“No longer English” – Journalist with bizarre criticism of Arsenal, concerned for the game in general

Arsenal now play a style of football that makes them “no longer English” but a part of a worrying trend of uniformity in football.

That’s according to journalist Johan Derksen, who has provided some bizarre criticism of the Gunners today after watching them recently.

Derksen recently appeared on the Today Inside show to discuss the international break for the Netherlands, which saw them beat Scotland 4-0 and lose 2-1 to Germany.

Like most sides, Ronald Koeman’s team play out from the back with their goalkeepers, with Bart Verbruggen and Mark Flekken the preferred two in goal at this moment in time.

Both goalkeepers are asked to do that for their club sides, Brighton and Brentford, with the latter signed by the Bees in the summer to replace one of the best in that department, David Raya, who joined Arsenal on loan.

The Spaniard has often been praised for his ability to play out from the back and has continued to earn plaudits at Arsenal, where Mikel Arteta targeted him because of his ability in that area.

Derksen, though, isn’t impressed by the growing trend and even singled out Arsenal for criticism after going to watch them recently.

“What really bothers me about today’s football is that it is becoming a kind of demonstration of positional play,” he said.

“Barcelona once invented that, they could play any defence with positional play. I recently went to Arsenal, which no longer resembles English football.

“They start to combine behind the goalkeeper and that’s how they come forward and win games with it. I was amazed that the Scots play good positional play. The Germans do it, the Netherlands does it… It is becoming one big uniformity! The FC Position Game.”