Arsenal stalwart Keown fights tide of time

Martin Keown insists he still has time to win a European Champions League medal - despite being 36.

The veteran defender is the sole surviving member of the famous Gunners old-guard built by ex-boss George Graham.

Since first joining the club more than 20 years ago, he has won virtually every honour the game has to offer - bar one.

The Champions League is the only major medal to have eluded him and Keown is determined to fill in that blank before retiring.

"The Champions League is as big as it gets and I want to be part of the Arsenal team which wins this trophy for the first time," he told the Sun newspaper on Thursday.

"I'm not being unrealistic and I know time is not on my side. But that doesn't mean there is any mad panic for me to do it this year."

Keown, 37 in July, has one season left on his contract and is out to make the most of every opportunity.

He might have been ditched by England boss Sven Goran Eriksson following the World Cup last year but he remains a central figure in Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger's plans.

"When I arrived at Arsenal, eight of the team were over 30. Martin and David Seaman are the only survivors," Wenger recalled.

"Now we have one of the youngest teams in the Premier League, with more talented young players coming through. But the experience of Martin remains vital to us."

Keown left Highbury in 1986 shortly after Graham took charge and returned after spells with Aston Villa and Everton.

"This is the best squad I've played in. There are quality players challenging for every position," he said.

"Winning 4-0 away to PSV Eindhoven at the start of this season gave us the confidence to go on.

"Now we have a big opportunity to do well in the Champions League. We need to keep our consistency level high but the players we have deserve European success.

"And I am a firm believer you eventually get what you deserve."