Barton bites back at Arsenal

QPR’s Joey Barton has hit back at claims from Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood, that the Gunners never wanted the midfielder.

Barton had previously stated that an on-field clash with Gervinho in the first game of the season, while playing for Newcastle, may have cost him a move to Arsenal upon leaving United for Loftus Road at the end of the transfer window.

The former Manchester City man said he could not fathom why Hill-Wood would deny having interest in the playmaker.

He told The Sunday Mirror: “Peter Hill-Wood said they never had any serious interest in me, I just don’t understand. The dialogue between him and his coaching staff has broken down so severely that he doesn’t know what’s going on at his football club.”

“Fair enough if I was claiming to sign for Real Madrid or Barcelona or Manchester City or Manchester United, but I don’t think it’s that big of a shout to say Arsenal were after me because it’s definitely a club in – what shall I say – transition.”

Barton also went on to express his shock at Arsenal’s decline and poor form.

The Gunners sit in 15th place in the Premier League following a poor start to the season and have struggled through their Champions League ties.

Barton continued: “Financially, they have put themselves in a great position but I don’t know what’s happening there.”

“I don’t understand. You look at Arsenal and you think, ‘Well, they obviously have an abundance of money’. Their stadium is almost paid for. I would say, financially, they are the most well-run club in the league, barring Manchester City.”

“It’s nothing to do with me because it’s not my football club but, even so, I like to see those great English sides do well. I remember watching the Champions League and Arsenal against Olympiakos at home was a shoo-in, four or five-nil win for Arsenal, but they made hard work of it. But this is the game we’re in.”