Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has robustly dismissed recent comments from Manchester United legend Paul Scholes, who suggested Mikel Arteta's current squad could become the worst team ever to win the Premier League title. Keown labelled the criticism as mere "mischievousness" and urged the Arsenal players to block out the external noise as they pursue their first championship in over two decades.
Scholes' Controversial Claim on Podcast
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes pointed to statistics showing Arsenal's relatively low percentage of goals scored from open play this season. He argued that if the Gunners were to clinch the title, they might be remembered as the least impressive champions in the league's history.
"If Arsenal win the league, this could be the worst team to win the league," Scholes stated. He further claimed that when considering a hypothetical Team of the Season front four, no Arsenal attacker would merit inclusion, questioning even Bukayo Saka's contributions in terms of goals and assists.
Keown's Emphatic Response on talkSPORT
Responding live on talkSPORT alongside Simon Jordan and host Jim White, Keown was asked if Arsenal's commanding victory over Leeds United served as the perfect rebuttal. The three-time Premier League winner with Arsenal was unequivocal in his support for Arteta's men.
"Yeah, of course they did," Keown affirmed. "The journey week-to-week, you've got to shut that noise out. People talking about them being champions, some mischievously saying that this would be the worst ever team [to win it]. You've just got to go and win it, it doesn't matter what you look like. It doesn't matter at all."
Drawing Parallels to Wenger's Wisdom
Keown invoked the wisdom of legendary former manager Arsène Wenger, recalling advice given to his own title-winning squads. He emphasised that the current team must follow the same philosophy of focusing solely on their performance, disregarding external narratives about being favourites or the style of their play.
"Arsène Wenger said this to us many years ago: there's no meaning to everyone telling us that we're favourites, don't listen to it. Just go and do it. That's what Arsenal did at the weekend, I think it was quite an emphatic result."
Addressing the Style of Play Debate
The north London club has built a formidable six-point lead at the Premier League summit after a strong start to the campaign, despite consecutive second-place finishes in recent years. However, they have faced scrutiny for a perceived lack of attractive, open-play football, with a notable reliance on set-pieces for goals.
Keown addressed this directly, arguing that results are ultimately what matter in a title race. He suggested critics are attempting to apply pressure and find weaknesses where few exist, given Arsenal's commanding position in the table.
A Jibe at Scholes' Tackling
In a lighter moment, Keown drew a humorous comparison between Scholes' verbal critique and his infamous tackling style during his playing career. "Look, I love Paul but this comment is like one of his tackles, it's waist-high," Keown quipped, suggesting the remark was clumsy and off-target.
The Road Ahead and Title Race Psychology
Looking forward, Keown highlighted the crucial upcoming fixtures. He pointed out that Arsenal could extend their lead to nine points next weekend before Manchester City face a tough trip to Anfield to play Liverpool. He believes applying such scoreboard pressure could have a significant psychological impact on their rivals.
"Make it nine points, make them look at nine points overnight, and it starts to sink in, then City start to question themselves," Keown explained. He acknowledged the race is far from over, with "lots of twists and turns" expected, but reiterated that Arsenal's only task is to concentrate on their own performances.
The former defender concluded with a firm message to the current squad: "No one is going to be listening to Paul Scholes on the Arsenal team. For God's sake, you just get on with your game and you try and win. This would be the first title in 22 years. They're doing exceptionally well."
