Martin Keown's Curious Logic: Why a Six-Point Lead Over City is Actually Better Than Nine

Martin Keown has added another head-scratcher to the ever-growing catalogue of puzzling pundit pronouncements by suggesting Arsenal are better served with a six-point lead over Manchester City than a nine-point cushion.

The Gunners' commanding position atop the Premier League remained unchanged this week after Dominik Szoboszlai's stunning strike had given Liverpool the lead, only for City to mount a comeback and claim just their second victory at Anfield since 2003. The result left Arsenal's advantage at six points ahead of midweek fixtures.

While some Gunners supporters grumbled that their rivals had failed to do them a favour, Keown took an altogether more unconventional view during his appearance on talkSPORT.

"If it goes to nine points, then we know the narrative will be that Arsenal are champions," Keown explained. "And I actually thought to myself, maybe it's better that City win this game, just to keep it real."

The logic here appears roughly equivalent to arguing that a swimming pool functions better when populated by sharks, given that it encourages faster lap times.

Keown went on to suggest that title contenders must embrace the unexpected, though it remains unclear how one team securing three points rather than zero constitutes the sort of reality-bending occurrence that demands philosophical acceptance. Stranger still, the observation raises the question of why teams challenging for the crown should face more surprises than the thirteen sides battling relegation, who arguably contend with far greater unpredictability.

The pundit did offer a grudging acknowledgement that "nine points would have been handy," before pivoting to claim that Arsenal remain unshaken by City's victory. Yet Arsenal hadn't played since the Liverpool-City fixture concluded, leaving one to wonder whether squad morale had somehow cratered in the interim—perhaps to the point where Thursday's trip to Brentford might require postponement.

Keown did mention spotting encouraging signs in Arsenal's weekend display, a 3-0 home triumph against struggling Sunderland, suggesting the champions-elect will "go the distance." However, he offered precious little detail about what exactly in that routine victory indicated title credentials, instead retreating to familiar punditry platitudes about staying calm and confident before the next match.

The fundamental question—why six is demonstrably superior to nine—ultimately went unanswered. But then, perhaps that's the unexpected twist we're all meant to embrace.