Roy Keane was once unconvinced by Arsenal’s progress under Mikel Arteta.
Roy Keane has been left red-faced after an old argument with Everton icon Tim Cahill emerged. Cahill argued that Arsenal were making progress after a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in November 2020, while Keane believed that view was misplaced.
Arsenal had lost three of their opening seven matches in 2020-21 and Arteta was facing mounting pressure to improve his side’s form. However, Cahill spotted positive signs that progress was being made at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners halted a run of successive defeats against Manchester City and Leicester by defeating United at Old Trafford, thanks to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang penalty. Keane and Cahill clashed on the subject of Arsenal’s progress, with the former United captain unconvinced by the development under Arteta.
Cahill began: “When you watch Arsenal against Leicester, and you see the high press and how aggressive they were. Here against United, they had all their players inside 18 yards at a corner. They were trying to suffocate United, win the second and third ball.
”But Keane interjected, pointing out Arsenal’s poor form despite their progressive style of play. He said: “You talk about the high press, did they lose to Leicester?”Cahill snapped back: “But Mikel will know the reason why they lost. They missed their chances in the first half.
”Keane continued to play down Arsenal’s improvement, continuing to ask: “How many league games have Arsenal lost this season? ”But in analysis that has aged particularly well, Cahill continued: “Arsenal are progressing because there is an identity. There is a formula to the way they play. They will play out from the back and will continue to play out from the back. Mikel deserves credit.”
