Arsenal legend Martin Keown
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Arsenal legend Martin Keown has hit back at Peter Schmeichel after the former Manchester United goalkeeper launched a scathing attack on the Gunners’ style of play, branding his remarks as “deranged.”
The row erupted in the aftermath of Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, where Schmeichel criticised Mikel Arteta’s tactical approach. Speaking on his podcast, the 61-year-old accused Arsenal of playing “annoying” and “ugly” football, claiming they rely too heavily on set pieces and opposition mistakes rather than expansive attacking play.
“I don’t want to insult Arsenal but their brand of football is so annoying to watch,” Schmeichel said. “It’s designed to exploit opponents’ mistakes while waiting for set pieces. Then they take their time and take the tempo out of the game. I have never in my life ever wanted a team to win a game more than Liverpool today.”
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The Danish icon, who won five Premier League titles with United, also urged Arteta to “let his team play football,” arguing that a more attacking approach would bring Arsenal greater success.
Keown, a cornerstone of Arsenal’s Invincibles defence, strongly disagreed during an appearance ontalkSPORT. “I’ve listened to some people, sometimes these ex-players like Peter Schmeichel, saying Arsenal bring something ‘ugly’ to the Premier League,” the 58-year-old said. “I think that’s deranged, what’s he talking about?”
The former defender even took aim at Schmeichel’s playing days, joking: “Wasn’t it that they changed the back-pass rule in 1992 because of him? Everyone kept passing it back to him, that was ugly as well.”
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The spat underscores the ongoing debate around Arsenal’s evolution under Arteta. The Gunners have been widely praised for their defensive solidity and tactical discipline, which helped them finish second in the Premier League last season. Yet critics like Schmeichel argue their approach can be frustrating to watch and lacks flair.
Keown, however, remains upbeat about Arsenal’s trajectory. While acknowledging the need for greater aggression in big matches, he insisted the club is well placed to challenge for major honours. “We want more,” Keown said. “Arsenal now are in a position where they can challenge for the title.”
The Gunners strengthened their attack further in the summer transfer window, signing creative reinforcements as Arteta looks to blend defensive resilience with more attacking variety.
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