Wayne Rooney wasted no time in telling fans how he believed his Manchester United 2008 team would fare against Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing Arsenal, were the two sides to meet.
The Red Devils legend was on punditry duty for the Gunners’ away clash in Champions League action against Inter Milan on Tuesday evening.
The north London team remain in contention in all four competitions and have built a commanding lead at the top of the Premier League in their quest to finally end their division trophy drought.
But despite appearing to have the measure of their domestic rivals this season, Rooney was quick to keep their ambitions in check regarding the team’s place in history.
Asked the question by Arsenal legend Theo Walcott, who described the 2008 side featuring Rooney and other luminaries in Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, and Rio Ferdinand as ‘the best team that (he had) ever played against’, the 40 year old was convinced.
‘We’d batter them,’ Rooney said quickly, prompting peals of laughter from Walcott and host Gabby Logan.
Wayne Rooney was delighted to be posed the question by his former opponent Theo Walcott
But the Man United legend was quick to stress that there would be no competition between this Arsenal side and his 2008 team-mates (pictured after winning the Champions League)
‘That took you all of a half a second to come up with that answer,’ Logan noted wryly, as Rooney bashfully doubled down on his assertion.
Under Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary side claimed the club’s 10th Premier League trophy and swiped the Champions League from league rivals Chelsea on penalties in Moscow to pull off an impressive European Double.
But Arsenal fans are within their rights to believe that they might yet emulate the heavily decorated team, with their path to the knockout stages in Europe all but confirmed with one match day remaining.
Arteta’s players are also set to benefit on English soil from a dip in the form of their closest rivals, with both Manchester City and Aston Villa losing in the league last weekend.
Pep Guardiola’s side were the team’s closest rivals but were felled 2-0 at Old Trafford by a Man United side overseen by Rooney’s former team-mate Michael Carrick.
Villa meanwhile were knocked back by Everton by one goal, prompting manager Unai Emery to claim that his side were not in contention to challenge in the top five, let alone for the ultimate prize.
Arsenal also have one eye on the Carabao Cup final, and a chance at claiming their first piece of silverware after defeating Chelsea in the first leg of their London derby semi-final 3-2.
