“Although I’m a Man United’s legend but if Mikel Arteta start that guy against us then we’re not only going to lose but we’ll be humiliated”: Manchester United’s legend Wayne Rooney names the only Arsenal player who he’s so scare see in the Gunners lineups against Manchester United on this weekend, Backs Arsenal to win big if the star start
The feel good factor is certainly back at Arsenal after they all but secured a last eight spot in the Champions League.
In the Premier League the Gunners have fallen away with the title now looking beyond them. That is partly down to injuries destroying their attacking line and goals have been an issue, but Mikel Arteta’s side put those issues aside to score seven on Tuesday night.
Arsenal beat PSV 7-1 on the road with the second-leg to come at the Emirates, but the tie is now a formality given the lead they’ll return with. It has proved that Arteta’s side can still be potent in the final third as they prepare for take on Manchester United on Sunday.
Nwaneri ‘the most exciting footballer in England’
Joe Cole has backed Ethan Nwaneri to become an England regular for a decade as his stock continues to rise. The teenager was part of the Arsenal attack and got on the scoresheet as they dismantled PSV.
Nwaneri has been on people’s radar for several years but this has undoubtedly been his breakout year and the former player turned pundit believes he is the “most exciting footballer in England and maybe Europe.”
The ex-Chelsea man added: “For me, he’s so good that he doesn’t need the U21s. In my opinion, he’s that good. He needs to go straight in with Thomas Tuchel, get around the squad and get some minutes, because he’s an England player for the next 10-15 years.”
Rooney highlights Arsenal failure
Arsenal’s failure to sign a striker last summer is why they will fail to win the Premier League title they crave, according to Wayne Rooney. The team are currently without a recognised senior striker with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz sidelined, leading many to criticise the club for not bringing in a new face in January.
However the Gunners were originally questioned months ago for failing to buy a prolific striker in the summer transfer window. Rooney was quizzed on whether signing a No.9 had to be the club’s priority this coming summer and confessed they are paying for their failure to do so.
He said: “Yeah, you would think so. Not getting a striker in the summer was the biggest mistake I think. Getting players in January is always difficult. It’s difficult to get the right players for the right price.”
MLS hooked but praised
Myles Lewis-Skelly was hailed by Arteta despite being substituted before half-time. The young left-back was withdrawn in the 34th minute after narrowly avoiding a second yellow card for a mistimed challenge on Richard Ledezma.
But that was only after he’d made a serious impact in the final third, helping lay on one of Arsenal’s seven goals in the Netherlands. He said: “There were a few players today, we are ready to take the initiative. When you get to this stage, you have to really play and love the game and take initiative and go for it.
“And today we have a full-back in Myles who puts a cross in for the opposite winger; you have Jurrien scoring a header as a full back and you have Richy [Riccardo Calafiori] with the movement of a nine and scoring with his right foot, that’s what I’m talking about – flow, courage and playing the way we want to play.”
