Shearer responds to Hurzeler's negative comments about Arsenal.

Former footballer and current pundit Alan Shearer has responded to Fabian Hurzeler's criticism of Arsenal's game management during their recent 1-0 win against Brighton. Shearer, along with many fans, was unimpressed with Hurzeler's remarks about the Gunners' supposed time-wasting tactics. The match saw Bukayo Saka score the only goal, securing Arsenal's seventh consecutive win and placing them at the top of the Premier League table.

This comes after Manchester City's 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest, putting Arsenal seven points ahead. However, Hurzeler was quick to point out what he saw as unsportsmanlike behavior from Arsenal. He specifically called out goalkeeper David Raya for repeatedly going to ground and requiring medical treatment.

"I think there was only one team who tried to play football today," Hurzeler said. "If I asked everyone in this room did they enjoy this football game, I’m sure maybe one raises his arm because he’s a big Arsenal fan, besides that, no chance." He also expressed concern about the Premier League's lack of regulations on time-wasting, stating, "In the end we have to make the limits or the Premier League has to make the limits. Where will this go in the future?

One game we played 60 minutes net time [ball in play], then when you play against Arsenal it’s only 50 minutes, that’s ten minutes difference. This is what the supporters are paying for, you get my point." However, Shearer believes that Hurzeler's comments may have been made in the heat of the moment. "I get that, I understand that and it’s perhaps the worst time to talk to a manager after a game, particularly when they’ve lost, because there are so many things racing through your head and you might say things you might not mean or might regret," he said on The Rest is Football podcast.

But for Shearer, the opinions of rival managers and supporters do not matter to Arsenal fans. "The Arsenal fans would not give a damn what he thinks, won’t give a damn how Arsenal perform, as long as they go out and win that game," he said. "He [Hurzeler] wouldn’t because his team are not doing as well as they should do.

They’ve won three in 16… he’d be better off concentrating on his own team rather than any other team." Shearer also pointed out that it is not Arsenal's fault that they have found a way to be the best team in the league. "Come the end of the season, if they win the league they have found a way to be the best team in the league," he said. "The Arsenal fans will not give a jot what anyone says if they go out and win the title." Fellow pundit Gary Lineker shared Shearer's sentiments, stating that Arsenal should not be concerned with the criticism from rival managers and supporters.

"I’ve got one or two Arsenal friends, a friend of mine Briac, a lifelong Arsenal supporter, text me asking, ‘why is everyone having a go, why do they hate us so much?’ and I say to him you’ve got to take it as a compliment," he said. "It’s because you’re a threat, that’s why they do it. I think some of them do take it a bit personally but if they do go on to win the league they’ll get all the plaudits, except for those who are jealous.

Enjoy that I would say."