Newcastle winger Jacob Murphy has claimed that Arsenal have been the most difficult team to play this season.
The Gunners currently sit on top of the table, eight points ahead of Manchester City in second, albeit Pep Guardiola and co have a game in hand on their title rivals. One team that the league leaders failed to beat, however, was third-placed Newcastle - who they drew 0-0 with at the Emirates Stadium with the reverse fixture at St. James' Park yet to be played.
Now, Magpies wideman Murphy has admitted that Mikel Arteta's side have the toughest team he has come up against this term. When asked to name the toughest opponent this term, Murphy told Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel: "As a team: Arsenal.
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"I think Arteta has done a brilliant job, he has made some really clever signings in the summer as well. Technically, I think they’re superior to a lot of teams, but tactically, it’s hard to get anywhere near them, it’s hard to lock down their shape."
Murphy then singled our Gunners full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko for his passing range, admitting that the Ukrainian international, along with wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are extremely difficult to play against.
"It was tough playing against Zinchenko," he added. "I think he slipped three passes right between me and Sean [Longstaff] in the space of 15 minutes.
"He had no right to put the ball where he did. And he was getting through gaps like that. You think you’re in a good defensive shape and he’s still picking out passes like that.
"Obviously, Saka, deadly. Martinelli, frightening also."
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