Roy Keane takes a swipe at Arsenal in discussion over Premier League top-four

Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane has taken a swipe at Arsenal after blowing their Champions League hopes last season and allowing Tottenham in the back door.

The Gunners were in pole position to finish in the top four before a run of poor results saw their neighbours overtake them. A trio of losses in April to Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton effectively killed off their hopes.

While Spurs’ 3-0 win over Arsenal put them just a point behind their rivals in May, they had to wait until the final day to seal fourth spot with a win at Norwich.

Keane aimed a dig at Mikel Arteta’s men and said Tottenham boss Antonio Conte a “helping hand” to finish fourth in his first season at the club.

Speaking with Micah Richards and Graeme Souness to SkyBet, the trio were discussing possible title challengers to Manchester City.

“Liverpool and Man City are too good,” Richards said. “Spurs? They might get top four again but I don’t think they’re on the same level. He [Conte] is a serial winner and I think he will win something, Conte, I really do, what he’s done since he came in is really incredible.”

Conte has added to his squad this summer and is aiming for four trophies this season.

“I think Spurs have a determination and doggedness about them,” said Souness, via The Express. “Which I haven’t seen in them since the early days of [Mauricio] Pochettino.”

‘What’s your beef with Arsenal?’

Keane then interrupted: “But he got a helping hand. “Didn’t he? With Arsenal.”

Richards retorted: “You always like a little dig at Arsenal, don’t you? What’s your beef with Arsenal?”

Keane replied: “They blew it at the end. They got themselves in a great position, as brilliant as Spurs done, Arsenal had it in their hands and they blew it.”

Arteta has added Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos to his squad this summer. While Conte has brought in Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, Ivan Perisic, Clement Lenglet and Fraser Forster.

And the two north London rivals look all set to battle it out again next season for a place in the top four.

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