Martin Keown has credited Unai Emery for having a big say in Arsenal’s failed attempt to win the Premier League title.
The Gunners took it all the way to the final day only to miss out on the crown to Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side secured a 3-1 win over West Ham on the last day to claim their fourth-consecutive title, meaning that Arsenal‘s 2-1 win over Everton meant little as they finished second.
Mikel Arteta will no doubt look back through their results this season and try to identify where things went wrong, with the two matches against Aston Villa being a big problem.
Villa secured a 1-0 win over Arsenal at Villa Park back in December, before claiming a 2-0 victory against the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium last month thanks to goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins.
Emery, a former Arsenal manager, clearly got the better of Arteta this term and according to former Invincible Keown, can take a share of the credit in Man City’s title win.
Speaking on White and Jordan, Keown said: “I think the reason that Arsenal didn’t win the league really was because of Unai Emery.
“He took six points off Arsenal and I’m going to say this because I genuinely feel this, he’s like a swan on the surface – very calm and plays against his old team respectfully, but beneath the surface he’s desperate.
“Those little feet are going crazy to beat Arsenal and he managed it.
“He stopped Arsenal from winning the league and it’s ironic, I played for both great clubs, but Villa have just been amazing.
“They started the season by conceding five goals and finished it by conceding five goals, but between it they’ve finished in the top four.
“They had a massive say in who won the Premier League this year.”
With five points separating Man City and Arsenal last term, the fact that the gap was reduced to just two strongly suggests that the two sides are getting closer to being an even match.
According to Keown, the Gunners must step it up again next time around.
He said: “The level that City set, they set the benchmark and I think that Arsenal are catching up very quickly.
“That’s what Rodri did, he wanted to send a message that they’re the best and it almost lays it down for next year.
“If I’m an Arsenal player now you go away, you think about it and use this as oxygen and come back firing.”