Former Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney has publicly defended Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta against what he describes as "very unfair" criticism of the Premier League leaders' playing style and tactics. Rooney's comments come as Arsenal remain firmly in contention for an unprecedented quadruple this season, having recently secured their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a hard-fought 2-1 victory away at Mansfield.
Arsenal's Dominant Position Amidst Growing Criticism
Currently sitting seven points clear at the summit of the Premier League table, albeit with Manchester City possessing a game in hand, Arsenal's performances have nonetheless attracted significant scrutiny and negative commentary from various quarters. The north London club's approach has been labelled overly functional and even accused of incorporating excessive time-wasting tactics by some observers within the football community.
Pardew's Controversial Asterisk Remark
Prominent among the critics is former West Ham United and Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew. Last week, Pardew launched a stinging attack, accusing Arteta's team of delivering a "functional display" and controversially suggesting that any potential league title triumph should be marked with an "asterisk" due to their perceived gamesmanship.
Rooney's Forceful Defence on His BBC Show
Speaking candidly on his BBC programme, 'The Wayne Rooney Show', the former striker drew upon his own championship-winning experience to mount a robust defence of the Gunners. "The last league title we won we weren't great as a team, but no one is going back to that now saying 'oh, that Man United team who won that last title weren't great'," Rooney stated, highlighting the fleeting nature of such critiques.
He emphatically disagreed with the severity of the criticism aimed at Arsenal. "I don't think they've been as bad as what people are saying, I really don't," Rooney asserted. "I'm not saying this because I like Arsenal, I'm saying this because I think it's very unfair, the criticism they are receiving for being, what, seven points top of the league?"
A Pragmatic Winning Philosophy
Rooney offered direct advice to the Arsenal manager, advocating for a ruthlessly pragmatic approach. "If teams can't deal with it, do it more. That's what I'd be doing if I was Arteta," he recommended. "Their focus is just trying to win games in any way possible and when you're going for the title I don't think you have to worry about how anyone thinks about how you play, as long as you win."
Broader Tactical Debate and Set-Piece Scrutiny
The debate extends beyond general style to specific tactical elements. Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler also recently criticised Arsenal, accusing them of "making their own rules" following a narrow 1-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium. Particular attention has been paid to Arsenal's physical and organised approach during set-piece situations, a tactic that has proven highly effective this campaign.
When questioned about this aspect of Arsenal's play, Rooney was unequivocal in his support. "If the officials aren't going to do anything to stop that, and I don't even think it's a royal rumble... If you're not clever enough or you haven't got the players who can deal with that, why would Arsenal not continue to do that?" he reasoned.
He concluded with a firm endorsement of their methods: "Teams are finding it difficult to stop it. It's part of the game, I love it, I think it's been great. I'm sure Arteta doesn't think this but they don't have to change anything because people are moaning and complaining about it."
As the Premier League title race intensifies, Rooney's intervention adds a significant voice to the conversation, framing Arsenal's effective, if sometimes unglamorous, tactics as a legitimate and intelligent path to silverware rather than a flaw deserving of an asterisk.
