Wayne Rooney Defends Arsenal Amidst Premier League Title Push

Former Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney has come to the defense of Arsenal, asserting that the criticism leveled against the Premier League leaders is “very unfair.” Arsenal currently hold a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, though Manchester City have a game in hand.

Criticism of Arsenal’s Style of Play

Despite their strong position, Arsenal have faced scrutiny regarding their playing style. Former Premier League manager Alan Pardew recently suggested that any potential title win by Arsenal might come with an “asterisk,” referencing their approach to the game. Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler also accused Arsenal of “making their own rules” and lacking intent to play football during their 1-0 win at the Amex Stadium.

Rooney’s Rebuttal

Rooney, speaking on his BBC podcast, strongly disagreed with the criticism. “I’ve heard a lot of people talking about Arsenal and the way they’re playing, but I think they’ve been brilliant,” he stated. He emphasized that football is played in various styles, citing successful teams like Manchester City and his own former club, Manchester United, as examples.

“But Arsenal have got a good mix, they’ve got different players who score goals, they’re hard to play against, they keep clean sheets. I actually enjoy watching them play,” Rooney added.

Defense of Arsenal’s Set-Piece Tactics

Rooney specifically defended Arsenal’s effective apply of set-pieces, arguing that if opponents struggle to defend them, Arsenal should continue to exploit that weakness. “The set-pieces are part of football – why would you not use it? They put bodies in the box, if teams aren’t clever enough or haven’t got the players to deal with it, why wouldn’t Arsenal continue to do that?” he questioned. “I would be doing it even more if I was Mikel Arteta. It’s part of the game and I love it – they don’t have to change anything.”

Manchester City’s Challenge

The debate surrounding Arsenal’s title credentials comes after Manchester City’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Sunday, keeping the title race alive. As reported by Metro, Rooney believes City’s win was crucial in maintaining their challenge, preventing them from falling nine points behind Arsenal.

Rooney urged Arsenal to remain focused on their own performance, stating, “Arsenal can only focus on themselves.”