On the evening of November 2, Beijing time, Arsenal lost 0-1 to Newcastle in the Premier League. Arsenal legend Martin Keown sharply criticized the team’s performance, stating that it did not resemble that of a champion.
At St. James’ Park, despite controlling most of the game, Arsenal fell to a 3-point loss as Newcastle secured the win with Alexander Isak’s goal in the first half. This result extended Arsenal’s winless run in the Premier League to three matches. Currently, after 10 rounds, Arsenal has 18 points, trailing league leaders Liverpool by 7 points.
Keown expressed deep disappointment with Arsenal’s performance: “It’s really disappointing. Arsenal failed to display their style throughout the match. Although Newcastle’s defense was well-organized, adopting a 4-5-1 formation, Arsenal’s performance today was simply not good enough. They didn’t play high-quality football at any point. Arsenal have only themselves to blame.”
Keown added: “Arsenal didn’t play the kind of football we expected. Their performance was far from that of a championship-caliber team.”
Previously, another Premier League legend, Joe Cole, had predicted that Arsenal would win the Premier League title this season. However, after watching this match, Cole changed his mind: “Many people, including myself, believed that Arsenal could win the Premier League. But due to what I saw today, I’ve changed my view. The manager needs to boost morale when they return to the dressing room, and the players need to take responsibility. The coming week is crucial for them; they will face AC Milan away in the Champions League, followed by a London derby against in-form Chelsea. I think they will soon be 10 points behind the top.”
