Paul Scholes has caused a stir by declaring that neither Arsenal nor Man City deserve to win the Premier League, even suggesting that the trophy not be awarded this season due to unconvincing quality of play.
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has ignited controversy by publicly criticizing the quality of this season's Premier League title race. In a situation where Arsenal leads with 64 points, 5 points ahead of Manchester City but having played one more game, Scholes believes neither team has shown the true form of a champion.
Speaking on the podcast The Good, The Bad & The Football, the former Red Devils midfielder did not hesitate to share his shocking viewpoint: “Whoever wins, people will still say they deserve it. But I don't see any team convincingly proving they should be the Premier League champion.”
Not stopping there, Scholes even proposed an unprecedented idea: “I think we shouldn't award the trophy this year. No one deserves it. Honestly, this season hasn't been worth watching.”
Scholes' assessment stems from the fact that both Arsenal and Man City have lacked the stability that was characteristic of previous champions. Pep Guardiola's team had a shaky start and repeatedly dropped points against weaker opponents. Meanwhile, Arsenal under Mikel Arteta have yet to overcome the psychological pressure in the decisive stages, exemplified by their disappointing 2-2 draw against Wolves.
Scholes specifically pointed out the Gunners' problem: “The pressure is immense on them, isn't it? They've been in a favorable position in recent years but haven't been able to cross the finish line.” According to him, it is the weight of expectation that makes Arsenal become cautious, lacking freedom and creativity in their play, and even overly reliant on set-piece situations.
As the season enters its final stretch, Scholes also doesn't believe fans will witness captivating football: “Don't expect expansive football at this point. I don't think we've seen that all season. At this stage, what matters is how they get over the line.”
With the "early final" between Arsenal and Man City at the Etihad on April 18th, all eyes will be on the showdown that could decide the title. And then, one of the two teams will have to prove they possess the character to refute Scholes' harsh criticism.