Arsenal hero Perry Groves has hit back at comments from Roy Keane about James Maddison.

Keane, who now works as a pundit, suggested that Leicester City star Maddison should reject Arsenal.

The Gunners are interested in signing the attacking midfielder, but Leicester are holding out for a fee in the region of £70 million.

"Arsenal are a huge club but at this moment in time I don't think it's a step up to Leicester, considering where they are," Keane told ITV.

"It's probably a backwards step. Arsenal are still short… If he's leaving Leicester, I don't think Arsenal is the right option, if I was him I'd sit tight."

Groves told talkSPORT in response: "Roy Keane is being very silly. A very silly man.

"Arsenal are a miles bigger club. You're under far more pressure. The expectations… Leicester are better on the pitch, they're a better team.

"They are further ahead but James Maddison, if you go to the bigger clubs, you're judged on the level. If he bought into a project where he would be the 10, going there and being part of a resurgence of a massive club like Arsenal…

"Arsenal are still a massive club. Don't worry about the support around the world. Don't worry about the crowds. The history. Tradition.

"Roy Keane's point, quite rightly, is that Leicester are a better team at the moment. But for your profile, if James Maddison goes to Arsenal, when you're judged on a different level, he's got more chance of getting in the England squad, in the England team than he has at Leicester.

"You're under miles more pressure. If he buys into the project and gets Arsenal back to the force they want to be, Arsenal is a far bigger club than Leicester."