‘Arsenal get no sympathy like Newcastle and Aston Villa’
Martin Keown has leapt to the defence of Arsenal as their title challenge falls away by pointing to how rivals Newcastle and Aston Villa are treated in comparison.
The former Gunners defender claimed that his old club do not get the leeway that other clubs are given after they compete in the top level of European football.
Arteta’s side were dealt a major blow in their battle with Liverpool for the Premier League title following their defeat to West Ham on Saturday (22 February).
That has left Arsenal facing the prospect of another season without a major trophy, having not won silverware since claiming the FA Cup in the Spaniard’s first season in charge back in 2020.
Despite that Keown believes that Arteta is not given the correct praise for the fact that his side are still challenging for the Premier League title while competing in Europe.
Martin Keown aims Aston Villa, Newcastle United dig amid Mikel Arteta analysis
Arsenal have returned to the Champions League in recent years, while still continuing to challenge for the Premier League title, finishing second in the last two seasons.
The Gunners currently look on course to match that finish during the current campaign, with Liverpool stealing a march at the top of the table.
| Premier League position | Played | Points |
| 1. Liverpool | 27 | 64 |
| 2. Arsenal | 26 | 53 |
Although that has added to the scrutiny on Arteta over a lack of trophies, Keown believes he deserves credit for keeping his side in the top four.
That he says in contrast to the likes of Newcastle and Aston Villa, who have dropped down the table while competing in the Champions League in recent seasons.
Speaking on talkSPORT in response to claims that Arteta has to win something with the Gunners, the former Arsenal defender said: “I think Arsenal do get a bit of a hard time.
“When Newcastle come into the big time and they make it into the Champions League and then the next season they fall out of the top four everyone said ‘well you know it’s very difficult with the demands’.
“Arsenal still come second. In fact finished the season even better than they did before. This year, only their second year in six years in the Champions League I don’t see them falling away like Villa are.
“Villa are eighth right now and we can give those sorts of teams ‘oh ok’ but Arsenal don’t get ay sympathy for that do they?
“They’re still in the top two right now, so they are making progress, but they have to build this squad.”
Arsenal will still want trophies despite Liverpool deficit
Football Insider Verdict
There is a point to what Keown is saying, in that Arsenal have done well to remain competitive at home and abroad straight after returning to the Champions League.
However, with the resources available to a club of their size there is always going to be an expectation at them to compete on both fronts.
That is different to Aston Villa and Newcastle who are not associated with having the same historical success or financial abilities at this level as the Gunners, which is why this comparison is rarely made.
Ultimately, for a club such as Arsenal, success will always be measured tangibly, which makes trophies so important for them, given how often they have claimed silverware previously.
So while Arteta may have the scrutiny lifted on him due to the injury issues at Arsenal this season, so some form of silverware is surely going to have to come in the near future if he wants to keep his job.