Martin Keown was filled with reward for 3 Arsenal gamers after the Gunners continued their good run towards Aston Villa, however mentioned it was ‘ridiculous’ to label his former membership ‘title contenders’ after simply 5 video games.
Arsenal maintained their good begin to the season and saved their place on the prime of the Premier League with a 2-1 win over struggling Villa.
Douglas Luiz’s nook beat Aaron Ramsdale to cancel out Gabriel Jesus’ first-half opener, however Gabriel Martinelli ensured Villa’s combat again was short-lived as he scored a second-half winner.
Keown hailed the ‘character and persona’ Arsenal confirmed to make it 5 wins from 5 and reserved particular reward for Albert Sambi Lokonga, Granit Xhaka and Kieran Tierney.
‘It’s a incredible run Arsenal are on in the intervening time,’ Keown instructed BT Sport after Arsenal’s win on the Emirates. ‘I actually loved the character and persona they confirmed tonight.
‘It might have fallen aside after Villa equalised however Arsenal are going from power to power. I’ve bought to say Lokonga, no-one has actually been talking about him however he’s are available there with a number of accidents about and executed rather well.
‘Xhaka as properly within the midfield, that was one in every of his greatest video games for Arsenal. Tierney was additionally nice, nobody is speaking about [injured summer signing Oleksandr] Zinchenko tonight due to that efficiency.’
Arsenal’s excellent begin to the Premier League season has sparked pleasure over a possible title problem in north London.
Keown ‘hopes that is the beginning or one thing particular’ at his former membership however says it’s too early to contemplate the Gunners as a real risk to defending champions Manchester Metropolis.
He added: ‘It’s step-by-step with this Arsenal crew. It’s so early within the season, it’s ridiculous [to call them title contenders]. It’s a brand new crew however hopefully it’s the beginning of one thing particular.’
Whereas Arsenal stay prime of the desk, Aston Villa’s defeat leaves them second from backside with three factors from a attainable 15.
A dejected Steven Gerrard mentioned: ‘We labored ever so laborious to remain within the sport and stick with Arsenal. I believe technically they have been a degree above for 45 minutes. Due to our technical degree we saved giving the ball again.’
Requested if he feared for his job following a run of 4 defeats from 5 video games, Gerrard added: ‘After all I do.
‘I’m actually sincere and important of myself. If I stood right here and mentioned I wasn’t involved I believe you’d take a look at me as if I used to be from a distinct planet.’
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