Wayne Rooney has been backed up in his controversial claim about Arsenal having not world-class players with a fresh Premier League title point made
Wayne Rooney has been told he is right about Arsenal having no world-class players
Wayne Rooney has been told he is right about Arsenal having no world-class players(Image: (Photo by Ryan Browne/Shutterstock))
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Ex-Tottenham ace Rafael van der Vaart has concurred with Wayne Rooney's contentious claim about Arsenal ahead of the North London Derby. In recent days, talk regarding Sunday's massive showdown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has dominated football circles, with Rooney making a daring statement during his preview.
Despite expressing admiration for the league leaders, the Manchester United icon explained why he believes Arsenal lack any top-tier players.
Speaking on the latest instalment of The Overlap Fan Debate with Sky Bet, he said: "I agree with the fact that Arsenal don't have an out-and-out superstar, a world-class player that you can pin everything on. However, what we've seen over the last few years is, they know how to win games.
"They've shown you don't need that superstar player. What I think is happening is the Arsenal fans, ex-players coming out, they are killing them.
"They should stay silent and let everyone else talk. I heard Martin Keown saying having a six-point lead is better than nine, I was thinking, 'What are you talking about?' 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."
Much like Rooney, Van der Vaart emphasised that the Gunners are a superb team with some fantastic players, but there might be one crucial element preventing them from having specific stars recognised among the absolute elite.
Arsenal players celebrate Bukayo Saka's goal
Arsenal have been brutally told again there is no world-class players in their squad(Image: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock)
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He told Sky Bet: "Arsenal do not have any world-class players – I agree with Wayne Rooney. Perhaps it is better to say that Arsenal have 'stars' in their team – they have really good players, but nobody is world class. To be a world-class footballer, it's not just about your performances, you need the attitude on the pitch.
"When I look at this Arsenal team, they are all 'Ideal son-in-law's,' as we say in Dutch – they can play well, but I don't think any would succeed if they went to Real Madrid because the mentality is much harder and there is a lot more pressure."
The question of whether Bukayo Saka is world-class has been a frequent topic of discussion over recent years, with his goal against Wolves and new lucrative contract keeping him in the spotlight.
On the significance of this contract extension compared to previous renewals, Arteta said: "I think they are all very important.
"We are very happy that the players are feeling in such a strong way about the club and what we are doing, and the way the team treats it, and the fact that we can continue to improve, and we are going to win together.
"We got it clear since it took very, very little and for him to make that decision and the club to be so aligned with him, I think it's a very positive thing."