Wayne Rooney to Arsenal: ‘If teams struggle with it, increase the effort’
Wayne Rooney has encouraged Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to disregard “very unfair” critiques regarding the playing style of the Premier League leaders.
The Gunners are still in the race for a quadruple after advancing to the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory over Mansfield and hold a seven-point advantage over Manchester City, who have a match in hand, at the top of the Premier League standings.
Arsenal’s approach and style have faced scrutiny, including remarks from former West Ham and Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, who last week claimed Arteta’s squad delivered a “functional display” and implied that their alleged time-wasting should result in any league title being marked with an “asterisk.”
“The last league title we secured, we weren’t exceptional as a team, but no one is revisiting that now to say: ‘Oh, that Man United team who won that last title wasn’t exceptional,” Rooney stated on the BBC’s Wayne Rooney Show.
“I don’t believe they’ve been as poor as people are suggesting, I truly don’t.
“I’m not expressing this because I favor Arsenal; I’m stating this because I find the criticism they are facing for being, what, seven points clear at the top of the league, to be very unjust. If teams are struggling to cope with it, they should do more. That’s what I would do if I were Arteta.
“Their priority is simply to win matches by any means necessary, and when you’re contending for the title, I don’t think you need to be concerned about how others perceive your style of play, as long as you secure victories.”
– Milan’s significant derby victory; Arsenal’s FA Cup challenge; Yamal shines again; more
– Kepa Arrizabalaga impressed by ‘special’ Arsenal youngsters Max Dowman, Marli Salmon
– Mikel Arteta praises Arsenal’s emerging talents Max Dowman and Marli Salmon in FA Cup triumph
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler also accused Arsenal of “establishing their own rules” following their 1-0 home loss to Arteta’s team last week.
When asked about Arsenal’s physical tactics during set pieces, Rooney remarked: “If the officials aren’t going to intervene, and I don’t even think it’s a royal rumble…
“If you’re not astute enough or lack the players capable of handling that, why shouldn’t Arsenal continue to employ that strategy?
“Teams are struggling to counter it. It’s part of the game, I appreciate it, I think it’s been fantastic. I’m sure Arteta doesn’t believe this, but they don’t need to alter anything simply because people are complaining about it.”
