Arsenal defender Martin Keown has signed a new two-year contract, thus ending speculation about his future plans, while his longstanding defensive partner, Tony Adams, looks set to quit Highbury to pursue a career in management.

Keown, who had been linked with a move to Newcastle, revealed that his family had played a key role to play in his decision to stay with Arsenal.

‘My sons Callum and Niall put it in a nutshell when they said I was playing forthe best team, so why did I want to think about leaving,’ said Keown.

“They are both massive Arsenal fans. If I’dleft, I’d be the only one in the house not wearing an Arsenal shirt on a Saturday.

“There were a lot of clubs interested but I don’t think Arsenal were too concerned because they expect their players to be linked to other clubs.

“There are a great bunch of lads at Arsenal and good people behind the scenes as well. “It’s been a lifetime’s work to get the club in the position it is in now and I’ve spent the best part of my career helping to get us where we are now.

“So to walk away from that was always going to be very, very difficult,” Keown added.

Meanwhile, Keown’s colleague, and the Arsenal club captain, Tony Adams, looks set toquit Highbury.

Adams applied for the vacant manager’s seat at Brentford earlier in the summer and although he wasturned down for that post, there has been growing speculation that he will replace Gianluca Vialli as manager of Watford.

Adams did not report for the first day of pre-season training with Arsenal, further fuelling the rumours that he will quit Highbury.