Keown: When van Persie returns

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes Andrey Arshavin could lose his regular place with the Gunners when Robin van Persie returns from injury.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, the 44-year old revealed that he was impressed by Marouane Chamakh’s form during the first part of the season, explaining how the striker – who joined for free from Bordeaux – immediately made an impact with his new Club and had a positive effect on the team.

Keown said how the Moroccan brings pace and strength in the side, meaning that the Gunners have new options in the final third when they surge forward, options which they don’t actually have when Nicklas Bendtner plays.

The Englishman concluded by saying how once striker Robin van Persie makes his comeback in the squad and with Chamakh keeping his place, it will probably be midfielder Andrey Arshavin to lose his place in the regular eleven.

On Chamakh, Keown said:

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.

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.

Chamakh’s pace and strength in the air give the side other options going forward but it is his composure on the ball that is most impressive.

Arsenal don’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.