At a Glance:
- Arsenal are on the brink of their first Premier League title in 22 years
- Martin Keown believes the Gunners are finally ready to deal with title pressure
- Also states how important homegrown players are to club success
There is much to look forward to in the eyes of an Arsenal fan, both on and off the field. Most importantly, however, is that the Gunners can come through on their goal to become champions of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
Mikel Arteta’s team entered the season viewed by some as title favourites, and, as the season draws even closer to an end, Arsenal are in the driver’s seat—five points ahead of Manchester City, although their biggest league challengers do hold a game in hand.
Regardless of whether the Gunners win the title or not, the club’s trajectory is on the up. A rumoured new sleeve sponsor and news that the Emirates could be undergoing a potential expansion leave Arsenal fans with much to look forward to.
Arsenal legend Martin Keown has released a heartfelt statement regarding how strong the club looks at the moment, given that a Premier League trophy is so close to returning to the Emirates.
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Martin Keown believes Arsenal ‘can handle’ pressure after 22-year title wait
Speaking to Hayters TV, Martin Keown gave an honest assessment of not only what the club he played for over a decade winning a title would mean to him, but also how he believes Arsenal will handle the stress of a tight race to the line amidst pressure from Manchester City and Pep Guardiola.
“I’ve seen that Arsenal are back in the fight. It’s kind of like we’ve got our Arsenal back again in the last two or three seasons.
They’ve weathered the storm, Manchester City have come back, and now there’s a glimmer for Arsenal to go and finish the job,” Keown said.
Keown elaborated further on the pressure aspect, believing that four years of being the Premier League’s bridesmaid will finally change, and that the team has learned from past mistakes.
“It does feel in the media that the narrative changes a little bit around Arsenal. It’s suddenly theirs to lose again, whereas before it wasn’t Manchester City’s to lose. Maybe that just comes with the history of not winning it for 22 years and that weight on the shoulders of these players.
But I think [Arsenal] can handle it. I think they’ve shown that. They just need a little bit of luck, because every team I’ve ever won in has been lucky at times. I think it’s going to go right to the wire, but I’m hopeful Arsenal can do it,” remarked Keown.
If Arsenal are to win the title this season, it will only be their third since the turn of the century, with the last title coming when icons such as Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp played for the club.
Homegrown talent is essential to Keown, who says Bukayo Saka is a perfect ‘role model’ to follow
There have not been too many young players who have broken through at Arsenal in the 2020s, but the ones who have quickly become beloved figures at the club.
Bukayo Saka has become the Gunners’ star man on the right wing despite injury struggles, and Keown briefly referenced both his quality and recent return to the squad:
“Bukayo Saka is a real role model. Such a young man, but he’s carried the club really. He’s back in position now, and it’s about managing those minutes [ahead of the final two Premier League fixtures.]”
Three teenagers—Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, and Max Dowman—are the most recent Hale End academy graduates to have made an impact at the club, something which the ex-Arsenal defender says is vital to keeping the beating heart of the club intact and sustaining success.
“The more we can get these young homegrown players — that mix of experience and quality into the team — and options for the manager for the run-in, that is key to Arsenal being successful,” emphasised Keown.
