Keown: Gunners must win every game - like we did!

By Paul Chronnell

ARSENAL legend Martin Keown believes Arsenal are outsiders in the race for the title, and that they will probably need to win all their 12 remaining games to be crowned Premier League champions.

Written off twice already this season, the Gunners are back in contention after last week's favourable set of results saw them close the gap on leaders Chelsea to six points.

And ex-Gunner Keown, pictured, is happy to see his former side back in the race, but feels they will need something special to win their first title since Keown left the club in 2004.

"It was such a shock to Arsenal to lose they two big games to Manchester United and Chelsea in a row, that we all thought they were out of it," said Keown, who now works as a pundit for the BBC.

"It's an outside chance, but Arsenal do have the easier run-in if you look at the fixtures.

"There's Tottenham away in there which is always a difficult game. But they have to win every game really, and can they do that?"

Keown certainly knows what it takes, as he was a member of the Arsenal side that won 13 successive games to clinch the Premier League title and Arsene Wenger's second Double in 2002.

And Gunners fans looking for omens will be keen to note that Arsenal started that run on with a win at Everton on February 10 - the same date Liverpool were beaten at the Emirates last week.

In 2002, however, Arsenal were leading the race with United and Liverpool in hot pursuit, and it was only after the 1-0 win at Old Trafford in May that they were crowned champions, just five days after beating Chelsea 2-0 in the FA Cup final.

Keown also feels the Arsenal squad have something to prove over the next three months. "These players have been given their chance by Arsene Wenger," he added. "They are playing for their futures now.