Martin Keown and his family at Wheatley were celebrating today after the 35-year-old's dramatic call-up for England's World Cup squad.

The call from Sven Goran Eriksson for the World Cup finals in Korea and Japan next month capped a wonderful 24 hours for the fiercely-competitive centre back after he helped Arsenal complete the Premiership and FA Cup Double with a 1-0 victory at Manchester United.

Keown was one of four Arsenal players named in Eriksson's 23-man squad which were unveiled after two tense hours of anticipation yesterday. The others were David Seaman, Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole.

While the other three Gunners were predictable inclusions, Oxford-born Keown has forced his way in at the death after recovering from a broken leg and battling his way back into the Arsenal team.

Eriksson said: "Keown is special. He's a marker and can take out opponents, although I don't mean through kicking.

"I first saw him when I was manager of Benfica. He was always blocking shots, chasing centre-forwards and doing a good job."

Keown gave credit to Manchester United for giving Arsenal a hard game on Wednesday night, and says this Double "tastes sweeter" than in 1998.

He said: "All credit to them, they threw everything at us. I just think we showed all the ingredients that we have shown through what has been a very hard and successful season."

It's the second league and cup Double that Keown has been involved in at Highbury, and the defender is aware that he has achieved something twice which many footballers never manage once.

"Of course we have done it before, but this one somehow tastes sweeter," he said.