Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker slam 'absolute nonsense' and 'jealousy' over Arsenal

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Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker have slammed Arsenal critics after the Gunners' style of play came under fire

Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker have both slammed Arsenal critics who have taken aim at Mikel Arteta's style of play this season. The Gunners have excelled from set pieces and caused their Premier League rivals huge problems with a more direct approach, which has come under fire from some who claim it doesn't make for an entertaining game of football.

Arsenal currently sit seven points clear of Man City at the top of the Premier Leaguea and finished top of the Champions League league phase, suggesting Arteta's men are the best team in Europe. Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler was the latest boss to speak out about the Gunners style of play.

Speaking after the defeat to Arsenal he said: "There was only one team that tried to play football today. I ask one question - do you ever see in a Premier League game the goalkeeper going down three times? We should focus on our performance, we cannot control these types of things. I made my point before the game.

"We shouldn't concentrate on these things... let's talk about us. The Premier League needs to look at rules. There were so many [periods of time wasting]."

However, Shearer and Lineker have called the criticsm 'absolute nonsense' and say it's just 'jealousy' from their Premier League rivals.

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Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer said: "What's your thoughts on this? I think it's absolute nonsense about people saying 'it's not great football to watch. I don't want to play that way.' I think it's just complete nonsense. I think it's complete jealousy."

"It's the opponents having a pop," Lineker replied.

"Yeah the Brighton manager said it himself didn't he?" Shearer said: "I mean, I couldn't believe he came out with that rubbish. He should concentrate on his own team and their own form and where they are in the league rather than speaking about someone else's team."

Lineker said: "Yeah he spoke after the game of course on that. He had a swipe didn't he at the way goalkeeper went down with a couple of injuries.

"Teams do that nowadays and that is something they need to look at because goalkeepers don't suddenly get injured three times in the last few of minutes of a football match. Or twice.

"Most teams do it. When a team is doing really well, there is going to be some jealousy of that and we saw it with Liverpool last season as well at times.

"In fact, he wasn't the only one who complained because [Arne] Slot has had a go as well. Not after they lost, it's important to add that, he spoke about it before their game in his press conference when he thought the game - he doesn't love the game at the moment.

"He doesn't think the Premier League is very entertaining. I think it has taken a strange turn and has become obsessed with set pieces and long throws."