MARTIN KEOWN NAMES BIG ARSENAL PROBLEM THAT COST HIM PLACE IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL

Arsenal came up short in their bid to reach the Champions League final against PSG and Martin Keown pinpointed the reason why Mikel Arteta's men failed to get over the line

Martin Keown referenced Arsenal's striker problems in the wake of their Champions League exit(Image: TNT Sports)

Martin Keown feels Arsenal's lack of a proper centre forward 'caught up with them' in the end following their heartbreaking Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.

The Gunners headed to the French capital knowing that only a win would do against PSG after losing last week's first leg 1-0. But Mikel Arteta's men were unable to conquer their hosts, who won 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate to book a date with Inter Milan at the end of the month.

Despite their defeat, Arsenal started the match with the bit between their teeth and were unfortunate to fall behind on the night when Fabian Ruiz sent a stunner beyond David Raya.

Bukayo Saka kept Arsenal alive after PSG doubled their lead but there was to be no fairytale comeback for Arsenal, who will end the season without a trophy.

Another big summer looks to be on the cards at The Emirates after the club opted against signing a new No.9 in January despite losing both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus to injury. And while they look set to fill that void before the 2025-26 campaign, Keown singled that out as the primary reason behind the club's failure to reach the Champions League.

"You have to hold your hands up to PSG," Keown said on PSG after the match. "Hakimi, what a player he is. Arsenal can be proud of what they have done this season in our second year back in the Champions League. But it has caught up with us that we don't have a proper centre-forward, two of them are out tonight.

"For PSG they have no Neymar, no Messi, no Mbappe, all out the door, but now they are a complete side. I've not see forward players working so hard. How do you beat them? They have to be hot favourites to win this now. You have to give them credit."

Arteta was in bullish mood after the match and, after congratulating PSG on their triumph, went on to insist that no team 'had been better than Arsenal' in the Champions League this season when he was asked if he felt they deserved to advance.

He said: "100 per cent. I don't think there's been a better team [than Arsenal] in the competition from what I have seen, but we are out. This competition is about the boxes and in both boxes are the strikers and the goalkeepers and theirs was the best in both games.

"I am so proud of the players. They deserve a lot of credit for what they are doing in the context of the situation and the amount of injuries, probably the worst state you could arrive here as a team. To come here with a different context and still do that, it gives me a lot of positives for the future but tonight I am very upset."

- Dan Marsh

MARTIN KEOWN APOLOGIES TO RUUD VAN NILSTELROOY FOR HIS ICONIC BATTLE OF OLD TRAFFORD 'SHENANIGANS' IN 2003 - AS FORMER RIVALS ENDURE AWKWARD REUNION AHEAD OF LEICESTER'S CLASH WITH ARSENAL

• Martin Keown met Ruud van Nistelrooy before Leicester's clash with Arsenal

• The ex-England defender apologised for his antics in the 'Battle of Old Trafford' 

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Martin Keown issued an apology to Ruud van Nistelrooy for his 'shenanigans' at the 'Battle of Old Trafford' in 2003, ahead of Arsenal's game against Leicester on Saturday afternoon.

The former rivals were famously involved in an incident in September 2003, in a game between Man United and Arsenal, where Keown was fined for striking Van Nistelrooy in the back at full-time.

The Gunners were second in the Premier League table, holding an unbeaten record that stretched back to the end of the previous season, while United sat behind them in third. 

Martin Keown apologised to Ruud van Nistelrooy for his antics in the 'Battle of Old Trafford'

The affair reached its boiling point when the Red Devils were awarded a last-minute penalty after Keown fouled Diego Forlan. After Van Nistelrooy missed the spot-kick, Keown jumped towards him, laughing in his face.

But, over 20 years on from the iconic event, Keown and Van Nistelrooy attempted to bury the hatchet on live television. The two exchanged pleasantries before awkwardly reminiscing on the events of that game.

The Arsenal defender was fined for his animated taunts towards Van Nistelrooy at full-time

'Good to see you,' said Van Nistelrooy, smiling as he extended his arm for a handshake.

'Nice to see you after all these years,' Keown replied. 'Apologies for all of the shenanigans that went on back in the day.' 

The Dutchman missed a last-minute penalty for Manch

Van Nistelrooy was in good spirits and insisted that any antics from the duo's playing days should be left in the past. 

'What happens on the pitch stays on the pitch. I'm happy that I have him in front of me and not at the back of me. It was a good rivalry wasn't it?' the Leicester boss asked Keown.

Keown surrounded Van Nistelrooy at full-time to taunt him, joined by multiple Arsenal players

'Oh, great days. I'm glad you're standing there and not next to me because you used to love to stamp on me,' the former Arsenal centre back jokingly replied.

'I would like to block you out as well and then fall over,' chuckled Van Nistelrooy.

Tensions during the 'Battle of Old Trafford' were fuelled by an incident earlier in the match, when Van Nistelrooy clashed with Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira, leading to the Frenchman receiving a second yellow card and being sent off.

Arsenal players felt Van Nistelrooy exaggerated the contact, as Vieira kicked out at him but did not actually make any contact.

Van Nistelrooy walked off the pitch and offered no reaction, although the situation escalated

After Van Nistelrooy missed his penalty, Keown was first to confront him, and was part of a flock of Arsenal players to taunt him after the full-time whistle. 

Lauren, Ray Parlour, Ashley Cole and Kolo Toure all joined the ex-England defender in surrounding Van Nistelrooy.

Keown jumped at Van Nistelrooy and appeared to strike the Dutchman in the back with his forearm. Lauren pushed Van Nistelrooy, while Parlour and Cole both offered verbal abuse and also shoved him.

The United frontman did not react to the chaos and simply walked away, but the situation escalated as players from both teams clashed.

Roy Keane escorted Van Nistelrooy away from the situation, but many other United players joined the conflict in his defence.

Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gary Neville, Mikael Silvestre, Quinton Fortune and Rio Ferdinand all clashed with the Arsenal squad.

The melee resulted in multiple bans and fines; Keown received a three-match ban and a £20,000 fine. 

Lauren got four matches and had to cough up £40,000, while Parlour and Vieira were also charged with improper conduct and missed a game each.

For United, Giggs was handed a £7,500 fine and Ronaldo a £4,000 fine, along with a warning to mind their conduct in the future.

Arsenal as a club were fined £175,000 for 'failing to ensure the proper behaviour of their players'. 

Ultimately, the fee was a miniscule financial setback, as the Gunners went on to be crowned Premier League champions as the 'Invincibles' in 2003-04, notching £17.25million in prize money.

Now, Van Nistelrooy has swapped the highs of fighting for Premier League titles as a player to navigating a fight for survival in the top-flight with Leicester.

His side could climb out of the relegation zone with a win over Arsenal on Saturday. 

- YASEEN ZAMAN