Martin Keown snaps back at Simon Jordan over comment regarding Arsenal Invincible
Today at 01:34 PM
Martin Keown leapt to the defence of former Arsenal teammate Jose Antonio Reyes during a heated debate with Simon Jordan.
The talkSPORT co-hosts clashed whilst discussing the Gunners’ past big money signings who failed to deliver.
Jordan had highlighted former Spain winger Reyes as one such player following his three years in north London.
Reyes was signed from Sevilla for around £17million in January 2004.
He burst onto the scene with a heroic two goals in an FA Cup win over Chelsea on his debut and would go on to make 13 league appearances during the remainder of the season as the Gunners won the Premier League title unbeaten.
Speaking on White & Jordan, the former Crystal Palace chairman explained: “I mean, it happens. It happened with the boy, Nicolas Pepe, at Arsenal.
“It happened with, God rest his soul, Jose Antonio Reyes. These were big money signings that football clubs don’t get right.
“Francis Jeffers went to Arsenal, he wasn’t a good signing. Keep on using the Arsenal example there because you’re in the room.”
However, Keown disagreed as he interrupted: “Reyes I wouldn’t put in that category.”
Jordan rebutted: “He wasn’t a success,” only for the former defender to argue: “He was an Invincible, I have to say, to protect his good name.”
Keown was then asked: “Did he play as many games as you then?”
He responded: “Well, he played plenty of games, let me tell you. He was a really good talent and he went back to Real Madrid.
“I don’t think that is a dropping standard at all. He won a Champions League there, so correct you on that, please.”
Reyes made 110 appearances for Arsenal, with three of those coming alongside Keown.
Across those matches, he scored 23 goals and provided 27 assists as well as winning another two trophies with the club.
Reyes later returned to Spain in 2007, first on loan to Real Madrid before he was sold to city rivals Atletico Madrid in the summer.
Having won a league title during his stint with Real, Reyes later won the Europa League five times across spells with Atletico and Sevilla.
His career also saw the winger score four goals in 21 caps for Spain.
Reyes sadly passed away in a car accident aged 35 in 2019.
