Keown: Arsenal’s brain is not functioning

was defeated 2-0 disappointingly in the game against

on Sunday.

Although Arsenal had statistical superiority, they failed to convert it to goals.

Former Arsenal defender

Martin Keown

believes pushing

Thomas Partey

onto the pitch after picking up a knock is ‘an example of a team’s footballing brain not functioning.’

“It was a world-class opener by Son Heung-min but nobody in an Arsenal shirt tested him. With the time he had, he could have got a protractor out to measure the angles of the shot,” Keown said.

“Then Tottenham’s second goal was a copy of the first: Arsenal lost possession high up the pitch and were punished on the counter. Thomas Partey had walked off because he was injured, and this was an example of a team’s footballing brain not functioning.

“Both of Arsenal’s full-backs, Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney, had flown forward as if they were still being used as wing-backs. Suddenly, one ball out and it was four on two in favor of Tottenham.

“Where was the communication? Arsenal over-committed in this game and encouraged the opposition to break.

“Tottenham, meanwhile, were compact and picked their moments to pounce. Their two midfielders, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Moussa Sissoko were never too far from their central defenders.

“Arsenal had 70 percent possession but Spurs knew what to do when they didn’t have the ball. They put up a shield. Even Harry Kane had more touches in his own box than the opposition one.

“Tottenham’s players are working so hard and have bought into

Jose Mourinho

’s messages. They’re morphing from a group of nice guys into a team of Mourinho.”

Arsenal are 15th in the

table with only 13 points from 11 games.

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