Martin Keown Analyzes Arsenal’s Strategic Advantage Over Liverpool in Tight Title Race

Martin Keown Breaks Down Arsenal Title Advantage Amid Tough Premier League Fixtures.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has shared his insights on why the Gunners could have a crucial advantage over Liverpool in the battle for the title. While many view Arsenal’s tough opening fixtures as a potential setback, Keown believes they might actually work in the club’s favor.

Arsenal’s early schedule is packed with high-stakes matches, including away trips to Manchester United, Liverpool, and Newcastle, as well as home games against Manchester City and Nottingham Forest. Rather than seeing this as a disadvantage, Keown believes that facing top teams early on, while they are still integrating new players, could give Arsenal an advantage.

“The first six games of the season are going to be key,” Keown told BBC Sport. “But I’m going to turn what might have been a negative for Arsenal into a positive. Liverpool’s new players will be bedding in, City have had a reset, and Newcastle have endured a difficult summer.”

Keown points to squad continuity as a major strength for Arsenal. Despite a few summer signings, including Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP and Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, Arsenal’s core remains largely intact. This consistency could allow them to settle faster than rivals like Liverpool and Manchester City, who are undergoing more significant changes.

Liverpool lost Trent Alexander-Arnold and signed Jeremie Frimpong, a different type of full-back, while Manchester City is adjusting to a tactical reset after key departures.

Keown suggests that Arsenal’s familiarity and cohesion could be decisive in the early stages of the season.

Pressure on Arteta to Deliver

While praising Arsenal’s potential, Keown also emphasized the need for manager Mikel Arteta to convert promise into results. Arsenal haven’t won a major trophy since the FA Cup in 2020, and Keown believes the time for patience is over.

“One trophy for Arteta is not enough. He needs to put some trophies in the cabinet. That is an overriding factor—he has to become a winner now.”

Arteta himself has acknowledged the intensity of this season’s competition. Speaking to Sky Sports, he warned that the level required to win the league is higher than ever.

“The level that is going to be required is something we haven’t experienced yet,” Arteta said. “We all want to win it, but the competition is like nothing we’ve seen before.”

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal can capitalise on this advantage, but if they do, this could be the season that finally ends their long wait for Premier League success.

 

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