‘Refuse to be subjective’ – Martin Keown and Simon Jordan in heated clash over Arsenal’s FA Cup exit
Martin Keown couldn’t escape Simon Jordan’s fiery questioning as they dissected what’s been a particularly tough week for Arsenal. The Gunners’ trophy hopes suffered a double blow with defeat to Manchester United sending them packing in the FA Cup, while a 2-0 loss at home to Newcastle means they need a miracle to reach the Carabao Cup final. Mikel Arteta’s men areGetty In a dramatic cup tie, Manchester United triumphed over Arsenal 5-3 on penalties in the FA Cup third round after a nail-biting 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium. This came days after they suffered a surprise defeat at home to Newcastle in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final tie. A place in the final is still possible but with Arsenal 2-0 down on aggregate ahead of the second leg, which will be played at St James’ Park, the north London side have a mountain to climb in their bid to reach Wembley. They’re also six points off the pace in the Premier League title race with leaders Liverpool playing a game less than Arsenal. Arsenal hero Keown joined White & Jordan on Monday morning to talk about the Gunners’ rocky road, and things quickly heated up. Meanwhile, key players Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus are long-term absentees with hamstring and ACL injuries respectively. Jim White posed the question on whether Arsenal are ‘huffing and puffing’ their way to nowhere. “United did exceptionally well with ten men,” Keown responded. “I thought at that point the tide was turning. It’s been a disastrous week for Arsenal in the season with injuries and suspensions. “It looks like a very thin squad now, only two players to pick from in wide positions. Keown joined White & Jordan on Monday morning. “I suppose you say though that Raheem Sterling comes into that equation, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard the other two, Jesus getting injured. “So there’s been better days in the Arsenal office, Jim. “They have got Tottenham coming up on Wednesday, you don’t get bigger than that. “That’s all they should be thinking about right now. It’s two body blows in a week, they have to come back from it and stick together and build from there.” White then turned to Jordan, saying: “Another catalogue of missed chances Simon. Arteta said post-match that the actual outcome against United was somewhat unbelievable.” Jordan didn’t hold back in his fiery assessment. Arsenal’s season could be in danger of unravelling in JanuaryGetty “That’s a bit pathetic isn’t it?” Jordan retorted. “In the middle of the week, it was a discussion about the difference between balls and, I know it was taken out of context but he was the one who opened his mouth and decided to make it that way, and this week it’s because you didn’t get what you deserved. “If you don’t take your chances then you deserve to lose games. If you’re playing against a Man United side which is not in good form, they got a decent result against Liverpool, but that doesn’t determine that all of a sudden United has righted their ship with ten men. “So let’s get some context here. I don’t see Arsenal winning the Champions League, it’s difficult to see. The reason why that sort of rhetoric gets put on your toes is because you’re not objective, you sit in the studio week in and week out.” Keown interjected: “I’ve just started the show by saying congratulations to Manchester United.” Jordan replied: “Because you have to.” Keown countered: “No, because that’s the sporting element.” Jordan pressed on, adding: “Arteta is trading on a pathway that will produce Arsenal very little because he spends most of his time finding mitigation or excuses. “This argument was there’s no contrition from Arteta, it’s simply we didn’t get what we deserved. If you don’t take your chances, against a ten-men Manchester United you do not deserve to win a football match.” The discussion also spotlighted Arsenal’s striking deficiencies, with Jordan criticising Kai Havertz’s performance against United. “You took great delight in telling me, when I used to observe Havertz that he must have been a tax right off,” Jordan said to Keown. Havertz missed a series of chances to win the game before his penalty, which was saved by Altay Bayindir, proved to be the decisive moment in the shootoutAFP “Now he’s scored a few goals all of a sudden that’s corrected itself. Now he’s reverted it to type which he couldn’t hit a cow’s backside with a banjo, Arsenal are now slightly maligned because they haven’t got a centre forward.” The Gunners’ anxieties persist as they brace for their showdown with Tottenham on Wednesday evening, the latest chapter in the North London derby. Kick-off at the Emirates is scheduled for 8 pm, and you can catch all the updates on talkSPORT, with Adrian Durham, Troy Deeney, and Scott Minto guiding you through the action. talkSPORT.com will also hav
Martin Keown couldn’t escape Simon Jordan’s fiery questioning as they dissected what’s been a particularly tough week for Arsenal.
The Gunners’ trophy hopes suffered a double blow with defeat to Manchester United sending them packing in the FA Cup, while a 2-0 loss at home to Newcastle means they need a miracle to reach the Carabao Cup final.
In a dramatic cup tie, Manchester United triumphed over Arsenal 5-3 on penalties in the FA Cup third round after a nail-biting 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
This came days after they suffered a surprise defeat at home to Newcastle in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final tie.
A place in the final is still possible but with Arsenal 2-0 down on aggregate ahead of the second leg, which will be played at St James’ Park, the north London side have a mountain to climb in their bid to reach Wembley.
They’re also six points off the pace in the Premier League title race with leaders Liverpool playing a game less than Arsenal.
Arsenal hero Keown joined White & Jordan on Monday morning to talk about the Gunners’ rocky road, and things quickly heated up.
Meanwhile, key players Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus are long-term absentees with hamstring and ACL injuries respectively.
Jim White posed the question on whether Arsenal are ‘huffing and puffing’ their way to nowhere.
“United did exceptionally well with ten men,” Keown responded.
“I thought at that point the tide was turning. It’s been a disastrous week for Arsenal in the season with injuries and suspensions.
“It looks like a very thin squad now, only two players to pick from in wide positions.
“I suppose you say though that Raheem Sterling comes into that equation, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard the other two, Jesus getting injured.
“So there’s been better days in the Arsenal office, Jim.
“They have got Tottenham coming up on Wednesday, you don’t get bigger than that.
“That’s all they should be thinking about right now. It’s two body blows in a week, they have to come back from it and stick together and build from there.”
White then turned to Jordan, saying: “Another catalogue of missed chances Simon. Arteta said post-match that the actual outcome against United was somewhat unbelievable.”
Jordan didn’t hold back in his fiery assessment.
“That’s a bit pathetic isn’t it?” Jordan retorted.
“In the middle of the week, it was a discussion about the difference between balls and, I know it was taken out of context but he was the one who opened his mouth and decided to make it that way, and this week it’s because you didn’t get what you deserved.
“If you don’t take your chances then you deserve to lose games. If you’re playing against a Man United side which is not in good form, they got a decent result against Liverpool, but that doesn’t determine that all of a sudden United has righted their ship with ten men.
“So let’s get some context here. I don’t see Arsenal winning the Champions League, it’s difficult to see. The reason why that sort of rhetoric gets put on your toes is because you’re not objective, you sit in the studio week in and week out.”
Keown interjected: “I’ve just started the show by saying congratulations to Manchester United.”
Jordan replied: “Because you have to.”
Keown countered: “No, because that’s the sporting element.”
Jordan pressed on, adding: “Arteta is trading on a pathway that will produce Arsenal very little because he spends most of his time finding mitigation or excuses.
“This argument was there’s no contrition from Arteta, it’s simply we didn’t get what we deserved. If you don’t take your chances, against a ten-men Manchester United you do not deserve to win a football match.”
The discussion also spotlighted Arsenal’s striking deficiencies, with Jordan criticising Kai Havertz’s performance against United.
“You took great delight in telling me, when I used to observe Havertz that he must have been a tax right off,” Jordan said to Keown.
“Now he’s scored a few goals all of a sudden that’s corrected itself. Now he’s reverted it to type which he couldn’t hit a cow’s backside with a banjo, Arsenal are now slightly maligned because they haven’t got a centre forward.”
The Gunners’ anxieties persist as they brace for their showdown with Tottenham on Wednesday evening, the latest chapter in the North London derby.
Kick-off at the Emirates is scheduled for 8 pm, and you can catch all the updates on talkSPORT, with Adrian Durham, Troy Deeney, and Scott Minto guiding you through the action.
talkSPORT.com will also have the action in our dedicated live Premier League blog.
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