TROY DEENEY says he happily bumps into Arsenal stars in Sainsbury’s and claims there are no hard feelings over his ‘cojones’ jibe.
The Watford hero famously accused the Gunners of lacking ‘cojones’ after inflicting a 2-1 defeat in 2017.
SunSport columnist Troy Deeney says there are no hard feelings with Arsenal players over his infamous ‘cojones’ jibeCredit: Reuters
That came during Arsene Wenger’s final season, when the North London club were screaming out for a change of leadership.
But despite questioning the Gunners’ stars bravery and bravado, he insists there is no bad blood.
He said: “I see their players in Sainsbury’s or the petrol station and say hello, it’s nothing personal. I went up to them in the NBA game in London that year to make sure they knew that.
“People say it was revenge Arsenal relegated us but it was a really bad season and we just happened to get relegated there.
“I had a few memes from Arsenal fans and you take it on the chin.”
What’s more, Deeney reckons Mikel Arteta is curing the side’s soft centre after signings such as midfielder Thomas Partey and centre-back Gabriel.
Such was evident in the brilliant 2-1 comeback win over Rapid Vienna in the Europa League on Thursday night.
SunSport’s brilliant new columnist, who also accused social media giants of profiting from racism, said: “Arsenal look really good because they are actually recruiting properly. For years everyone said ‘they need a centre-half, they need a holding midfielder.’
Deeney believes Arsenal look much stronger now with their new signingsCredit: Reuters
“With Arsenal it was always forwards — flair players. Against Watford or Burnley, they came unstuck.
“They never had a dominant holding midfielder or a dominant centre-half so you always thought you could get at them. They had unbelievable players. But you need more.
“There is a mentality there that Arteta is changing. Before it was all about the show. Can you score four or five beautiful goals?
“Now I think Arteta is happy with one-nil to the Arsenal. You have to work for your place.
“Look at Nicolas Pepe, they paid over £70million for him and he’s not had many starts.
“You can see what they’re building. I don’t think they will break the top four this year. They are one or two short, but the starting XI is very good.
“But Arsenal — and Man United — went through two or three years of not bringing in the right players. Now Arsenal have got back in the mix.”
Arteta says Thomas Partey needs time to adapt to our system
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
