Martin Keown Responds to Schmeichel's Harsh Words

In a fiery exchange, Arsenal legend Martin Keown has fired back at former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who recently unleashed a wave of criticism regarding Arsenal's style of play. This comes after Arsenal suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against Liverpool just before the international break.

Schmeichel's Controversial Remarks

Peter Schmeichel, the iconic custodian who played for both Manchester United and Manchester City, didn't hold back after the match. He claimed that Arsenal's playing style was 'annoying' and 'ugly,' expressing a surprising level of support for Liverpool during the game.

'I was desperate for Liverpool to win,' Schmeichel stated. 'Arsenal’s approach is designed to capitalize on opponents’ mistakes, but it slows the game to a crawl. It’s frustrating to watch,' he complained.

Keown Defends Arsenal's Potential

Keown, who enjoyed great success with Arsenal, conceded that the team needs to adopt a more aggressive mentality. However, he strongly criticized Schmeichel's assessment. 'That’s deranged, what is he talking about?' he exclaimed on talkSPORT. 'It’s way too early in the season to write them off.'

Keown cleverly countered Schmeichel’s points by referencing back to when Schmeichel played: 'Wasn't he an advocate for changing the back-pass rule in 1992? That was pretty ugly too!'

Arsenal's Future Looks Bright

Despite the loss to Liverpool, Keown is optimistic about Arsenal's trajectory. He emphasized that the Gunners are not just a 'lucky' team anymore and that their injury woes are starting to clear up. With new signings like Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze bolstering the squad, Keown believes they are more than capable of competing for the title this season.

Schmeichel's Call for Change

In his post-match comments on ViaPlay, Schmeichel urged Mikel Arteta to liberate his team, suggesting that a freer style of play would lead to more victories. He feels Arteta's current tactics are limiting Arsenal's potential.

Upcoming Challenges for Arsenal

As they prepare for their next match against a managerless Nottingham Forest, followed by a Champions League clash with Athletic Bilbao, Arsenal's evolution will be closely watched. Will they adapt and respond to the criticism, or will doubts about their style linger? Only time will tell!