The ex-Arsenal and England defender believes his former club will give Manchester United and Chelsea a run for their money in the Premier League despite the loss of Mathieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb plus the uncertainty over striker Emmanuel Adebayo
r.
Keown said: "I was with Arsene Wenger last week and he was supremely confident in the players that he has. With him it is a production line of players, year after year.
"Last season I think they improved more than any other team. They were 20 points adrift at the end of the previous season but last year it was only three or four points between them and the title.
"It looks as though Adebayor might stay now and as an ex-Arsenal man and fan you get to find that magic, to always pull a rabbit out of the hat.
"What still amazes me about him is the faith he has in the players he produces. He never wants to sign somebody who might do well in the short term but also inhibit the progress of a top young player.
"Hleb and Flamini have taken big-money opportunities to leave which is disappointing for Arsenal, but while they have this huge debt to repay for the new stadium they are never going to compete with the very top clubs on wages. Arsene knows that.
"But going right back to Nicolas Anelka when he left, Arsene always finds a replacement - and often a better one."
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