'Refuse to be subjective': Martin Keown and Simon Jordan in heated clash over Arsenal's FA Cup exit
Martin Keown couldn't escape intense questioning from Simon Jordan as they analyzed what has been a particularly difficult week for Arsenal.
Gunners' trophy hopes suffered a double blow with defeat to Manchester United sending them packing their bags for the FA Cupwhile a 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle It means they need a miracle to reach the Carabao Cup final.
In a spectacular cup tie, Manchester United triumphed over Arsenal 5-3 on penalties in the FA Cup third round after a thrilling 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
This came days after they suffered a surprise defeat at home to Newcastle in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
A place in the final is still possible, but with Arsenal trailing 2-0 on aggregate ahead of the second leg, which will be played at St James' Park, the north London side have a mountain to climb in their bid to get to Wembley.
They are also six points off the pace in the Premier League title race, with leaders Liverpool playing one game less than Arsenal.
Arsenal hero Keown joined White & Jordan on Monday morning to discuss the Gunners' difficult journey, and things quickly heated up.
Meanwhile, key players Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus are long-term absent with hamstring and ACL injuries respectively.
Jim White raised the question of whether Arsenal are “huffing and puffing” their way to nowhere.
“United did exceptionally well with ten men,” Keown responded.
“I thought at that moment the tide was turning. It has been a disastrous week for Arsenal in the season with injuries and suspensions.
“It looks like a very small team now, only two players to choose from in wide positions.
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“I guess, though, you say Raheem Sterling comes into that equation, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard the other two, Jesus gets injured.
“So there have been better days at the Arsenal office, Jim.
“They have Tottenham on Wednesday, there is nothing bigger than that.
“That's all you should be thinking about right now. “It's two body blows in one week, they have to recover, stay together and build from there.”
White then turned to Jordan and said, “Another catalog of missed opportunities, Simon. “Arteta said after the game that the actual result against United was something incredible.”
Jordan didn't hold back in his fiery assessment.
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“That's a little pathetic, isn't it?” Jordan replied.
“In the middle of the week there was an argument about the difference between balls and, I know they took it out of context but he was the one who opened his mouth and decided to do it that way, and this week it's because you didn't get what you deserved.
“If you don't take risks you deserve to lose games. If you play against a Man United side who are not in good form, they got a decent result against Liverpoolbut that does not mean that United have suddenly righted their ship with ten men.
“So, let's put some context here. I don't see Arsenal winning the Champions League, it's hard to see. The reason that kind of rhetoric bothers you is because you are not objective, you sit in the studio week after week.”
Keown chimed in: “I just started the show by congratulating manchester united.”
Jordan responded, “Because you have to.”
Keown responded: “No, because that's the sporting element.”
Jordan continued, adding: “Arteta is negotiating on a path that will produce very little for Arsenal because he spends most of his time looking for mitigations or excuses.
“This argument was that Arteta had no regrets, we just didn't get what we deserved. If you don't take risks, against a ten-man Manchester United you don't deserve to win a football match.”
The discussion also highlighted Arsenal's glaring shortcomings, with Jordan criticizing Kai Havertz's performance against United.
“When I was watching Havertz, you took great delight in telling me that it must have been a tax from the beginning,” Jordan told Keown.
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“Now he has scored some goals and suddenly that has corrected itself. “Now he's gone back to saying he couldn't hit a cow's bum with a banjo, Arsenal are now a bit maligned because they don't have a centre-forward.”
The Gunners' anxieties persist as they prepare for their clash with Tottenham on Wednesday night, the final chapter of the north London derby.
Kick-off in the Emirates is scheduled for 8pm and you can see all the updates on talk SPORTS, with Adrián Durham, Troy Deeneyand Scott Minto guiding you through the action.
talkSPORT.com will also have action in our dedicated live First division blog.
