Saturday 1 August 2015 17:18, UK
Ahead of the FA Community Shield between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley, we caught up with Gunners legends Martin Keown and Nigel Winterburn about Sunday’s game and the season ahead.
Former centre-back Keown and left-back Winterburn made a combined total of more than a thousand appearances for Arsenal from 1984 to 2004, during which time they won four Community Shields between them.
Speaking at a McDonald's and FA Community Football Day, the duo gave their thoughts on the game itself and what it could mean for the season ahead…
How important is the Community Shield?
Martin Keown: I think every game is important when you’re playing the champions. Last year Arsenal upset the form book and beat Man City quite comfortably, and I think you saw from that game that the question marks at City resurfaced throughout the season. City were a little bit complacent, but these two won’t have any of those problems getting up for Sunday’s match.
Obviously Chelsea are the number one team who had won the Premier League by Christmas last season and Arsenal were a long way out of it. I think this is all about demonstrating that Arsenal are much better prepared. There seems to be a feeling that they are stronger mentally, they believe they can go on and do it. They’ve got to prove it now.
Nigel Winterburn: I think it’s becoming more and more important. The first Premier League game is the priority but, from Arsenal’s point of view, psychologically, it would give them a massive boost if they were to beat Chelsea. I think it’s going to be very competitive. It looks like both teams have got fully fit squads as well so it will be interesting to see the line-ups. Particularly from Arsenal’s point of view, I think it will be very, very interesting.
Can winning the Community Shield provide a confidence boost?
Martin Keown: In the years gone by, Sir Alex Ferguson would say it was really significant if Manchester United won, and if they lost he would say it held no bearing at all on the season ahead. That’s probably what you’re going to hear from the winners and losers on Sunday.
But if it’s a comprehensive victory for one of the teams, I think they can strike a major blow. The other teams are watching, too. It’s a dress rehearsal for everyone else. If one team does strike a big blow, everyone else watching thinks, ‘Look at that, what chance have we got?’ So it does help. I always used to enjoy this game because the Premier League starts the following week. It’s a chance to blow off the cobwebs and play in a game of importance. You have to give a good account of yourself.
Nigel Winterburn: I think it’s so important in the modern game. Arsenal went on a terrific run last season and they’ve looked very impressive in pre-season. I just think you want to keep that momentum going as a player. From the confidence point of view I think it’s very, very important for players to feel they are somewhere near their best but with a bit more fitness to come.
How important is it for Arsene Wenger to end his winless run against Jose Mourinho?
Martin Keown: It's quite a remarkable record, but after the nine years without a trophy Wenger is probably used to people firing numbers at him. At the end of the day, he just wants to beat Chelsea. It’s more for Mourinho, about how well he does against Wenger. Wenger just wants Arsenal to succeed, although he probably realises that Mourinho has got this special record, and now wants more than ever to beat him.
That’s just normal competition that you would expect. They are different animals, they are motivated by different things, but they both want to win. I do feel that Mourinho has been kind of a globe-trotter in terms of his career path, but now he wants to manage Chelsea for the next 10 years, whereas Wenger has already done it for the best part of 20.
Nigel Winterburn: When you don’t succeed at something for a long period of time, people keep reminding you of it. I’m sure he’s desperate to do it but if you were to give him the scenario that Arsenal lost tomorrow and then went on to beat them in the league, then Wenger would rather have it that way around.
But if Arsenal are going to challenge for the title, I do think that it’s important that they pick up significant points against the top six teams. History shows you need to pick up a good percentage of points against those teams if you’re going to win the title. Arsenal need to show they can do that on Sunday.
How significant is the signing of Petr Cech for Arsenal?
Martin Keown: It’s really important. You need someone in there who is very demanding, is used to winning trophies and drags everybody with him. I think it’s fantastic to have that sort of individual who, from a defensive point of view, is thinking about clean sheets and wants to be secure.
The players Arsenal have bought in recent times have been very creative players, and their mentality is always slightly different to the player that wants to keep clean sheets and not lose games.
Nigel Winterburn: He’s a world-class goalkeeper. People say he didn’t play a lot last season, but when he did play he still looked to be at his very best. What you’re looking for in a goalkeeper is that experience, someone that commands his area, someone who makes his defenders feel calm and the belief that when you’re back four is penetrated, your goalkeeper is going to get you out of trouble. I think he has proved over time that he is capable of doing that.
Are there any other areas Arsenal need to strengthen this summer?
Martin Keown: If you’re playing in the FA Cup final and Olivier Giroud, your number one striker, doesn’t start, then it may be an area they feel they need to improve. I’m not saying Theo Walcott is not good enough to do the job, but I think Wenger has said he would better playing with another striker and I don’t think they will play two. They have played one striker since Henry and Bergkamp finished together.
So is that an area they need to improve? I think if they did improve in that area, it would make them even stronger. I’m thinking back to Mesut Ozil joining the club. It was like the lid came off the Emirates. The team came alive. That’s the impact a marquee signing can have. A striker could be the icing on the cake.
Nigel Winterburn: I tend to focus on the players there and wait for the transfer window to finish. You hear the phone-ins and people saying they need a holding midfield, another central midfield player and another centre forward. Wenger is not going to sign those three players.
I did think they could use a 20-goal-a-season man in the Premier League, but if they didn’t strengthen that area then Giroud got 14 goals in the league last season. If he can produce 20, then you’ve also got the likes of Walcott, who is capable of getting 15, Aaron Ramsey and Alexis Sanchez, if he follows up last season, so Arsenal will make up the goals that Wenger believes they need to give them that extra push.
I tend to look at where the goals will come from with the players they’ve got there. If they did bring in a world class striker, we don’t even know if he would be a success. It’s always a little bit of a risk, so I tend to look at what’s already there.
How difficult will it be to overhaul Chelsea in the Premier League this year?
Martin Keown: I think it’s going to be very difficult. You look at the likes of (Eden) Hazard, Willian and Oscar buzzing around in that midfield. The work they get through both in and out of possession is quite phenomenal. Then there’s Cesc Fabregas pulling the strings, (Nemanja) Matic sitting deep. There’s a really good balance. Diego Costa is a handful as well, and Thuibaut Courtois ousting Cech shows you the level they are at. They’ve got the ingredients.
The champions always walk with that extra bounce in their step. They turn up as champions everywhere they go, and they’ve got a manager who will not accept second best. He’s in the saddle whipping his team into action. He hasn’t bought too many this summer, but he feels the group are already strong enough. (Radamel) Falcao has come in. Him and Costa played together at Atletico Madrid and Mourinho might just be wanting to rekindle that.
Nigel Winterburn: Chelsea have got a stable squad. They’ve got the knowhow and the manager. I think the Premier League is difficult to win now, although Chelsea made it look relatively easy last season.
You usually find that there are probably three teams there that can put a realistic challenge together, and one who fall just short. I think it will be a very competitive league this season. I would be very surprised if Chelsea win it so easily again. People were talking about it last year from Christmas, but I think it will be more competitive this season.
Martin Keown and Nigel Winterburn were speaking at the McDonald’s & FA Community Football Day, championing accredited clubs across England & encouraging youngsters to share their best goal celebrations through #CelebrateBetter. Visit www.mcdonalds.co.uk/CelebrateBetter for more information
