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Arsenal legend makes bold claim regarding the Gunners’ mental resilience

Arsenal defeated League One Portsmouth 2-0 on Monday evening to progress to the sixth round of the FA Cup. The clash was the first time Mikel Arteta’s side have featured since being knocked out of the Europa League at the last 32 stage on Thursday, and despite naming an incredibly young starting eleven, the Gunners eased past their lower league opponents. Former Arsenal player turned pundit Martin Keown made a bold statement regarding his former side after the match.

What did he say?

Keown, speaking as an ambassador for the FA’s Grassroot Football Awards, said: “I think you could see the team was still carrying some of the psychological fall-out from the Europa League game the week before.”

“Certainly, in the first half, Arsenal were slow to get out of the blocks. Sokratis got a really important goal just before half time, then in the second half, I think Arsenal gave Portsmouth a bit of a footballing lesson in how to keep possession,” added the former Gunner.

Arsenal make Europa League recovery

The Gunners struggled to get out of the blocks initially against the League One opponents. However, the young side, including six players under the age of 21, held their nerve and produced a scintillating second-half display. It was interesting to see Arteta select such a fresh side and their youthful vigour revitalised Arsenal, who now have just the FA Cup to play for as their remaining hope of securing any silverware this season.

Falling out of the Europa League as early as the round of 32, to Olympiacos, in the manner which they were defeated, could have been a season shattering moment for the Gunners, as Keown eluded too. However, they did not allow their European disappointment to influence the rest of their campaign and regrouped after the Greek centre back’s opening goal. Thanks to the resilience of his players, many of whom who have broken through this season, such as Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, Arteta’s side are in the draw for the sixth round and just two matches off Wembley Stadium.

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