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Football

30th Nov 2020

Roy Keane: Arsenal will have enough to stay in the Premier League

Roy Keane says Arsenal will probably have enough to avoid relegation this season, as Mikel Arteta's side linger in 14th after their third loss in five games

Reuben Pinder

The world’s best wind up merchant is at it again

Roy Keane believes Arsenal have enough quality in their squad to survive in the Premier League this season.

Arsenal suffered their third loss in their last five Premier League games on Sunday as Wolves beat them 2-1, despite star man Raul Jimenez being forced off by a head injury in the first half.

There is growing concern among Arsenal fans and the punditocracy about Mikel Arteta’s side and their capacity to challenge for the European places this season, with all the momentum built during last season’s victorious FA Cup run seeming to have vanished.

Speaking after Arsenal’s loss to Wolves, Keane said next week’s north London derby against Tottenham is a huge game for Arsenal but that the Gunners will not be relegated for the second time in the club’s history.

“They all seem big at the moment,” Keane said.

“Maybe [Tottenham] might be the best game for them to have next week. A derby, obviously there’s no supporters there. Going away, maybe less pressure than at home.

“But I still think Arsenal… They’ll have enough to stay up, I think. I think they’ll be strong enough to stay in the devision.”

Presenter Dave Jones and guest pundit Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink laughed as Keane struggled to contain his smirk, knowing exactly what he’d done.

Jokes aside, though, Arsenal are 14th, behind Steve Bruce’s Newcastle and level on points with Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace.

A short trip across north London next weekend will see them come up against the league leaders Tottenham, managed by Jose Mourinho, which is a sentence sure to rile a lot of Arsenal fans – not my intention.

But if Arsenal do not seriously improve their form in the coming weeks, questions will be asked of Arteta’s ability to make progress with this group of players.