Arsenal have had a lot of players over the years who haven’t quite reached their potential.
Chris Willock was supposed to be better than Bukayo Saka in the academy, but he’s now playing for Cardiff City.
Meanwhile, Kayden Hines was meant to be the next big thing at one point, but now he’s playing in Non-League.
Unfortunately, not every player can reach their potential, and speaking on the Seaman Says Podcast, Martin Keown has been discussing one of his former teammates he thought would go on to have a stellar career.
Indeed, when discussing who his best centre-back partner was during his time at Arsenal, Keown noted that he thought Matthew Upson would have a truly amazing career, but it didn’t quite work out.
Matthew Upson of Arsenal takes a penalty during the match between Arsenal Legends and Real Madrid Legends at Emirates Stadium on September 8, 2018 ...
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Martin Keown thought Matthew Upson would be a star
Keown spoke about some of the players he played with at Arsenal.
The former defender noted that Tony Adams and Sol Campbell were two of his best centre-back partners, while he said that he thought Upson was on his way to the very top.
“Everyone I played with at Arsenal was magnificent. I thought Matthew Upson was going to go on and have this amazing career, but that didn’t quite work out for him,” Keown said.
What happened to Matthew Upson?
Upson ultimately didn’t make it as a star at Arsenal, playing just 56 games for the club before joining Birmingham City in a deal worth £3m.
However, Upson did carve out a very respectable career for himself.
Indeed, the defender would end up becoming a Premier League regular for teams such as West Ham and Stoke City, while he also earned a fair few England caps.
Matt Upson career stats
Premier League appearances 289
England caps 21
England goals 2
21 England caps in that era is nothing to be sniffed at.
Indeed, Upson was competing with genuine world-class defenders for a spot in the England squad around that time as the likes of Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Ledley King, Jamie Carragher, Joleon Lescott and Jonathan Woodgate all jostled for position.
Upson carved out a very good career, and while he never became a true superstar in the way Keown expected him to, he can be proud of what he achieved in the game.
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