Arsenal have gone unbeaten in 12 straight midweek top-flight games after their 3-0 win over Sunderland at the weekend in which Viktor Gyokeres grabbed a brace.
However, their win was stunted as two goals in the final six minutes for City from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland cancelled out Dominik Szoboszlai's 74th minute opener to hand Manchester City 3 points at the weekend.
The Gunners’ win could have led the side to being 9 points clear at the top, but it wasn’t meant to be, as City grabbed the win. However, speaking to talkSPORT, Keown has suggested that 6 points ahead is better for manager Mikel Arteta and his side.
“You think about the game before and you think: ‘Okay, if it goes to nine points, then we know the narrative will be that Arsenal are champions'.
“And I actually thought to myself, maybe it's better that City win this game, just to keep it real. If you're a prospective champion, this is the life that you have to lead. You expect the unexpected.
“I think six points instead of nine is healthier because the narrative of Arsenal not being strong enough.
“If they go nine points clear, it’s theirs to lose again, and we get all that propaganda to try and keep this story alive.”
Keown implied that a nine-point gap would have raised questions over whether Arsenal could hold their nerve in the title race as many deem the side to be “bottlers” after constant second place finishes.
After keeping out Sunderland on Saturday, Arsenal now sit at 21 clean sheets in 39 games as they prepare to face Brentford in midweek.