- Rooney’s prediction and Arsenal’s rough patch
- Why the ex-Man Utd player was right
- Revisiting the conversation between Walcott and Rooney
- The X factor in the 08 team
Wayne Rooney’s hilarious response to the comparison between his Manchester United team and Arsenal’s current squad has been justified.
A few months back, the Gunners were seeking a potential quadruple, but they have now crashed out of the FA Cup and finished as runners-up in the Carabao Cup.
The past weeks have been tough for Arsenal as Manchester City beat them in the Carabao Cup final and Southampton knocked them out of the FA Cup quarter-finals. This moment has schadenfreude written all over it.
Moreover, these two incidents have one thing in common: the Man Utd factor. That was Rooney’s dismissal of the North London side. His words of prophecy on Arsenal have aged like fine wine.
Rooney Was Right on Arsenal
Football and life are considered to be the same. And Arsenal’s collapse shows why one should dream, based on their strengths. While many saw this coming, except for the Emirates faithful, it’s funny how they believed they were better than the Manchester United team of 2008.
The fanbases that mouthed they were the greatest have seen the rise of the sun more often than their club in recent years. In the last 3 years under Arteta, Arsenal have been only title contenders, yet they have bottled up in the crucial part of the season, which seems to be happening again.
Now, Arsenal see their hopes of a double hang by a thread, something which the United side achieved in style back in 2008. Rooney played a key role in a remarkable campaign.
The Rooney and Walcott exchange
Earlier in January, former Arsenal attacker Theo Walcott singled out Manchester United’s 2008 Champions League-winning side as the toughest opponent he had ever faced. He then asked Rooney how his side would fare against this defensive version of Arsenal.
Walcott said:
“Would your ’08 team compete? Well, you would compete against this team, but how does it compare to your 2008 team? Which by the way, was probably the best team that I’ve ever played against.”
Without a second thought, Rooney replied:
“We’d batter them.”
Later, the current United team would go on to beat Arsenal 3-2 at the Emirates under Michael Carrick. Rooney’s laughter at Walcott’s expense has likely continued in the months that have followed.
What Rooney’s Manchester United Had Over This Arsenal Team
That United team possessed the most fearful attackers, along with visionary midfielders. At the back, they had a perfect backline. Together, Sir Alex Ferguson built a team that the whole of Europe would fear.
While even if Arsenal go on to do the double, matching the ’08 side is not possible. Moreover, the defeat to City and Southampton shows that Arteta’s side is toothless without a set-piece goal.
Rooney had the last laugh, and his words will always be remembered. Finally, his side will always be one of the greatest in the Premier League.
