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Arsenal are seven points clear at the top of the Premier League. They are in the League Cup final, through to the FA Cup quarter-finals and still alive in the Champions League with a favourable draw. By any measure, Mikel Arteta's side are having a season for the ages.

And yet, the loudest conversation around them is not about trophies. It is about aesthetics.

The Set-Piece Debate That Will Not Go Away

After Arsenal beat Chelsea with two goals from corners earlier this month, former Premier League winner Chris Sutton posed the question bluntly: would they be the ugliest Premier League-winning team in history?

Paul Scholes, an 11-time title winner with Manchester United, went further. He recently described the Gunners as potentially "the most boring team" to win the league.

It is a criticism that has followed Arteta's side all season, fuelled by their reliance on set pieces and a defensive resilience that prioritises results over spectacle. But is the argument fair? And does it actually matter?

Arteta addressed it head-on during his press conference on Friday. "It's about playing the best possible football you can, and that the game demands, to give you the best possibility to win the game. That's it," he said.

Simple. Pragmatic. Unapologetic.

Rooney and Moyes Come to Arsenal's Defence

Not everyone agrees with the critics. Wayne Rooney, a five-time Premier League champion, pushed back firmly on his YouTube show this week.

"I've heard a lot of people talking about Arsenal and how they're playing. I think Arsenal have been brilliant," said Rooney. "I actually enjoy watching them play. Set-pieces are part of football. Why would you not use it?"

It is a valid point. Scoring from set pieces requires meticulous preparation, rehearsed routines, and players with the physical and technical quality to execute them under pressure. Dismissing them as somehow lesser ignores the amount of work that goes into making them so effective.

David Moyes, the current Everton manager who coached Arteta during his playing days at Goodison Park, was equally supportive. "You are making it sound as if it's a problem because they are good at set-pieces and they are a strong, physical side," said Moyes. "I don't see any problem. It's part of the game."

Moyes went further, acknowledging the reality of top-level management. "You have got to find ways of winning, that's part of the job. You can play as good as you like, but winning is the thing that really matters."

He also praised Arteta's willingness to use what he called "dark arts", adding: "Like we have all had to have at different times because you are desperate for your team to win."

Even Brighton's Hurzeler Offers Respect

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has been one of Arsenal's most vocal critics this season, particularly around their 1-0 victory at the Amex earlier this month. But even the young German coach appeared to soften his stance on Friday.

Hurzeler revealed that he and Arteta had exchanged text messages after their match. "He shared his opinion and I shared mine. That is what football is about, everyone defending their side," said Hurzeler.

He then offered a clear concession. "If they win the Premier League, they definitely deserve it."

What the Numbers Actually Say

The debate over whether Arsenal would be historically "ugly" champions is easily tested with data, and the numbers tell a more nuanced story than the critics suggest.

Only five of Arsenal's 20 league wins this season have been by a single goal. Compare that to Chelsea in 2004-05, who ground out 11 one-goal victories on their way to the title under Jose Mourinho. Or Manchester United in 2008-09, who managed 10.

Then there is Leicester City in 2015-16, the most miraculous title win in Premier League history but hardly a masterclass in fluid attacking football. Leicester had the fewest shots and touches in the opposition box on record for a title-winning side, scored 10 of their 68 goals from the penalty spot, and won 14 of their 23 victories by a single goal, a rate of 61%.

By those standards, Arsenal's campaign looks positively expansive.

Why Winning Ugly Is Still Winning

The deeper truth is that every great team finds ways to win games they are not playing well in. Sir Alex Ferguson built entire eras at Manchester United on the ability to grind out results when the performance was not there. Mourinho's Chelsea made defensive solidity into an art form. Manchester City under Pep Guardiola have frequently been accused of being sterile in their dominance.

What separates champions from pretenders is not always beauty. It is adaptability, resilience and a refusal to lose.

Arsenal host Everton on Saturday with the chance to extend their lead further. Whether they do it with a flowing team goal or a scrappy header from a corner, the three points will count exactly the same.

And if they finish the season with the Premier League title, a domestic cup and a deep European run, the "ugly" label will be the first thing forgotten and the last thing anyone truly cares about.