Jeff Stelling slams Martin Keown as he leaps to Martin Tyler’s defence after Arsenal icon’s ‘frightening bias’ blast
JEFF STELLING has hit back at Martin Keown’s “absolute tripe” claim that Martin Tyler and Gary Neville are “biassed” while commentating on Arsenal games.
Speaking to talkSPORT, the Arsenal legend took aim at the Sky Sports duo for their “frightening” bias during coverage of the Gunners’ clash with Brighton.
Stelling, who is stepping down as Soccer Saturday host at the end of this season, took to Twitter to hit back at the ex-defender’s remarks.
In a reply to a clip of the Arsenal legend’s comments, Stelling wrote: “Absolute tripe.”
The 56-year-old Keown had claimed “it hurts” Tyler to see Arsenal win a game of football, while he suggested that ex-Manchester United star Neville “has a problem”.
Keown told Jim White and Simon Jordan: “How biased is the Sky Sports commentary team? It is frightening.
“Martin Tyler is a great professional, but he cannot hide that it hurts him that Arsenal might win a game of football.
“Honestly, we know Neville has a problem, he is almost apologising.
“‘Have I lost my mind? We should be sending [Gabriel] Martinelli off’? Not at all, you go with your instinct.
“So, there we are, it is a poke in the eye to a commentator. I should be more respectful, Martin is a great commentator, but please Sky, don’t put him on the Arsenal games anymore. It is a really hard listen.
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“We talked about it off air and certain people were pushing me to say it. I didn’t really want to come here with that.”
Host White hit back with: “Nobody pushed you to say it.”
With Jordan then adding: “You lassoed me out there asking about Martin Tyler and Gary Neville.”
Keown responded: “Tell me then, get the Arsenal fans as they’ve got to listen to it. There’s only 60,000 in the stadium but there’s millions of us at home.”
Asked to say certainly whether he believed Neville to be anti-Arsenal, Keown declared: “Yes I do, let’s get it out there.”
Sunday’s shock 3-0 home defeat to the Seagulls means Manchester City will be crowned champions if Mikel Arteta’s side lose their next game at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Even if they win, the Cityzens will still be crowned champions if they beat Chelsea the following day.