15 May 2023 , 23:29
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Jeff Stelling has called Martin Keown's opinion "absolute tripe" after the Arsenal legend questioned Martin Tyler and Gary Neville.
Keown slammed Tyler and Neville for their "frightening" and "biased" commentary during Arsenal games after Mikel Arteta's side lost 3-0 to Brighton at the Emirates on Sunday. The result has all but ended Arsenal's slim hopes of winning the Premier League title.
Stelling, who will step down as Soccer Saturday's presenter at the end of this season, hit back at Keown on Twitter after the ex-defender made the claim on talkSPORT on Monday. In reply to a clip of Keown's comments, Stelling simply wrote: "Absolute tripe".
Keown angered Stelling by claiming: "The Sky commentary yesterday, how biased is the commentary team? It's frightening. Martin Tyler is a great professional, but he cannot hide that it simply hurts him that Arsenal might win a game of football.
"We know that Neville has got the problem. He was almost apologising. I almost lost my mind when he said we should be sending Martinelli off.
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"No no, not at all, you go with your instinct. So there we are as a poke in the eye to a commentator. You should be more respectful. Martin's a great commentator but Sky, please don't put him on the Arsenal games anymore, it's a really hard listen."
Martin Tyler has criticised Tyler and Neville for being "biased" against Arsenal (Getty Images)
Jeff Stelling has described Keown's opinion as "absolute tripe" (Getty Images)Do you agree with Martin Keown? Let us know in the comments below!
Tyler, 77, made his commentary debut nearly 50 years ago and has worked for Sky Sports for more than three decades. He boasts one of the most recognisable voices in English football and was a commentator for the FIFA video game series between 2005 and 2020.
Tyler was voted as the Premier League's 'Commentator of the Decade' in 2003 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Premier League. His famous "Aguerooooooo" line after Sergio Aguero's title-winning goal for Manchester City 11 years ago will never be forgotten.
Yet Tyler has faced criticism from fans this season for a lack of enthusiasm on the microphone. As for Neville, he spent much of his professional career battling Arsene Wenger's Arsenal as one of Sir Alex Ferguson's most reliable Manchester United stars.
Keown, who experienced many battles with Neville, added: "Tell me then get the Arsenal fans, they’ve got to listen to it. There’s only 60,000 in the stadium but most of us, millions of us are listening at home. Ask them what they think."
Keown's co-presenters on talkSPORT Jim White and Simon Jordan then asked the former England international if he really believes Tyler and Neville are biased against the Gunners. Keown replied: "Yes I do. Let's get it out there, come on."
Arsenal are set to finish second in the Premier League after dropping 12 points from their last eight games. Manchester City need to win just one of their final three games against Chelsea, Brentford and Brighton to win a fifth title in six seasons.