Arsenal legend Martin Keown slams three Gunners stars for role in PSV defeat

Martin Keown has hit out at Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding after Arsenal's perfect Europa League run was unceremoniously ended by PSV Eindhoven on Thursday night.

The Gunners headed to the Netherlands just seven days after beating PSV at the Emirates, but the Dutch giants responded in style to spice things up at the top of Group A. Ruud van Nistelrooy's side cantered to a 2-0 victory courtesy of goals from Joey Veerman and Luuk de Jong, but it could - and should - have been more comprehensive for the hosts, who also had three goals ruled out for offside.

De Jong put the game beyond the visitors with his second-half header, but the manner of the former Newcastle man's goal left Keown, who was analysing the game, raging.

The former Emirates favourite was left confused by the actions of Ramsdale, Tierney and Holding in the build-up and suggested that all three of them were responsible for the goal, which came after the goalkeeper- who was making his European debut instead of Arsenal No.2 Matt Turner - misjudged a punch from a PSV corner.

Speaking after the match, Keown told BT Sport: "Why is [Kieran] Tierney picking up De Jong? I'm shouting at the TV - Ramsdale goes for a big haymaker he should be going with a straight arm. I'm not sure why Tierney is going against him [De Jong]. Holding should've helped him out."

The defeat is the second setback in a matter of days for the Gunners, who dropped points in the Premier League for just the second time this season on Sunday after being held to a 1-1 draw with Southampton.

Join the debate! What did you make of Arsenal's performance against PSV on Thursday night? Let us know here.

Despite that, Arsenal are still top of the pile in the Premier League and are also still in pole position to win Group A ahead of PSV, who are now just two points behind the Gunners.

Arsenal have the perfect opportunity to bounce back when they host struggling Nottingham Forest at the Emirates on Sunday. They will then have the chance to wrap up their Europa League group when they welcome FC Zurich to north London next Thursday.

And Keown is hopeful that Arsenal's damning defeat at the Philips Stadium will not derail their momentum and will, instead, act as a learning curve for Mikel Arteta's young, vibrant side.

The 56-year-old added: "I don't want this to derail his team - five people missing and five subs on. Strength in depth not quite there but as long as they can learn from that, they'll use this as fuel going into the Forest game."

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