Martin Keown: Nobody can ever call Arsenal ‘bottlejobs’ if they win a trophy this season, it’s an insulting label

Martin Keown believes the ‘insulting’ bottler tag that Arsenal are often given should be dropped forever if they win a title.

And the Gunners legend was able to speak without any backlash from on-air rival Simon Jordan as the co-host stayed quiet.

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Keown’s comments came after Mikel Arteta‘s side booked their place in the Champions League final by beating Atletico Madrid.

Their 1-0 win in the second leg secured a spot to face Paris Saint-Germain in their first showpiece in the competition since 2006.

That achievement, combined with their advantage in the Premier League title race, leaves Arsenal on the brink of two trophies.

The strong position means that Gunners fans, like Keown, can finally start to hit back at their critics who had hoped for a ‘bottle’.

White and Jordan co-host Jim White asked Keown whether he will be handing out some humble pie to those who doubted Arsenal.

“I don’t really care,” the ex-defender replied. “This is the first season with Arteta that I’ve said we can really win the league. We still haven’t done that and with Pep in the building, we’re up against it.”

He added: “I’ve bristled at the bottling claim, it’s insulting.

“I’ve heard Simon use the word and about perpetuity and it being around forever, but it certainly wasn’t around in my day.

“And if they go on and win the league and the Champions League, or even take just one of those trophies, I don’t think that can be said about this group ever again.”

During Keown’s triumphant chat, Jordan stayed silent and didn’t reply to any of his comments, before quipping: “My earphones have unplugged so I haven’t been able to hear him…”

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Defending Arsenal’s celebrations

On top of hitting back at Jordan and other Arsenal critics, Keown defended the Gunners for their celebrations.

Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney warned that their post-match joy after beating Atletico could have been too much.

However, Keown doesn’t think so, and believes that the focus remains there in the squad, despite the party at the Emirates.

“I think if you’ve gone a whole season in the Champions League without losing a match, it’s almost two competitions, I think you can applaud that,” he said. “I think they needed it, this team needs to feel a little bit of a celebration.

“But they’ve boxed it off, the players looked very relaxed and no one’s going big time…that was for the fans, to thank them on the night.

“There’s a better bond now between the fans and the players, but it’s just another step, nobody getting carried away at Arsenal.”

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On the brink of greatness

Keown isn’t getting carried away, and he doesn’t think the Arsenal squad or Arteta are going to be either.

However, his rejuvenated confidence in the squad is clear, with the panel on talkSPORT’s Inside Gooners sharing that feeling too.

“I’m not going to say I’m confident, as the nerves as a fan, I’m not going to be able to shake that off,” Arsenal broadcaster Harry Symeou said in the latest episode following the Gunners’ Champions League success.

“But do I feel more confident than I did a couple of weeks ago? Definitely. And do I believe that the players have overcome whatever mental hurdle they were falling at? Yeah, I do.

“Something has clicked, something has changed…it’s going to be stressful, but I’m certainly more confident.”

Ex-Arsenal defender Adrian Clarke then added: “If we do go on and do the double, it will be the greatest season in Arsenal’s history.

“It will eclipse the Invincibles, it will eclipse the doubles, it will be absolutely amazing.

“They’re on the brink of history, they’ve got to go and grab it…and from what I’ve seen in recent games, it looks like the teams are there to go and grab it now.”

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