Evra blasts Theo Walcott for comparing Arsenal with Man United | OneFootball

Manchester United have produced some incredible sides throughout their rich and illustrious history, and debate continues over which one tops the list of the many wonderful teams built over the years. The Premier League and Champions League-winning squad of 2008 is widely regarded as one of the very best, having secured the top domestic and European trophies in the 2007/2008 campaign.

Furthermore, that team reached three out of four Champions League finals during their time together, with only the legendary Barcelona side of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi et al. preventing them from dominating European football completely.

Absurd comparison

However, former Arsenal star Theo Walcott clearly underappreciated the talents of the ’08 side after asking whether Mikel Arteta’s current team would beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s men. Walcott posed the question to Wayne Rooney, with the United legend simply replying, “we’d batter them”.

As reported by The Mirror, Rooney’s sentiments have been echoed by Patrice Evra, who played at left-back during those glory years for the club. Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Evra ripped into Walcott and completely dismissed the notion that this Arsenal side could compete with his United team.

“No, I’m leaving. Now he’s comparing this team with our 2008 team. I think he’s a menace for society. He should not be on TV. He’s dangerous for the kids. This is disrespect. He should never be on TV again when he starts asking questions like that,” he said.

Evra went on to label Arsenal fans as “delusional” and clearly feels comparisons like this are a huge reason behind many football fans in England preferring Manchester City to win the title this year.

“That’s the problem with Arsenal. That’s why I keep saying they are delusional. I know I talk with my heart, but they are delusional,” claimed Evra.

Big end to the season

Despite the quality across the two respective squads being evidently in United’s favour, Arsenal could still repeat the feat of a Premier League and Champions League double achieved by United in the 2007/2008 season. The damaging defeat at the Etihad this weekend will have hurt Arteta’s men, but they remain firmly in the race and have a Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid to look forward to after a favourable draw in the competition so far.

Meanwhile, Michael Carrick, another key cog in the ’08 side, does not quite have the same quality at Old Trafford that he had around him almost 20 years ago, but is set to end the campaign achieving a goal that looked a mile away at the turn of the calendar year.

A fine run since his takeover has left United all but qualified for next season’s Champions League after Matheus Cunha‘s winner against Chelsea put both hands on a third-place finish in the league, which would represent an excellent outcome given the circumstances he walked into in January.

United have five games of the season to go, and Carrick knows a perfect end could guarantee his role as United head coach on a permanent basis at the end of May.

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