Sky Sports blasted for 'lack of balance' over pundit for Brighton vs Arsenal

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.

'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