Martin Keown's top-four prediction has been proven right less than a month after claiming that Arsenal were not favourites to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League.
Bukayo Saka's goal helped the Gunners clinch all three points away to Aston Villa just over three weeks ago, a result that left them six points ahead of local rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the time. However, Mikel Arteta's side have since lost back-to-back Premier League outings, falling 3-0 to Crystal Palace before Brighton secured a 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium over the weekend.
Now, Spurs sit three points above Arteta and Co, with the Lillywhites also boasting a superior goal difference, albeit having played one more match. It is a turnaround that surprised many but Keown had still maintained that Antonio Conte's men were favourites following Arsenal's win at Villa Park.
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Speaking to BT after the game, Keown said: "There’s a lot of games to go, and I still put Spurs as favourites to make it into the top four. Arsenal are in the box seat I know, but when you look at the fixtures, games away at Chelsea, Spurs.
"It’s tough. It’s in Arsenal’s hand and if they keep performing as they are they’ll do it, but it’s a long way to go."
The Gunners will hope to prove Keown wrong in the coming weeks and they will need to get back to winning ways against Southampton on Saturday to do so. The north Londoners then face an extremely tough run, playing Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham all within a fortnight.
