Mikel Arteta has vehemently defended his Arsenal side, refuting Paul Scholes’ claim that they would be the “most boring team to win the Premier League.”
The Gunners manager dismissed the criticism on the eve of a pivotal Carabao Cup semi-final matchup with Chelsea, stating that his club is considered “the most exciting in Europe” outside of the UK because of their strong defensive performance and prolific goal scoring record.
The verbal spat started when former Manchester United midfielder Scholes criticized Arsenal’s style of play, citing an excessive dependence on set pieces and a perceived lack of movement from their front four.
Scholes said that although the Gunners were successful, they lacked the glitz of past champions.
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Arteta was ready to present an opposing viewpoint prior to Tuesday night’s crucial second leg against Chelsea at the Emirates.
Arteta Counter Arsenal’s Critics
According to Goal, the Spaniard disclosed that his comments from the continent give a completely different impression of his side’s visual appeal.
“I hear completely the opposite: all around Europe that we are the most exciting team in Europe – the most goals, the most clean sheets,” Arteta said, barely concealing a smile. “Maybe I have different sources.”
When pressed on why there was such a stark disparity between domestic pundits and foreign admirers, Arteta offered a tongue-in-cheek response, asking for the contact details of his detractors.
“I don’t know which people. You send me the names, the addresses and the email and maybe we can talk, but I can’t give you a massive book of all the people.”
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