One of the big reasons we haven’t been able to maintain our title challenge is that we have lacked strong characters like Martin Keown. Our dressing room is invisible of leaders like our former defender. A young squad screaming out for his mentality.
As a former professional who’s won and lost major football matches, I was shocked to see Keown’s act of deflection tactics in his role on TalkSport. Maybe hurting a day on from our costly 3-0 defeat by Brighton? Possibly worn down by the banter from Simon Jordan.
Instead of an honest appraisal of our performance on Sunday, Keown wanted to focus on the biased commentary Sky provided from Martin Tyler and Gary Neville, suggesting neither should be allowed to participate in future fixtures involving the Gunners.
The broadcaster included our ex-captain Patrick Viera as part of their coverage, so the station tried to find a balance, yet Keown found what he was hearing as ‘anti Arsenal’.
I’m not quite sure what any Gooner was expecting to be said after that display? An afternoon where rightfully Brighton deserved all the praise given.
As two Man United legends, Neville and Keane could have kicked us while we were down but chose not to, both admitting the progress we have made this season.
Formerly of Man City Micah Richards wasn’t celebrating a result which essentially made City Champions, he seemed to sympathise with our plight.
The irony of Keown’s accusations is that we have reached a part of the campaign where many in our fanbase owe Neville an apology.
When asked about his opinion on the title race months ago, he was mocked, criticised, accused of having an agenda, etc. Yet as someone who knows how to cope with squeaky bum time, he’s more than educated on the subject.
At the time, I never understood what was so bad about his opinion?
He said he liked the job Arteta had done and that it would be good for the League for us to win the title.
He simply felt the Etihad had a dressing room full of players who know how to get over the line, who have the ability to put a huge winning sequence together.
He warned that in April and May strange things can happen, that you can drop silly points.
He warned how hard it would be for us to win at Anfield.
He worried that the season could quickly fall apart, and that City could end up above us by a comfortable margin.
If the Champions win their game in hand the gap would now be 7 points.
At the time I felt his observations were fair and he’s been proven correct.
The 48-year-old has had enough class to not say ‘I told you so’.
When we went to Manchester, out of all pundits, he was the one who said we should have a positive outlook.
How these are the moments you want to be a part of, how you should approach the challenge with a smile on your face.
Unfortunately, it reflects society that even a subject like football people want to debate ….as long as they hear what they want.
They want freedom of speech as long as it’s a point of view you agree with.
They want their voices heard but are offended if someone says something different to you.
I didn’t think Keown would have that sense of entitlement.
Essentially wanting two of his peers cancelled because after a 3-0 home defeat Arsenal were criticised and it’s not all rainbows and unicorns?
I wonder if Keown has a problem with Ian Wrights style of punditry. Is he not biased?
Or is that okay because he happens to say what Keown likes?
Instead of trying to get Neville banned from commentating on future Arsenal games, maybe admit Neville was right.
If you don’t like that he got his prediction spot on – blame our players.
Dan
I think Keown just wanted to spice the show up
Asking Arsenal fans to apologise to Neville is an insult.
The author has never asked him to apologise for all the negative things he has said about the club where he has been wrong. He has focused on this particular issue to make a point. This is yet another ‘I told you so’ article where the author is patronising other Arsenal fans. Rubbing it in by asking fans to apologise to Neville. Remarkable!
I listened to Gary Neville’s comments after the game and he was 100% correct. Neville didn’t say anything “Anti Arsenal”. He said that when he was young at Man U it was the experienced players (Like Cantona, Keane, Butt and Schmichael) that helped them keep it together & get over the line. The criticism from him & various others is that in Arsenal’s team that shouild be Xhaka & Partey, but they have failed to do that. But we all know that we need a top quality striker, 2 top quality midfielders, and maybe a defender and those signings + another years experience for the youngsters can solve this problem.
Spot on in regards to GN and what he said. However, a top striker, two top midfielders and top Centre back will cost way more than the £150m budget MA has this summer. The squad is and will be in a building process for at least three more years. At that point we may have a team capable of finishing top four every season. Again though, that depends on the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle, Brighton and Manure who will all strengthen.
What a LEGEND! I totally agreed with his comments on Tyler/Neville coz it’s true.. if you listen to them plonkers on Sunday,
they were unbelievably biased against our players but when it came to the BH&A players kicking our players with late challenges nd tactical fouls, it was ok or clever play 😏
Worse thing is that it’s not the first time for such one-sided commentary nd it’s been going on a very long time (from Wenger’s days) in the dug out! I’m glad he finally had the cahunas to oust them out on talksport unlike the many ex-players given the platform to speak about the gripes us Arsenal supporters have with regards to the biasness we receive almost all the time from the referees(VAR included)/pundits/commentators/
Collective media!
I for one could see it coming with regards to surrendering our title aspirations as we clearly had a rizzla-paper thin squad lacking any depth nd we’re always one serious injury from throwing it all away which is exactly what’s happened. Man City 3rd tier team (reserves) would probably finish in the top4 and had we lost out in winning the EPL to any other team than them, then I’d definitely would’a been on a war path but their quality in depth has won them this cup, nothing else.. fact!
You have to remember that GN has been very complimentary of Arsenal and the great steps forward by MA and the club. But the fact is, he was right about how we would crumble and City wouldn’t. I’m not sure why people are getting on GN’s back about being right?
I as an arsenal fan, never agreed we would not crumble, does that make me an anti-arsenal. a Chelsea fan asked me to place a bet with him as earlier as in January that arsenal will not win the league I couldn’t place such bet because I don’t trust arsenal from previous experiences.. What Neville said is the perception most football fans have towards arsenal and we always prove them Right to be seen as anti-arsenal
As fans we were hoping for the boys to prove most of us wrong by crossing over the line and not crumble like they did last season.
Gary Neville speaks his opinion and he was right to say what he said because it was what he thought was going to happen and it did. Because he is a utd legend, Arsenal fans dont like it.
Don’t care much for Neville, but don’t see much wrong with what he said.
He was basing his comments on our performances and results over the years and reached his conclusions.
We do fall flat when it matters, we haven’t overcome the pressure yet, is Neville wrong?
Until we overcome this obstacle the question will continue to be asked. This team can do it I really believe so, just not ready yet.
You learn more from losing than winning, and next year I hope to see us show more consistency and ruthlessness to put teams down.
Too often we eased off with a lead and played too relaxed instead of finishing teams off.
At the end of the day, it was in our hands to prove GN wrong. We couldn’t..
Agree with the article
I find it difficult to understand how someone who clearly has a tremendous strength of character (Martin keown is a winner, afterall) can display such a victim mentality. I don’t know if he used that to his advantage when he was playing (victim mentality – – > seige mentality) or if its something that’s developed in him after playing.
For me, he’s a legend, but i firmly disagree with his assessment here – it’s wrong to call for people to be banned for their opinions.
@ Davi
MK is an AFC fan. He was hurting after that game like the rest of us and forgot his responsibility as a result on the media.
Of course he is wrong. I am sure he will admit it when the red mist goes away.
For me also he is a legend and love him.
Any actions taken by anyone have to be called out for: ‘A spade is a spade’.
Neville can be a bit tedious, especially when he is doing his celebration police thing but all pundits are a bit biased and it adds colour.
Gary Neville finally admitted that going back 10 weeks he was not too sure about City winning the title.what bothers me is the big deal Sky are making about Nevlle being right.i have never been a fan of the”I told you so..”.I don’t mind it few times but when people start milking it, that’s it for me.maybe I should remind Sky and its pundits included GN,the numbers of wrong predictions they’ve made this season?trust me,nothing to write home about.as for the anti Arsenal bias in the media being real or not. when I first came to the UK in the mid 90’s and started following Arsenal.it didn’t take me long to see/feel it ,I can still remember wondering if it had something to do with Arsenal having a French/foreign manager,why is that??
Wasn’t it GN who predicted a Manchester one two in the PL?
Remember his reaction to the United 7-0 drubbing by liverpool?
Give me Martin over Neville any day of the week and Dan, funny how you forgot the negatives Neville has said over the season, past and present.
Give me examples of what he said that was out of order this season
He said we done fantastic , that Arteta done a great job and these youngsters would be better for this
He then stood up for us when we were accused of the season being a failure
And that’s not me challenging you but asking incase I missed something ?
What did he say that was so bad
Where shall I start?
March 2022?
“My concern if Arsenal finish 4th this season, which to be fair I think is 50/50 (I still think there is a long way to go in that race) but if they finish 4th, that’s, in some ways, as good as it gets.
You’ve got Pep, Klopp, Manchester United and Chelsea – where can Arsenal go? They are not going to compete.”
On Mikel Arteta :” If he gets 4th and he’s really hard about it, he’d probably say that’s the best I can do there. I’m going now and getting my next job.
How about “I know both chelsea and united are struggling in terms of where they are now, but I think they will both have to blow up in order for Arsenal to land in the top four.”
One more? After our 3-1 win over chelsea “I think they will fall behind city by some distance.”
There are many other quotes by Neville that can be sourced on the Internet, but I would suggest, Dan, that it’s him who should be apologising to The Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, the players and the fans wouldn’t you?
But none of those quotes are horrible are they
It’s just one man giving his opinion
I see a change of direction here Dan!!
Was what Martin Keown “horrible” or him just giving HIS opinion?
I find that Neville saying Arteta has to leave The Arsenal in order to achieve more than finishing 4th, insulting to The Arsenal, Arteta himself and the fans – don’t you?
All season he’s been knocking the club, the manager, the players and the fans – “You’ve got Pep, klopp, united and chelsea, Where can they go? They are not going to compete.”
Don’t you find that insulting?
No apologies forthcoming from him , yet you say we owe HIM an apology?
Dan, I suggest you go back and study what this man has said about our club and apologise for the article… just my personal opinion of course my friend.
I don’t see any of that as him being nasty
I was referring to this season as thats when Keown was referring too
And 100 percent Keown is entitled to his views
And I’m entitled to my view on what Keown says
And you mate are entitled to what you say about my writing
I just think a pundit giving his opinion isnt anti arsenal
Allot of what Neville says about arsenal is correct
GN the same who said:15
Souness has ramped up the Our Game rhetoric in recent years but it reached a crescendo with his take on the incoming Brighton manager back in September 2022. The sensationalist proclivities of a talkSPORT microphone have long appealed to the former Liverpool midfielder and he leaned into his role remarkably well with this diatribe on the Seagulls choosing De Zerbi to replace Graham Potter:
“I think it’s a risk. You’re bringing someone in who doesn’t know our game.
“Because of modern technology, you can Google; they said he impressed with his knowledge of Brighton, what they’ve done and the way they attempt to play. He could’ve got that off Google, most of it. Listen, he’s gone for an interview, so he spends a couple of hours on the internet, gets as much information as he possibly can. That’s not the work of a genius.
“I think it’s a risk bringing someone with his CV, seven jobs in nine years. If you’re an outstanding coach then people want to hold onto you.
“They’re making the appointment of a manager who has no history in the English game. Doesn’t know anything about the league, doesn’t know the players and the question I asked about what football people are going to be at the club to help him, he will need help. It’s a big risk.”
Aside from the reveal of Google as Our Search Engine instead of Bing or Yahoo, it was an incredible insight into the mind of Souness. And it is difficult to pick a favourite part:
The idea that De Zerbi might have noticed Jason Steele is a phenomenal ball-playing goalkeeper from a couple of Google prompts?
The failure to acknowledge that any managerial appointment is, by their inherent nature, ‘a risk’?
The wilful ability to ignore how Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola and many more didn’t ‘know our game’ before completely changing it?
The decontextualised point about De Zerbi having ‘seven jobs in nine years’, despite the Italian almost always either leaving his posts because he was plucked by a bigger team, or because Russia didn’t quite like the look of Ukraine?
There was an escalating glory to Souness’ withering nonsense. It was through their data-led approach that Brighton had proactively identified De Zerbi as a potential Potter replacement; his name did not simply crop up in talks with an agent or after they scoured a list of free agents. And for ‘a manager who has no history in the English game’, an FA Cup semi-final place, probable European qualification and three-goal wins over Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal in his first campaign with no pre-season and a squad built almost entirely by his predecessors isn’t half bad.
In fact, De Zerbi would equal Souness’ highest-ever Premier League finish as a manager if he keeps Brighton – a point ahead of Spurs and Aston Villa with two games in hand on each – in their current position of sixth. Imagine what he could do when he does know our game.
Roberto De Zerbi celebrates a win
Martinez: shaken, not stirred
One Liverpool legend is at least capable of publicly acknowledging the error of his ways. Jamie Carragher has long since admitted defeat in the case of Lisandro Martinez, declaring the Man Utd defender to be a “special player” who might nevertheless still be “exposed” because “every player has got weaknesses”.
But that was quite the climbdown from Carragher’s initial stance: “I’m convinced this can’t work because the size of him playing in a back four.”
It was early in the season when the pundit set his stall out. And to be fair, Martinez had just been targeted to punishing effect by both Brighton and Brentford in the opening fortnight, partnering Harry Maguire in both games and being taken off at half-time of the latter.
Most assumed that Ivan Toney’s overpowering and outthinking of the centre-half would become a theme of the campaign, and Carragher made sure to lead that chorus. “Maybe he could go left-back, maybe he could play in a back three, but in a back four, he cannot play there in the Premier League,” he said, stating confidently that more opponents would see him as the weakest link.
Even after a phenomenal performance in the subsequent win over Liverpool, Carragher offset his praise by repeating those same concerns about Martinez’s height; the phrase ‘5ft 9ins’ became a staple of football coverage for a solid month or two. Yet alongside Raphael Varane, the Argentinean has been phenomenal under Erik ten Hag, even adding a World Cup winner’s medal to his collection.
And yes, Souness obviously predicted that Martinez “will get found out in our football” back in September.
Gary Neville and Arsenal: the never-ending story
There is a wider problem to address when it comes to the current stock of pundits and their analysis of Arsenal. For years they were the easiest club to examine and scrutinise; it required little research to determine that they played pretty football but were intrinsically soft and weak both physically and mentally, bulliable and pliable against more powerful opponents, and prone to collapse when it mattered most.
Those ingrained preconceptions had been there to enjoy even during Arsene Wenger’s reign. Rock up, point out they need a midfield enforcer like Patrick Vieira, scoff at an aspect of their off-field incompetence, accept pay cheque and leave.
But that has clouded objective judgement for too long. Arsenal are not that club anymore yet the cognitive biases remain as if William Gallas’ St Andrew’s sit-in was last season instead of 15 sodding years ago.
Gary Neville did, in fairness, predict that Arsenal would succumb to Manchester City’s title experience sooner or later. It was hardly a searing hot take to suggest the Premier League’s youngest team might not hold off the champions of four of the last five seasons, but still – credit where credit’s due.
“@Dan,as I commented earlier,if you watched Sky coverage of Arsenal, it’s the big deal they make about GN being right about Arsenal.this the same guy who also predicted Man Utd would finish second above Arsenal, while their impending runners-up medal might come as a surprise to the man who suggested last March that Arteta should have left if the Gunners came fourth last season, as that was their ceiling”
Defending Neville against our very own even when he has been pissing on us his whole life? Really?
Absolutely HH.
I sometimes wonder why supporters feel the need to be apologetic to someone who, at every opportunity, disses the club – it makes me cringe and furious at the same time!!
But based on this topic he didn’t diss the club?
He simply have his predictions over a title race saying man city would have more exsperience
What’s wrong with that
Never would I have dreamt to read request for Neville apology in here. Your need to write anything negative against the club is too overwhelming for you to resist.
With this piece you have crossed the bundary that shouldn’t be crossed. You are flattering confirmed Arsenal haters and extremely biased pundits just to have something to moan about. It doesn’t matter if you own unlimited season tickets and you sleep at the Emirates, it doesn’t give you the right to be this negative.
Speaking of apology Dan I have seen some commenters telling you you owe an apology to Liverpool but you have remained mum.
What have I said that is negative ?
Gary Neville saying he believes man city will win title is not negative
Gary Neville saying that Pep, klopp, chelsea and united will stop Arsenal being in the top four. “Where will they go? They cannot compete.”
Is that not negative and wasn’t he proved wrong on all but his Pep observation?
Of course you have the right to your opinion – putting them down in an article will obviously cause reaction – isn’t that what you wanted?
I have no interest in what Neville said or what he thinks , for the simple reason it has no bearing on our club at all Likewise Martin Tyler too. I think Keown was being biased against Neville and I HEARD IT DIRECTLY onTalkSport.
But really, so what? It changes nothing, so move on!
JUST POINTLESS HOT AIR,is the whole debate and it ALL has no bearing whatsoever on what our club achieves or does not achieve.
As such, I have no real interest in ANY of it!
I also remember his defedning mr Wenger when fans abused him and said only when he left would we appreciate what a job he had done
We regressed since
Up until this season DK – finishing second versus sixth in Arsene’s last season is progression isn’t it?
Neville is always wise after the event and some of the remarks he made about Arsene’s team before he left the club, show his ignorance of the man, I do believe.
He predicted we would throw it away when we were 8 points clear
He didn’t wait till after the event
He also said Arteta should leave if we even “manage” to finish fourth – are you backing him on that one as well Dan, or did he get that one wrong?
Can you find that for me ?
as I heard him say 2nd was a great achievement and Arteta done a great job
I’ve already found it for you, as quoted, on the Internet.
His words, his thoughts and the fact that he’s now changing his tune, is simply because he was wrong in the first place….can’t find his apology though.
Where have you quoted that from ?
So this season he said Arteta should leave ?
Yeah to win titles I think he would have to leave
Neville was right because he didn’t win titles did he ?
If he goes to a Barca / Madrid yeah he has better chance
Again , I don’t see that as nasty
Exactly Danne
I know there’s a few contracts out on Neville in Valencia, which will please Arsenal fans. Maybe Martin should remind him of the sh1tshow he presided over during his all too brief tenure there.
Or Dan could do an article showing how Neville is someone we should look up to, because he got it wrong and now has to change his tune 😂😂
I still remember him and his equally moronic brother trying to end Jose Antonio Reye’s career at Old Trafford…. and we should apologise to him!!!!!!!!!!
The Reyes bit I get
I just don’t get what he said that was anti arsenal this season
He simply predicted Man City would have more experience then us
Dan, that insignificant, inconsequential little
pip-squeak should not be given the time of day on JA. Few weeks ago he scoffed at us when he described Arsenal fans as “desperate”. He didn’t like us when he was a player and he doesn’t like us now. You don’t have to be a genius to work that out. As a broadcaster he often does not display a neutral take on matters, because in his heart he is just a loutish bore. Can’t you see that? I loved it when Souness and Carragher took the piss out of him the day Liverpool thumped United 7-0. The guy was so angry he was almost in tears.
My writing style mate is to comment on what’s relevant
So keown brought it up and I thought it’s more a bad attitude by Keown then Neville
I have to be balanced and I just don’t see what Neville said that was anti Arsenal
I think he simply predicted Man City would win title
He’s allowed that opinion
That’s kind of my point – are we now saying that every pundit has to say arsenal are amazing or else they have an agenda
I think his punditry in terms of title race has been fair
I’m humble enough to say he was right
For me, it’s not a question of being humble or not being humble. Being fair or not being fair. Being balanced or not being balanced. It’s a question of me disliking that person and that is my right to do so. I can see right through him and I never needed to meet him in order to do so. Our contributors including myself should not have wasted any time on the bloke !
Yeah but not liking someone doesn’t change facts mate
He predicted Man city would put winning sequence together
He said we would drop silly points in may / April
He factually was correct
Yes he prayed it would happen and it did.
So what ? He’s not a sage is he. Do you want to give him a knighthood for it ? I don’t find any of the other pundits as disagreeable as he is….and believe me I am a good judge of character.
The guy is snide. You can have the last go, I promise I’ll say no more.
Again you not liking him doesn’t get in the way of facts I’m afraid
Which has nothing to do with his punditry which has been accused of being anti arsenal
If we won title we be quick to banter Neville and say he was wrong
Sometimes you have to be big enough and say when someone got it right
He said in April / may city would put run together and pressure would be too much
He was right
But even If he were wrong , that’s not anti arsenal , that’s an opinion
I don’t think we will ever win title under Koronke’s , that opinion doesn’t make me anti arsenal
Neville should be making comments concentrating more on his beloved club Manchester united qualifying for champion league football next season. Rather he is busy taking medication on arsenal illness.
He was talking about the commentary, not his ‘opinions’ after the Game. And to be honest, we all knew that we couldn’t win the league deep down, but you are not a Fan if you don’t root for your team no matter the odds. What I am wondering is why he has no opinions on his beloved Manchester United and 7 Hag after he went on about them being in the title race. So, unfortunately, no apology from me.
The obsession with Neville is a joke, why are people so fixated on a poor commentator?, we should be talking about Arsenal, not some pedo’s son. Let it go it’s boring