Roy Keane has praised John Stones on Sky Sports (06/01/21 at 10:00 pm) for his change in form after being linked with a move away from Manchester City in January, as Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal were one of the interested parties.
EuroSport claimed in December that Arsenal were keen to speak to the Man City player, who was trying to get back on the road to success once again.
On Wednesday night, Stones helped his side reach the League Cup final after they beat their neighbours 2-0 at Old Trafford.
Keane thinks Stones needed the ‘kick up the backside’, as he also claimed that talk about him potentially having to leave Man City perhaps ‘gave him a little bit of a fright’.
“He’s spoken about the disappointment and the setbacks he has had in the last few months and every footballer would go through that in his career,” said Keane.
“Sometimes a player needs a kick up the backside. I know there was talk about him in the last few months about going out on loan and maybe that gave him a little bit of a fright.
“He’s back in the team now. In his interview, he came across well and he’s obviously reflected whilst he has been out of the team.”
Stones is one of the in-form centre-backs currently playing in the Premier League and a player that has transformed his ways.
Whilst the England international has always had the ability to bring the ball out from the back, his decision-making and rash nature has always let him down.
But that has all gone out of the window, as those in Arsenal’s backline can take note that they can turn their fortunes around regardless of what situation you are in.
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