Sunderland manager David Moyes has insisted that his players are giving their all after they slumped to a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.

The loss means that the Black Cats have now made their worst ever start to a Premier League season, with just two points from their opening 10 games leaving them rock bottom of the table.

The Gunners had led the encounter through Alexis Sanchez's first-half strike, but Moyes's men put themselves back in the game on the hour mark as Jermain Defoe converted from the spot.

The resurgence was to be short-lived, however, as substitute Olivier Giroud bagged a brace and Sanchez claimed his second to hand the visitors all three points and condemn Sunderland to their eighth defeat of the season.

"It was tough to take and I certainly didn't think we deserved to lose 4-1. We put up a really good show to stick with Arsenal when they were good," Moyes told BBC Sport afterwards. "We fought really hard to stay in the game and we grew into the game. We were the better team at one each, but they have that quality. If you lose goals to Arsenal with great interplay then you hold your hands up but I'm disappointed we lost two goals to crosses."

"Once we get one or two of the injured players back, that will give us some more options and that will give us a better chance. The message is the players are giving everything they can. It was not through the lack of effort, or the lack of trying, they played a team with a lot of quality.

"We are not in a good position and need to play better. The players are doing their best, but you will only ever be judged by your results."

Next up for Sunderland is a trip to Bournemouth next Saturday.