Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has mocked Arsenal as a “football training centre” ahead of Monday’s top-of-the-table clash at Old Trafford.
Arsenal, currently one point clear of United at the top of the table but having played an extra game, have not won a trophy since the FA Cup success of 2005 as Arsene Wenger has kept faith with bringing players through the club’s academy.
The Gunners remain in contention for four trophies this season but Evra seems unconvinced of their pedigree.
“For me, Arsenal is a football training centre,” he told Canal+. “You watch the match, you enjoy it, but are you going to win a title afterwards? That’s what people remember.
“It has been five years since they won anything and, for a big club like Arsenal, that is a crisis.
“We can lose against them on the 13th but, at the end of the day, what is there (for Arsenal)? There is nothing. There are no trophies, there is nothing.
“Our real enemy is Chelsea. We are more concerned with Chelsea’s results than those of Arsenal, even if we know Arsenal are a great team who can beat Chelsea, us (United) or anyone.
“When we play against Arsenal, it is really fun. They are a team that plays football who will not come to Old Trafford with 11 men behind the ball.
“We also play football, but the difference is that we also have strength. Sometimes, they cannot kill off matches. We are more efficient.”
Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri, responding to Evra’s remarks, said: “We are not children and we will demonstrate that on Monday. We will show Manchester United that Arsenal have really grown.”
