Wayne Rooney Slams Arsenal Legend for Creating Pressure in Title Run-In

Wayne Rooney criticises “nervous” Arsenal voices for creating pressure as the title race intensifies.

Wayne Rooney has launched a blunt attack on Arsenal former players and sections of the fanbase, claiming their public comments are creating unnecessary pressure and actively damaging the club’s Premier League title push.

The former Manchester United captain believes Arsenal remain the strongest team in the race and are still on course to win their first league title since the 2003/04 Invincibles season. However, he argues that external noise from people “connected to the club” is undermining their position and feeding a nervous narrative around the title run-in.

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Rooney’s comments were sparked by remarks from Martin Keown following Manchester City’s late comeback win over Liverpool, a result that kept Arsenal’s lead at six points instead of extending it to nine.

The Comment That Sparked the Row

Keown suggested that a smaller lead could actually benefit Arsenal psychologically, arguing that a nine-point cushion would increase pressure and expectation.

The former Arsenal defender framed the situation as a way of protecting the squad from hype, believing a tighter gap would keep the focus sharp and the narrative controlled.

Rooney strongly disagreed.

Speaking on The Overlap, he accused Arsenal’s former players and supporters of creating unnecessary anxiety around the team.

“For me, what’s happening is the Arsenal fans and the ex-players coming out are actually killing them,” Rooney said. “They should stay silent and let everyone else talk.

“I heard Martin Keown saying having a six-point lead is better than nine. What are you talking about? That’s an experienced former player who’s getting nervous.”

Rooney’s View of Arsenal’s Strength

Rooney was quick to separate the external noise from what he sees on the pitch.

He praised Arsenal’s consistency, organisation and mentality, arguing that they have become a team that knows how to win games rather than relying on individual stars.

“They have so much quality,” he said. “They don’t have that one superstar they pin everything on, but they know how to win games. They’ve shown that over the last three years.”

He also praised Mikel Arteta’s leadership, describing the manager as calm, controlled and composed under pressure, and suggested that the real stability at Arsenal is coming from the technical area rather than the media narrative.

“I think Arteta is handling it brilliantly,” Rooney added. “It’s other people connected to the club who are having more of an effect.”

Arsenal currently sit four points clear of Manchester City with 12 Premier League games remaining.

They followed a 1–1 draw at Brentford with a dominant 4–0 FA Cup win over Wigan Athletic and now face a crucial run of fixtures that will shape the title race, including an away trip to Wolves and the north London derby against Tottenham.

Rooney believes City will apply pressure but doubts they can maintain the flawless run required to overturn the gap.

“Of course City can still win it,” he said. “There’s still a third of the season left. But I think Arsenal will win it. I think they’re too strong and powerful. City will run them close, but I can’t see them winning every game and Arsenal dropping that many points.”

The Bigger Picture

Arsenal’s recent history has made nerves inevitable. Near-misses in previous title races have left scars among supporters and former players, creating a culture of caution and expectation management.

But Rooney’s message is direct: the noise is the problem, not the team.

For him, the players and manager are doing their job. The danger lies in the external voices amplifying pressure and doubt.

As the season enters its decisive phase, Arsenal’s challenge is not just tactical or physical — it is psychological. Blocking out the noise, staying focused, and trusting the structure Arteta has built may prove just as important as any result on the pitch.

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