Keown keen to stay at Arsenal

Martin Keown said today he wants to stay at Arsenal next season and said that he will hold contract talks at the end of the month.

The 35-year-old England defender, whose present deal runs out at the end of May, said: "I hope something can be sorted out.

"I love playing for Arsenal and I want to stay here. I have been playing regularly in the first team this season and my injury record is not bad at all.

"It is matter now of sitting down when the time is right and talking about a new contract. It has not been possible recently because of the programme of matches. They have been coming one after the other, but this is a great club, one of the biggest there is.

"I want to stay part of it and hopefully that will happen. I have no wish to play anywhere else. It's been suggested to me that the club want me to stay so that is an encouraging sign."

Keown started at Highbury in 1984 as an apprentice, but left two years later for Aston Villa in a £2 million deal. He joined Everton in 1989 before returning to Arsenal in February 1993 when he was signed for £2m by George Graham.

Keown has edged ahead of Sol Campbell for Saturday's FA Cup Final against Chelsea and is set to partner Tony Adams in defence. Campbell has not been in the line-up since straining a hamstring against Middlesbrough in the semi-final.

The biggest disappointment, though, is for goalkeeper Richard Wright because manager Arsene Wenger indicated David Seaman would win the race for the keeper's jersey - even though Wright has played in all but one of the previous rounds. Wenger said emotion would play no part in his thinking as his only selection criteria would be picking the "team with the best chance of winning the trophy".

Wright was told when Seaman was restored to the side after injury in February he would be given the chance to rebuild his reputation in the FA Cup.

However, Wenger stressed there is no agreement with the former Ipswich keeper for him to play in each of Arsenal's FA Cup games this season. He said: "Richard Wright had a difficult start to the season. When I decided to push David Seaman back into the team, I told Richard that he deserved the chance to restore his image.

"Through the FA Cup, he has managed to do that. I have a high opinion of him through that. Maybe he will play in the final, I don't know, but I will do what I feel will win us the game.

"There is no pact or agreement to play him in every game no matter what happens.

Every individual only has one agreement with the club - to do everything to win trophies."

Wright has played in five FA Cup ties this season - against Liverpool, Gillingham, Newcastle (twice) and Middlesbrough.

Wenger admitted: "It was frustrating to lose last year's final so we have shown a lot of character and resilience to get back to the final.

"Now we want to win it."

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The Clare Balding column
FA Cup special