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Martin Keown admits he was gutted when Arsenal sold £22m teammate who ‘could destroy’ defences
Martin Keown has now been discussing one Arsenal departure in the past under Arsene Wenger that left him feeling quite frustrated.
Keown, who played for Arsenal on 440 occasions, certainly knew what it took to win during his time in North London.
The centre-back won the league title on three occasions and also helped deliver four FA Cup titles in what proved to be a decorated era for the club.
And Keown certainly wasn’t the only Arsenal player left extremely disappointed when Nicolas Anelka decided to leave back in 1999.
Despite wanting him to stay at Arsenal, Wenger ended up selling Anelka to Real Madrid in a deal.
Anelka eventually wanted to leave for a new challenge, reportedly not happy with how he was treated by the British press at time.
And when writing a column in the recently, Keown said the situation reminds him of Cole Palmer’s move to Chelsea today.
Keown said that Anelka left Arsenal when he looked ready to explode into form, much like Palmer’s departure from Manchester City.
Martin Keown says he was so frustrated after Nicolas Anelka’s Arsenal departure
Keown admitted that he never wanted Arsenal to sell Anelka, especially after years of development at the club.
He explained: “That is why I did not want Arsenal to sell Nicolas Anelka at the age of 20 in 1999.
“I’d spent nearly three years watching him develop into an attacker who could destroy Premier League defences, including the season he helped us do the double, but he wanted a new challenge.”
Of course, Anelka’s time at Arsenal will always remain one of ‘what if’.
Arsenal fans will have surely felt exactly the same as Keown once Anelka’s departure was announced, a talent who looked to have the world at his feet.
The French striker played for Arsenal 90 times, scoring 28 goals and providing 12 assists.
And perhaps he could have gone on to enjoy Thierry Henry’s level of notoriety had he remained in North London.
All that being said, current Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has now been praising a super ‘aggressive’ teammate.