Arsenal icon Martin Keown has taken aim at manager Mikel Arteta for the team’s recent shortcomings on the pitch, and says the club is going "backwards".
Keown believes supporters must have more of a voice at the "stagnant" club, while also demanding that Arteta takes responsibility as the men’s senior team looks set for a first season without European football in 25 years.
Speaking to BT Sport whilst covering the Gunners’ 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion last night, the 54-year-old said: "The fans need to have their say. The club is becoming stagnated. There's a lack of investment.
"The Kroenkes - do they really love the club? They need to spend massively. Leno won't sign a new contract. Luiz is leaving.
"Bellerin isn't signing a new contract. There's a remarkable amount of players that are uncertain of their futures.”
Having lost 2-1 on aggregate to former gaffer Unai Emery’s Villareal in the Europa League semi-finals last Thursday, Arsenal trail 6th-placed Liverpool in the Premier League table by five points despite playing a game more.
Keown, who won three top-flight titles during 13 years at the club, says Arteta needs to step up his managerial game, adding that new owners could improve the North London outfit as unrest increases amid talk of Spotify co-founder and CEO Daniel Ek bidding to take over.
"Arteta needs to take some responsibility. He's outsmarted himself. He needs to keep it simple,” the Gunners legend demanded.
"I do believe he's an outstanding coach, he needs to prove he's an outstanding manager. It's going to be difficult to back him if he loses again.
"It's about results. He's been here 18 months and he's won an FA Cup, but when we look at league form it's fallen away.”
Continuing his criticism of the 9th-placed outfit, Keown stated: "The football club is going backwards and they have to arrest that slide.
"How much of the problem is about the manager and how much is about the squad?
"The manager is concerning me because he always blames the players. Massive expenditure is needed. New owners could be the catalyst."
