BREAKING: Martin Keown Names The Two Players Arsenal Missed Most In Manchester City Defeat

According to a report by Metro, Martin Keown has expressed concern that Arsenal may be suffering the consequences of an intense season across multiple competitions, suggesting that their ambition to compete on four fronts may have contributed to a growing injury list that could prove costly in the Premier League title race.

Arsenal, who had led the league for much of the campaign, are now at risk of dropping from the top of the table should Manchester City win their game in hand. Their recent 2-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium marked a fourth consecutive loss in domestic competitions, increasing scrutiny on their form at a crucial stage of the season.

Keown suggested that injuries have played a significant role in Arsenal’s struggles and indicated that the squad depth has been tested beyond its limits. He argued that the absence of key players has disrupted consistency and balance within Mikel Arteta’s team, particularly in high-pressure matches.

He specifically pointed to the absence of Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber as major setbacks, noting that Arsenal have been forced to adjust their attacking and defensive structure repeatedly. He also highlighted the impact of Riccardo Calafiori’s absence, explaining that it has limited Arsenal’s ability to progress play effectively from deeper areas.

The former Arsenal defender further observed that Arsenal were forced into using players out of their natural positions during the defeat to Manchester City, including deploying Cristhian Mosquera at right-back in an unfamiliar role against Jeremy Doku. He suggested that such adjustments contributed to instability within the team and increased defensive vulnerability.

Keown also raised concerns about workload management, stating that Arsenal may have attempted too much by competing strongly in four competitions simultaneously. He suggested that the physical and mental demands of such a schedule could be affecting the team’s performance levels at a decisive point in the season.

Despite these concerns, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has maintained that the title race remains open. He stated that the team must continue working hard, stay united, and focus on the remaining matches. He acknowledged that the defeat to Manchester City was frustrating but pointed out that Arsenal created several significant chances during the game, which he described as a positive takeaway.

Odegaard added that the team would analyse their recent performance and shift focus to their next fixture, stressing that there is still everything to play for in the title race. He emphasised that this stage of the season is crucial and urged his teammates to respond strongly in their upcoming matches, beginning with their next Premier League encounter at the Emirates Stadium.