Martin Keown says the Arsenal team will feel ‘deflated’ after Saturday’s defeat to Manchester United. He’s called on the Gunners to react in the next two away games.

Arsenal had a massive 33 shots against United on Saturday, and forced David De Gea into a Premier League record number of saves, but were still beaten 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

Martin Keown spoke to BT Sport after the game, revealing how the team would feel when a performance like that goes unrewarded, reports the Express.

“Deflated. They performed well, I felt, in the game. Just that naivety. Away games coming up now, two away games, Southampton, West Ham.

“I’m concerned at how this team are gonna react… [and] the Ozil-Sanchez thing. I thought Ozil was outstanding today. You can’t question their performance. But the way that De Gea managed to keep the ball out for Manchester United today, was it 14 saves?”

De Gea Bellerin
Arsenal’s Spanish defender Hector Bellerin (L) congratulates Manchester United’s Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea (C) after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 2, 2017. Manchester United won 3-1. Picture: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images

Fortunately for the Gunners, they have a Europa League break in the meantime to compose themselves. The match against BATE Borisov on Thursday, December 7 will be meaningless for Arsenal as they’ve secured qualification and top spot in the group.

As a result, it should be an opportunity for fringe players to get game time, whilst giving a break to the team that played three times in a week.

After that, as Keown says, there are a couple of away trips for Arsenal – Southampton and West Ham. Southampton at St Mary’s hasn’t always been the easiest of games in the past, although two wins and seven goals without reply will see the Londoners confident of getting a result.