Martin Keown insists Arsenal can be Chelsea's main title challenger next season.

The former Gunners defender reckons Arsene Wenger's side have progressed since winning the FA Cup last season.

They are second in the Barclays Premier League, seven points behind leaders Chelsea with six games left.

And while Keown believes Jose Mourinho's side have wrapped up the title this time they will be threatened by Arsenal next season.

"Chelsea will win it now but if you ask them next season they won't fear anyone but they will be aware of Arsenal," he said.

"They will want to challenge next season and they will want to start well next year.

"They need to strengthen in one or two positions but I'm not talking about wholesale changes which some others may have to make if they want to compete."

Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings BURNLEY: Tom Heaton A quieter afternoon than the goalkeeper would have expected still ended in disappointment. 6/10 Getty Images Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Kieran Trippier Failed to get forward in usual manner, but tested Ospina with a long range free-kick. 6 Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Michael Duff Veteran defender again showed his experience in dealing with the game's best. 7 Getty Images Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Jason Shackell The Burnley captain put himself about in both boxes. 7 GETTY IMAGES Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Ben Mee The left-back was responsible for Burnley's best attack of the game. 7 GETTY IMAGES Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings George Boyd Tireless throughout, he often panicked at the vital moment. 5 Getty Images Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Scott Arfield Spent the afternoon chasing the shadows of Cazorla and Coquelin. 5 Getty Images Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings David Jones Battled well in midfield and went close with a first half set-piece. 7 Getty Images Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Ashley Barnes Supported his full-back, but made little running in attack. 5 Getty Images Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Sam Vokes The Welshman gave Mertesacker a physically tough 90 minutes. 6 GETTY IMAGES Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Danny Ings The striker once again saw little goalmouth action. 5 Getty Images Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings ARSENAL: David Ospina Made the simple look spectacular at times, but deserved his clean sheet. 7 Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Hector Bellerin Strong in attack, the defender had problems when pressurised. 6 Getty Images Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Per Mertesacker Stood up well in the physical battle with Vokes. 6 Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Laurent Koscielny An assured defensive performance alongside his partner. 7 GETTY IMAGES Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Nacho Monreal Covered well when Boyd's running threatened to expose Arsenal's defence. 7 GETTY IMAGES Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Francis Coquelin Another impressive display in protecting the Arsenal back line. 8 Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Santi Cazorla At the heart of Arsenal's best passing play in a stop-start game. 7 Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Aaron Ramsey Showed glimpses of last season as he broke forward at will. Scored the game's only goal. 8 Getty Images Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Mesut Ozil Made some key passes, but faded out of the game at times. 6 Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Alexis Sanchez Shone early on, but grew frustrated as Burnley stifled Arsenal's play. 6 GETTY IMAGES Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings Olivier Giroud Given a rough afternoon by both Duff and Shackell. 5 Getty Images

The Gunners finished fourth last season and won their first trophy for nine years after beating Hull 3-2 in the FA Cup final.

They face Reading in the semi-final at Wembley on Saturday aiming to defend the trophy against either Aston Villa or Liverpool in the final.

They are on their best run - winning eight straight league games - since the Invincible season of 2003-04 when Keown played 15 times.

And the 48-year-old said the Gunners are a more complete side than they have been for a while.

"It has to represent progress if you're finishing two positions higher and still in the FA Cup," said the ex-England international, who made 451 appearances for the club and won the Premier League three times.

"They look more convincing as a team than they did last year. The players look together.

"The squad is better equipped now, Gabriel is putting (Per) Mertesacker under huge pressure and (Francis) Coquelin is in midfield instead of (Mikel) Arteta and (Mathieu) Flamini who are maybe coming to the end of their careers.

"They have a whole array of players who can play off the front and (Olivier) Giroud and (Danny) Welbeck are vying for the centre forward position. The competition for places creates intensity."

(Getty Images)

Keown is involved in the McDonald's Accredited Club Kit scheme and over 70,000 kits will be handed to clubs in the UK this year.

He added: "You see the look on their faces and they are very proud of their kit and we want as many clubs to benefit as possible."