Paul Scholes and Ian Wright got into a heated debate on the Stick to Football podcast after the Manchester United legend claimed Arsenal are guilty of ‘bottling’ big games.
In the latest episode of the popular podcast that was filmed on Wednesday morning, attention turned to the Gunners after they suffered a 1-0 loss to PSG in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final last week.
Wright appeared optimistic that a turnaround in Wednesday night’s return match was possible, but Scholes was unconvinced as he insisted Mikel Arteta’s men had blown their chance at the Emirates.
Addressing Wright directly on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, Scholes said: ‘You’ve messed the first leg up. Bottle went.’
Wright fired back: ‘Shut your mouth, Scholesy!’
Gary Neville asked Scholes to expand on his point, and the former midfielder proceeded to name a big match from last season where he felt Arsenal showed their fragile mentality.
Man United legend Paul Scholes has accused Arsenal of ‘bottling’ big games
Ian Wright fired back at Scholes, telling him to ‘shut your mouth’ as he defended his old club
‘I think they’ve bottled it in a few big games,’ Scholes continued. ‘I go back to (Manchester) City last season, City away, when you had the chance to win the league. Same group of players, same manager.
‘The last big game you won, probably Real Madrid, isn’t it? Is it that big? Quarter-final. It’s not massive, is it? Quarter-final, it’s not that big. It gave you the belief to go and get beat by PSG.
‘I am serious. That City game sticks in my mind from last season. City had four or five players missing, you drew 0-0 and you were f***ing over the moon. Players on the pitch celebrating. You’ve got to go to those places to win the league and win.’
Wright was not happy with Scholes’ assessment of his old club, telling his ex-England team-mate ‘I don’t like your vibes’ before asking him if he would give Arsenal credit if they did complete their comeback against PSG in Paris.
‘No, still bottled it then (last season), though, didn’t you?’ Scholes replied.
Just hours after the exchange between Scholes and Wright, Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League following a 2-1 defeat at the Parc des Princes as PSG wrapped up a 3-1 aggregate triumph.
That result means Arsenal have now failed to win a trophy in each of their last five seasons, with their most recent silverware being the FA Cup back in 2020.
Arteta insisted after the game that his side deserved more from the tie, claiming Arsenal have been the best team in Europe this season.
Scholes felt Arsenal blew their chances when they lost to PSG at the Emirates last week
Scholes claimed Arsenal showed their fragile mentality when they celebrated a 0-0 draw against Man City last season
He claimed PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was the best player on the pitch in both legs after making a string of outstanding saves to help his team progress to the final.
Arsenal were left with little to show for their efforts, and have now lost four semi-final ties under Arteta in the last four years.
Arsenal still have work to do to ensure they finish second for the third straight season in the Premier League, while they will have to watch on wondering what might have been when PSG face Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Munich later this month.
Paul Scholes and Ian Wright were speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
