(Credit: Imago/Getty Images)

Jack Heath

Fri 15 August 2025 22:31, UK

Martin Keown has laid down his verdict for Mikel Arteta amid a crucial upcoming season for Arsenal across all competitions.

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After finishing second three years in a row, the Gunners will be hoping lightning doesn’t strike four times as they look to end their wait for a Premier League title.

In a bid to go that extra step, Arteta has invested even more funds to find those missing pieces, including Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP.

Yet, Arsenal and the Spaniard face constant criticism over how much money they’ve spent with limited success, something that has to change according to Martin Keown.

Is Gyokeres the final piece to the puzzle for Arteta?

(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

Speaking on talkSPORT (15 August) ahead of the Gunners’ opening Premier League match against Man United, the former Arsenal defender was asked about if finishing second again next year would be a “failure”.

The former invincible responded, saying: “Is it failure?

I think they [Arsenal] need to win trophies.

You know, not to win trophies since 2020…Manchester United still managed to win more trophies than Arsenal since both those two great managers [Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger] have gone.

“One trophy for [Mikel] Arteta is not enough.

So, that is an overriding factor, he has to become a winner now.”

Martin Keown said that the Spaniard must win a trophy next season

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Football Insider verdict

Since winning the FA Cup in 2020, the former Everton player turned manager has spent a whopping €778million (£671.8m) (Transfermarkt).

The figure is quite staggering given Arteta has just one trophy to show at the very start of his reign with the narrative always being that next season would be the season.

With the additions of Gyokeres, Zubimendi and Noni Madueke, on paper the Basque coach has everything he needs to win the league with immense depth and quality.

Transfer inPriceViktor Gyokeres£56.9mCristhian Mosquera£13mNoni Madueke£47.9mChristian Norgaard£10mMartin Zubimendi£60.5mKepa Arrizabalaga£5mArsenal players that have been brought in this summer (Source: Sofascore)

Questions must be asked of whether if the Gunners are to finish runners-up for another season, failing to win any trophy in any competition, has the manager taken the north London club as far as he can?

Modern day football depends on results for the top teams with Liverpool, Man City, Tottenham and Chelsea all delivering silverware in recent seasons.

There genuinely is nowhere left to hide for the Arsenal boss, he cannot keep asking for more like a spoiled brat and not win anything for good measure – significant victories must be won this season or he could risk losing his job.

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