Rooney Fires Back: 'Brilliant' Arsenal Deserve No Asterisk on Title Charge
Wayne Rooney has passionately defended Arsenal's "brilliant" style amid criticism of their set-piece heavy approach, insisting it's smart football and the backlash is unfair. Players like Declan Rice and critics including Arne Slot and Mathys Tel have fuelled the debate, but Rooney draws parallels to past champions. He warns Manchester City remain title contenders despite trailing by seven points.
Rooney Fires Back: 'Brilliant' Arsenal Deserve No Asterisk on Title Charge
Picture Arsenal cruising seven points clear at the summit of the Premier League, chasing their first title in over two decades. Yet, instead of champagne corks popping, pundits and rivals are whinging about their 'boring' set-piece reliance. Enter Wayne Rooney, Manchester United's record scorer, who's launched a proper tirade in their defence.
On his BBC podcast, the ex-Red Devils legend called the Gunners "brilliant" and slammed the "unfair" backlash. He reckons they've got a smashing blend of grit and flair – tough to break down, clinical from dead balls, and leaking few goals. "I actually enjoy watching them," Rooney insisted, drawing parallels to his own United sides that weren't always poetry in motion but still lifted silverware.
Critics Pile On: From 'Zoo' Chaos to Asterisk Titles
The griping's been relentless. Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler smirked that Arsenal "make their own rules" and aren't even "trying to play football". Ex-Newcastle chief Alan Pardew stirred the pot further, suggesting a potential title should come with an asterisk for their functional approach.
It's not just the old guard. Liverpool manager Arne Slot moaned after Arsenal's 2-1 win over Chelsea – a match packed with set-piece strikes – that modern footy is "not a pleasure" anymore due to box scrums. Tottenham winger Mathys Tel piled in on a podcast, dubbing corner-kick chaos a "zoo" where everyone's shoving and the keeper's blind. He even lamented the Premier League lacking the flair of Vinicius Junior sombrero flicks or Kylian Mbappé bursts.
As reported by Football365 via OneFootball and Isaac Stacey Stronge at FourFourTwo, this debate's been bubbling all season. Arsenal have notched 19 goals from corners and free-kicks – five more than anyone else, double what some sides manage.
Rice Bites Back and Rooney's Reality Check
Gunners midfielder Declan Rice isn't mincing words either. Chatting to The i Paper, he laughed off the moans: "Everyone talks about it and then everyone does it – so it's confusing!" He admitted they could polish their routines further but why fix what's winning?
Rooney's all in on the set-piece love-in. "Why wouldn't you use it?" he barked. "If teams can't handle bodies in the box, tough luck." He'd ramp it up as Mikel Arteta, he says – no need to tweak a winning formula. Sure, open-play goals are down, but who's counting when results roll in?
He reminisced about United's last title: not a vintage team, but history forgets the flaws. "I'm not an Arsenal fanboy," Rooney stressed. "The criticism's bang out of order."
That said, Rooney's no pushover for the leaders. Despite the gap, he warned City are "well within the title race". Pep's lot ain't finished yet – a classic Rooney caveat amid the praise.
Arsenal fans, crack open the tins. Your boys are top dogs, set-pieces and all. The haters can asterisk away – Rooney's got your back, and the table doesn't lie.