Mikel Arteta Fires Back at Paul Scholes After 'Worst Champion' Attack

When faced with critiques regarding Arsenal's approach to the game, particularly those voiced by ex-Manchester United player Paul Scholes, Mikel Arteta provided a strong response. "Perhaps my information comes from different places," he cleverly remarked.

The Gunners sit atop the Premier League table with a six-point cushion and have kept their Champions League group stage record unblemished. Having advanced to the FA Cup's fourth stage, they hold a 3–2 lead heading into Tuesday's second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final versus Chelsea. Things look bright in north London.

Nevertheless, Arsenal's path to success across these competitions has attracted negative commentary from certain quarters. "Should Arsenal claim the title, they might be the weakest side to do so," Scholes stated on his show The Good, The Bad & The Football.

The former midfielder contended that Arsenal lack sufficient entertainment value, with excessive dependence on set-piece situations leading to uninspiring play. Arteta disagreed with this assessment.

"I'm hearing the exact opposite," the Spanish coach emphasized, "throughout Europe we're considered the most thrilling team on the continent—highest goal tally, most defensive shutouts.

"Perhaps my information comes from different places."

When questioned about why figures like Scholes—who isn't alone among English critics of Arsenal's approach—hold different views from his unidentified European supporters, Arteta appeared puzzled. "I'm unsure which individuals," Arteta responded with a shrug. "Provide me with names, contact details and emails and perhaps we can discuss it, but I can't produce an extensive list of everyone."

Does Paul Scholes's Logic Make Sense?

Does Paul Scholes's Logic Make Sense?

Arsenal have certainly optimized their set-piece execution under Arteta's guidance: They clearly top the Premier League with 15 goals from dead-ball situations. Looking exclusively at open play, the league leaders place fourth with 28 goals, slightly behind Liverpool (32) and Manchester United (30) but well short of Manchester City (41).

Scholes's case against Arsenal's quality was further supported by citing insufficient individual excellence in their attacking positions.

"When considering a Team of the Season and selecting the front four positions, no Arsenal player would make that lineup," the 11-time Premier League champion stated. "Examine past title winners—Liverpool's attackers were exceptional. Perhaps only [Bukayo] Saka qualifies, and I don't believe he's been outstanding. His goal and assist numbers are modest this campaign."

At first glance, Scholes makes a valid observation. Arsenal's top league goalscorer this season is Viktor Gyökeres with six strikes, just ahead of own goals with five. Saka, despite multiple injury absences, has contributed four goals and three Premier League assists this term. Leandro Trossard remains the sole Arsenal player with more combined goal involvements this season.

Arsenal Forwards' Premier League Goal Contributions

Arsenal Forwards' Premier League Goal Contributions

However, using Team of the Season selections as a benchmark presents an interesting choice by Scholes. Jürgen Klopp's 2019–20 championship-winning Liverpool squad he mentioned featured Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané, yet only Mané earned PFA Team of the Season recognition that year.

While it would be uncommon for league champions to lack any attacking representatives in that season's Team of the Season, it's not unprecedented—as Scholes should recall.

The Manchester United team of 2002–03 narrowly defeated Arsenal for the title, but not in PFA Team of the Season representation. Sir Alex Ferguson's champions featured no attacking players in that year's selection. Actually, they had just one representative: none other than Paul Scholes.

Would Arsenal Be the Worst Premier League Champions?

Would Arsenal Be the Worst Premier League Champions?

The clear response to this inquiry is that Arsenal must first secure the championship to even earn the questionable distinction of being the weakest Premier League winners.

However, should they persist in frustrating Scholes and English football purists while claiming their first Premier League title in 22 years, their historical standing won't necessarily place them at the bottom of the championship hierarchy.

Comparing their primary statistics at this point in the season against the 33 previous Premier League champions, Arsenal display below-average attacking output supported by an outstanding defensive foundation. While the pursuit of Chelsea's record-setting defense that allowed only 15 goals during the 2004–05 season may be over, the Gunners still maintain one of the stingiest defensive records in history.

* After 24 games.

If this straightforward measure of achievement—goals, victories and points—determined the weakest Premier League champions, Scholes might not appreciate the result. His Manchester United team from 1996–97 remains the only title winner in the competition's history to average under two points per match.

Eliminated from both domestic tournaments in the fourth round, that mediocre version of the Red Devils did advance to the Champions League semi-finals. Nevertheless, there was no round of 16 stage then, and they managed just one goal across four knockout fixtures before falling to Borussia Dortmund.

Determining the weakest among the elite is like identifying the shortest skyscraper. Yet Arteta remains unwilling to accept that label—and perhaps shouldn't have to. Particularly not until he actually claims the championship.