Roy Keane's dramatic U-turn proves Mikel Arteta's new Arsenal deal is bad news for Man United

Manchester United and Arsenal's fierce rivalry once saw them regularly battling it out to be crowned kings of England. While the two powerhouses may not quite be at the top of their game right now, they're still in direct competition for a place in the top four, though United's bid is expected to be mathematically over very soon.

The Gunners will be buoyed by the news Mikel Arteta has extended his contract, with the Spaniard putting pen to paper on a deal that will keep him at the Emirates until 2025. As Arsenal look to introduce some consistency to their club, United are undergoing further change, with Erik ten Hag set to arrive at the end of the season.

United legend Roy Keane has been highly critical of both United and Arsenal this season. However, he was recently forced to make a U-turn on his previous claim about the north London top-four contenders.

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"The question now is can they really push on and make that top four? I’m not so sure," the former United skipper said of the Gunners. "I still think they’re a bit soft at times. Especially against the bigger teams."

Arsenal have come back fighting after enduring teething problems early on in the campaign. They are in pole position to end their wait for Champions League football as they sit clear of rivals Tottenham and United.

As a result of Arsenal's recent success, Keane was forced to backtrack on his initial claims and the Spaniard's contract extension could now spell bad news for incoming United manager Erik ten Hag. "It’s been an amazing turnaround considering where they were at the start of the season," Keane said after their win over Watford in March (via the Mirror).

"Now they’re probably