Martin Keown Slams Lack Of Defensive Focus After Liverpool Thrashing

Arsenal legend Martin Keown questions the work being done on the training pitch…

Arsenal icon Martin Keown didn’t hold back in his criticism of the team’s defending at Anfield after we were humbled in a 5-1 defeat to the league leaders.

Speaking on BT Sport after the game, former Gunners defender questioned the level of defensive focus taking place at the training ground given the evidence on show.

After racing into a 1-0 lead through Ainsley Maitland-Niles, we squandered the advantage almost imminently just as we did at Old Trafford earlier this month.

And, as was the case then, the goal came due to a string of errors which led to Firmino tapping the ball home into an empty net.

We then totally capitulated, conceding another three goals before the referee blew for half-time – each goal further providing a damning indictment on our defence.

For Keown, the situation is simple, either we’re not working on our defensive positioning in training, or Emery needs to invest in a new back-line.

“At the moment he’s going to have to go out there and buy personnel to defend,” Keown said.

“They don’t defend as a group, they don’t get out together, they’re not close enough together, they go to ground too easily, their angle of approach, they’re jockeying players, there’s a succession of things.

“Not enough time is being spent defensively, clearly because if it is they’re not just good enough.

“It’s panic defending, they are ravaged with injuries, but it’s schoolboy defending.”

Each week, one wonders if Emery begins to realise the task at hand and if he’s questioning whether or not he can pull it off.

The defeat at Anfield proved that our defensive woes are systematic and will need time and a few transfer windows to change the mindset.

We’ve conceded 12 goals in our last three Premier League visits to Anfield – that’s simply not good enough.

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