returned once again to haunt them.

Newcastle United 0 Sunderland 1

Adam Johnson condemned Newcastle to a fourth successive derby defeat for the first time in their history as Sunderland snatched a dramatic last-gasp 1-0 victory at St James’ Park.

Sunderland 1 Manchester City 4

Sunderland 1 Everton 1

Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet has hailed John O’Shea’s leadership skills after watching him make his own way as a captain rather than adopting the Roy Keane approach.

Sunderland 2 Tottenham 2

Sunderland have completed the signing of midfielder Jack Rodwell from Manchester City on a five-year deal.

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has ended speculation over his future by signing a new contract with the club.

One of Niall Quinn’s greatest feats as Sunderland chairman was recruiting Martin O’Neill but he admitted yesterday an audacious bid to prise Louis van Gaal to Wearside wasn’t so fruitful.

Keeper Keiren Westwood is the latest man to leave Sunderland as head coach Gus Poyet re-shapes his squad.

After attending Wembley twice in the past year as a mere bystander, Corkman John Egan is two games away from becoming an active participant at English football’s biggest stage.

Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has backed his West Brom counterpart Pepe Mel to be a success in English football.

Steve Bruce believes his former club Sunderland could be “in serious trouble” after it emerged the north-east club were fined for fielding striker Ji Dong-won in four Premier League games for which he was technically ineligible.

Sunderland are confident they will not face further punishment for allegedly fielding striker Ji Dong-won in four games for which he was ineligible.

West Ham 2, Sunderland 1