"Great little club": Parlour's controversial remark about Fulham

London’s football rivalries have been a staple of the sport for decades, with a clear hierarchy of major clubs in the English capital. However, Arsenal legend Ray Parlour’s recent comments notably excluded one club from that elite list.

Details: In the context of Emile Smith Rowe’s transfer to Fulham, the former Arsenal midfielder, who made 460 appearances for the Gunners, referred to the Cottagers as a "great little club"—a remark some have interpreted as condescending.

Quote: "I’m really happy for Smith Rowe because he needed this opportunity. He wasn’t going to play regularly at Arsenal. You have to think about what’s best for you, and I think it was the right time for his move.

Fulham is a great little club. He’s now a key figure in their midfield, with so much going through him. At Arsenal, he would have probably spent half the season on the bench. He’s 24 now, and he needs to play regular football—and he’s doing really well at Fulham, which I’m delighted to see," Parlour told CaughtOffside.