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According to a report by Football London on Wednesday November 4, 2026, ex-Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has spoken highly of Arsenal this season, praising their play and suggesting two Mikel Arteta players he would sign if he were to reorganise his old club.
Following their magnificent win over Liverpool at Anfield, the Gunners are now three points ahead of Liverpool in the Premier League. Arteta's squad played superb defense, allowing Liverpool to not even manage a shot on goal.
Arsenal did not put on a spectacular show, but they showed the defensive organization necessary to contend for big trophies. The quality of Arteta's squad has been recognized even by Scholes, who was previously critical of this Arsenal side.
Scholes was asked to choose players from any club worldwide who could transform Manchester United while speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football. The ex-midfielder named Gabriel, a defender for Arsenal, as one of his top picks right away.
"Hmm, alright. Scholes announced Gabriel as Arsenal's center-back.
Before choosing Harry Kane, he went on to say Jude Bellingham, Michael Olise, and Kylian Mbappe. Substituting Declan Rice, a midfielder for Arsenal, for the England striker was his subsequent decision.
Since joining Arsenal from Lille in 2020, Gabriel has played a crucial role in the team's defensive development. Even though William Saliba has been out with an injury as of late, the Brazilian has kept his importance alive with his outstanding performances.
At the same time, with five assists—the most in the Premier League—Rice has solidified his position as a key player in the middle of the field. He most recently helped Arsenal win a game against Liverpool by setting up the game-winning goal.
With the suggestion that Rice would become "virtually unplayable" if he cut down on the amount of touches he takes, Scholes acknowledged the midfielder's enormous potential but questioned his £105 million price tag.
The fact that Erik ten Hag, a former manager of Manchester United, tried to sign Rice before the midfielder ultimately signed with Arsenal was also disclosed by ten Hag.
In preparation for their Champions League match against Slavia Prague, Scholes' choices show that Arsenal is becoming stronger, especially when compared to United.