Nigel Winterburn: Arsenal must ignore the noise and “push it through”

Arsenal’s quadruple hopes were ended at Wembley as they lost 2-0 to Manchester City in the League Cup final on Sunday. The defeat reignited debate around Mikel Arteta’s selection decisions, including the call to start Kepa Arrizabalaga instead of David Raya, which drew heavy scrutiny in the aftermath.

Despite that cup disappointment, Arsenal remains in a strong position in the league run-in, holding a nine-point lead at the top (with the key Etihad clash still to come on April 19).

We caught up with former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn to discuss whether the City defeat can derail Arsenal’s title push, the backlash around their set-piece reliance, and why he thinks the “anti-football” narrative should be ignored.

Cup loss doesn’t affect anything in the league

Asked whether the defeat to City could trigger a collapse, Winterburn said he is not convinced Arsenal should panic — even if he felt City were the better side on the day.

“No, I am not ruthless enough to say the final between Arsenal and Man City was disappointing. I think we started well and had that triple chance, but Man City played well with a very high press in the second half.”

“We couldn't play through the press and couldn't keep the ball. The momentum was swinging but overall there weren't that many chances in the game, not even for Man City.”

The former full-back also addressed the post-match debate around Arteta’s goalkeeper call, pointing out that City also rotated and still got a big performance.

“Of course, everyone jumps on to ask why he played with Kepa and not Raya. But Man City played with their second choice and he did very well, also with the triple save early in the game.”

“The way we were playing, the error just threw the team, but we should be able to cope with that. I just think Man City overall were the better team and they took their chances and we didn't.”

Even so, Winterburn insisted Arsenal’s league position means the title race is still in their hands.

“I am not worried going forward. We are leading the Premier League and still have the FA Cup and the Champions League. I think Man City wanted to make a statement, but it doesn't affect anything in the league. Arsenal still have the point advantage and we just need to take it game by game.”

He stressed the importance of the next league fixture as a moment to respond decisively.

“The next league match will be hugely important and they have to keep going. I am not really worried.”

“Obviously, the loss is going to show in the next few weeks if it will affect them, but we are assuming that the players will be ready for that final push.”

“Everything is still in place, now they just need to push it through. They have to win at least one trophy.”

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All this discourse around Arsenal’s playing style is rubbish

Arsenal’s set-piece success has sparked criticism in some quarters, with terms like “boring” and “anti-football” being thrown around. Winterburn dismisses that as noise from ex-pros and fans.

“There’s that pressure that Arsenal haven’t won the league in over 20 years and the players know because of the talk around the club and the history. Do I care how we win the league? Absolutely not? Would I want to see 4-5 goals every game? Of course I would but if that means we’re also losing a lot more games then no.”

He added that he has played in teams with very different styles and trophies are what matter in the end.

“In my career I played at Wimbledon? Long ball. George Graham? Strict orders and set up of a team. A bit like the current Arsenal team. I’ve also played under Arsene Wenger who was a bit more open and played with a lot more freedom so I’ve played in all of the styles and on the eye you would go Wenger style is better to watch. But as a player if you can guarantee me to win the Premier League and the Champions League then I would take that. We didn’t do that. ”

“We won the Premier League and the FA Cup double which for me was absolutely amazing. It’s difficult for me because I’ve won things with different styles. This season if this way gets us over the line then why would I criticise it? I want to see Arsenal as Premier League champions.”

Winterburn also pushed back on the idea that Arsenal's goals are unusually “set-piece heavy.”

“I can’t take all the nonsense of set plays because if you divide the set play goals by the open play goals there are other teams that have scored a higher percentage of set play goals. I’m not having the criticism because what’s happened is the bandwagon has been jumped on by people that don’t support Arsenal but every Premier League game from a corner is the same.”

“Don’t tell me one team does it and the other 19 don’t.”

The ex-England international proceeded to defend Arsenal’s tactics on set plays, arguing that the physicality and crowding in the six-yard box are a league-wide reality.

“Don’t tell me other teams don’t crowd around the goalkeeper and put 7-8 players in the six yard box. They all do it because they know it’s a way of causing chaos and creating chances to score goals. They don’t want to be left behind. It’s the same way a player might get touched in the box and they go over. Don’t tell me one team does it and the other 19 don’t. They all do it. If they feel contact they go over. That’s why you’ve got to push all that aside.”

“There’s an agenda around Arsenal and that’s because people don’t like the style of play and social media helps to spread it. If you ask any Arsenal supporter at the end of it they want to talk about style of play. They’ll talk about 2026 Premier League champions. At that point it’s all that matters.”

“All this rubbish from ex players and journalists about an asterisk if they win should be ignored. Whoever finishes top should win the title no matter how you play. It’s up to the opposition to find a way of stopping you. From Arsenal’s point of view this season a lot of teams haven’t been able to overcome that so the supporters complain. Get on with it.“

Relegation battle goes down to the last day

Winterburn had a decorated career with Arsenal but also tasted relegation while he was at West Ham. In his view, the relegation battle being fought by the Hammers, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham is primed to go down to the wire.

“When you’re not cut adrift there’s always a chance of staying up. It’s so close between Forest, West Ham and Tottenham at the moment. One victory flips it around so it’s dangerous to think and be sure of any team going down. If I’m honest with you I have no idea who is going to go down. We don’t know what’s happening on the training grounds.”

Drawing on experience, he explained how quickly fear can spread when teams are under pressure.

“Now I’ve been there when West Ham got relegated. I know what it’s like to be down there. You come out with the right intention and the crowd are with you for the most part and all of a sudden one of your teammates does something they’d never normally do and you go a goal behind.”

“The atmosphere is gone and suddenly you’re fighting fear and these teams know that going out of the Premier league is huge for them financially so I can't answer who is going to go down but what I do know and believe is that it goes to the last game.”

Read more as we examine the Premier League Attacking Transfer Index