'Arrogant' - Nordi Mukiele Makes Worrying Sunderland Claim After Bournemouth Loss

Sunderland defender Nordi Mukiele has admitted that the Black Cats have possibly "became arrogant" this season, which has led to their substandard start that was compounded by their defeat at Bournemouth.

Bournemouth beat Sunderland 2-0 on Sunday afternoon courtesy of an early goal from Marcus Tavernier, following some pitiful defending from Black Cats central defenders Omar Alderete and Kevin Danso, with the Spurs loanee sent off ten minutes later for yet another costly defensive error.

Therefore, Sunderland were forced to play for over 75 minutes with ten men, and were punished by Marco Rose's side early in the second half, seeing Evanilson double Bournemouth's lead to set Regis Le Bris' side on course for their fourth consecutive Premier League defeat.

As a result, the Black Cats sit 19th in the top flight table, having picked up just one win from their opening six Premier League outings of the campaign, placing significant pressure on Le Bris and the Stadium of Light hierarchy, who must answer for the shocking Cherries defeat.

With the Black Cats licking their wounds after yet another defeat, Sunderland defender Mukiele issued a damning verdict regarding his and his teammates' abject start to the campaign with a worrying admission of potential arrogance.

Le Bris started his compatriot Mukiele at right-back at the Vitality Stadium, with the defender forced to shift back into a more central role following Danso's instant dismissal on the 16-minute mark.

If not for the former PSG defender and Sunderland shot-stopper Robin Roefs, who made several stellar saves to keep the scoreline respectable, then the goals scored tally could have been close to double digits for Bournemouth.

Mukiele made the most defensive contributions (15) of any player on the field, making several key blocks and challenges to keep the in-form Evanilson at bay, suffering an injury in the process but managing to battle out the rest of the game.

Unfortunately, however, his teammates around him were not at a similar standard, particularly in defence.

At full-time, the Frenchman made an honest yet worrying claim regarding Sunderland's seismically shocking start to the season, with Mukiele suggesting that the Black Cats have 'maybe became arrogant'.

Mukiele told Sky Sports: "This game is what we (have been like) from the beginning of the season, to be honest with you...

Sunderland could drop to the foot of the Premier League table come close of play on Mondy evening, if Tottenham get a result against Frank Lampard's newly-promoted Coventry City side at home.

If so, it would be a damning indictment of not just Sunderland's transfer window business, but their form and Le Bris' management at the start of the season, which is a far cry from the side who finished seventh among England's elite and qualified for European football five months ago.

The Black Cats travel to Polish champions Lech Poznan for another Europa League trip on Thursday evening, and then host Premier League rivals Leeds United on Sunday afternoon in yet another double-fixture week.

If Sunderland fail to take points from either game, the questions marks casting a concerning cloud over the Stadium of Light will only darken the mood on Wearside, of which Mukiele has admitted could be the Black Cats' own doing.