Keown had been considering a move away from Highbury after being offered a one-year deal.

But Arsenal are believed to have proposed a longer contract when it became clear that captain Tony Adams was about to retire.

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

"They are both massive Arsenal fans. If I'd left, 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 told the Daily Star newspaper.

The 35-year-old's decision to stay is a major boost for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

Adams has yet to officially announce his retirement, but his absence from the first day of pre-season training on Wednesday was a clear sign of his intentions.

Wenger has been pursuing Lille centre-back Pascal Cygan as a replacement for Adams and possible partner for Sol Campbell.

But with Keown staying and Matthew Upson ready to make a comeback from a broken leg, he will now have ample defensive cover.