Wayne Rooney has given a blunt response after Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal were compared to one of Manchester United’s vintage sides that included Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Arsenal manager has earned praise for the way his team have developed into Premier League title contenders, with their intensity and winning habit drawing parallels with the best teams of the modern era.
As the debate over that comparison gathered pace, Rooney was asked what advice he would give United’s old guard if they were facing this current Arsenal team.
“Batter them!” Rooney replied, delivering a four-word answer that quickly caught attention.
The former United captain’s comment underlined how highly he rates the mentality and edge of that era at Old Trafford, while also showing he is not getting carried away with talk of Arsenal being on the same level as the dominant sides he played in.
Rooney’s no-nonsense reaction comes as Arteta continues to push Arsenal forward, with the London club again in the mix at the top end of the Premier League.
For all the progress Arsenal have made under Arteta, Rooney’s message was clear: his United side would not have been overawed by any opponent, and would have aimed to impose themselves from the first minute.
