Kyle Walker has claimed that he used to absolutely hate facing one former Arsenal player, insisting that he would do his head in.
Kyle Walker, of course, is well aware of what Arsenal are now capable of, with Mikel Arteta’s side pushing Manchester City all the way in the Premier League title race this season.
The Gunners are now back amongst the heavyweights after several years away, and the current crop will be hoping to become the first team since the Invincibles to bring the Premier League title to North London.
One of those players who was unable to lift that trophy while playing for Arsenal was Robin van Persie, with the Dutchman arriving at Highbury in 2004.
Kyle Walker says he used to hate facing Robin van Persie
Van Persie went on to score 96 league goals for Arsenal, including 30 in what proved to be his final season with the club before moving to Manchester United for £24 million.
And speaking about the current Arsenal side on You’ll Never Beat Kyle Walker, Walker explained how van Persie sticks out to him as being particularly difficult to play against from years gone by.
“This is more like the Arsenal teams that was from before. They were nightmares to play against. That was tough, especially being a Tottenham player,” he said.
“Van Persie, used to do my nut in. Used to do my nut in.”
Manchester City star labelled current Arsenal player ‘incredible’
Walker has spoken this past season about being particularly impressed by one current Arsenal star. Arteta’s men have pushed City a lot further than most have managed during Pep Guardiola’s time in Eastlands.
Walker suggested that Bukayo Saka has been ‘incredible’ for a number of years.
What may worry City is that Arsenal seem to have very few players who have gone past their peaks just yet. They will also be incredibly determined to clear the hurdle that has proved to be just a little too big for them over the last two years.
Van Persie never had an Arsenal team behind him which was able to really challenge for the title while he was at his best.
Arteta will hope that his side are much better equipped to get across the line.