Arsenal News: Keown slams defence, Neville questions big-game approach, Man United praise

Martin Keown has criticised Arsenal's defence from set-pieces and insists it is a real weak point

NEWS NEWS BLOG SPORT brings you the latest news and gossip coming out of the Emirates.

 

Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes Arsene Wenger's side are 'all over the place' when defending set-pieces and considers it top be a real weak point ahead of their clash with Manchester United on Sunday.  

"At times this season, Arsenal have looked all over the place when defending set-pieces — conceding two goals from corners against Olympiakos (in their 3-2 home defeat) on Tuesday — and they’ll have to be on their A-game to deny the likes of Chris Smalling and Wayne Rooney," said Keown in his Daily Mail column. 

 

"When I was at Arsenal, we spent hours on the training pitch working on set-pieces. It was mostly zonal marking, but we made sure we marked the player in our zone. It doesn’t seem like that happens now."

Gary Neville has questioned Arsenal's approach to big games and insists the midweek defeat to Olympiakos adds pressure on them against Man United. 

 

Gary Neville believes Arsenal prepare for a big game like it is ' a game of football in the park'

"[Arsenal] don't prepare for a big game like it's a big game. I used the words arrogance and naivety earlier in the season," the former United full-back told Sky Sports.

"They prepare for a big game like they're going out to play a game of football in the park."

Meanwhile, Louis van Gaal has praised the under-fire Gunners boss for his commitment to Arsenal, but insisted he could not stay at a club for 11 years as Wenger has done without winning a league title.

 

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal praised Arsene Wenger for staying for so long at Arsenal

“I think you have to ask the board of Arsenal that question, not me,” he said when asked about Wenger's 11-year Premier League title drought, report the Guardian. 

“I think that he’s doing great work. When you can, like Sir Alex Ferguson, stay in a club for such a long period of time, you have to be very good, otherwise you shall not succeed.

"So I think Arsène Wenger is one of the best coaches of this world, and the same thing with Sir Alex, who I think is the best, because he won the most titles, for example."