“Playing badly” – Former Chelsea player slams Arsenal’s style of play and “good fortune”

Former Chelsea goalkeeper Rob Green has launched a scathing critique of Arsenal’s current style, accusing the Premier League leaders of winning while “playing badly” and benefiting from “good fortune.”

Speaking after Arsenal edged Brighton in another narrow victory, Green questioned the aesthetic and tactical quality of Mikel Arteta’s side, suggesting their matches lack the flair traditionally associated with title-winning teams.

“Arsenal can keep playing badly and winning all they like. It’s the others that are faltering. Manchester City are faltering,” Green told reporters. “They’ve had a stroke of good fortune. There’s not one player that can turn around and say they had a good game, except maybe Hincapie.”

The 44-year-old’s assessment feeds into a wider debate about Arsenal’s reliance on set pieces and one-goal margins rather than free-flowing attacking football. Critics argue that, should the Gunners lift the trophy in May, they would be remembered as one of the least dominant champions in Premier League history.

Green, now a pundit, also admitted a broader disillusionment with modern football, describing Arsenal as “insanely boring to watch” and lamenting that the entertainment value of the game has declined since the 1990s and early 2000s.

While Arsenal continue to accumulate points, the conversation surrounding their performances highlights a shift in expectations: in an era where every club is organised and difficult to break down, pragmatism may trump spectacle. Whether that formula is enough to secure the club’s first league title in two decades remains to be seen, but Green’s verdict is clear—style points are not being awarded at the Emirates.