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Wayne Rooney has received more support from ex-footballers on his big Arsenal claim heading into the North London Derby against Tottenham
Former Tottenham star Rafael van der Vaart has agreed with Wayne Rooney's controversial Arsenal claim ahead of the North London Derby. Over the past few days, the footballing world has been talking about Sunday's huge clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Rooney making a bold admission during his preview.
Despite being full of praise for the league leaders, the Manchester United legend explained why he does not think Arsenal have any elite-level players.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Overlap Fan Debate with Sky Bet, he said: "I agree with the fact that Arsenal don’t have an out-and-out superstar, a world-class player that you can pin everything on. However, what we’ve seen over the last few years is, they know how to win games.
"They’ve shown you don’t need that superstar player. What I think is happening is the Arsenal fans, ex-players coming out, they are killing them.
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"They should stay silent and let everyone else talk. I heard Martin Keown saying having a six-point lead is better than nine, I was thinking, ‘What are you talking about?' That's an experienced player getting nervous.
"Mikel Arteta is handling it brilliantly – the way he’s speaking, how he’s coming out in the media, how he’s trying to calm the players down. It’s other people who are connected to the club who are having more of an effect.
"Quality-wise, Arsenal have got a lot of quality. Have they got that superstar – that Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, Sergio Aguero type player that’s going to make a difference? I don’t think they have, but they know how to win games, and they’ve shown that over the last three years."
Similarly to Rooney, Van der Vaart made a point of stating that the Gunners are an excellent team and have some great players but that there is perhaps one key thing stopping them from specific stars being deemed among the very best.
He told Sky Bet: “Arsenal do not have any world-class players – I agree with Wayne Rooney. Perhaps it is better to say that Arsenal have ‘stars’ in their team – they have really good players, but nobody is world class. To be a world-class footballer, it’s not just about your performances, you need the attitude on the pitch.
"When I look at this Arsenal team, they are all ‘Ideal son-in-law’s,’ as we say in Dutch – they can play well, but I don’t think any would succeed if they went to Real Madrid because the mentality is much harder and there is a lot more pressure.”
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Whether Bukayo Saka is world-class has been a regular talking point over the last few years, with his goal against Wolves and new bumper contract keeping him in the headlines.
On him signing those fresh terms feeling extra special than other renewals, Arteta said: "I think they are all very important.
"We are very happy that the players are feeling in such a strong way about the club and what we are doing, and the way the team treats it, and the fact that we can continue to improve, and we are going to win together.
"We got it clear since it took very, very little and for him to make that decision and the club to be so aligned with him, I think it's a very positive thing.
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