Keown Warns Arsenal: Don't Get Carried Away Despite Kindly Champions League Draw

Arsenal's Champions League draw has handed them an enviable route through Europe, but Martin Keown is urging his former club to keep their feet firmly planted on the ground.

The Gunners landed Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 and, crucially, avoided the opposite half of the bracket where Manchester City, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Paris Saint-Germain all reside. Should they navigate past the Germans, Arsenal would face either Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP in the quarter-finals, with Barcelona, Newcastle United, Atlético Madrid, or Tottenham awaiting in the semis.

It's the sort of draw that sets supporters' imaginations racing. But Keown believes that's precisely the mindset Arsenal must guard against.

"Arsenal are becoming quite formidable now in Europe, one of the big heavyweights," the former defender reflected. "They were out of the competition for six years or so, three years back in now. Quarter-final, semi-final (the last two seasons), hopefully this year you can go that one step further. But you can't look beyond Bayer Leverkusen in the next round."

The warning carries weight. Leverkusen dismantled Manchester City during the league phase, whilst Bodo/Glimt's elimination of Inter Milan in the play-offs stands as a stark reminder that pedigree counts for little in European football. Arsenal may be in excellent form, but complacency is a luxury they cannot afford.

"I think it will be a tough game," Keown continued. "We've seen them do very well against other English teams in the Champions League, some good wins away from home. They won't be taken lightly. Arsenal will really go after them, and I think this year (having) the second leg at home, I think that's really strong from Arsenal's point of view."

Whilst the draw undoubtedly favours Arsenal—particularly with the return leg at the Emirates—Keown stressed the importance of tunnel vision. A route to the final may exist, but dwelling on it serves no purpose.

"Of course you want to go to the final, nobody's frightened of that. But you've got to take one step at a time, be beyond professional," he said. "You can dream, and you can say that the draw looks kind, but when you see some of the teams in there, Bodo/Glimt, who knocked out Inter Milan, former winners of the competition, you've got Barcelona, it's difficult wherever you look.

"So just concentrate on what you need to do, that's the next game (against) Bayer Leverkusen, and we go from there."

Arsenal's ambitions are legitimate. But as Keown knows, European nights have a habit of humbling even the most assured sides.