White. Will it be there now?
And he's the Big Show that he has made his own.
This sucker getting it onto his left foot and the handling
it when the north London Derby. Top of the league. Everything's
going well for Arsenal. Gratis, Yacker, is king of the world.
Yeah, is denied for him.
The way is gone and
the managers had faith in his ability and what he can do to
finally see him. Do seem doing it under mikkel
is obviously recognize that you need to be pushed further
forward.
I mean Tim was talking about in The Green Room and
you put granite xhaka in a different more defensive role
with that kind of responsibility with a player
that doesn't really take people on the other got that.
Of skill and I got that piece to get away from people
and what we found is that there was silly fouls bookings and
giving a ball away.
Obviously that's not where he should have been playing and,
you know, thank God. McHale's found it for me because it is
so potent because he's playing in a
more advanced position. He's getting the ball. Well, he's
got bit time when it is got capability. And the ability to
pass it through lines. It's got great cross, great cross room.
So now we're seeing
the best of him and I'm really pleased for him.
It's been a brilliant transition. Okay, so we've never
talk a bit more about
Mess up as a player and the changes that have kind of
have helped him but
just purely on a connection with the fans or none terms of
his state of mind. Everything mean, this is a player who was
storming off in there. In the palace game arguing with
the fans complaining. After we did a big piece in the players
Tribune about how much sticky got from them. And how
difficult has his relationship was with the Arsenal fans? Yes,
has it
healed. Yes.
Absolutely. As because the thing with fans and I Have to
say to you of Arsenal fans, is that they want to forgive
a player, they want to
apply it to rise again From the Ashes that you know, like he
has done. And what's happened. Is that Mikael is has given him
the opportunity to do that because if he was continuing to
play
where he was playing
the same Granny's been there, for what six years now, coming
to six years. And you have to say, the last under mikkel is
where we've seen the progression of him.
So the years before you could count on one hand,
the amount of games it and
you know, I mean
good games, he's had because he wasn't playing in the right
place and that a player Out of finds a seen what he can bring
seen that, he has got massive value to what mikel's doing in
respect of offensively. Of course, they're going to,
they're going to turn and like and cause
you know, especially watching the
the ASL documentary, you know that
people see the kind of player he is. And why did those
certain managers of kept him around a plays mmm? Because
he's great around. A place is great with the lads is a good
Pro. Didn't the players vote for a captain? Yeah.
Yeah they did vote for his captain
because he's that kind of leader now seen him playing
what he wants. I play and he's leading, not only just because
of the attitude and the personality is in the dressing
room for his actions under pictures while now, he's
getting even more love from the fans because now we're seeing
the best of him. I
mean, you know, that that area the pitch
better than any of us are funny.
But so so when you look at the changes, the fact that he has
playing further forward what is it is it the fact that he is
lost a bit of responsibility? Or is it the fact that he's
gained license to do? Yes,
you got different blending there. Now girls, you know, so
I would have God helps massively with a creep.
The idea of it, you know, they've got Sakura left that
you know, exactly how they want to play. Now I think Nicole's
got his identity into that side and he's realize that Granite
is probably not the most responsible,
even at the weekend, he gives the ball away for that, for
the penalty.
You need to keep them away from his own goal, and he will go
back. He will help out because that is all about energies,
hundred-mile-an-hour, you know, any and righteous, right? It
does drive forward, you can get yourself into the box, you've
placed
like it now play for Arsenal. He plays his best football for
Switzerland, and everyone was saying, well, why can't we
produce that for Arsenal, because Cuz he was in
a different role and now he's in exactly the same role,
but I think it's the blend and I've got a lot of time for
granny checkered after,
you know, the reaction was wrong. I think he openly
admitted that you take your arm band off, your caption and
football, cubby cannot be sulking like that
and he probably thought you'd never play for the club again,
but he's roll his sleeves up and he's come back and I should
see a lot of character in a man who does that and wants to do
it, huge football club, he's obviously looked at other clubs
I think Roma or
Mourinho was looking to bring him in there.
He's never ever gonna check his never going to play for
a bigger football club than Arsenal, and I think he hit
home Germany's realize that you need to knuckle down
and think you stand out. And I give them a lot of respect
that Blended. Tim talks about in Midfield,
right? Across the pitch, seems to be coming together
under Miguel arteta and that's why Arsenal find themselves.
Top of the league, the difference in how they've
started this season compared to how they started. Last season
is just, it's just night and day. And I think that's really
important for them because we saw them put together.
A really good middle of the Season run last season, they
kind of run out of gas towards the end. So giving themselves
a bit of a head start, which I personally don't think they're
going to probably be able to hold on to
this position. Sorry writing,
I think it gives them a good a head start as anyone to make
sure that they get that chance as any place because last
season they started so badly. Put together that Middle Run,
didn't finish so badly. They need to solve from the on
the right foot and also make the most
of having a fairly fit Squad right now. I know there's
already talk of bringing an extra midfielder and in
That will be the difference between a team. Like Arsenal,
it seemed like Manchester city is the depth. It's just so so
different and and they will be hit by injuries. They will
impact, that's what a lot. But, right now, while you've got bit
players,
you have to make the most of it in these big games and
it'll be interesting to see what they do against little
ponds. Followed you not see him as the second best team in
the Premier League. So
I think right now I would probably say that
the second-best I think Chelsea new manager, obviously and still
searching for form and I think it's been difficult season
United. I would say this
Same thing and Tottenham, I think, you know, we were
speaking about it before I think when their plan works
it's great and when it doesn't work, it's not so good but
it's whether they can hold on to it. And I think it is that
Fitness because I just don't see a way that a school can
hold onto a fully fit Squad to retain second place
while also top, I think - it is second best team in the league.
Look at Manchester City side like that with the depth like
you rightly say and we've asked little where, you know still at
this point a couple of players out there then it kind of like
skews it a little bit, but all you can do is just
like then pacemakers just leave from the front and hope they
can't catch you. But like they've got City chasing.
Their, that's the main thing. What I read the other day which
was really interesting to read, is that a team of this many
points at least agencies. And
I've always made top for Arsenal are trying to make top
four. And that for me is the The focus can't legislate for
injuries, but if you long as they
what I've seen of them from the start of season 2 now
is an intensity,
the crowd, the players, and a belief
that they let they they can do something.
So old, we're trying to chase down City. Everybody are trying
to chase down the city but all I can do now is what they're
doing and that is
continue to do it at doing again. Liverpool's going to be
a big test, the first thing that they way they're playing.
Yeah but the thing is is because
again Liverpool playing against the Liverpool
So at with man, United's, you know, and 9999
beat them. Couple of mistakes were also mag night beat them.
That's how that's how small the margin side. Liverpool again
defensively. You can see, they can be got at,
but can you sustain it against that team? Because again,
Liverpool got the kind of players that offensively can
hurt you now. I
don't believe that also should be going into that game
feeling. Like you're, you're at home, you should be beating
this Liverpool side
in the form there in that moment, that is how you should
be approaching the game. Because what I saw of Liverpool
is that, this is the time. To plan. Yeah, this is a time to
play them. So awesome with the belief, with the way their
plan,
everybody's buzzing
is no injuries. Really?
You know, this is the kind of get where they've got to go for
me at home and beat Liverpool. We have to beat them. If we're
serious about trying to get where we want to be in. That,
is at
the top for and pushing Manchester City as far as you
can. Yeah, it's a good season to have good form. We haven't
quite seen a
season this recently where you've got so many big teams
struggling form. Last time was less than
Help them, and I think that oh, you know, not to say that they
don't deserve to be in that position but that is giving
them a little bit of a helping. Yeah. And it but it didn't
arresting because I think everybody predicting this
season
thought we're going to have so many top teams
hitting form that actually they're going to end up taking
points off each other. That's not the way. It's worked out
well suit, that's not people and growing as well and chasing
those top teams and getting really good results. You saw
what Brighton did first you know, day with a new manager
and they already take points of Liverpool. So I think that is
going to play
Into Arsenal's hands, a little bit because they can reap
the benefits of all these teams struggling. But what do you
think? The Arsenal players think that they can do? Because
I've heard a lot of them, talk about the confidence,
haven't talked about the bond between players and staff, and
the crowd that kind of Holy Trinity in football. Aaron
ramsdale saying, we were really stung by missing out on
Champions League qualification.
Last season. We really wanted this that's motivating us
this time around. He's deaf. He said, they'd sort of burned for
it and they were they were desperate to get this. This
success, but that mean finishing in second place with
that, be
Arsenal's Peak finished off season to throat. Well, there
are Rema is to get back into the Champions League because
what firstly what that will do is that will attract
another letter. But
so what I'm trying to ask is that the least they can aim
for, I think. Yeah, I think the legal time in that dressing
room. Now with, no injuries everything that
it will be buzzing
right now in the dressing room, you know, it's like someone
when, you're, when you're not even when your top, just when
you're playing well and you know, you got a great game.
Coming next, your buzzing.
If asked the players are not thinking about trying to win
the league, it's they won't stay there because you can't,
you can't be up there
thinking about like that but like Blackburn like with when
you're when you're winning the you can't be thinking about.
Well we're not meant to be a nobody thinks we can do it. So
we're just going to stay as long as we can and then
when we start losing our without, that was it. But we
had a great goal. Yeah. Ask the players at the moment
should be thinking of trying to win the league because
the lease is going to happen is you're going to be in
the Champions League polices, and that What they start at
the season, one ting.
But all you got to do is like Flo said, you've just gotta
take the next game as it comes and see where it takes you,
because I wouldn't be thinking of
in that just, I don't want to be just full for now.
I want to win League. Yeah, that's what should be pushing them.
Yeah,
that's what I think. That puts quite a good analogy that in
that. You think everybody thinks are only going to get
cold, they gonna get cold but it's, but it's almost that way
of regulating.
The worry is in that situation because City have been so
dominant because they have been set in these nine. T plus
points. Total there is a danger then if are still think, right?
We're going head-to-head with City, they lose one game, they
drop behind them and
they think well the League's gone now and that can be really
deflating. So it it's about kind of. Yes. Okay. Thinking
that's my
overall season ambition all that power over all season ambition,
but you have to win
each individual and
what desperately trying to say is
we
just have to win each map.
Science. Well from your experience when does the Target
shift? When is the moment in the season? We're
finding from not
when we beat man, united free to a place.
We knew when we went back in addressing them as a different
feeling. It's like when man when Lester beat Man City, free
won that season,
that's when it shifted for them.
This is real. Yeah, this is where you think we can do this.
When we've done that, we've we can do this. So to ask that
have to stay in it till they play City. And
first and foremost, they live a full next thing about quite
Liverpool.
But the way the points are now, it's then the way that Arsenal
and Liverpool of play when it's good and I agree with you
I think I think they are the second best team in the league.
I think, Man City arm right it's right. There are still
above them
but man city or just stronger and Steph but
because why is it
got players? They got a manager. Who knows they do they
all know the formation and not only that. What he's trying to
do is
just try to buy a little bit bigger. It's of winning
trophies as well. He's got zinchenko in there, he's got
Jesu seen that. You think they've gone? They're finishing
the top for sure.
They're coming. And now they're going without winning belief.
They're trying to spread it around a dressing room. You're
not a thing, as well. Tune is what, what
city have done, and why I feel at the moment is kind of broken
Liverpool's back because they've had to hold on to him.
Yeah, for so long, the pressure of having
to win every week because you know, she has affected
their season. Absolutely. Yeah, you know, I think that
for Liverpool to and I've said it, you know, if it wasn't for
Liverpool, you're not mean would be. Wouldn't It Be A
procession for my city? And I stick by that? And I think to
a certain extent even then they've still
won four of the last five. Exactly. And
and you look at them and they I think it's just got to them
a bit in respect of the players, you've got players at a certain
age over for a reason you got players
they're under 22s and that they need
that middle kind of age group to
keep them going. Keep the energy going
out of my mind, I think I still have it but do Arsenal have
the resilience to when Man City win, we have to win, they
haven't got that experience.
And that is what man city will do. Man city will continue to
win games
and wait and see. Right. Here you go as the pressure and what
we saw with Liverpool is okay. Bad will win as well back to
you. Yeah
can Arsenal do that? That's what's going to go I don't do
it right here. Mikell will love the discussion.
You know I hate games in. We're talking about them. Yeah. Being
the tiles challenges to Man City. I mean he would love it.
Just shows you how far they've come. It's done a great job.
He's had his ups and downs. People show up for his head. He
won a trophy which give them
a bit a time when he first
I went in there.
I think they were in Europa League as well. I think it's
the easiest easier one to win. Hopefully, that doesn't, you
know, put them off their Premier League campaign.
Like, I see it as best team in the league at the moment.
I have they got a strength in depth. Have they got
the experience that remains to be seen? I think Liverpool come.
I think, Chelsea will improve
and Tottenham will be there, or thereabouts. Well, operate in
Premier League season. Whatever happens after the back of this
season, if I still do getting the top forward to players that
I know that are probably waiting to come to us because
they want to be the true. Hello.
Who? No, no
waiting for us to get in the Champions League. This season
will be a massive learning curve for this team. Yep,
that's the one. You know, maybe I said, at least we can get
out. I cannot believe you're giving us crumbs. Well yeah.