MICK McCarthy last night branded Sunderland "hopeless" as the club's season of shame came to a miserable conclusion.

The Sunderland manager refused to condemn the fans who booed his players after they had been destroyed 4-0 by Arsenal.

McCarthy said: "We got what we deserved because we were hopeless.

"I'm so angry and embarrassed by that performance. I didn't expect that.

"Thierry Henry is good enough without us helping him by giving him the ball, as we did for the first goal.

"Gavin McCann kicked the ball out of play, which is not like him, they took the throw-in quickly and it was 2-0.

"Jody Craddock then rolled the ball to someone and that led to the third goal.

"Why that happened I don't know because we've proved we're better than that; we can pass it and we can play.

"I can't put my finger on it. Once Arsenal started like that, there was only going to be one outcome because they relaxed and had a good time.

"Our supporters are all annoyed, sick, angry and embarrassed about us getting beaten the way we were.

"I expect the fans to react like that when they play like that. We've finished bottom and I've lost count how many games we've lost on the spin.

"If I were a supporter, I would feel just like that. I would be angry, and I would want to shout stuff at the players, moan and demand more from me and the players.

"I would demand Mick McCarthy, Ian Evans, the players and Sunderland as a club to do better than that. Because we're not, I fully accept it."

Sunderland were last night sweating on the fitness of Darren Williams, who was stretchered off towards the end of the first half with an ankle injury.

McCarthy said: "They suspect he's damaged his ankle ligaments. I'm just hoping there's no damage to the bone.

"That puts the tin hat on it as far as I'm concerned in terms of disappointments.

"In fairness to Darren, he has a go and he's a good guy."

As the Black Cats licked their wounds after their 15th Premiership defeat in a row, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger showed sympathy to Sunderland.

Wenger said: "I know how fragile football can be. On New Year's Day last year, Leeds were top of the table; last week, they beat us to be safe.

"You have to be very careful when football goes well. I'm disappointed we finished second, but I'm realistic and I know how things can go wrong."

The only setback for Arsenal yesterday was Oleg Luzhny's knee injury that could force the Ukraine defender to miss Saturday's FA Cup final with Southampton.

Wenger said: "We need to keep doing 99 per cent of what we've done this season.

"We've provided excellent football and excellent entertainment in the last two seasons, and we've done a lot to promote English football all over the world.

"We need to improve our defensive record. Conceding 42 League goals in a season is too many.

"But I've not heard too many complaints about our football this season. We've finished with 85 goals, which is a great record.

"Our last two performances have been the kind of performances that we've produced over the whole season.

"We like people who have paid money to watch us to get something."

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