David Raya is baffled by talk of a 'boring' Arsenal, while Mikel Arteta insists the noise comes from only a small group of critics.
Arsenal are hearing the criticism, and they are not losing sleep over it. Mikel Arteta has dismissed complaints about the Gunners' style of play, insisting they come from a very small minority rather than a wider groundswell of opinion.
Goalkeeper David Raya also weighed in, admitting he is not sure how to respond when people label Arsenal boring or irritating. For a player in the middle of the team's structure, the description clearly does not match what he sees day to day in the dressing room and on the training pitch.
The debate is nothing new in the Premier League. Any side that wins by control, structure and game management, rather than all-out chaos, tends to draw the same complaint from neutrals and rivals. Arteta's response suggests he sees that reaction as part of the territory when you are competing at the top end of the table.
For Arsenal, the message is simple: the plan stays the same. Arteta and Raya are backing the approach, and the verdict that matters to them is the one delivered on the scoreboard and in the standings, not on social media.
