Arsenal can be Chelsea's main challenger for the Premier League title next season too, says Martin Keown

The Gunners occupy second place in the table, seven points behind the Blues

Aaron Ramsey scores Arsenal's only goal in the win at Burnley (Getty Images)

Martin Keown insists Arsenal can be Chelsea's main title challenger next season.

The former Gunners defender reckons Arsene Wenger's side have progressed since winning the FA Cup last season.

They are second in the Barclays Premier League, seven points behind leaders Chelsea with six games left.

And while Keown believes Jose Mourinho's side have wrapped up the title this time they will be threatened by Arsenal next season.

"Chelsea will win it now but if you ask them next season they won't fear anyone but they will be aware of Arsenal," he said.

"They will want to challenge next season and they will want to start well next year.

"They need to strengthen in one or two positions but I'm not talking about wholesale changes which some others may have to make if they want to compete."

The Gunners finished fourth last season and won their first trophy for nine years after beating Hull 3-2 in the FA Cup final.

They face Reading in the semi-final at Wembley on Saturday aiming to defend the trophy against either Aston Villa or Liverpool in the final.

They are on their best run - winning eight straight league games - since the Invincible season of 2003-04 when Keown played 15 times.

And the 48-year-old said the Gunners are a more complete side than they have been for a while.

"It has to represent progress if you're finishing two positions higher and still in the FA Cup," said the ex-England international, who made 451 appearances for the club and won the Premier League three times.

"They look more convincing as a team than they did last year. The players look together.

"The squad is better equipped now, Gabriel is putting (Per) Mertesacker under huge pressure and (Francis) Coquelin is in midfield instead of (Mikel) Arteta and (Mathieu) Flamini who are maybe coming to the end of their careers.

"They have a whole array of players who can play off the front and (Olivier) Giroud and (Danny) Welbeck are vying for the centre forward position. The competition for places creates intensity."

(Getty Images)

Keown is involved in the McDonald's Accredited Club Kit scheme and over 70,000 kits will be handed to clubs in the UK this year.

He added: "You see the look on their faces and they are very proud of their kit and we want as many clubs to benefit as possible."

PA