Premier League was more competitive during Arsenal 'Invincibles' era, says Robert Pires

Battle stations: Robert Pires tussles for the ball with former Spurs midfielder Darren Anderton
AFP/Getty Images
Tom Collomosse3 November 2016

Robert Pires believes the Premier League was a tougher competition during the era of the Invincibles.

Pires was part of the Arsenal side who won the title in 2004 without losing a League game — an unbeaten run that stretched to 49 matches.

Ahead of Sunday’s derby against Tottenham at Emirates Stadium, Pires is confident his former club still have the edge on their rivals in the capital — even though he acknowledges Spurs are stronger now than when he was playing.

But the former France attacker, who scored 84 goals in 284 games for Arsenal from 2000-06, claims the League has lost the edge that made it so compelling at the start of the century.

He told Standard Sport: “In my time it was more competitive and more difficult, of course. You remember the Chelsea and Manchester United teams of that period? I don’t think it’s the same now.

“There was more passion, there were more battles on the pitch. It is competitive now but — in my opinion it’s not the same.

“It was more aggressive, there were more duels, there was more talk. This is football, especially in England. Sometimes you need that on the pitch, especially in this country.”

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Robert Pires is involved in Star Sixes, the first competitive world tournament for iconic former players. For further information, visit starsixes.com or theo2.co.uk/starsixes

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