Sunderland players Nicklas Bendtner and Lee Cattermole have been arrested on suspicion of damaging cars parked just a few hundred yards from the stadium of bitter rivals Newcastle.

Bendtner and Cattermole, both 23, were arrested on Thursday after Northumbria Police studied CCTV evidence of several cars being damaged on Dec. 6, only hours after Martin O’Neill had been presented to the media as the Sunderland’s new manager. At least three cars parked are believed to have been targeted at about. It is thought the CCTV footage shows sideview mirrors being kicked.

The web site nufc.com commented: “If proven, news of Bendtner’s ability to successfully hit an intended target would be welcomed by Mackem (Sunderland) followers yet to see him master that skill during football matches.”

Bendtner, who is on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season, was in the news recently when the Denmark international's credit card was turned down as he tried to buy a pizza at a Copenhagen shop and he demanded free pizza. When turned down, he asked other customers for money.