The Black Cats travel to the Emirates Stadium this weekend to face Arsene Wenger's team having not won a Premier League game since November as well as tasting defeat in nine of their 13 away clashes this term.

However, given Sunderland's last Premier League victory came against Saturday's opponents at the Stadium of Light nearly three months ago, Bruce - whose side are unbeaten in their last three outings - believes the Black Cats have the ability to spring another surprise against the Gunners.

"There is always a shock somewhere and I hope we can go there and play well," he said.

"We need to win a game, to get the monkey off our backs and why not against Arsenal? We did it before and I'm sure we can try and do it again.

"We've drawn five of our last seven games and in those we could quite easily have won two or three, it's been that close.

"I've got, for the first time since August, all my defenders training today which is quite incredible and I do believe there is a bit of resilience coming back."

Bruce, whose squad has been stretched regularly this season thanks to a continuous mix of injuries and suspensions, is hopeful he will be able to welcome back defenders Anton Ferdinand and John Mensah as well as midfielder Kieran Richardson for Saturday's clash.

Ferdinand, who has not featured since suffering an ankle injury against Fulham on December 6, has benefited from the free weekend Sunderland enjoyed last week with Bruce admitting the break allowed him to give his players some welcome extra time to recover.

"If it [the Arsenal game] was last week Ferdinand wouldn't have made it, Mensah wouldn't have made it and Richardson wouldn't have made it," he explained.

"You couple that with David Meyler and Lee Cattermole not being available, as well as Jordan Henderson and Andy Reid, then that's too many.

"We are a little bit short in midfield this week which sums our season up really.

"We seem to get a glut of injuries in the same position but at least my defenders are all fit."

That Bruce could be without no less than six midfielders is indicative of Sunderland's recent injury problems.

Reid, who was ruled out for around four weeks earlier this week after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury, joins 19-year-old Henderson who himself suffered an ankle injury in the 0-0 draw with Wigan earlier this month - on an injury list that also includes midfielder Steed Malbranque and striker Frazier Campbell.

"It's a shame because Andy has only just recovered from the last one and when you are out for another month it is difficult to play catch up," added Bruce.

"But it's like any other one, it's like having Jordan [Henderson] out and we've had our fair share unfortunately."

With Cattermole and Meyler also both suspended after being sent off in the 1-1 draw against Portsmouth last time out, Bruce readily admits it is far from ideal having to keep on continuously shuffling his pack.

"The simple answer is you cant [keep changing things]," he said.

"If you have six or seven injuries then the squad isn't able to cope with it. I think that would go for most teams if I'm being honest.

"However, we are getting them back and I'm sure once we do that then we will be okay. I'm still convinced of that."