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Premier League | Gameweek 27

Mar 6, 2021 at 12.30pm UK

Turf Moor

Burnley
1 - 1
Arsenal

Wood (39')
Pieters (71')

FT(HT: 1-1)

Aubameyang (6')
Saka (55')

Martin Keown calls for summer overhaul at Arsenal

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 07 March 2021

Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes that the North London side need to undergo a major overhaul in the summer after Saturday's disappointing draw at Burnley.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes that Mikel Arteta needs to oversee a major summer overhaul at the Emirates Stadium ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.

The Gunners' hopes of European football for next season took yet another blow in a controversial 1-1 draw with Burnley on Saturday, as Granit Xhaka's error came after the Gunners had failed to make their dominance count in the opening periods.

Arsenal managed to offload several out-of-favour players such as Mesut Ozil, Sokratis, Shkodran Mustafi and Sead Kolasinac in January, but Keown has insisted that more changes must be made at the club this summer.

Speaking to BT Sport, the ex-Gunner said: "It's a calamity, the goal they concede trying to play out from the back. It's about making the right decisions, the manager said he's far from happy about the team's performance and said stop giving silly goals away and this was another one.

"This ball should be launched by the goalkeeper. Okay, Granit gives it away and he shouldn't, it is his mistake. But don't give it to him.

"He had a list didn't he, he said they're far, far away from the team he wants. He said, 'I need more quality', so I think better players.

"If I looked at that today, there's maybe four or five in there that are going to be forming the core but the rest maybe need to be changed.

"He talked about better decision-making, be more efficient in your play, did they make good decisions today in key moments? Maybe not. In front of goal, they could've been better.

"He knows what the problems are, he's now got to find the solutions and find the necessary players to put Arsenal back on the map because they're halfway down the table and it's simply not good enough at the moment."

Arsenal now turn their attention to Thursday's last-16 first leg with Olympiacos in the Europa League - arguably their best route to another campaign of continental football next term.