The Gunners are seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table and remain in the hunt for a quadruple - leading Rooney to defend the club from those who have criticised the style of play implemented by manager Mikel Arteta.

Speaking on his BBC podcast The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England captain said: "The last league title we won we weren’t great as a team, but no one is going back to that now saying, ‘Oh, that Man United team who won that last title weren’t great.' I don’t think they’ve been as bad as what people are saying, I really don’t.

"I’m not saying this because I like Arsenal, I’m saying this because I think it’s very unfair, the criticism they are receiving for being, what, seven points top of the league? If teams can’t deal with it, do it more. That’s what I’d be doing if I was Arteta."

Rooney - who won five Premier League crowns during his time with United - explained that a title-chasing team's priority should just be on winning matches.

He said: "Their focus is just trying to win games in any way possible and when you’re going for the title I don’t think you have to worry about how anyone thinks about how you play, as long as you win."

Arsenal have profited massively from set-pieces this season and Rooney says it is down to referees to clamp down on their physicality in such situations.

He said: "If the officials aren’t going to do anything to stop that, and I don’t even think it’s a royal rumble… If you’re not clever enough or you haven’t got the players who can deal with that, why would Arsenal not continue to do that?"