Arsenal legend Martin Keown
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Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes the Gunners’ challenging start to the new Premier League season could actually work to their advantage in the race for the title.
After finishing as runners-up in each of the past three seasons, Mikel Arteta’s side are under pressure to finally go one better following another summer of heavy investment.
Their campaign begins on Sunday with a difficult trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, before further testing fixtures against Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester City, and Nottingham Forest within the first six weeks.
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While the schedule looks daunting, Keown has urged his former club to embrace the challenge.“The first six games of the season including Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle away, and Manchester City at home are going to be key,” Keown toldBBC Sport.
“But I am going to turn what might have been a negative for Arsenal into a positive, because Liverpool’s new players will be bedding in, City have had a reset and Newcastle have endured a difficult summer.
“The title race is still going to be very close but if Arsenal and Viktor Gyökeres can click straight away, then the solid building blocks they need to be champions are already in place.”
Keown, however, also warned that the time for excuses is over for Arteta and his players. Speaking to talkSPORT, he insisted the Spaniard must deliver silverware this season.
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“I think they need to win trophies. Not to win trophies since 2020… Manchester United have still managed to win more trophies than Arsenal since both those two great managers [Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger] have gone.
“One trophy for Arteta is not enough. He needs to put some trophies in the cabinet. That is the overriding factor, he has to become a winner now.”
Arteta, meanwhile, has sought to temper expectations, warning that this year’s title race could be the toughest yet.
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