‘Really realistic’: Keown makes dramatic U-turn over where Arsenal will finish in PL table

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Martin Keown famously claimed before the start of the season that Arsenal will not break into the top four of the Premier League table. He seems to have changed his mind now.

“I think it’s a little too much for Arsenal this year when you look at the competition and the teams around them,” Keown said during pre-season.

The favourites to finish in the Champions League places before the campaign began were the two Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Three of the above four are up there, but Manchester United’s poor performances and Arsenal’s resurgence has made Keown feel that Mikel Arteta’s men could finish fourth at the end of this season.

Keown: Arsenal can finish fourth

The Englishman told The Mirror: “I think the win against Leicester was a statement victory. When you go there and you do that to Leicester, you’ve climbed another major hurdle in your development. That’s all it is at the minute, just a team developing but going in the right direction.

“The form team of the season is West Ham going into fourth place. With Manchester United and Tottenham having a difficult run, that top-four place comes into view.

“I think it’s about Arsenal rebuilding the reputation as it is about anything else. There was a feeling they had a soft underbelly, but they have been able to wipe that away. in just a few games.

“The top four is up for grabs. They definitely need to get back into Europe, fourth or fifth position is a really realistic goal for Arsenal this season.”

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After the first three Premier League games of the season, not one person would’ve dared to say that Arsenal have a chance of finishing in the top-six, let alone in the top-four of the Premier League.

Arteta’s men have done well to recover from that position and are now just two points behind defending champions Manchester City. A top-four place really is up for grabs and the Gunners may have an edge.

Arsenal aren’t in Europe this season which means that they will mostly play just once every week. The other teams in the race for the fourth spot don’t have that luxury, which is a big boost for Arteta going forward.

However, it will still be extremely difficult considering that the Gunners have the youngest side in the division at the moment.