Arsenal fans could turn on the players if they squander second spot to Newcastle – Mikel Arteta’s side need to channel their anger to get a result.
That’s the view of Gunners legend Martin Keown, who has commented on the growing unrest amongst fans after watching their season crumble in recent weeks.
Having been in a Premier League title fight for a large period of the campaign, Mikel Arteta‘s men now sit 15 points behind champions Liverpool.
Meanwhile, they recently crashed out in the Champions League semi-finals to Paris Saint-Germain – losing both games as they failed to take their chances.
And now Arsenal are in a fight just to secure a top five spot and a seat in Europe’s premier competition next term.
With just two matches to play, only five points separate Arsenal in second to Chelsea in fifth, with Aston Villa sitting sixth in the table on goal difference.
Newcastle, who sit third in the division, have the chance to leapfrog the north London giants should they claim three points at the Emirates on Sunday.
Eddie Howe‘s men boast a brilliant record against Arsenal of late – winning four of their last five fixtures in all competitions.
The Magpies have won the last two league meetings at St James’ Park, while they also beat Arsenal 2-0 in both of their Carabao Cup semi-final legs this season.
Despite Arsenal picking up a precious point away at Liverpool last time out where they earned plaudits for their spirited comeback, their form is a real worry for supporters.
They have won just three out of their previous 11 top-flight matches, with their last victory on home soil coming on April 1 in a 2-1 win over Fulham.
In the club’s last three home matches, they have squandered leads to Brentford, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth – picking up just two points.
The 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth led to loud boos following the full-time whistle – where victory would have seen them seal all-but second place.
Speaking to talkSPORT.com ahead of the match, three-time Premier League winner Keown was asked whether Arsenal could once again be subject to a hostile reaction from fans if they were to lose to Newcastle.
Refusing to say there wouldn’t be, Keown said: “You’re talking about something that hasn’t happened yet.
“So, it’s kind of like, I don’t think they’re going to be too happy if they lose to Newcastle.
“That doesn’t mean they can’t be in the Champions League. There’s still Southampton to come [in final game of season].
“But the obvious thing is, the Bournemouth game now, if you’d have got something from there, you’re pretty much secure.
“So, I think that’s where the anger was. But all these successive games, it does play a part.
“And Arsenal have pretty well made two changes from the Champions League games to the league games.
“Unlike what you’re seeing with other teams who are still in Europe, making wholesale changes.
“Arsenal haven’t been able to do that and that says something about the strength of the squad and the players that the manager wants to pick.
“It has to be stronger for next season.”
Keown then stressed that in order to stop Newcastle from inflicting more woe on Arsenal, his former employers have to use the pain that Newcastle have inflicted on them this season to emerge victorious in what is essentially a cup final.
Commenting on whether Arsenal finishing below second is acceptable, he remarked: “Well, I do know that it’s a huge game.
“They put Arsenal out of the semi-finals of the League Cup. They went on to win that, first [domestic] trophy in 70-odd years.
“All of those players now are cemented in history. There’s a bit of an aura about them.
“They’re handling big games much better. I thought that against Chelsea.
“They were in the Champions League last year and did exceptionally well.
“I thought they were unlucky, actually, the way they went out [in group stages].
“So, there’s some big-game players there now, so it’s a tough game for Arsenal, but maybe it’s a cup final.
“Maybe the manager’s talked about hurt and anger and using it as oxygen.
“What bigger game could there be than playing against Newcastle, who have caused quite a bit of damage to Arsenal this season.”
