Julio Arca reckons the Premiership has improved enormously since Sunderland last played in it. Arca says the mega-money spent by Chelsea since the Black Cats last visited Stamford Bridge has forced other top-flight teams to make major improvements just to keep up. Which, the Argentinean argues, means the quality of player in the Premiership is currently higher than ever before. "I think the Premiership has improved a lot over the couple of seasons we have been playing in the Championship - from what I see it is an even better league now," he said. "For me, the quality of the players and the quality of the teams in the division has definitely gone up in the time we have been away. "Chelsea, who were a very good team even three years ago, have got so much better, obviously, because they can buy any player in the world now. "That has an effect on the rest of the league too, because the other three or four top teams are trying to keep up. "Then the rest have to improve to be able to compete with the top four! "It gets tougher every year and, as I say, that is why we are going to have some very difficult games this season." But despite Sunderland's difficult start to the current campaign, Arca believes the personnel Mick McCarthy has spent his meagre transfer budget on this summer will prove good enough to keep the Black Cats in the top flight. Though he concedes the loss through injury of his left-flank partner George McCartney is a major blow. "All we can do is look forward, because we have new players who have to settle in, which can take a little bit of time," Arca said. "It was the same last season, and that ended up a very successful one for us. "It is difficult because our fans were used to us winning every game last season, and this time it will be different. "Of course, we will be doing everything we can to win every single week, but it will not always happen. "I did very well with George McCartney last season, and it will be good for me and the team when he is fit again - we have a very good understanding on the pitch. "Left-back used to be my main position, so starting the season playing there is no problem for me. "Perhaps ideally I would like to play on the left wing, with McCartney behind me, because I think that works well. "We want to prove to people that, yes, we are good enough to be playing in the Premier League. "And I think the players Mick McCarthy has brought into the club this summer are good players, who will do well for Sunderland "This league has got better - but I'm sure we can show how good we really are during the course of the season." | 
