Arsenal Have Lost Their Identity Under Unai Emery – Martin Keown

Martin Keown believes Arsenal are backtracking under Unai Emery and the club has lost it’s identity.

Speaking to talkSPORT host Jim White on Friday, the former centre-back and three-time Premier League winner said, “He’s just being reminded that if Arsenal don’t reach their objectives, which is to make it into the Champions League, then he’ll be without a job. That goes with the territory.

“Arsenal are striving to get back into the big time, to be in the running to win Premier League titles and to get into the Champions League, and it’s fallen by the wayside.

“Emery’s remit when he came in was to make Arsenal no longer a soft touch, to be more solid, to be stronger. But he’s been there 18 months now and the problems that were there before he came still exist.”

Asked if Emery is the right man for Arsenal long-term, Keown replied resolutely: “Only time will tell us that, but at the moment it’s looking like, ‘no’. It doesn’t look right.

“We’ve lost that brand of football Arsenal had, the beautiful football they played under Arsene Wenger. We’re losing our identity and we need to get it back really quickly.

“He looks like a man under pressure. He’s getting fractious in the media in terms of his communication, every time we see him it’s three word answers, it’s not quite the projection the club will want.

“He really needed a break and he got one, so he’s got to bounce back now. The board will back him as long as they can, but he needs to improve the performances. I wish Emery well, but I believe we’re now on borrowed time.”