Arsenal vs Chelsea: Martin Keown reckons Gunners can win Premier League if they continue to show street fighting skills
Notorious hard man believes Arsene Wenger's side tapped into long lost passion for battle as they beat Blues in FA Cup final
MARTIN KEOWN believes Arsene Wenger now has a team of angry street fighters.
And the Arsenal legend says if the standards they set against Chelsea in the FA Cup final are used as the benchmark for this season, then Premier League glory will be theirs.
Arsenal’s 2-1 win at Wembley in May was so impressive that Keown insists it was their best performance for YEARS.
As the Gunners face Chelsea today in a rematch of that final at Wembley in the Community Shield, Keown is optimistic this could be THE season they end what will be a 14-year duck without the title.
He told SunSport: “I looked at that cup final and the players looked like street fighters. There was an anger, a competitiveness and a determination that I had not seen for many years. I was stunned by it.
“The Arsenal fans were vociferous and you could see they had their team back again.
“It looked real, they were battling for everything.
“Whatever he said to the players in the way they prepared, that has got to be the preparation ahead of every game now.
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“The players must be at their best, they have to be at boiling point.
“It should not just be for a one-off final. It should be like that for every game of the season.
“Anything less is not good enough.
“And if he can create that mood and feeling throughout the group and the new signings gel then they have a real chance of winning the Premier League.”
But Keown has warned that Arsenal cannot afford players such as Mesut Ozil to go missing in games – something he was accused of last season.
And Keown warned that true street fighters turn up every day – not just when they feel like it.
He added: “You can’t do it giving it half tilt , you have to give everything – and that includes Ozil, Alexis Sachez, the whole lot.
“Against Chelsea, the big man, Per Mertesacker came in and played in that back three.
‘He was only able to do that because he had the energy around him to protect him to use his know-how.
“It was a complete performance from him – and that is what they’re going to need this season.
“Even had Arsenal lost, it was the first time I had seen for years where they gave a complete performance – everyone ticking the right boxes.
“I was seeing players put tackles in, be physical, compete, scrap. And I wanted to see the beauty too and there was plenty of that on the day.
“It was how the team was fired up and if Wenger can get them in that mood – in street fighter mode every game, not just when they decide to be one.
“Arsenal fans will want to see early signs – including in the Community Shield game against Chelsea – that their team will be in the running to win the Premier League.”
Keown does believe the Europa League can hinder them – but insists it is vital that Wenger goes full-pelt at trying to win the tournament.
He added: “I don’t like Thursday night football - it’s almost got to saturation point. It’s a night where we should all be recharging our batteries and looking forward to the weekend games.
“As a player, it just feels disorientating.
“When we played in the European Cup Winners’ Cup back in the day, when no one gave a hoot about rest, and then played Saturday, it was probably our worst finish in the Premier League that I could remember.
“So it does have an affect. It does seem to put you behind. You’re always playing catch-up on everyone else – you’re always playing afterwards.
“You can’t afford to make mistakes and Arsenal will be in it to win it and there is no reason why they can’t as it’s a backdoor route to the Champions League.”
“In sport, you’re either a champion or not. They should want to hear that Champions League music ring out at the Emirates every month.
“That should be your one and only desire to do that.”
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