Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has labelled Sunderland's decision to sack Steve Bruce as "a mistake".
Bruce left the Stadium of Light this week after a disappointing run of results, which came to a head with the home defeat to Wigan last Saturday.
Sunderland are reportedly close to appointing Martin O'Neill as Bruce's successor, but Wenger is not convinced that Black Cats chairman Ellis Short made a wise decision in removing the former Birmingham boss.
Bruce had two-and-a-half years at Sunderland, and impressed Wenger with many aspects of his work.
Discussing Bruce's exit, Wenger told Arsenal Player: "I think it is a mistake because the one to question at Sunderland is certainly not Steve Bruce.
"He has competence, the desire to win and he is the last one I would question on that. Unfortunately he went through a bad run and paid the price. I'm pretty sure that he should not have done.
"Change does not always sort out problems. History shows that it is not successful. It is statistically proven that a change of manager is not always successful.
"A club that creates its own instability is always in trouble - it is linked with technical stability, change of players, financially being in the red. All that together is linked with a change of manager."
