Arsenal's style of play has been criticised as Mikel Arteta's side edge closer to winning the Premier League title
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta's side have been the subject of critcism throughout the season(Image: Ryan Pierse, Getty Images)
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Arsenal remain under intense scrutiny for their playing style as they move closer to clinching the Premier League title. The Gunners' slender 1-0 victory at Brighton on Wednesday extended their advantage over Manchester City to seven points, although City have a game in hand.
Mikel Arteta's team require just seven victories to guarantee their first Premier League crown since 2004. Yet while the travelling supporters erupted in celebration following the win at Brighton and City dropping points against Nottingham Forest, Arsenal's display left plenty wanting more.
The league leaders were far from their fluent best, scoring once from four attempts, with only two troubling the goalkeeper. They controlled 42 per cent of possession, endured prolonged periods without the ball and fashioned few genuine goalscoring opportunities.
Such displays throughout the campaign have repeatedly drawn Arsenal into the firing line over their tactics, with certain pundits proving particularly critical. Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has emerged as one of the most outspoken detractors of Arteta's approach.
The ex-midfielder famously condemned the Spaniard for deploying a "very negative team" against Manchester City earlier this term and suggested the manager has "gone back 20 years". Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, Scholes said: "Yeah, it was a very negative team, I thought.
"He's almost gone back 20 years. And I know he's been in England a long time, but it feels like we've almost brought an English mentality to him, if you know what I mean.
"Just be cautious at first. Be safe and try to get through the game against a City team that is not... this isn't a Pep Guardiola team anyway, is it? Well, it is, but again, he's probably (doing) the same thing as well. He's been here 10 years. We've almost turned him into an English coach watching yesterday. Do you know what I mean?
"If there had been two English coaches, we'd have been saying, 'Worst coaches ever. The worst style of football we've ever seen.' But because it was them two [Arteta and Guardiola], they get away with it a little bit, don't they?"
Arsenal's effectiveness from set-pieces, particularly corners, has likewise attracted criticism from certain quarters. Scholes voiced similar sentiments last month when he once again aimed a barb at Arteta's side.
Paul Scholes speaking in an interview
Paul Scholes has addressed Arsenal's playing style throughout the campaign(Image: YouTube/The Good, the Bad and the Football podcast)
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He said: "If Arsenal win the league, this could be the worst team to win the league. If you're thinking of picking a team of the season and picking the front four, nobody from the Arsenal team gets in that."
Scholes subsequently apologised when challenged by Arsenal legend Ian Wright on the Stick To Football podcast. He clarified: "I meant to say the most boring team, not the worst team, sorry. You will be boring, but it doesn't matter how you do it, does it?"
When the comments were presented to Arteta during a post-match press conference, the manager dismissed the "boring" accusation and maintained that observers throughout Europe held different opinions. Asked why there are such contrasting perspectives, Arteta said: "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."
In September, Scholes' former teammate Peter Schmeichel criticised Arsenal for deploying an "ugly brand of football" owing to their cautious strategy against Liverpool at Anfield. The pundit said on Viaplay: "I have never in my life ever wanted a team to win a game of football more than Liverpool today.
Peter Schmeichel
Peter Schmeichel has also voiced his thoughts on Arsenal's style of play(Image: Getty Images)
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"Arsenal bring an ugly brand of football to our game. I don't want to insult Arsenal, but their brand of football is so annoying to watch, it's designed to exploit opponents while waiting for set pieces."
Before this week's victory over Brighton, opposition manager Fabian Hurzeler accused Arsenal of employing dubious tactics and time-wasting during breaks in play to frustrate teams. It created a tense atmosphere at the Amex and led to frosty exchanges on the touchline between the two managers.
After the match, Hurzeler said: "I love the effort from my boys, I loved how they played football. I think there was only one team who tried to play football today and therefore I'm proud of how they did it.
"I ask one question, did you see in the Premier League game a goalkeeper going down three times? No? So I think we shouldn't waste too many words about that tonight.
Fabiran Hurzeler
Fabiran Hurzeler spoke out about Arsenal's approach to games(Image: Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)
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"We should focus on us, we should focus on our performance. We can't control these kinds of things. I think therefore the Premier League has to find the rule and it's not my business. I made my point before the game and I stick to it."
Responding to the Brighton manager's pointed remarks, Arteta said: "What a surprise! You just go back to the previous games and you'll find a lot of comments like this always.
"I love my players. That's the highlight. I love my players, we love our players and I love the way we compete. I think they [critics] love our players. I mean, every time they talk about our players, I think they are the most loved ones in the country."
When asked whether other managers' opinions impact him, the Arsenal boss responded: "Care? Yeah. Depends. On the comments. And the purpose of that."
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