Martin Keown spells out Arsenal’s ‘enormous’ role in Antonio Conte’s downfall at Tottenham | OneFootball

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rsenal’s stunning rise to the top of the Premier League table had a key role in Tottenham deciding to dismiss Antonio Conte, according to Martin Keown.

Spurs beat the Gunners to a fourth-placed finish last season in what proved to be the crowning achievement of the Italian’s time in north London.

Sunday’s announcement of his departure means Conte leaves with Tottenham still in fourth, ableit as Newcastle and Liverpool snap at their heels, while Arsenal top of the league to put “enormous pressure” on their rivals.

Ex-Gunners defender Keown told talkSPORT that Spurs’ decision is a mistake and was likely hastened by his former side’s success.

He said: “I think they should have kept him until the end of the season, without doubt.

“I think that’s played a part, the fact that Arsenal are 20 points clear of Spurs when this time last year there was a run-in for the top four puts Spurs under enormous pressure.

“But it’s what’s happened in March, going out of the FA Cup to Sheffield United, what’s happened against AC Milan [in the Champions League], a peformance not nearly good enough. The 3-3 with Southampton was like a defeat.

“March was really miserable for them and [Conte] blew a gasket. He knew he was going, but he wanted to say before he left what was wrong at that football club - he needed to say it.

“I think they should take stock of that.”