Wayne Rooney to Arsenal: 'If teams can't deal with it, do it more'

"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.' I don't think they've been as bad as what people are saying, I really don't. 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?"

"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. If teams can't deal with it, do it more. That's what I'd be doing if I was Arteta."

Wayne Rooney has defended Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta against criticism of the team's playing style and tactics. Arsenal leads the Premier League by seven points and remains in contention for a quadruple after reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals. Critics including Alan Pardew have accused Arsenal of functional play and time-wasting. Rooney argues the criticism is unfair, noting that winning teams throughout history have not been scrutinized for their methods. He emphasizes that when competing for a title, winning through any legitimate means should be the priority, not how the football is perceived. Rooney suggests if Arsenal's approach is effective, other teams should adopt similar strategies.

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