Troy Deeney reignites 'cojones' attack on Arsenal as he points finger at fans

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Troy Deeney has claimed that Arsenal 's fans will have to shoulder some of the blame if they miss out on the Premier League title again as he questioned their "cojones" - a dig nine years in the making.

The Gunners lost at the Emirates for the first time this season as Manchester United claimed victory late in the day last weekend, reigniting the title race with Manchester City and Aston Villa now just four points behind.

Mikel Arteta's side have finished second for three years on the bounce with pressure ramping up on them to eventually get over the line. The home crowd booed them at full-time last weekend, which was a shock given their support of the team in recent years.

The Emirates was previously criticised for having a toxic atmosphere, but that has flipped in recent years, however Deeney has claimed the supporter base are bringing a nervous energy to home games.

He told The Sun : "Arsenal fans have been sent into a spin all week over whether their side have the minerals to seal the title. Or the cojones, as some might say. If Arsenal do manage to blow this season’s title race, their panicking fans will have to take a big chunk of the blame."

The ex-Watford forward went on to add: "At the Emirates, there is an odd vibe about everything, a sense that everyone needs convincing and is ready to doubt the second things go wrong.

I was at their game against Brighton last month, with Arteta’s boys 2-0 up and everyone feeling comfortable — there was no way they were going to lose. Then the Seagulls pulled one back and instantly it was panic stations in the stands, everyone in the ground throwing a wobbler. That will have a real impact on the pitch."

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Deeney has previously gone for Arsenal and back in 2017, after the Hornets beat them 2-1 at Vicarage Road, he questioned whether they had the "cojones" for a battle. Arsene Wenger had bemoaned a penalty decision but the former Watford man didn't see that as the reasons for their loss.

He said post-match: "I've heard Wenger's already blaming [the penalty] as the reason for why they lost. Well, I'm not going to be one to tell Mr Wenger about himself, but there's a reason that they lost and it wasn't because of one penalty.

"I have to watch what I say, but it's [having] a bit of cojones, is what I'll say. Whenever I play against Arsenal, I'll go up and think 'let me whack the first one and see who wants it'."

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