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Wayne Rooney believes Arsenal’s lack of ‘superstar’ players could be a stumbling block in their pursuit of the title.
Rooney also criticized Arsenal’s supporters and former players like Martin Keown, accusing them of undermining the team with their anxiety and remarks.
Currently, Arsenal leads Manchester City by four points, with 12 matches remaining, including a crucial encounter with Pep Guardiola’s squad in April.
Rooney noted, “In recent seasons, Arsenal has proved they can win without relying on a single standout player.”
He added, “The issue seems to be the fans and ex-players, like Martin Keown, who might be harming the team more than helping. They should remain quiet and let the situation unfold. Keown’s comment about a six-point lead being better than nine was baffling.”
Wayne Rooney says Arsenal lack ‘world-class’ quality and that their fans and former players are ‘killing’ the team
Rooney praised Mikel Arteta for his adept management, highlighting how Arteta is skillfully addressing the media to keep his players composed. The real concern, according to Rooney, stems from those with historical ties to the club.
‘That’s an experienced player getting nervous. Mikel Arteta is handling it brilliantly – the way he’s speaking, how he’s coming out in the media, how he’s trying to calm the players down. It’s other people who are connected to the club who are having more of an effect.
‘Quality-wise, Arsenal have got a lot of quality. Have they got that superstar – that Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, Sergio Aguero type player that’s going to make a difference? I don’t think they have, but they know how to win games, and they’ve shown that over the last three years.’
His words may sting the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhaes, and William Saliba, who many would argue are ‘world-class’, but it is an assessment that Jamie Carragher agrees with.
Carragher had said shortly before: ‘Arsenal have got a great mentality, but when I watch Arsenal, I don’t think they’ve got an absolute superstar in the front four or five players.
‘I thought Bukayo Saka or Martin Odegaard would get there a couple of years ago and almost become the best player in the league. Wayne Rooney was that for Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo was that for United, Mo Salah was that for Liverpool – I don’t think Arsenal have got one of them and what could stop them [from winning the league] is actual quality.’
Arsenal’s reputation as ‘bottlers’ partly stems from their historic struggles to win titles despite having led the league at Christmas.
They have been top of the Premier League on December 25 five times, including this season, but have never won it in the same campaign.
Two of those collapses came in the previous three seasons under Mikel Arteta.
Mikel Arteta is hoping to lead Arsenal to a first league title since 2004; they have been runners-up for three seasons in a row
In January, Daily Mail Sport’s Oliver Holt made a compelling case for why the Gunners will not ‘bottle’ the title.
The accusations came after their 3-2 defeat by a resurgent Manchester United – a loss which doesn’t look that bad now considering the run Michael Carrick ahs them on.
Holt wrote in his Daily Mail+ column: ‘I don’t buy any of it. I don’t even buy the lazy triumphalism of the idea that Arsenal ‘bottled’ the title in 2022-23. They didn’t bottle it. They over-achieved that year. Manchester City were just a better team, that’s all. Arsenal were beaten by one of the best English sides of modern times. There should be no shame in that.
‘City are not that team any more. That’s another reason why Arsenal will win the title. This City is still a new team, not a team capable of putting together a relentless run of victories.’
While City have closed the gap in recent weeks, they have not been without their struggles.
They dominated the first half against Tottenham at the start of the month, going in 2-0 up at half-time, but ended up drawing that 2-2.
Moreover, they were far from convincing in their 2-0 win over League Two Salford City at the Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup Fourth Round on Saturday.
Arsenal could be 10 points ahead by the end of this week if results go their way, though City would have a game in hand.
The Londoners travel to Wolves on Wednesday and then to Tottenham on Sunday, while City have no midweek fixture but are in action against Newcastle on Saturday.
Injuries could well play a factor. Arteta has admitted that their persistent injury troubles might damage their quadruple hopes.
Wayne Rooney and Jamie Carragher were speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet.
