Arsenal need a reality check, blasts Man United legend Roy Keane

Arsenal need a reality check despite reaching the FA Cup final, according to former Manchester United captain Roy Keane.

The Gunners required penalties to beat last year’s winners at Wembley after Per Mertesacker cancelled out Jordi Gomez’s opener from the penalty spot in normal time.

They celebrate beating a Championship side on penalties. We are talking about Arsenal FC here

Roy Keane

And four-time FA Cup winner Keane rejected Mertesacker’s claims that the Gunners possess great character, pointing to heavy losses to their rivals in the Premier League this season.

“These Arsenal players need a reality check,” Keane said on ITV.

“Last season they celebrated finishing fourth at Newcastle, now they celebrate beating a Championship side on penalties. We are talking about Arsenal FC here.”

Meanwhile, Keane’s compatriot and former Wigan midfielder Kevin Kilbane feels Arsenal have lost their fear factor after a disjointed performance against Championship opposition.

“Every Arsenal fan you speak to asks is it time for Arsene Wenger to go? Only he can make that decision, and we all know how stubborn he can be,” Kilbane added.

“When I used to play against Arsenal, you knew they would cut you open at some stage but that’s not the case any more and Wigan defended very well against them.”

He continued: “The Arsenal squad is stretched as it is. Aaron Ramsey, Kieran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have been injured and you could see they were struggling at the end of the game.

“They did give it everything they had but they were very poor for 60 minutes of that game.”