Wayne Rooney has made 'unfair' comments about the Gunners after Mikel Arteta was slammed for his crucial decision which could impact the league leaders' season
08:09, 10 Mar 2026
MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 20: Former England player Wayne Rooney during a TV interview prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Arsenal FC at Stadio San Siro on January 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images)
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Wayne Rooney has defended Mikel Arteta(Image: Sports Press Photo, Getty Images)
Arsenal once more find themselves at the heart of debate as we near the crucial phase of the campaign. Mikel Arteta's side made hard work of their FA Cup fifth-round journey to Mansfield Town on Saturday, where they clinched a slender 2-1 win.
However, the Gunners can remain upbeat given they currently hold a seven-point advantage over Manchester City in the Premier League title race. They are also through to the Carabao Cup final, where they will meet City later this month.
Arsenal will first focus on a vital Champions League last-16 first-leg encounter at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday evening, having finished top of the league phase of the tournament and secured a beneficial draw as a result. Here, the Daily Star Sport looks at the latest Arsenal news.
Rooney defends Gunners
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 01: Jurrien Timber celebrates scoring the 2nd Arsenal goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on March 01, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Arsenal's reliance on set pieces has been criticised(Image: Stuart MacFarlane, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Wayne Rooney has leapt to Arsenal's defence by branding recent criticism of their approach "unfair". The Gunners, for large portions of this campaign, have been forced to embrace a pragmatic brand of football to secure results in fixtures.
That has attracted criticism from pundits such as Paul Scholes, who branded the Gunners as the "most boring team" to claim a title should they proceed to lift the trophy in May. But his former Manchester United team-mate Rooney disagrees, instead applauding Arteta for mastering how to win in different ways.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, he said: "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 were Mikel Arteta. It's part of the game, and I love it. They don't have to change anything. They maybe haven't scored as many goals from open play as they would like, but they've made up for it in other ways.
"The last league title we [United] won, we weren't great as a team, but nobody is talking about that now. I don't think Arsenal have been as bad as people are saying, I really don't. I'm not saying this because I like Arsenal, I'm saying this because I think the criticism they've received is very unfair."
Nwaneri loan decision slammed
PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 31: Ethan Nwaneri #11 of Olympique de Marseille looks on during the Ligue 1 McDonald's match between Paris FC and Olympique de Marseille at Stade Jean Bouin on January 31, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)
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Ethan Nwaneri has struggled on loan at Marseille(Image: Catherine Steenkeste, Getty Images)
Arsenal icon Perry Groves has claimed it was a mistake to allow Ethan Nwaneri to leave on a season-long loan deal to Marseille in January. Following a promising debut where he netted for his new team, Nwaneri's stint in France has rapidly turned into a cause for concern.
The manager who signed him, Roberto De Zerbi, exited Marseille last month, with the 18-year-old now being limited to substitute appearances under new boss Habib Beye. Nwaneri's motivation for leaving Arsenal initially was to gain more crucial playing time to boost his development, leading ex-Gunners winger Groves to label his exit a massive blunder.
Groves stated: "The one thing I've always said is I couldn't believe they let Nwaneri go. I don't care, you can't have too many bodies, even if you're not giving them game time, and those players are not getting into a squad of 20, who cares?"
Inside Gooners host Nick Bright proposed: "There's probably a little bit of player management there, in terms of just keeping him happy."
But Groves didn't agree with that evaluation, responding: "Who cares?"
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Bright continued: "I think the problem was Roberto De Zerbi left [Marseille]. I think there were certain assurances, because Arteta wanted him to play under De Zerbi, and then De Zerbi's gone."
Groves retorted: "But he can be unhappy at the end of the season, do you know what I mean? I don't care if he's happy or unhappy."