Martin Keown hits back at ‘sniper’ Jamie Carragher over Liverpool icon’s bold Arsenal claim

Martin Keown has hit back at Jamie Carragher after the Liverpool great claimed Arsenal are on the brink of a crisis. The Gunners lost yet more ground in the Premier League title race over the weekend as they were held to a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday, while leaders Liverpool beat Brentford a day earlier. Arteta’s side have narrowly missed out on the Premier League title in each of the last two seasonsGetty These results saw the Reds open up a six-point gap over the Gunners at the top of the table, despite Mikel Arteta’s side being tipped as Manchester City’s main competition prior to the start of the season. For the past two seasons, Arsenal have been locked in a fiercely contested title race with the Citizens, narrowly missing out on both occasions. But with City languishing in fifth place in the table this term, Liverpool have instead emerged as the driving force. And the Gunners failure to capitalise on City’s recent downfall has prompted former Reds hero Carragher to label this campaign as make-or-break for Arteta and his squad. Prior to the Aston Villa clash, he wrote in the Telegraph: “Have we already witnessed the peak years of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal reign? “It feels like this Emirates era is heading towards a crossroads, with Arsenal in the middle of a high-stakes game. “This will either be one of the greatest seasons in the club’s history – ending a 21-year wait for the Premier League title – or a campaign which ends amid a highly-charged post-season review into how they squandered their best chance to become champions in two decades.” Carragher also cast doubt over Arsenal’s title credentials based on their displays this season, and questioned the make-up of their squad. He added: “There is yet to be a performance that leaves you thinking they look like the next champions. “The balance of the squad is not right.” Credit: YouTube: @SkySportsNewsJamie Carragher questioned what the future holds for Arsenal[/caption] The Gunners let a two-goal slip in their recent draw with Aston Vill Following Arsenal’s draw with Villa, Carragher doubled down on his previous comments, and claimed Arteta’s side were struggling to deal with the pressure of being in a title race. Speaking on Sky Sports on Sunday, he said: “It feels to me that every time I watch Arsenal play, they’re only one game away from a crisis.” But Arsenal legend Keown has now taken aim at Carragher, and argued his former club have shown themselves to be contenders. Appearing on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan, he said “I’ve seen plenty of performances this year where I’ve been really convinced [of Arsenal’s title credentials], when they’ve had everybody available. “It seems like it’s a sniper from Jamie Carragher, but sometimes I wonder whether he actually is a Liverpool fan. “The amount of rows he’s got into with Van Dijk and Salah and various players and suddenly now here he is, championing his former club at Arsenal’s demise.” Keown passionately defended his former club Keown then rejected Carragher’s suggestion that Arteta’s tenure at The Emirates has already peaked. He continued: “I think really we have a manager in the shape of Arteta who’s only just beginning. “I think that in the last two or three seasons, they’ve been up there with Man City. Man City have now fallen away. “I don’t see it as a surprise that Liverpool are where they are. We know that they were in a three- horse race this time last year. It doesn’t surprise me that they’re now worthy leaders. “But I don’t think it’s time really to dismantle the challenges of Arsenal.” The 58-year-old also rubbished any talk of a crisis at his old club, saying: “I don’t think there’s a massive crisis at Arsenal suddenly because they don’t win it [the title] and Liverpool do.” Arsenal have ground to make up in the Premier League title race “Of course there’d be a review and there would be changes, because there’d be players coming in in the front line. “There’s no doubt about that, and Arteta will put the pieces in the jigsaw. “But I don’t see that there’s a massive issue, and that suddenly Arsenal fall off a cliff. No, I don’t see that at all.

KendallJenner

Jan 21, 2025 - 09:49

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Martin Keown hits back at ‘sniper’ Jamie Carragher over Liverpool icon’s bold Arsenal claim

Martin Keown has hit back at Jamie Carragher after the Liverpool great claimed Arsenal are on the brink of a crisis.

The Gunners lost yet more ground in the Premier League title race over the weekend as they were held to a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday, while leaders Liverpool beat Brentford a day earlier.

Arteta’s side have narrowly missed out on the Premier League title in each of the last two seasons

These results saw the Reds open up a six-point gap over the Gunners at the top of the table, despite Mikel Arteta’s side being tipped as Manchester City’s main competition prior to the start of the season.

For the past two seasons, Arsenal have been locked in a fiercely contested title race with the Citizens, narrowly missing out on both occasions.

But with City languishing in fifth place in the table this term, Liverpool have instead emerged as the driving force.

And the Gunners failure to capitalise on City’s recent downfall has prompted former Reds hero Carragher to label this campaign as make-or-break for Arteta and his squad.

Prior to the Aston Villa clash, he wrote in the Telegraph: “Have we already witnessed the peak years of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal reign?

“It feels like this Emirates era is heading towards a crossroads, with Arsenal in the middle of a high-stakes game.

“This will either be one of the greatest seasons in the club’s history – ending a 21-year wait for the Premier League title – or a campaign which ends amid a highly-charged post-season review into how they squandered their best chance to become champions in two decades.”

Carragher also cast doubt over Arsenal’s title credentials based on their displays this season, and questioned the make-up of their squad.

He added: “There is yet to be a performance that leaves you thinking they look like the next champions.

“The balance of the squad is not right.”

Jamie Carragher questioned what the future holds for Arsenal[/caption]

The Gunners let a two-goal slip in their recent draw with Aston Vill

Following Arsenal’s draw with Villa, Carragher doubled down on his previous comments, and claimed Arteta’s side were struggling to deal with the pressure of being in a title race.

Speaking on Sky Sports on Sunday, he said: “It feels to me that every time I watch Arsenal play, they’re only one game away from a crisis.”

But Arsenal legend Keown has now taken aim at Carragher, and argued his former club have shown themselves to be contenders.

Appearing on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan, he said “I’ve seen plenty of performances this year where I’ve been really convinced [of Arsenal’s title credentials], when they’ve had everybody available.

“It seems like it’s a sniper from Jamie Carragher, but sometimes I wonder whether he actually is a Liverpool fan.

“The amount of rows he’s got into with Van Dijk and Salah and various players and suddenly now here he is, championing his former club at Arsenal’s demise.”

Keown passionately defended his former club

Keown then rejected Carragher’s suggestion that Arteta’s tenure at The Emirates has already peaked.

He continued: “I think really we have a manager in the shape of Arteta who’s only just beginning.

“I think that in the last two or three seasons, they’ve been up there with Man City. Man City have now fallen away.

“I don’t see it as a surprise that Liverpool are where they are. We know that they were in a three- horse race this time last year. It doesn’t surprise me that they’re now worthy leaders.

“But I don’t think it’s time really to dismantle the challenges of Arsenal.”

The 58-year-old also rubbished any talk of a crisis at his old club, saying: “I don’t think there’s a massive crisis at Arsenal suddenly because they don’t win it [the title] and Liverpool do.”