Paul Scholes Labels Arsenal ‘Boring’ and Says Potential Premier League Title Would Be Forgettable

Arsenal sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League table as they close in on a first top-flight title since 2003-04, but former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes is far from impressed. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Scholes delivered a blunt assessment of Mikel Arteta’s side, dismissing both their playing style and their standing in the broader historical context of English football.

“I don’t think they’re the best champions we’ll ever see. I don’t think we’ll talk about this team in years to come like great United teams,” Scholes said. The 51-year-old, who won 11 Premier League titles during his playing career at Old Trafford, elaborated further on what he sees as a fundamental flaw in Arsenal‘s credentials as champions. “You don’t always have to beat the top teams… but to be a great team, you’ve got to go and beat these teams. They won’t have beaten City, won’t have beaten Liverpool,” he added.

Scholes also took aim at Arsenal’s aesthetic appeal, singling out their defensive build-up play as particularly uninspiring. “You can win in all different ways; I’m just trying to say they’re not a team I’d turn on and watch all the time. We’ve seen David Raya and the centre-halves just playing and playing. It’s been boring,” he stated.

The criticism carries statistical weight. Arsenal have collected only eight points from their eight Premier League matches against the current top five this season, a return that includes draws and defeats against both Manchester City and Liverpool. It is a record that Scholes points to as evidence that the Gunners have not been tested — and have not passed the test — against the division’s elite.

Despite the gap at the summit, the title race remains open. Manchester City, five points behind Arsenal, hold a game in hand, meaning three wins from their remaining fixtures would be enough to confirm Arsenal as champions. The North London club have not lifted the league trophy since the iconic Invincibles season under Arsène Wenger.

Beyond the domestic picture, Arsenal are also competing for European glory. The club advanced to the UEFA Champions League final after eliminating Atletico Madrid and will face Paris Saint-Germain in the showpiece fixture. The prospect of a domestic and European double would represent the most successful season in Arsenal’s modern era, though Scholes’ comments suggest he would still not place them in the pantheon of truly great English sides.

Scholes’ remarks come amid wider debate over Arsenal’s legacy-building potential. The Gunners narrowly missed out on the Premier League title in both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, finishing as runners-up on both occasions, before mounting what could finally be a title-winning campaign. Whether this iteration of Arsenal is ultimately judged by trophies won or by the manner in which they were secured appears to be a distinction that will divide opinion well beyond the end of the season.