How do you beat Manchester City? Shut up shop, test Vincent Kompany and get in behind the full backs... but Jose Mourinho will have to go on the attack against them - TACKLE KEOWN

  • Sportsmail columnist Martin Keown returned to answer more of your questions
  • Former Arsenal defender had his say on the big issues in football this week
  • Top of the agenda were Premier League leaders Manchester City
  • Keown also discussed the weekend's big game - Arsenal vs Manchester United 

Sportsmail columnist Martin Keown was back to answer more of your questions ahead of the next round ofPremier League action.

Items on the agenda included: Pep Guardiola's unbeaten Manchester City, the fate awaiting West Ham, Wayne Rooney's wonder goal from inside his own half, and the weekend's biggest game, Arsenal vs Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.

You can read Martin's answers below form our live chat.


If you are using the app, please click here to view today’s live blog 

  • Martin Keown

    Host commentator

13:48
Full time!

Thanks for all your questions again - check back in next week for another chance to #TackleKeown

13:42
What was your favourite battle with Manchester United? From Sportsmail's staff

Winning the league at Old Trafford in 2002. It was not just the significance of the result but the calibre of the performance.

On the night, United did not roll over. They came to kick us off the park.

We defended well, scored a vital goal through Sylvain Wiltord and when it became a football match we played some great football.

That night, Arsenal demonstrated that we were better than them in every department.

Arsenal celebrate after beating Manchester United and winning the title at Old Trafford in 2002
13:38
Tell me Arsenal will beat Mourinho's mob this Saturday! Phil in Hertfordshire

It’s never easy against Manchester United but I’m going for a 2-1 Arsenal win.

The Tottenham victory gave Arsenal a great feeling and victory would put them just a point behind United.

Mesut Ozil will be hoping to continue his good form and help Arsenal beat Manchester United
13:30
Why is Raheem Sterling so good now?! From Michelle in London

Sterling is benefiting from Pep Guardiola working with him closely.

Guardiola was right to say that Sterling still has a lot to return and the player has responded brilliantly.

Sterling is loving his football. He is in the zone and enjoying the limelight and attention.

He needs to be first choice in Gareth Southgate’s England team. We should be proud of any English players who are capable of starring in this record-breaking team.

England seem to be copying Chelsea by playing three at the back. They are 12 months behind the curve.

The system that is working for Manchester City is the same as Guardiola’s successful formula at Barcelona.

Instead of Xavi and Iniesta in midfield, Guardiola has De Bruyne and David Silva, with Fernandinho sitting instead of Busquets.

Sterling is shining in this system and Southgate has to get him in the England team.

Raheem Sterling scored another brilliant goal to seal Manchester City's victory over Southampton
13:24
How do you beat Manchester City? From Chris in SW10

What a difficult question!

The last two matches have been tricky for City. At the weekend, Huddersfield got everyone behind the ball and City struggled to find a way through. Is that how you stop them?

When City play against the big boys, they know their opponents will want to play against them. Where they have found it tricky is when teams have shut up shop.

I do feel teams could ask more questions of City’s central defenders. Vincent Kompany has returned from injury but has not been tested much in these last two games.

City leave a lot of space behind their full backs and their opponents need to exploit this.

Much has been made of whether City can go the whole season unbeaten. Maybe Pep Guardiola is using this as a target.

In our unbeaten season at Arsenal, we became so used to winning that you questioned how the group was going to cope if we lost.

If City do lose a match this season, there will be so much scrutiny over whether the wheels have come off.

Guardiola has created an energy, a drive, a need to win. Everyone at City will be feeling 10-feet tall.

City’s biggest test is at Old Trafford in 10 days’ time. Jose Mourinho is going to have to come to the party and attack City. Manchester United are eight points behind and need to win.

Pep Guardiola celebrated yet another Manchester City victory on Wednesday night
13:12
Is Big Sam the right man for Everton? I'm not so sure. From Joe the exile

I hope Sam Allardyce can help Everton put this bad spell behind them.

With more funds available, this is a better situation than he had with Crystal Palace and Allardyce looks refreshed from his break.

I am a little surprised to see him back in the Premier League. After leaving the England job, he found himself in a titanic struggle to keep Palace up. It looked like it put years on him. 

David Unsworth may have been in charge on Wednesday night be we already saw what looked like Sam’s influence on the team.

Right from the kick-off, Everton played a percentage game. I do not remember seeing Jordan Pickford sending so many balls into the channels.

In the second half, Everton tried to overplay a little bit. Allardyce will knock that out of them.

Unsworth has carried himself with dignity during his spell as caretaker manager but he seemed relieved that another man was taking over. I think that helped him become a better manager on the night.

When you carry so much emotion and love for a club, you need to separate that from the job at hand.

One task for Allardyce is to rebuild Ashley Williams’ career. He conceded a clumsy penalty against West Ham and it was massive for his confidence that Pickford saved the spot-kick.

The win puts Everton 13th, five points clear of the bottom three. But as Sam’s record shows, when he joins a club they tend to go backwards a little bit before moving forwards.

Sam Allardyce watched Everton's win over West Ham from the stands at Goodison Park
13:08
Where should we play Wayne Rooney now? From Lisa in Bootle

He has to play in midfield. He cannot play up top anymore.

When he was England manager, Sam Allardyce said he was not going to tell Rooney where he plays. He is going to have to now.

Against West Ham, Everton set up with Idrissa Gueye deep and Rooney and Tom Davies either side.

Why can’t Rooney do what Paul Scholes did? Scholes scored goals playing off the front before Alex Ferguson found him a new role deeper in midfield.

Rooney needs to do this to extend his career.

Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick for Everton while playing in midfield
13:04
Is Wayne Rooney’s halfway line goal the best ever in the Premier League? From Brett in Liverpool

Watching in the stadium, it really was a stunning goal. It felt like one of the Premier League’s great moments.

Wayne Rooney is a player who still surprises us. He is still capable of these great moments.

It was significant how he celebrated. There was an aggression you would have associated with a young Wayne Rooney.

Rooney has accepted with good grace the end of his England career and being left out at Manchester United. If it had been me, I might have shown my teeth a bit. Rooney is only 32 and still has plenty to offer.

Wayne Rooney scored for Everton against West Ham with a shot from 60 yards
12:51
Are West Ham doomed? From Matt in Barking

I think they probably are. I was quite shocked and stunned by their performance against Everton.

West Ham did not show Everton any respect. It felt as if they thought they could rock up and get a result against a side who have been cannon fodder.

But they did not have the ability to break down Everton and going forwards, you could not see what they were trying to achieve.

Desire, attitude to work and willingness to win was missing in abundance throughout - especially in the first half.

Those are things you should not have to demand from your team.

There was no cohesion in West Ham’s team. Up top, Andre Ayew did not seem to be a focal point. Manuel Lanzini is their best player by far but they could not get him on the ball. He was a passenger in the first half.

David Moyes is fourth in the all-time list of most Premier League matches managed. It is not as if he lacks experience.

He has to be given time and he is going to need the upcoming transfer window. The problem is that when you look at Sunderland, his previous club, he could not make a difference.

His January signings were largely players from his former clubs. What imagination is he going to show in the transfer market this time around?

We are now looking at Moyes and questioning his record and ability to turn things around. The second half of his career is not turning out to be good.

Crystal Palace, Swansea and West Ham occupy the bottom three — and Palace will be creating a nervousness as they are starting to get their act together.

When you look at West Ham and Swansea at the moment, it is difficult to find anyone worse in the Premier League.

Joe Hart (left) shows West Ham's pain after another dismal defeat at Everton
12:50
Good afternoon everyone... it's time to #TackleKeown

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