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Arsenal Are Too Soft To Win The Premier League – Hull City’s Stephen Hunt
Tiger believes Gunners lack a physical edge..
27-Dec-2009 3:27:59 PM
Hull City midfielder Stephen Hunt has insisted that Manchester United have the edge over Arsenal in the Premier League title race as the Gunners lack a physical aspect to their play.
The Tigers take on Manchester United on Sunday a week after going down 3-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates.
However, the fall-out from that match continues with both clubs having been charged by the Football Association following a melee after Samir Nasri appeared to tread on Richard Garcia.
Speaking to The News of the World, Hunt insisted that Arsenal have a reputation in the Premier League and insisted that they “crumble” against physical opposition.
"If you get at them, they crumble," he explained.
"Arsenal have a reputation now. Manchester United don't have that.
"People like Wayne Rooney will kick you back and that's the way it should be. It's football and it's physical. You need that physical contact in the game.
"Manchester United have that edge. They give as good as you get and sometimes Arsenal don't give as good as they get.
"They have world-class players. I don't know why United have won the league these last three years instead of Arsenal. Maybe Arsene Wenger could tell you that.
"United have everything. Look at Ryan Giggs. He has everything. He tracks back, works hard, tackles, gets on the ball and scores goals."
The Republic of Ireland international also admitted that last week’s scenes at the Emirates had been unpleasant but made it clear who he felt should take the blame for the incident.
"You never want anything to kick off, like it did at Arsenal. There's a time and place for things like that. Maybe the instigator has got away with it and now Arsenal will get punished for it. Maybe I'm wrong in saying that,” he added.
"Nothing would have happened if [Samir] Nasri didn't do it. It's as simple as that. I've had a couple of collisions with [Manuel] Almunia during the game and we just laughed it off.
"It's going to happen. There will be contact, but you've got to have contact in a tackle. Not off the ball.
"I was probably a bit of wimp when I was younger. Maybe I still am a wimp!"
Gill Clark, Goal.com UK
The Tigers take on Manchester United on Sunday a week after going down 3-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates.
However, the fall-out from that match continues with both clubs having been charged by the Football Association following a melee after Samir Nasri appeared to tread on Richard Garcia.
Speaking to The News of the World, Hunt insisted that Arsenal have a reputation in the Premier League and insisted that they “crumble” against physical opposition.
"If you get at them, they crumble," he explained.
"Arsenal have a reputation now. Manchester United don't have that.
"People like Wayne Rooney will kick you back and that's the way it should be. It's football and it's physical. You need that physical contact in the game.
"Manchester United have that edge. They give as good as you get and sometimes Arsenal don't give as good as they get.
"They have world-class players. I don't know why United have won the league these last three years instead of Arsenal. Maybe Arsene Wenger could tell you that.
"United have everything. Look at Ryan Giggs. He has everything. He tracks back, works hard, tackles, gets on the ball and scores goals."
The Republic of Ireland international also admitted that last week’s scenes at the Emirates had been unpleasant but made it clear who he felt should take the blame for the incident.
"You never want anything to kick off, like it did at Arsenal. There's a time and place for things like that. Maybe the instigator has got away with it and now Arsenal will get punished for it. Maybe I'm wrong in saying that,” he added.
"Nothing would have happened if [Samir] Nasri didn't do it. It's as simple as that. I've had a couple of collisions with [Manuel] Almunia during the game and we just laughed it off.
"It's going to happen. There will be contact, but you've got to have contact in a tackle. Not off the ball.
"I was probably a bit of wimp when I was younger. Maybe I still am a wimp!"
Gill Clark, Goal.com UK
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