Sunderland AFC manager David Moyes has urged his players to give Stadium of Light faithful something to cheer about ahead of their Saturday lunchtime clash with high-flying Arsenal. 

Give them something to shout about 

It has been yet another miserable start to the season on Wearside, with Sunderland yet to win a single league game, a number of injuries to significant players, and remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table. 

Moyes' nightmarish start to his tenure at the Stadium of Light continued midweek, with a single goal from Sofiane Boufal seeing them knocked out of the EFL Cup by Southampton. Moyes will return to the dugout for the visit of Arsene Wenger's side, having been sent to the stands midweek, and is hoping that his side can deliver for the fans inside the Stadium of Light. 

“I think we’ve got nearly 45,000 at the game tomorrow so the people of Sunderland continually support their team home and away, so that tells you about the size of the club, the club’s history and the people," he told safc.com. “The Premier League are lucky to have a club like Sunderland who get 45,000 fans at most home games."

He continued: "I think the most important thing is to get the fans in full voice because if we get that it’s a great place – people tell me about Chelsea last season when there was an incredible atmosphere – but what we do on the pitch will make that happen."

Moyes added: “We need to give them something to shout about." 

Above: Sunderland AFC players been put through their paces in training | Photo: Getty Images
Above: Sunderland AFC players been put through their paces in training | Photo: Getty Images

Confidence is good 

Despite their far from positive start to the campaign, the Black Cats seem to be turning a corner. Their last two defeats to both West Ham and Southampton on Wednesday could have ended differently, and Moyes has insisted that his side's confidence is on the up. 

"Confidence is good," Moyes said. "They know they are doing better. The results haven't shown but the last two could have been different."

The Scotsman added: "We probably go into the game carrying a little bit less pressure because everybody doesn't expect us to get anything from it."

Moyes concluded: "So we can go into it and try to see if we can cause a big upset because people would see it that way."

Sunderland AFC will take on Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, October 29 with kick-off at 12:30pm BST. 

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About the author
Danial  Kennedy
Award-winning sports journalism graduate. Currently studying a PR Masters at the University of Sunderland. Writing for VAVEL since August 2014. Twitter - @ddkjournalism.