Martin Keown was not impressed with Arsenal after his former club lost 1-0 at Newcastle United on Saturday.
Arsenal dominated possession at St James’ Park with 64 per cent but Alexander Isak scored the only goal of the game in the 12th minute when he headed home following a cross from Anthony Gordon.
The result leaves Arsenal without a win in their last three Premier League games. The Gunners now have 18 points from their first 10 games this season.
Meanwhile, leaders Manchester City had 23 from nine going into their match away at Bournemouth later in the day – before being stunned by the Cherries in a 2-1 loss.
Former defender Keown – who played 449 times for the Gunners during two spells in the 1980s, 90s and 00s – watched Saturday’s early game in his role as a TNT Sports pundit.
Reacting to the game, Keown said: ‘Well, obviously, it’s still early in the season, but it’s a long way back now with the lead that Man City have… and Liverpool.
‘It’s thoroughly disappointing. Arsenal just didn’t impose their personality on this game at all.
Credit to Newcastle. They sat in with a four and a five and one up top, and Arsenal just didn’t show enough today. They didn’t get going at any point. They’ve really only got themselves to blame for that.’
Keown later added: ‘Arsenal just didn’t turn up today, didn’t play the football we expected, didn’t play like champions.’
Former Chelsea and Liverpool winger Joe Cole was also working for TNT Sports on Saturday.
Cole had chosen Arsenal as his pick to win the title earlier in the season, but he was having second thoughts after seeing them drop more points on Tyneside.
‘There’s a lot of people tipped them for the league, me included, but I’m second guessing that now after what I saw today,’ said Cole.
‘When they go back into that dressing room, the manager’s got to lift them. The players have got to take ownership of it as well
‘Because they’ve got a hell of a week coming up… going to Milan in the Champions League, then a difficult game against Chelsea, who are on form… and it’s a London derby. I think they could soon find themselves 10 points adrift.’
