Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes manager Arsene Wenger will sign new players in the summer transfer window if the Gunners end yet another season without any trophies to show for.

Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, the 43-year old explained how crashing out of the Champions League hurts but that the players are to look ahead to a very important weekend game away from home against Manchester United in the F.A. Cup. And, according to the former centre back, the Arsenal boss should choose a strong team in order to avoid crashing out of yet another cup.

On what it means to go trophyless for so long, Keown explained that this is Arsene Wenger’s last year of his “five-year plan” and although the players are showing that they can win something, new players will be added in the summer in case of failure.

On the Barcelona game, the Englishman concluded by praising the Catalans, by him described as a side “on a different level” as he however highlighted the harsh red against striker Robin van Persie which killed the game for the Gunners.

On Wednesday, Keown said:

They’re hurting but they’ve got to look ahead now, it’s a very important game against Manchester United – what team will he [Wenger] pick? I feel he has to pick his strongest possible team because the fans may start to turn on the team a little bit.

He has a five-year plan and this is the last year of it. They are now showing what they are capable of but if they don’t win anything now he’ll be buying players to add to the group.

Barca were superb and you have to say they were on a different level. Tactically they are so hard to play against – but it was remarkable to see Arsenal dictated to in that fashion.

They didn’t give a good account of themselves – there was only one team in it from start to finish. [van Persie's] first booking was needless and you can’t give the ref any opportunity.

He was giving them every decision so it (the second yellow card, for time-wasting) fell into his hands really. It’s hard enough trying to beat the best team in world with 11 men.

But there doesn’t seem to be any common-sense in the referees’ rulebook these days – it killed it from an Arsenal point of view.