‘They have Hazard, we have Ozil’: Legend Keown fears for Arsenal future after Europa League embarrassment vs Chelsea
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ARSENAL legend Martin Keown has given a brutally honest assessment of Unai Emery's side following the Europa League final, saying: "They have Hazard, we have Ozil".
The former Gunners defender admits he fears for the club's future, claiming it could be difficult to stop biggest stars from leaving the Emirates.
Chelsea humiliated Arsenal in the second half of the clash, netting three times in 15 minutes to stun their London rivals 4-1.
Eden Hazard, 28 - who appeared to say goodbye to Blues fans after the game - bagged the last two, crucial goals, cancelling out Alex Iwobi's wonder-strike and preventing a potential Gunners comeback.
Meanwhile, Mesut Ozil, 30, was anonymous in Baku and was hauled off the pitch with 13 minutes to go - with youngster Joe Willock coming on.
And Keown, 52, claims the difference in class between the two sides was the most glaring in performances of those two club stars.
Ozil is your biggest player, and he cannot play away from home. Half the games he's not available for. Something’s gotta give there
Martin Keown
He told BT Sport: "Tonight it must’ve felt like the garden of Eden.
"He was so fully of talent and quality. The club’s fallen from a huge height.
"They have Hazard, we had Ozil. He couldn’t get Aubameyang or Lacazette in the game. They had too much for Arsenal.
"Ozil is your biggest player, and he cannot play away from home. Half the games he's not available for. Something’s gotta give there.
"He needs to be with better players in a possession based team, because out of possession he’s not doing enough. He might think he is, but he isn’t."
'SYSTEM FAILURE'
Keown, who won three Premier League titles with Arsenal, claims the painful defeat could take its toll on the Gunners because of their failure to qualify for the Champions League.
The former defender thinks it can turn out to be difficult for Emery to hold onto his biggest stars, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
He also claims the defeat in Baku highlights how much Arsenal have regressed in recent years.
But Keown thinks Emery is still the man to turn things around at the Emirates, but he needs support from club owners to achieve it.
He added: "[It was] a system failure for Arsenal.
"[Chelsea were] too good for Arsenal tonight. It really magnifies the decline of Arsenal football club. It’s nowhere near the club it once was.
"Whether it was [Arsene] Wenger was there too long. Recruitment is what it has to be, and I don’t know if the budget is there to bring Arsenal into the top four next season.
He’s [Unai Emery] put a lot of work into this, tried to wring out intensity. He is a good coach and he has got desire. Unfortunately he has got more desire than a lot of his players.
Martin Keown on Unai Emery
"You mention about keeping the players. Aubameyang and Lacazette, it won’t be easy to hold onto those players.
"It severely dents the budget. Maybe £40million worse off.
"He [Unai Emery] has put a lot of work into this, tried to wring out intensity.
"The judgement of players, the type of player that’s been bought has been more technical, and the, toughness, steeliness doesn’t seem to be there.
"They conceded 51 goals last year, 51 this year, it’s the same group of players, so a major change is needed.
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"Where’s the money gonna go from? Is the owner gonna put his own money in for once?
"I think Emery is the right manager but he needs to be supported.
"He is a good coach and he has got desire. Unfortunately he has got more desire than a lot of his players."
