Former Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has filed a legal claim over Arsenal’s use of his tactics, it has emerged.
In legal papers filed with the Premier League, the 66-year-old former manager accused the North London club of plagiarising his set-piece routines and style of play.
It follows Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United at the Emirates last night during which both Gunner’s goals came from set-plays.
According to the legal claim, Pulis said Arsenal are: ‘a glorified prime-Barclays Stoke City’.
An Arsenal spokesperson described the claims as ‘offensive and untrue’, adding: ‘Mikel Arteta is absolutely not an unfairly handsome Spanish Pulis’.
Discussing the pre-action petition with Paddy Power News, Pulis told us: ‘I turned on the Arsenal v United game last night and the missus said to me she thought she was watching a Premier League Years rerun’.
‘I saw Jurrien Timber’s near post header and for a split-second I thought I was watching Kenwyne Jones nod it in.
‘The likes of myself and Big Sam got dog’s abuse for this style of play, but if you’re foreign and have a magnificent hairline you’re lauded as a genius’.
However, the former West Brom boss clammed up when quizzed on claims he might be related to Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover.
‘The fact I may have been on a stag do in Berlin in 1981 is purely coincidental’.
Meanwhile, Arteta remained coy after his side were linked with a January move for former Stoke City star Rory Delap.
‘I say to the fans, trust the process, even if it does involve coaxing out of retirement a big-eared 48-year-old Irishman who can backspin a throw-in into the six-yard box’.
Paddy Power News also understands Arsenal have made tentative enquiries about the availability of Ricardo Fuller.
*Paddy Power News’s footy news is pure fantasy – don’t believe it for a second
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