December 11th 2024.
During Arsenal's impressive 3-0 victory over Monaco in the Champions League, former player Martin Keown had some strong opinions about the team's performance. With Arsenal now in a good position to secure automatic qualification to the knockout stages, Keown believes that the Gunners need to sign a new, prolific goalscorer to take their game to the next level.
The win against Monaco was a well-deserved one, with Bukayo Saka scoring twice and substitute Kai Havertz also finding the back of the net. As the final whistle blew, Arsenal found themselves in third place in their group, with two more crucial games left to play. The top eight teams in the group will advance straight to the last-16 stage, while the following 16 will have to go through a play-off. It's a high-stakes game, with the bottom 12 teams being eliminated altogether.
While Arsenal celebrated their fourth Champions League win of the season, Keown couldn't help but point out that the team still lacks a prolific goalscorer. He believes that players like Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, who started the match but was subbed off in the second half, need to step up and score more goals. Jesus, who was a consistent goalscorer during his time at Manchester City, has only managed to score four league goals for Arsenal since joining last season.
"We talk about Havertz and Jesus - they need to score more goals and be more ruthless," Keown told TNT Sports. "There is no doubt about it. I think they could do with that different tool in the box, that player who can find an opportunity out of nothing. Jesus has come with a lot of experience and has brought a lot to the group, but he needs to score on the pitch."
The former Arsenal defender also praised the team's overall performance, calling it a professional and important win for their momentum. He was particularly impressed with Saka, who has been a key player for Arsenal this season and scored two goals in the match against Monaco.
While Keown was full of praise for the team, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was also delighted with their performance. After a disappointing draw with Fulham over the weekend, the Gunners bounced back in style against Monaco. "I'm very happy," Arteta said. "We started the game very well and should have put it to bed in the first half, but we didn't. In the Champions League, you will have difficult moments and we suffered, but then with the second goal, the game was in control."
Arteta also had high praise for Saka, who he described as a mature and incredibly talented player. "What he has already done in the game at his age is incredible," Arteta said. "He's a special person and his leadership is increasing. He is loved by everybody and he makes a difference on the pitch." The manager also commended Saka for his leadership both on and off the pitch, as he continues to impress at such a young age.
Overall, it was a fantastic performance by Arsenal and a crucial win in their Champions League campaign. With players like Saka leading the way and a manager like Arteta at the helm, the Gunners have a lot to look forward to in the future.
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