Wayne Rooney makes Arsenal title claim and responds to Mikel Arteta criticism

"I've heard a lot of people talking about Arsenal and the way they're playing but I think they've been brilliant. Football is played in different ways. Man City have had spells when they were absolutely incredible, the same for my Man United team. But Arsenal have got a good mix, they've got different players who score goals, they're hard to play against, they keep clean sheets. I actually enjoy watching them play."

"The set-pieces are part of football - why would you not use it? They put bodies in the box, if teams aren't clever enough or haven't got the players to deal with it, why wouldn't Arsenal continue to do that? I would be doing it even more if I was Mikel Arteta. It's part of the game and I love it - they don't have to change anything."

Wayne Rooney has publicly defended Arsenal against criticism regarding their Premier League title challenge, where they lead by seven points. Pundits including Alan Pardew and Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler have questioned Arsenal's style of play and tactics. Rooney argues that different teams play football in different ways and praises Arsenal's effectiveness, noting their mix of goal-scoring players, defensive solidity, and set-piece execution. He defends their use of set-pieces as legitimate tactical strategy and states he enjoys watching them play. Rooney contends that Arsenal should not change their approach and that their methods are part of modern football.

Read at Metro