MX23RW : Monday, May 6 20:43:09| >> :60:2430:2430:

Martin Keown: 'Arsenal have become a cup team'

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown challenges the current crop of players to improve their consistency and shake the tag of being just a "cup team".

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has called for the current crop of players to improve their consistency and claims that they have "become a cup team" in recent years.

The Gunners have won the FA Cup four times since they last lifted the Premier League title - including three times in the past four years - and last season missed out on a place in the top four for the first time since Arsene Wenger's arrival in 1996.

Keown was impressed with the team's performance when they beat league champions Chelsea in May's FA Cup final, but wants to see those displays on a more consistent basis in the top flight next season.

"What I kept seeing in that match was street fighters on the day - for the first time in a number of years it looked like Arsenal were competing and battling in every area of the pitch right from the beginning," he told PA.

"Chelsea were second best on the day - and that was a Chelsea team which had won 30 matches over the Premier League season. Arsenal still have winners in the group, but they are not consistent enough and have now become a cup team.

"Arsene Wenger has to find that consistency, so whatever motivation he gave to the team for the FA Cup final, that has got to be his preparation for every single league game at the start of next season."

Arsenal will begin their 2017-18 Premier League campaign at home to Leicester City on Friday, August 11.

ID:302244: cacheID:302244:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2405:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Alexis Sanchez, aka Alexis, celebrates scoring the second during the Premier League game between Arsenal and Sunderland on May 16, 2017
Read Next:
Keown: 'Wenger wants to keep Sanchez'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal36265588286083
2Manchester CityMan City35257387335482
3Liverpool36239481384378
4Aston Villa36207973532067
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs351861169581160
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle351751378562256
7Chelsea351591170591154
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham361310135670-1449
10Bournemouth36139145263-1148
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton351211125357-447
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves36137164960-1146
13Fulham36128165155-444
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton36129153849-1137
16Brentford3699185260-836
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3689194563-1829
18Luton TownLuton3668224978-2926
19Burnley3659223974-3524
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd36372635100-6516


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!