Troy Deeney has hit out at comparisons between Arsenal’s set piece kings and Stoke City, insisting Bukayo Saka would not get into Tony Pulis’ side.
No other team in Europe has scored more goals from corner kicks since the start of last season than the Gunners, who added two more to that tally in their win over Manchester United on Wednesday.
United boss Ruben Amorim suggested after the game Arsenal stars were deliberately looking to win corners with former Premier League striker Dimitar Berbatov declaring Mikel Arteta’s side ‘the new Stoke’.
The Potters caused problems for teams across the Premier League following their promotion to the top flight in 2008. Pulis’ towering side caused havoc from free kicks, corner kicks and particularly long throws launched by Rory Delap with Arsenal among their victims.
But former Watford star Deeney is not a fan of the comparisons, viewing them as disrespectful to Pulis.
‘He did a wonderful job with a bang-average Stoke team keeping them in the Premier League — and yet it was ONLY because of their set-pieces? And why is there a stigma attached to it?’ Deeney wrote for The Sun.
‘Maybe everyone should play wonderful football like at Southampton — then get hammered for being bottom?
‘I was there on Wednesday. It was a s**t game which Mikel Arteta and his side won from two corners.
‘I played against Pulis’ Stoke and they were nothing like Arsenal of today. Bukayo Saka wouldn’t get into that Stoke team. Not because he isn’t good enough but because it is a completely different style.
‘But God forbid a team gets in the box and wants to head a ball — compared to a United team that didn’t want to head anything.
‘I loved Berbatov as a player, he is a real football man. But it feels a lazy comparison from a really smart guy just to protect his old club.
‘If United won 2-0 from two corners, would Berbatov call it a tactical masterclass? Yet, when Arsenal do it, it’s Stoke?
‘Arsenal dominated possession for most of that game, too. It’s called winning football.’
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