‘Like one of his tackles’ – Arsenal legend cheekily bites back over Paul Scholes ‘worst team’ comment

Arsenal’s Premier League win over Leeds has allowed Martin Keown to cheekily hit back at Manchester United icon Paul Scholes.

With Manchester City drawing away at Spurs and Aston Villa losing to Brentford, the Gunners moved six points clear at the top of the table as they aim to win their first league title in 22 years.

Getty

Last week, Scholes said on his podcast ‘The Good, The Bad & The Football’, alongside ex-teammate Nicky Butt, that Arsenal would be the ‘worst team’ to ever win the Premier League if they are still top in May.

In addition, he suggested that no Arsenal player would make a Team of the Season selection, except potentially Bukayo Saka, with the team heavily reliant on set piece goals.

And on the White and Jordan show on talkSPORT, Keown responded to Scholes’ opinion and gave a hilarious mention to his former rival’s infamous late challenges.

“You know this journey of week-to-week, you have got to shut that noise out,” said Keown.

“People talking about you being champions, some of it mischievously from some people saying this would be the worst ever Arsenal team. You just go and win it. Doesn’t matter what you look like.

“You know people try to create pressure and when you don’t get what you want, they look for all kind of weaknesses.

“They’re better than everybody else right now. That’s all they need to be.”

He then joked: “I love Paul but this comment, it’s like one of his tackles, isn’t it? It’s waist-high.”

“No one’s going to be listening to Paul Scholes in the Arsenal team. You just get on with your game and try and win”, Keown added.

The ex-England centre-back was a part of a legendary Arsenal side which won three Premier League titles, all under iconic manager Arsene Wenger.

Getty

And he provided some insight on what the previous Gunners boss told his title-winning side as they also looked to block out haters.

“I think Arsenal just need to concentrate and play their games, not listen to the noise that’s on the outside,” Keown continued.

“Arsene Wenger said this to us many years ago, you know, there’s no meaning or everyone telling us that we’re favourites. Don’t listen to it. Let’s just go and do it.

“That’s what Arsenal did at the weekend. I think it’s quite an emphatic result.

“You know, no one’s gonna be listening to Paul Scholes in the Arsenal team. You just get on with your game and you said you try and win.

“This would be their first Premier League trophy in 22 years. They’re doing exceptionally well with lots of twists and turns between now and the end of the season.

Getty

“What I will say is that Paul’s been in a lot of these races to the finish and it’s one of those that just one victory doesn’t mean you’re going to be champions. It’s on to the next one.

“What Arsenal need to do now is they can go nine points clear next weekend and then Man City go to Anfield the next day. Make it nine points. Make them look at nine points overnight, see that and it starts to sink in. Then they start to question themselves.

“If Man City can go to Anfield and win they’ve massively still in this race because that would be impressive.”

Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan then backed up Keown’s points on the show, also hitting back at Scholes.

“It’s not a fair comment,” he said. “I mean the fair comment is that for the front four, there potentially is an argument that you wouldn’t pick them [in a team of the season]. Ultimately he’s got some substance there.

“But if you asked him to stand up that observation against the 32 teams that won the Premier League or the 32 times it’s been won and analyse which has been the worst team and why he makes this observation, he’s at it.

Getty

“I mean, I like Paul Scholes as a player. He didn’t cover himself from glory as a manager and I think this sort of punditry is poor from him because it’s not right.

“Arsenal just smashed the Champions League. They just finished top of the [league phase] and won all eight games. This is a decent Arsenal side. It’s a good Arsenal side.”

Arsenal conquered Leeds with a 4-0 triumph at Elland Road, in a game which saw them bounce back after they were forced into an early change after Saka got injured in the warm-up.