Sam Allardyce has admitted that he found it difficult to criticise his Sunderland side after losing 3-1 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The Black Cats caused problems for Arsenal after pulling level just before the half-time interval, but it was the Gunners who walked away with three points thanks to goals from Joel Campbell, Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey.

Despite sitting just one point above the relegation zone, Allardyce believes that his side could have been celebrating a victory of their own had Jermain Defoe been on the pitch.

"I couldn't ask for any more in terms of the way we played, I couldn't have asked for more in terms of the chances we created, but we failed to take the chances we had," the Sunderland boss told BBC Sport.

"It makes me wonder what would have happened if we'd had Jermain Defoe on the field. He could have had two or three goals. I'm really disappointed we haven't got anything out of the game, but I have to be satisfied with the performance.

"I think we've got goalscorers. We've got Steven Fletcher, we've got Duncan Watmore. We've got Jermain to come back. We just haven't taken the chances we've created."

Defoe is expected to return from a hamstring problem against Watford next week.