Arsenal legend Martin Keown is delighted to see his old club five points clear at the top of the table.

Keown, now 41, left Arsenal in 2004 and retired a year later after playing a season in the Championship but he returned to his former club in 2006 to take up a role mentoring the current stars. The winner of 43 England caps is now splitting his time between taking his coaching badges - he hopes to complete his 'A' licence in the summer - and coaching Oxford University's football team.

A regular visitor to Emirates Stadium, the former defender is not surprised by Arsenal's success this season.

"I was one of those who thought they would do well," he told the Daily Mail. "I just thought it would work. The way things are set up, people are now coming of age a little bit, taking responsibility and thriving on it.

"Okay, there was a poor result against Tottenham [in the Carling Cup] but they bounced back quickly. That was important. There will be disappointments during a season but it's how you deal with it as a squad.

"You have no divine right to win something but you set the bar as high as you possibly can. That's what you have to do if you play for Arsenal. It goes with the territory. Everything is geared to winning."