Keown hopes Arsenal stick with back three for new season

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has called on Arsene Wenger to stick with a back three when the Premier League season returns in August.

Wenger has favoured a back four for nearly his entire stay at Arsenal to date but switched to a back three at the end of the year.

The Gunners failed to earn a place in next season’s Champions League despite winning nine of their last ten matches in all competitions.

The run included victory over Chelsea, who’s manager Antonio Conte was the first to switch to three at the back last season, in the FA Cup final.

“By playing three at the back and having one midfielder just sitting in front, which (Granit) Xhaka was very good at, it allowed (Aaron) Ramsey to get forward,” said Keown.

“And we weren’t in any danger with the counter-attack any more. That’s really been a problem over the past six or seven years.

(Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

“I can think of many occasions when the counter-attack has really undone Arsenal and that balance wasn’t there. The system is now in vogue.

“We’ve seen a Premier League team win with a back three, an FA Cup team, of course Arsenal, winning with a three, and I can see no reason why you’d change that next season.

“It’s been a real success story. We’ve won nine of the last ten matches.”