‘I Feared Arsenal’s Defensive Duo’ Says Former Premier League Striker

Marlon Harewood speaks about his experience of playing against Keown and Adams…

Former West Ham United striker Marlon Harewood named Arsenal legends Martin Keown and Tony Adams as some of the toughest defenders he’s come across in his career, the former forward told AFTV.

Harewood, who now runs a vehicle customisation dealership, was asked about his history against Arsenal and was quick to reference our iconic defensive duo as his toughest competition.

While most Arsenal fans remember the former Hammer for his last-minute winner at Upton Park in 2006 which sparked the infamous touchline brawl between Arsene Wenger and Alan Pardew, it was at Nottingham Forrest where Harewood came up against Keown and Adams.

Keown was nicknamed ‘The Rash’ when he was in his prime such was his intense marking, and Adams was deemed ‘The Professor’ of defending by Wenger.

“I made my debut there when I was at Nottingham Forrest,” Harewood narrated about his trip to Highbury.

“I came on as a sub and all I could see was them two (Adams and Keown)…mate, they are proper old school.

“They scared me for a minute, but then I had to wake up.”

Given that Harewood got the better of a centre-back pairing of William Gallas and Kolo Toure on that fateful afternoon in east London, it proves how dire we’ve been defensively since the days of famous back five.

Not much has changed over the past 13 years either and after conceding 51 goals last term, defending is still our achilles heel.