Martin Keown praises the form of Marouane Chamakh
Arsenal legend Martin Keown has claimed that the form of new signing Marouane Chamakh could keep Andrey Arshavin and Nicklas Bendtner out of Arsene Wenger's first team.
Chamakh signed for Arsenal on a free transfer this summer, and has impressed for Arsenal with his aerial ability and strength in attack. The Moroccan has made 14 appearances and scored six goals for the club this season.
"Everyone is going to be talking about Arsenal's impressive 3-0 win at Manchester City coinciding with Cesc Fabregas’ return to the side last week, but what has pleased me more has been Marouane Chamakh's form," said Keown, who made 311 league appearances
for Arsenal between 1993 and 2004.
"He came in during the summer and has had a really positive effect on the team. You can trust him in possession. Arsenal's system means they have midfielders arriving from deep, but that relies on having someone up front who can hold up the ball and bring
others into play."
Crucial in starting Arsenal's attacks
The 44-year-old pundit said that Arsenal benefits from having a striker who can hold up the ball and distribute it to the club's midfielders during counter-attacks.
Chamakh's contribution to Arsenal's build-up play can, according to Keown, keep players such as Arshavin and Bendtner out of the starting team, particularly once striker Robin van Persie returns from his ankle injury.
"Arsenal [doesn't] wait for their front man to get control of the ball before they break forward from midfield, and in the past they have been punished because of that, when Robin van Persie has been injured. The runners can trust him to get the ball to
them. It is not something you get with Nicklas Bendtner, whose decision-making is not at the level it should be. Chamakh's form means that Andrey Arshavin is probably the player most under threat once van Persie is fit."
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