- Keown rages at De Zerbi touchline antics
- 3-0 defeat to Brighton ended Gunners' title bid
- Ex Arsenal man fumes on radio station
WHAT HAPPENED? Brighton put the final nail in the coffin of the Gunners' title challenge at the weekend, completing a stunning victory in north London courtesy of goals by Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan. Their performance prompted wild celebrations from manager De Zerbi, who was seen running down the touchline and later sliding on his knees on the Emirates Stadium pitch.
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WHAT THEY SAID: Former Arsenal defender Keown said on talkSPORT: "I honestly feel if [Mikel] Arteta did that down the side of the pitch, we'd never hear the end of it. But it's okay for De Zerbi to do it? I like that kind of emotion, but I would say because it's Brighton who are inoffensive and everyone's second favourite team, we turn a blind eye to it. But if it's the Arsenal manager doing it, suddenly it's a problem."
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Keown continued to insist to Simon Jordan and Jim White – his colleagues in the radio studio – that his theory "is a fact", stressing that De Zerbi should have been booked for what he perceived as excessive celebrations. He'd earlier criticised Sky Sports commentators Martin Tyler and Gary Neville for apparently being "biased" against Arsenal.
IN THREE PHOTOS:
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Getty/Twitter/GOALWHAT NEXT? Although they likely won't be winning the title, Arsenal are guaranteed second place and will finish their season with games against Nottingham Forest and Wolves.