Simon Jordan Labels Arsenal as Premier League’s ‘Bottlers’ in Tense TalkSPORT Discussion with Martin Keown
In a tense and heated discussion on talkSPORT, former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan made a brutal claim about Arsenal, labelling them as the Premier League’s ‘bottlers’. This claim comes in light of Arsenal’s failure to win the Premier League last season, despite leading the title race for a significant period. Ultimately, it was Manchester City who lifted the trophy for the third consecutive year.
Arsenal’s poor form late in the campaign proved to be the decisive factor in their failure to secure the title. At one point, they were eight points clear at the top of the table. However, their inability to maintain their momentum and secure victories against teams of lower quality cost them dearly.
Looking ahead to this season’s title race, Arsenal sit five points behind current leaders Liverpool. The Gunners have an opportunity to close the gap with a win when they host Liverpool on Sunday in a highly anticipated clash. Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes that his former club can still make a statement and narrow the deficit with a strong performance.
However, Simon Jordan’s claim about Arsenal being ‘bottlers’ casts doubt on their ability to rise to the occasion. Jordan argues that when a team is at the top of the league with their destiny in their own hands, but start losing games against inferior opponents, it is a sign of psychological weakness and an inability to overcome adversity. He asserts that this is precisely what happened to Arsenal last season, ultimately handing the title back to Manchester City.
Keown, on the other hand, defends Arsenal and professional sportsmen in general, stating that they do not ‘bottle it’. He argues that they always give their best and highlights Manchester City’s incredible run towards the end of the season as a significant factor in Arsenal’s failure.
The discussion between Jordan and Keown intensifies as they delve into the specifics of Arsenal’s performances against Manchester City. Jordan contends that the outcome of the league was not determined by the two games Arsenal lost to City. Instead, he believes that their downfall was a result of a run of games against teams of lesser quality, which he categorizes as ‘bottling it’.
Keown counters this argument by pointing out the absence of key players like William Saliba and the squad’s overall lack of strength. He suggests that Arsenal’s defensive vulnerabilities and lack of depth contributed to their failure.
As the discussion reaches its climax, both Jordan and Keown acknowledge the challenges that Arsenal currently face due to injuries and a thin squad. However, they differ on whether this is evidence of ‘bottling it’ or simply a result of circumstances. Keown emphasizes the need for Arteta to utilize available players like Marquinhos and Emile Smith Rowe to strengthen the team.
The debate between Jordan and Keown highlights the contrasting perspectives on Arsenal’s performance last season and their current standing in the title race. While Jordan argues that Arsenal’s inability to overcome adversity and maintain their position at the top indicates a psychological weakness, Keown defends the players and attributes their failure to other factors such as Manchester City’s exceptional form and squad limitations.
As Arsenal prepare to face Liverpool in a crucial match, fans will be hoping that the team can prove their critics wrong and demonstrate their ability to compete at the highest level. Whether they can rise above their ‘bottler’ label remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – this tense discussion has sparked a fiery debate surrounding Arsenal’s status in the Premier League.