‎'Boring' Arsenal Won’t Be Remembered as Great Team, Says Paul Scholes

By: Shawn
‎Manchester United icon Paul Scholes believes Arsenal’s current success under Mikel Arteta will not guarantee them recognition among the greatest teams in English football history.
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‎The Gunners are on course to secure their first Premier League title since 2004 and have also reached the Champions League final, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain. Yet Scholes remains unconvinced by the team’s overall quality and entertainment value.
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Manchester United legend Paul Scholes says Arsenal’s football under Mikel Arteta is “boring” despite the club chasing a Premier League and Champions League double.
‎Getty Images Sport 

‎The former United star questioned whether Arsenal’s football deserves lasting admiration despite their impressive position in both competitions. Speaking on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, Scholes suggested the side lacks the excitement associated with legendary champions.
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‎“I don’t think they’re the best champions we’ll ever see,” he said. “I don’t think we’ll talk about this team in years to come like great United teams.”
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‎Arteta has built Arsenal around structure, patience and defensive balance, a formula that has delivered consistent results throughout the season. Nevertheless, Scholes admitted he struggles to enjoy watching the Gunners compared to the attacking Manchester United teams he once played in with Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo.
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‎The 51-year-old particularly criticised Arsenal’s slow passing sequences from the back, pointing to the repeated involvement of goalkeeper David Raya and the defenders during build-up phases.
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‎“You can win in all different ways,” Scholes explained. “I’m just trying to say, they’re not a team I’d turn on and watch all the time. We’ve seen [David] Raya and the centre-halves just playing and playing. It’s been boring.”
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‎Scholes also cast doubt over Arsenal’s reputation because of their performances against fellow title contenders. While the club has outperformed Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United in the standings, he argued that failing to defeat top rivals weakens claims that this side deserves to be considered truly great.
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‎“You don’t always have to beat the top teams - they’ve not beat City and Liverpool, the best teams for the last four, five, six years,” Scholes stated. “That’s why I don’t think people will speak about them being a great team.”
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‎He continued by insisting dominant sides must prove themselves in direct contests against the strongest opposition. “I know you can get away with not winning those games, of course you can, but to be a great team, you’ve got to go and beat these teams. They won’t have beaten City, won’t have beaten Liverpool, United beat them.”
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‎Regardless of Scholes’ criticism, Arsenal remain on the verge of a potentially historic season. Alongside their Premier League pursuit, the club is preparing for a Champions League final against PSG in Budapest on May 30.
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‎If Arteta’s men complete the double, the achievement could force critics to reconsider their opinions of Arsenal’s place among football’s top teams.

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