Martin Keown believes if his former side Arsenal will qualify for the Champions League next season, they “must win at all costs” against Manchester United on Sunday.
Arsenal will play hosts to United at the Emirates and have the chance to reclaim the fourth spot from the Red Devils who are just a point above them. The two sides met in January during the FA Cup where United beat the hosts 3-1. Arsenal legend Keown believes an ‘aura’ is growing around United once more and the club is particularly buoyant after surprisingly overturning a 2-0 deficit in Paris to move into the Champions League quarter-finals.
But Keown spotted weaknesses against PSG ‘particularly on the flanks’ and believes Arsenal can get at them if Emery gets his tactics right.
“‘Their defence can be exposed if they are put under pressure. Emery’s best chance of success is to return to the tactics which proved so successful in the 2-0 win over Chelsea,” said Keown.
“That day, Arsenal used Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette as inside forwards with Aaron Ramsey breaking from midfield and forcing opponents into mistakes. ‘Solskjaer will be well aware that Arsenal is a different animal at home. Buoyed by the crowd, they fly forward and take the game to the opposition. Arsenal must prove they have the character and personality required to be successful. Victory will give them belief that they can finish in the top four, just as beating United in 1998 gave us the belief that we could win the title.”