Jeff Stelling blasts former employers Sky Sports for ‘lack of balance’ over their pundit line-up for Brighton vs Arsenal clash… as ex-Soccer Saturday host claims it’s ‘not brain surgery’

Jeff Stelling has called out former employer Sky Sports for a ‘lack of balance’ in their punditry and commentary line-up for Arsenal‘s win at Brighton.

Mikel Arteta‘s side returned to the Premier League summit thanks to a comfortable 3-0 win at the Amex Stadium, with Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard on target.

Former Arsenal players Theo Walcott and Karen Carney worked on Sky’s coverage as pundits, while another ex-Gunner in Alan Smith was on co-commentary.

Hartlepool United fan Stelling, who presented Sky’s Soccer Saturday show for 25 years, wasn’t impressed with the line-up.

‘Brighton v Arsenal has ex-Arsenal co-commentator and both pundits are ex-Arsenal,’ Stelling wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The Sky line-up at the Amex Stadium included ex-Arsenal players Theo Walcott (right), Alan Smith (second right) and Karen Carney (second left) 

Former Soccer Saturday host Stelling expressed his criticism on social media 

Stelling said it’s ‘not brain surgery’ to get a balance line-up of pundits between the two teams

‘Maybe next time Sky should be a bit more balanced. It is like using me on a Hartlepool game!!!’

Replying to someone who said Smith was impartial, Stelling added: ‘Smudge [Smith] is great. So when you have decided to use him on commentary, pick two neutrals as pundits. Or one from each side if you wish. Not brain surgery.’

Stelling, 69, left Soccer Saturday and Sky Sports at the end of the 2022-23 season and since December has presented TalkSPORT’s breakfast show twice a week alongside Ally McCoist.

It isn’t the first time Stelling has taken aim at his old employers since he left.

In January, he criticised Sky for not sending a reporter to Reading when fans planned a tennis ball protest against owner Dai Yongge during their League One game against Port Vale.

Fans threw hundreds of tennis balls onto the pitch at the Select Car Leasing Stadium and then invaded the field, forcing the officials to abandon the match.

Stelling wrote on X: ‘When a club which was in PL [Premier League] not long ago is in the position they are in this the biggest story of the day in my opinion.

Smith was on co-commentary alongside Rob Hawthorne for the game at the Amex Stadium

Stelling criticised Sky for not sending a reporter to Reading to cover fan protests in January

‘Why no reporter there? Everyone knew there was going to be a protest.’

When a fellow X user described him as ‘the employee who left but still wants a say in how things are done,’ Stelling replied: ‘I am not. I am a member of the public with a right to express an opinion.’

Last weekend, Stelling took aim at BBC’s Match of the Day over their highlights of Newcastle United’s dramatic 4-3 win over West Ham at St James’ Park.

Stelling was unhappy the show – presented by Alex Scott instead of Gary Lineker and with Martin Keown and Stephen Warnock as pundits – didn’t talk about Newcastle’s second penalty.

It was awarded after Kalvin Phillips was adjudged to have kicked Anthony Gordon in the 77th minute, with Alexander Isak converting his second spot-kick of the afternoon.

Stelling also questioned why Match of the Day didn’t discuss a penalty Newcastle won against West Ham last weekend when Kalvin Phillips was adjudged to have fouled Anthony Gordon

‘Interesting that MotD decided the second Newcastle pen was not worth discussing despite it being prob the most controversial decision of the weekend,’ he said.

‘Not the fault btw of @AlexScott just terrible production decision.’

Regular Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer hit back, saying: ‘My guess is they didn’t show it because it was a certain penalty and as you know time is limited on the show!’