Did we NEED to sign Raya? | Are we confident about making ANY signings? FT @Arseblog (Andrew)

I guess this right back Just as Ian Wright said they're people Deluded I'm back again special guest set is Andrew. Happy New Year's Related New Year's. I hope you're doing well and safe and as usual appreciative for your return on my channel. How you doing, man? I'm alright, man. How are you? I enjoyed that goal in the the video to the start. Holy cow Appreciate that man. I'm a one-go wonder. I'm never letting anyone forget that man I'm gonna tell my humble kids that was in the Champions League final man. But yeah, I hope you're doing well and safe people I can't imagine you don't know about Andrew and his platform If you don't links are in the description links are in the title give it a butchers It makes great content and I've got him here today for a specific reason now, obviously Arsenal We've read a lot of highs and lows in this last 18 months specific to this season Obviously with it being the 16th of January How are you feeling about the football club and our performances on the field at this moment in time broski? I mean, it's a bit weird because I think everything was going pretty well until Christmas and then we've had a bad couple of weeks I think that clouds how people feel about things. Yeah, the next time we win a couple of games, but you know We've been through some difficult periods as Arsenal fans over the last few years and and I guess the way I would put it is the frustration of not being quite at our best or not being quite at the top of the table is much better than the frustration of being terrible or eight or Can we scrape in the general? Are we gonna get into the Europa Conference League or do we even want to be in the Europa Conference League? So I guess there's a bit of perspective in that sense The last few weeks have not been great, but I think generally speaking. We're a long way from From where we were in a very positive way. I think we've taken positive steps and and I think even those who might be a bit skeptical or maybe a bit downhearted about where We are at this moment in time or the last few weeks would have to admit that You know, we can all see how it could get better quite quickly. It's not like we're struggling to Yep to figure out what the problem is. We all know what the problem is We just need to score a few goals here and there and I think that would change the complexion of things pretty quickly I think you're bang on the money and that obviously a week is a long time in football So when you played 19 or 20 game weeks You can imagine the sentiment around every football club being said and obviously Arsenal in the last 18 months We found ourselves attempting to challenge for a league title as you alluded to it Looks a lot rosier from the days of us simply put being in the trenches not really being that good back-to-back Apes finishes or whatever it was and I think we've done. All right I don't think we can be naive as a football club and think you know What we're just gonna be amazing from August all the way to May We've seen a couple of other clubs have a bit of a blip We couldn't be naive and think that we wouldn't hit that any goal that you want to achieve in life You kind of hit with that pressure and it's just down to us to make of that what we do really, you know We might look back in May and say December's where we won or lost anything, but it could be a lot better It could be a lot worse. We're in and around everyone as you said there perfectly You know the sentiment could change if you go and beat Nottingham Forest Crystal Palace and get something against Liverpool. You kind of said it there you touched on goals What has gone wrong for you in terms of the last the last couple of games that why have we not been able to convert? What do you have it down to is it the managers tactics? Is there psychological issues? Do we simply not have the personnel? What's your thoughts on all that? Well, man, if I had the answer I'd be on the phone to Arsenal I'd call it up and sell it for a million quid, you know I don't think there's any one thing to be honest. I think the players that we've got are definitely capable of Scoring goals. We've seen them do it before They're not scoring at the rate that we need them to and that Opens up a debate about whether we need somebody else in or whether we need a different kind of striker It's really hard to put your finger on exactly what it is You know I think it could be just a little period in the season where things aren't going as well as we need them to Is there one specific reason why Saka Martinelli, Havertz, Odegaard Gabriel Jesus have all kind of Forgotten their shooting boots or forgotten how to put the ball in the back of the net I mean, I can't imagine it's anything sort of systematic. I think it's just an unfortunate coincidence you know, which doesn't mean that You or I or anybody watching this wouldn't like something else in the forward line I think there is room for that at Arsenal right now But I also think we have to acknowledge that the players we do have are capable of doing better You know if we weren't creating chances like the Fulham game Was a bit of a one-off wasn't it in that we didn't really create a great deal But that's basically the only time that's happened this season other games. We have created Plenty and just not scored the goals. You think of Aston Villa away. We should have scored their West Ham Newcastle was maybe a little more even I think the team's kind of cancelled each other out a little bit in there I don't remember too many big chances in that game But I don't think at the same time that we played in a way that that deserved to lose that game And it was obviously a contentious way to lose it with the with the goal and disallowed about five times You know, there you go as well. Yeah, exactly So, you know, I think it is just a little bit of bad luck Unfortunate timing and I wonder maybe though I mean, I'm trying to be glass half-full on this is is the right time or is not the right time? But it's the best time perhaps to have a little period like this in the season in December January where you then have time to to make up for it, you know where you could get yourself going again and You know get a run of wins under your belt and the table starts to look a lot healthier You know, it's better than having this problem in April, you know if we get to April and all of a sudden we can't score goals. There's no way you're getting anywhere Whereas now at least they've had a little bit of a break some warm weather training chance to reset to maybe get some shooting practice in And figure it out because I do think We are capable of better no question in my mind the players that we have are capable of better in the in the final third and I Expect that's been a bit of focus for Mikkel Arteta and the coaching staff during this period where they've been in Dubai I think you're bang on the money in that I would rather it happen now because we've got some time to salvage stuff rather than What has been the case of the last two seasons that when it's the business end where you just need to win games We've kind of not been at it So I'd rather it happen now as you said with us going to Dubai and then bringing their family and Mikkel Arteta just having a Change of scenery. Hopefully we can get back on it and start afresh As you said earlier the sentiment changes very quickly if you win a couple of games, so I hope that is the case I agree with what a lot of Arsenal fans saying that I would like a striker But I think Mikkel Arteta says it best in that my job is to maximize the existing players You know, whatever we say about Saka Martinelli or the guard Jesus These are players that many clubs would dream to have so we need to get a bit more out of them Even if we sign a striker that's gonna get us 20 30 goals Mikkel Arteta says we need to be a team that can get 100 last of my checks one man isn't gonna do that enough So by himself, so it is the workload is gonna have to be shed I've been a bit of a devil's advocate here Could you say Mikkel Arteta may or may not have been a bit naive and how he's assembled the forward line? I only say that because in terms of our project, I like what we've done I think Arteta has shown he can rebuild the team if we move the metrics and we're thinking of winning a title Obviously, there isn't that many strikers out there to us fans that you could say are going to take us up a tenfold But you look at City you look at Liverpool. They've got proven goal scorers We don't necessarily have that and I think Arteta said it the other week and he more or less said that what Odegaard Martinelli and Saka did last season was it was a bit of an anomaly so me knowing that Mikkel Arteta is a Very methodical individual and he had to have sat there in August and looked how he wanted to improve the team Obviously signed some players Do you think it might have been an opportunity miss not signing a striker because one criticism of Gabriel Jesus is he's never Scoring goals hasn't necessarily been a strong point I have a lot of admiration for Edwin Keita and how he stepped up but this question marks over how he could do it And with the young players, it's like a bag of randoms Really, you don't quite know that they're going to get them goals and ultimately goals win games And you know, you look at the last few games I think we've actually done enough to win but ultimately people will point towards well We didn't put the ball in the back of the net and I go back to what you said earlier And I think for me up until this kind of blip I was more disappointed in the games. We actually drew than lost I think there's only been two times. I've really been unhappy with how we play the look at West Ham in the League Cup Full of the other week. I don't think there's any other positives. But other than that we've been the more dominant side So do you think is an opportunity missed with not signing a striker and maybe a bit of naivety in that regard? I've said this before but I do think the Injury to the injuries to Thomas Partey and jury and timber have robbed us of quite a lot Yeah this season and I know what you're saying when he talked about the the goal-scoring exploits from last season being a bit of a one-off and maybe hard to replicate You know if you think if we had timber and if we had Partey I know it's a big if and every club has to deal with injuries But what Arsenal could choose from in the front three? Saka Martinelli Jesus and Keria Trossard Havertz Am I missing some reason else and you know what? I mean when he talked about versatility and when he talked about being a bit more unpredictable as a team I do wonder if he thought about Various configurations in that front three rather than just Jesus Martinelli and Saka maybe there's games when Jesus plays wide and Havertz places the center forward or the false nine or whatever it might be I Think those injuries have cost us a little bit in terms of definitely what we can do with our forward line and and maybe there's a safety first approach to some of the team selection because One you don't have the options and two you're just kind of going with what you know, and you're hoping will work but As for bringing in a striker I think when Arsenal do bring in a striker and I think they will look to bring in a forward at some point whether it's An out-and-out striker or somebody else. I'm not quite sure That has to be the right player. It really has we can't just bring in any old player. You can't just do I agree The equivalent of what we did a few years ago. I remember the January window We brought in Cedric and Pablo Murray. Yeah You can't do those kinds of deals anymore if you're at the top of the table You cannot really afford to get big big decisions wrong when it comes to center forward And I don't know that this last summer we had the ability to do that with the other deals that we did You know a Shaka going he had to be replaced 100 million on tackling rice great money great player Nobody's arguing. Yeah, but expensive and it cuts into what you can spend and we did spend Whatever it was 40 million on timber and unfortunately, he got injured in in the first game of the season So you mean it's really unlucky. Yes, so I think we've been unfortunate in that regard, but but when it comes to That next upgrade if you want to call it that at center forward it absolutely has to be the right player I mean you can't be you can't be a hundred percent certain But I think if you put the groundwork into a player his character what he can bring to the team What is the team missing? How do we how do we fit him into our system? You can you can mitigate some of the risk with transfers It's a question of like do you go big big big on an established name or do you maybe? Take a chance and take a chance on somebody who's a little bit early in their development But who might become the player that you you want that striker to be? finances might dictate that decision for our but again, it's about Making sure that as much as possible you're bringing in the right player rather than just any player You know, you see a lot of people talking about well You've got to get anyone in get a striker and get it They'll be the first to turn on the players when overly they don't do the job But football fans have never been the most, you know Sensitive at times of all the emotion involved in the game exactly like everyone everyone loves a new transfer Everyone loves a new sign a new toy, but the gloss wears off very quickly if that player is not the right player You know, they're gonna have to think very hard about how they How they upgrade and how they add to the squads because I think it it's not the only missing piece I don't think it is, but I think it is a very key piece to to where this team can go Which means it's a it's a very important decision The right work has to go into making that Making that transfer happen. I'm with you I think there's a couple of missing pieces that we can bring into our squad whether there was a squad fillers or People to come into the start in 11 I do think a striker is not gonna arrive in January But when we get one as you said they have to be that kind of player that's gonna take us to the next level and that will help if we can have that if Jesus could score some more goals and keep doing what he's doing if the other boys in and around can keep chipping in goals Then I think we've got everything because I always say I don't think a striker helps all of our issues because that strike is human When they have that one-off day, what are we gonna be saying? Then really the other players are gonna have to fill in and things like that What do you make of this whole FFP stuff because based on what you said it went off in my head and it's something I've Wondered obviously, I'm not privy to Arsenal Football Club, and I'm definitely not a finance man But when I look at some of the decisions we made in the summer I don't think it was the single factor But maybe we didn't have money to get a winger in that played a part and maybe Nelson getting a new deal I know Balligan wanted to leave but in the terms of we weren't really seeing too much money coming in letting him go Obviously with David Rye Brentford helped us out in terms of getting that on the loan We all know timber coming for 40 odd million Declan Rice was a club record signing Do you think in hindsight we was closer to FFP then, you know We was made to believe which were now found in our in hindsight. And if that was the case What do you think of the signing of Kai Havertz for 65 million? Oh, man. Um Havertz was quite early wasn't it Havertz happened relatively early in the summer. I think Havertz happened before Declan Rice Yeah, he was one of the first through the door. Yeah, so he was clearly a player that they wanted It didn't restrict us from getting Declan Rice. It didn't restrict us from getting jury and timber in I think the Raya deal definitely was one where We were cognizant of these rules. I think it's very interesting to look at the The January transfer window this year compared to last year. Yeah last year. I wrote about this a bit today in the blog Make some links and we can put down the description man yeah, they spend Premier League club spent over 700 million pounds in January last year and So far the only big deal that's been done in the Premier League this season beyond a few loans here And there is Spurs bringing in that defender from Genoa. Yeah, and that's it. Now. There's still time obviously, it's the 16th of January a couple of deals might take place and You know, that's sort of has a rolling or a knock on effect, you know This club has got a bit more money They might spend a bit more money and it sort of sends a view a few dominoes tumbling but I don't think there's any way we're getting close to what the club spent last season and It's hard not to think that maybe these rules which we've seen this This week with Everton and Nottingham Forest Admitting to breaches of the profit and sustainability rules. They've admitted to those. It's a question now of punishment and mitigation maybe It's hard not to think that some of some of the the lack of January Transfer activity is connected to now the Premier League Very visibly enforcing these rules and applying punishments. Why Everton have already been Deducted what ten ten points and they might even get another six based on reports Yeah, you know, so that's 16 points in one season and it's pretty unprecedented for for Premier League clubs We've like all heard about FFP for years and years and years but nothing has ever happened and look at people will People watching this will be talking about well, what about Manchester City and what about Chelsea and I know I get it completely, but I think there are some significant differences between what Everton and forest have been found guilty of or admitted to and What city are doing city are not admitting to anything. They're not yeah Yeah, and I think I think you know, they've got very expensive lawyers I think they've got very expensive accountants who can make it extremely difficult. Yeah, try and figure out. Well, okay Where did that money come from? And where did it go? And what did it do? Yeah, like I'm not a finance guy either, but you know and I'm not saying city are laundering money or anything like that, but there are ways I'm sure of Presenting breaking the rules bending them around and you know Or making it so yeah exactly or making it so difficult to Figure out like the the provenance of funds and where they're coming from that it you know Maybe you get there in the end, but take you a really really long time whereas Everton being like 19 million pounds over the Limit that's easy to see you know, so I I think there might be something to that You know, I also took to have a dry on loan paid a loan fee maybe of 3 million We've got to pay the other 27 million next year. Yeah, probably Yeah, it takes over into the next accounting period. Therefore. We're within the the guidelines of what you're allowed You know the losses that you're allowed post, you know in a particular year So I do think there is something to that for sure. And and that's probably Probably why I don't really expect much to happen with Arsenal in this transfer window unless Unless we sell somebody unless we sell, you know a player like Smith Rowe or Nelson or in Kenya who because of their status as You know Academy players would would basically be pure profit on on the books Therefore allows you to invest a little more but like who's gonna buy them. That's the that's the thing And I think you made an interesting point. I do think you know, I mean, obviously everyone's clubs are different as an Arsenal fan I don't necessarily care about other people's finances But when you look at the deeper structure you do again just reading the news is one thing But you hear Chelsea Newcastle Arsenal everyone apart from see you don't really look like they're buying players They need to sell before they can buy they need to tread closely to FFP So it seems more of an industry thing than an Arsenal specific So with that being said and obviously on one hand what we can both comprehend that but naturally I guess we both Maybe not necessarily expect us to sign well be isn't things but we would like signings I'm not sure where you feel the immediate priority for strengthening January But do you have any confidence in signing anyone in January? And what positions would you say are kind of like Mikel Ortega if we have to bring in someone? We can't leave January without addressing a certain area of the team I mean, it's one man. It is a difficult one because you can make a case for a defender Does that help us with our goal-scoring problems? not Not directly But it might allow you to restructure your team in a way which could perhaps get a bit more out of the the attacking side Of things Midfield, you know, we've got Declan Rice. We've got Jorginho There is Mohammed Elneny and Thomas Partey is coming back and if Arsenal can keep Thomas Partey fit when he returns That is a big if though, of course, you know But if they can then it probably means you don't need a midfield signing the striker thing. We've already talked about I think that's too important to rush a deal in January Yeah, if it were me if I could choose any position to bring in a player in January, it would be a wide player It'd be a winger Somebody who's got maybe said this, you know something that that look I love Martinelli and I love Saka But maybe something that they don't have maybe if you've got somebody with like absolutely Blinding pace just gives you that little bit of a different threat That would be That would be where I would be Most inclined to make a signing if I could just pick one player or one position. I think that would be it You know, it's not that we don't have options Because there is Trossard there is Nelson you can play Gabriel Jesus there Havertz has played wide But I just think to take some of the burden off sack and Martinelli To have somebody who's like a real threat left and right I know it's sort of like trying to pick the ideal signing I want him to be quick and fast and strong and tall and good with You know, he can play everywhere and score with his head and all those seats exactly, but I think that's where I I Feel like if the team could get an injection of something that would be where it would be most beneficial I think you'll bang on the money man. I think if it was up to me I desperately want to address central midfield I think when you look at our defense and our attacking options, whatever people say in terms of longevity You can kind of see that. I think midfield is a bit cloudy with the exception of Declan Rice part 8 There's question marks over his long-term future. I don't know if Georginio will be here next year I like El Nene, but the way we're going probably shouldn't be here next year Probably so I would like a central midfielder and God forbid anything happens to Declan Rice Then I do think we're in trouble. Hopefully that isn't that isn't the case I do share your opinion in that a defensive body wouldn't go and miss I think we're playing a dangerous game and I hope that in particular Saliba, Benjamin White and Obviously Gabriel don't suffer injuries and we know a couple of them, you know Zinchenko's out at the moment. Tomiasu is a bit of a regular where it comes to injuries. Benjamin White is documented He's carrying on so I wouldn't be against that as you said I think everyone would like a striker where we're able to do that in January if we could great if we can't Get that done Eddie for the summer and I share your opinions on a wide man because I do think you know as much as I like the romance around Arsenal We've got a young manager and a young team and we're growing and in line with our rebuild That's great But in terms of trying to fight for a Premier League title I do think the burden is probably too big on Sacra Martinelli. Sacra in particular for the last few years Has been performing week in week out and I won't quite say we burnt him into the ground But he was due a kind of poor run per se based on the standards he set and then obviously we didn't bring these players In but we was wanting to link with Pedro Neto, Rufino Obviously, we all know how the Madrid case ended in terms of that electrifying sort of pace I do think Mikel Arteta wants that and I don't I wouldn't I don't think it's fair for me to say he doesn't trust Certain players because I do think he likes Nelson But the facts are reason else has played 87 minutes Maybe being devil's advocate if Mikel Arteta had a genuine option that he feels is on par with Sacra Martinelli That's pushing them They could come out the other guy could come in because I do think Sacra Martinelli more than anything Psychologically probably just need to breathe a bit really come off the bench grab a goal and then kind of we restart So I would like a wide man I don't know if there's any kind of trosser II kind of deals that could get done But we'll have to see in I know we're skipping ahead to the summer But I didn't ask you in relation to a striker. Obviously, you're not the decision maker But what striker would it be for you? We've been linked with Blavich, Osman, Tony probably more people than I can remember What would be the one for you if you was obviously able to make that decision? Oh, man, that's That's what I've thought about a bit I'm not sure like I've watched Ozzy man is obviously very talented scores a lot of goals in in Italy Like he's different certainly to what we've got Tony I like but Scores a lot of penalties. Does that pad his stats a little bit? Yeah, just a little bit and I wonder as well if if the outlay for someone like Tony who's gonna be 28 by the time the summer comes around is is the best way to To spend that amount of money. Like I think he would be good for us I remember I was at the Brentford game last season and he was so good He was just like Raya was pumping long balls to him And he asked me but to deal with and he dealt with saliva and that was very impressive Like if if Ivan Tony was two years younger, I'd be much more inclined to say, you know Why he's got the experience in the Premier League He's got maybe his best three four years ahead of him But with everything that's gone on missing six nine months, basically, you know, does that have an impact on your career? Maybe it makes him more hungry. Maybe it makes him more determined to make the most of the years. He's got left I don't know. I mean that is that is the the honest answer to this one I don't know what I would say is I think it probably needs to be somebody who does just give you a little bit bit of a different physical profile I'm not saying we should just start like lumping long balls up like he's Peter Crouch or something like that but but there are periods in a game where Yeah, where maybe you do like if you're playing against a team that's defending their own 18-yard box with 10 men behind the ball at all times like Unless you're a little messy. You're not you're not getting through there. Yeah. Yeah I love our guys, but nobody's little messy in this team, you know Nobody's little messy in this world but you you have to try and break these teams down a little bit differently and perhaps aerial thread is is Quite close to the top of the the list of attributes that you would want this player to have What about you? Who do you fancy? It's a weird one because it's like I This is gonna sound crazy And I obviously think Mikel Arteta wants goals from his striker no matter how much the game changes goals need to be scored by your But for one of better phrases It feels like scoring goals is the least important kind of facet of a Mikel Arteta striker or respectfully to Gabriel Jesus You probably wouldn't be here because that's the one kind of mediocre aspect of Jesus his game And I wonder if I look at Tony I see little bits and pieces of you know you're you know, you'll stand up there and be a physical outlet you drop deep you work the channels and That's what I think Arteta wants But then I look at the profile we're linked with obviously they're very different for what Arsenal might be talking in the in the rooms And whatnot, but I look at we were once linked with Watkins. We looked we linked with Ivan Ivan Tony were linked with Wasserman and I try and find myself thinking what are the similarities these players have and there's very vague Similarities that come with where they play but they're all very different if it was up to me I'm probably on the awesome in train personally. I think he's not heading to Arsenal I actually think we're gonna go for Ivan Tony just because he's got 18 months left on his deal He's changed agents provided like you said, you know after this absence he comes back and it's like he never left I think we'll go for that. I think we have to probably look at bringing in a couple of homegrown players I don't know if people will leave but you know Nelson and Katie or Ramsdale and probably a few others They're always linked with moves away and some of them probably will leave in the summer And we need to keep that for registration purpose. So for me, it would probably be awesome in I would like us to revisit the Vlahovic one I know he stops kind of fooling but just on the basis of Mikhail Arteta scouted him aggressively You must have a use for him or had it have a vague clue as to how he could you know? be a success for us and I'm all up for Tony and then you look at like the guys that have kind of been on the Scene for 18 months like the boner faces and things I like them But I'd be lying to you bro. If I sat here and said 100% I'm convinced I don't think there is a striker that I'm a hundred percent convinced with I'd love to see us get awesome And just because I think that is a level raiser, but I'm not too sure man I'm really not too sure and as you said like I don't even know if we sign a striker Do you think we'll sign a winger as well? Because Jesus could be utilized in them areas and based on Jesus's language He seems a lot more open to being versatile versus when he kind of signed for the club and he was saying, you know What I want to be a number nine. Yeah, maybe um, I think the summer will be really interesting And I think when you mentioned Boniface, I think it's a very a very interesting Transfer to look at you know the way that they Got this player in and he's become one of the best goal scorers in the Bundesliga You know those players are there Those players are there and look where look where they are in the table this season, you know And and this is a guy now who if you want to buy him, what are you gonna pay? Yeah, yes money, right massive money. So I my suspicion I could be completely wrong and this is not based on any information whatsoever is that that is the kind of deal we will try and do Try that without doing us a favor and you know putting the sweeteners out really and Julia's thinking because I don't even mean Boniface himself I mean like find a guy who is just Just there is on the cost ready to make that step and to become that player it feels to me, you know having spent a hundred million on Declan Rice and 65 million on Havertz and Whatever will pay for David Ryan and you know, hopefully if we sell players we have more money to spend next summer You know, I find it hard to see Arsenal doing another hundred and thirty million. Whatever my calls for Aussie, man I just yeah, I just don't see it. I'm not saying I'd be averse to it. I just don't see it and I I wonder if the the most Cost-effective way of filling this position is by finding that player who is at a club is doing okay doing pretty well Showing a lot of potential and is ready to take the next step forward which of course will come down to Edu and the scouting team and and those guys And maybe not everyone won't be happy with that. Maybe everyone just wants the big name. They want the Tony or they want the as well my Suspicion or I I just wonder if that might be the way we go Because it might then allow you to invest a little more elsewhere as well You could perhaps bring in another wide player you could bring in a Pedro Neto and a striker and And you look at your forward line and do you let Trossard go in the summer? Maybe do you let Reese Nelson go in the summer? Do you let Eddie and Kedia go in? the summer where there's more of a market for these guys and and the space and the squad opens up for for that kind of surgery, if you like where you're gonna get rid of a chunk of players you're gonna bring in two Players you really believe in or the manager really believes in because I think there are When you look at the way some of these players are being used You know, it does make you wonder if or how much Mikkel Arteta believes in you know, trust Yeah, Trossard's been decent. But like hasn't really started many games in the Premier League sometimes doesn't get off the bench Or comes on late Reese Nelson hasn't started a Premier League game since 2020 87 Premier League minutes Nelson So, I mean that tells you something, you know a manager can talk about a player and talk about his talent talk about his potential But how do you really understand what he thinks of a player? It's it's what he does rather than than what he says, so I think there is room for for improvement in that regard I just think it is a question of This stuff being much more doable in the summer than it is in January though I think you're bang on the money and even like someone like Smith row You know people want to see him play as a 8, can play as a 10, made his name on the left-hand side for Arsenal He hasn't really been given a look in. Where are you at with Emil Smith row? You know a number 10 is almost a forgotten man Really do you I don't want to quite say it's the beginning of the end because these things could change but it's kind of been The same theme it was last season He has been fit for the last few games hasn't really got a look in and again for me when the team's performing I don't think anyone can have any complaints when you're on the outside of things But when the form is kind of shaky and Barley exceptional, you know Saleeb or Declan Rice people of that Everyone's position is kind of up for debate. That's when I kind of think you know What could the could our player change these could he put a player in that has a bit of a positive chip on his shoulder? Hasn't been starved of football and there's I'm not criticizing our title, but there just has been a reluctance to do that So where you at with Emil? I kind of miss him. I like I really like him as a player I think he gives the team he gives this team something that maybe the others don't you know There's an ability to burst between the lines which Which we don't see from some of the other players I think is a ability to arrive in the box at the right time is quite interesting and maybe something we could have leaned Into a bit more over the last couple of weeks I go back to what I just said though about what a manager does versus what he says Yeah And it's hard to escape the conclusion that that for whatever reason he's not Convinced by Emil Smith row at this moment in time whether it's a fitness thing whether it's an attitude thing an application thing I don't know. The talent is obvious to me. Anyway, I think he's a I think he's a really good player and I when our tether talks about getting the most out of the players that he has I Get a little bit frustrated when it comes to someone like Smith row because you know Are you are you getting the most out of a meal Smith row? I don't think so You're not playing him you're not playing him and I get it and like if everyone was playing Brilliantly and we were scoring loads of goals and he couldn't get in the team. You just say fair enough. That's it You know, you hold your hands up and say well look he's just got to keep his head down wait for his chance I think over the last few weeks that have been more chances to give a meal Smith row playing time that haven't been taken and I hope you know in the second half of the season He is somebody who we can count on and lean on he is an asset he should be an asset to this team because I think he can score goals and I think he can He can bring a dynamic to the front not necessarily even the front three, but to the final third That maybe we don't have as much of as we would like. So If our tether is true to his word about getting the most out of the players that he has And if nothing much is gonna happen in January I think it is incumbent on him to try and integrate Smith row more And if that means sometimes taking Saka off or taking Martinelli off I'm not just you know, taking Martinelli off to put Trossard on which is just sort of the The easy way of making a substitute think about it a bit more. Maybe you can reshuffle your team a bit. Maybe if Jesus is starting up front you can take Martinelli off and put Jesus wide and push Havertz to the nine and play Smith row alongside Martin Odegaard and ahead of you know, I'd love to see a bit of that because if you if you do want to be unpredictable if you do want to bring a measure of versatility to to your lineups, that seems to me like a Easy way to do it, but certainly a feasible way of doing it and look I I'm like you I'll hold my hands up and say I don't know everything that goes on on the training ground the manager is making his decisions based on far more information than than you or I or anybody watching this but You know at the same time, I think we understand the players that we have We understand some of the problems that we have and we're all looking for Solutions, we're all looking for internal solutions because like the manager says what? You know, so there's one of them for me and I hope that in the second half of the season Whatever might happen with him in the summer. I hope that in the second half of the season we can see a bit more of I'm with you with that. I think when you look at the Academy boys, I think with Reece Nelson It's probably you know Dependent on you know If we bring in a striker and hey Zeus is used out wide or if we get a striker in a winger where I look at Someone like Eddie and Ketio, you know I'd love to wake up tomorrow and you get 15 20 league goals and you keep on improving But it does feel like you're someone that could bring finances into the club which count as a hundred percent profit Smith row looks like a peculiar one because I would imagine Smith row Nelson and then Ketio there must be indirect Interest in them in January or people just seeing the feasibility now as you know also in that weird position where we can't really buy before we sell we can't really sell before we can buy and we're kind of Crippled by FFP so we can't let them go and I hope Mikel Arteta can utilize Smith row as you said, you know I want to see the words kind of match up with what you're physically doing and I look back when you said about trying things Differently, I look back to a few years ago. I think it was three years ago I think we played whenever the Congo was actually part of our first team We played Brighton and we had the Congress the lone six and other garden Smith row either side I said at the time I think that was the right idea from the manager But it was at the wrong time and now that you've got Declan Rice Obviously you can play as a lone six and chaperone and you've got all the garden Smith row shown some fitness I would like to see some versatility. I do think Arteta is shown he'll play players in different roles And I'm a bit weird where Smith rose concerned because is it the kind of thing where you know? The system kind of left in it looks like it's leaving Ramsdale It looked like we was, you know set happier days with pepper in a Bamiyan and I'm not criticizing the manager But the manager had different plans has Smith row kind of run his course. I hope to God that's not the case But at the end of the day if we want to get to where we want to get to as a football club Then these kind of things happen. I'm sure you've been asked on it a million times, but I've never actually asked you Where are you at with the David Ryan Ramsdale debate? I'm sure you've said your thoughts a million times, but nonetheless mom Um It's a difficult one because I think maybe Raya is more Aligned with what the manager wants from a goalkeeper With his feet. I don't know that he's been a huge improvement over Ramsdale I think we've swapped a 7 out of 10 goalkeeper for a 7 out of 10 goalkeeper just like the different versions of Of that, you know, and I like both of them. I I don't have any problem with David Ryan I think he's a good goalkeeper. I think some of his distribution is excellent But I think he he has his flaws as did Aaron Ramsdale as we saw a couple of times last season with the ball of his feet there were some moments where Where it didn't work or we made mistakes and we paid for those mistakes But I think with with Ramsdale we had Got a little bit of track record of of some big big performances from him, you know Liverpool away Spurs away. Yeah Yeah, I think we were absolutely the better team on the day we were well deserving of the win at White Hart Lane, but we also had a 10 out of 10 performance from our goalkeeper who made saves, you know He was so good that day one of their fans decided to kick him You know So the thing is we haven't we haven't seen that with Ryan. Yeah, we're not me. I'm not moved by Raya yet I do think with with Raya it's a bit of you know, Ramsdale has a bit of a cult-like following I do think David Raya wasn't helped when he came into the club. I don't think how the fans have behaved or Maybe not necessarily Arteta but Arteta's kind of language around those sub goalies and things I think he underplayed how much of a snowball effect it would have I'm not Suggesting you can find a prime Petr Cech or Van der Sar But maybe if you found someone that's head and shoulders evidently above Ramsdale even Ramsdale and his dad to say, you know What fair enough? He's better than me. It's like a mixed bag really It is but and I think the the thing I would say just in mitigation of Raya You know when I talk about those performances that Ramsdale put in where he made unbelievable saves I don't think Raya has had to have one of those games. Yeah. Yeah, you know We haven't been in a position where we've been peppered with shots and the keepers had to make five six seven saves in the game So there is a slight difference in the in the context of how we're judging them but I just think you know, we haven't made a really significant improvement in the position and Maybe there's been an element of disruption You know Within the squads on the training ground. I'm not saying that anybody's being anything other than Completely professional but Ramsdale's a very popular guy popular guy with the fans popular guy within the dressing room character and then yeah And then look I think they all understand how football works It's a ruthless business and you can be fast, you know cream of the crop one day and then the next day you're you're out On your ear. That's just the way it works in football. I think players yeah players know that as well as anybody but I just I don't think it has been as Positive as as Arteta perhaps had hoped it would be and I you know I would broaden this out a little bit and ask a question or two about the goalkeeping coach to be honest I mean after we signed Renison, I'm not gonna lie I did kind of think that but in the in the goalkeeping coach's defense I could kind of circle back to Mikkel Arteta because the goalkeeping coach can suggest people but there had to have been a delegation where you're watching this guy's games or you're watching these goalies games and Someone's had to have agreed but that that I am a bit weird with with Mikkel Arteta and goalies in the same way He always brings in the center half. I know I'm being a bit harsh without context He had to do certain things But it does make me look at that and I do you know If if David Raya is only a couple of percentages better than Ramsdale But that takes us to within the prem in terms of fine margins I'm all for that but for me I'm yet to see the David Raya that I was quite frankly wild by at Brentford really and I do think he's dealing with the Pressure because as you know, even down to the way you breathe at a club like Arsenal Football Club, everybody's got a lot to say Yeah, and I look I do think there is a question to be asked so about the goalkeeping coach He brought in really, you know, who's just nowhere near The level needed for for any Premier League club, let alone Arsenal Matt Turner really nice guy Just not good enough. But you know, this is a this is a football team set up for A goalkeeper to play with his feet and Matt Turner by his own admission Said that's not my game good shot stopper But I have a lot to learn When it comes to why did we sign a goalkeeper who was completely at odds with the way we wanted to play? Was it another stopgap sort of signing like let's just get him and deal with it again I don't know they paid six million for him. You know what I mean from an MLS team That's a little bit of a question mark for me and then the question mark again is like Raya and in Yaki, Kenya have got a relationship that goes back some way Is it a good point is the decision to bring David Raya in because in? Yaki, Kenya prefers David Raya to Aaron Ramsdale or Because David Raya is the player that Arsenal need right now. I think there's a slight question on that, you know That's a weird one because it's like how could you can't really answer it really and really and truly and it look it does kind Of look like it's I'm kind of helping my boy out really and truly I'm bringing in one of my kind of guys Obviously they're from the same kind of background so it could kind of be that I do think a bit of it Evidently is down to what you said about being comfortable with a boy at your feet I would say for me the one thing I would kind of say I would give to Raya over Ramsdale is probably I don't want To say temperament because there's many environments I think Ramsdale when it were under the caution Pete quite frankly people could hide Ramsdale was always someone that's gonna face up to The music but I do think maybe Raya's kind of calmness in certain situations to kind of stick to the script is probably why Arteta probably wants him Ramsdale does have that knack of you know, nine out of ten times He will do what Arteta wants him to do But at one time that Arteta probably wants to he doesn't I think Raya will keep doing it And I think they're a bit they're kind of they're a bit polar opposites on the spectrum It's like Raya's very calm Ramsdale's kind of radioactive when Raya kind of has to be called into action There's a bit of question marks when Ramsdale's got time to think and get into it with the fans That's when I'm quite scared of Ramsdale like for me when it's sunny at the Emirates We've got all the possession in the world and Ramsdale's not called into question That's when I'm kind of like with Ramsdale when you're playing the Liverpool's of this world Ramsdale's your man He's popping it over the bar. He's showing courage in this and to be honest I would feel a bit disheartened if I was Ramsdale like you said But you've got a new contract a lot of people didn't even want the guy at the club in the first place He's then quickly immersed himself and become one of the fan favorites signed the new deal and then you've kind of been been but I Would say I think Arsenal fans We've got to get comfortable with this because I think had Timber have been fit and told me as you've been fit We might be having the same conversations that we're having around Ramsdale potentially over Benjamin White if I'm honest with you So it's a bit of a weird one, man. I don't know about that. I don't know about that Actually, I think I think he would obviously take some of the burden off him. But but Michael Arteta loves Ben why? To be a squad player. Yeah, maybe maybe or just you know, we're better able to To rotate for certain games or use different variations at the back Like he's one is getting a new deal like that's very close to being done So that's good I Think goalkeeper is such a singular position though Like you can play right back for a few games sit on the bench for a couple of games You know, there's only one goalkeeper and regardless of what Michael Arteta said publicly you're never subbing a goalkeeper unless he's having You know the worst game of his life and no other choice. You don't sub goalkeepers. You just really don't do it No number one It doesn't mean I know there's a couple of occasions right and have used to goalies and things But anyone that understands any sort of professional football Sunday League football You knew it was a fallacy of what Michael Arteta was saying about I'll have two rotating keepers We spoke about but you know You need to have a settledness with the back five and the playing out from the back It was it was probably not gonna happen Where do you reckon Ramsdale ends up then because he's linked with a bunch of clubs, but half the clubs he's linked with bro It's like Chelsea. They've got careful. I think he's better than kept on They've got Sanchez at the point of you signing for them There's three keepers that could be the number one Nick Pope obviously is gonna be fit sooner rather than later for Newcastle You've got two kind of guys there Obviously if you stay at Arsenal It looks like Raya is the one to the point where even if Raya drops a client or you could argue Ramsdale Can't stop because it's almost like Arteta's not job is on the line, but his reputation is on the line You've kind of got to justify why you spent this money or why you brought this club this player into the club Like I don't obviously the club make a big Southern dance about being collaborative and I don't doubt that but naturally, you know Me and you and some other people if we were in charge of transfers You might champion a guy that I want might not be convinced in and we have to fight the cases and stuff So I'd imagine not everybody at the football club was if not necessarily have anything against Raya If that was the best way of looking after our resources and potentially the effect it has in on the team I'm not too sure so it's a bit. It's a bit of a difficult one. We've spoken a lot about the manager and Indirectly, what is actually your thoughts on the manager because I think he's contracted until 2025. Would you give him a new deal? Do you think the jury's still out? Where you at with the gaffer? I think he's been overwhelmingly Positive for the football club. I really do. I know this season maybe has been More difficult maybe not as enjoyable for people as last season I think the surprise factor of last season was was part of it like if I if I try and picture last season in my mind a lot of it is just like sunny days and Scoring goals and winning lots of games exactly and everyone having a good time this time The level of expectation is higher and and you know that that does have a have an impact on people's willingness to I don't know how you react to certain things. Like if you lose to West Ham at home You know, you're expected to win that game expected to win that game pretty comfortably Yeah, and when you don't it's obviously a setback in a big setback But I think overall he's been really really positive Where he has brought this club where he's brought this team like our expectations are up here because of the work he's done Yeah, we've come a long way from when he came in. Yeah, exactly. And look he hasn't been perfect No, of course not as he had some difficult moments. Yes as he comes through them To build a team that we had expectations of challenging for a title Yeah, and I think that has to be the baseline for me. Um, I Would I think give him a new deal? I think he's the right man for this club at this moment in time. I think he's He's still got work that he needs to do He's got improvements that he needs to make to his own work and also to to the team but I Just don't I I think the players are connected well to him as well and I think He has said pretty much all the right things about what he wants to do to this football go back to the last Yeah, go to his first interview and Listen to what he says and he's done it. He's done all of those things He's got rid of the wasters He's changed the culture in the dressing room as well. He's got everybody working together and You know, I'm simplifying it here But basically he was saying like we're gonna work really hard get on board or get lost Those who didn't want to work hard or weren't right for the project are gone and you know, I I think it takes a certain amount of bravery and also a certain amount of Job as well. Yeah hard-heartedness in a way or you've got to be really focused and really You've got to have a fairly clear vision about what you want to be able to do the things that he has done in such A room in a relatively short space of time. So look can he do better? Yes I hope he can are there things he could do or should do or shouldn't have done yes, every manager is like that and every manager makes mistakes, but but I think I Think he is the right man for this football club at this moment in time Um, and I think there are you know, there are a lot of football clubs out there that would love to have him Yeah, it was available tomorrow, you know varsal did something stupid like sac Michael Arteta tomorrow. You think he'd have any prop From Barcelona and he'd be their new manager or something of that. It'll really exactly exactly So, you know, this is what we're talking about here. And then you're you're like who do Arsenal bring in? Maybe Eddie how is available because he's gonna get canned by new But I'm just saying think about what what's out there and who might be out there to do the job before You jump any guns, but I I think I think he will get a new deal. I think There is a level of pressure on and now to deliver some success and some silverware Which is why I think the FA Cup defeat was so frustrating this season but For me overwhelmingly. He has been a positive influence on on the club and the team and the fans and because you know Like I said at the start, it's been a lot more enjoyable In the last few years and it has been in the in the previous years, you know under Unai Emery and Arsene Wenger, you know I think you're bang on the money there and I think with Arteta I do think our fans There's but there is obviously fans that are balanced and stuff, but I think there's too many hyper opinions I think he can do no good for some people and I do think some people like just not really honest like you Everybody makes mistakes, you know, Mikel Arteta is not is not an exception to the rule I think there's more reasons to keep the man than not I have I support Arsenal I don't support Mikel Arteta beyond him being our manager So if there was that manager out there that could now move us into being a Premier League title Contenders or proper winners and things like that and the club was showing the willingness then it's the nature of the business really But I think there's more reasons to keep him. I think he's shown quite frankly big bollocks to make some very difficult decisions I think he's a very calculated man because he was linked with the job when Emery got it and for some reason he said No, so he's that I think he's made some difficult decisions in terms of recruitment and people he's got out They haven't all worked but generally they've been all right. I think in the last 18 months the signings have been perfect I do think there's a bit of naivete about trusting in certain players not trusting in others the assembling of the squad How we in my opinion how we navigate latter stages of European trophies how we performed in the FA Cup after we've got out The big thing that for me I would say with Mikel Arteta and I think it more goes for those above him in that Obviously, he's a very young manager I don't know if he'll have a long career like Wenger and Ferguson and things like that But he's at the infant stages of him being a manager I don't want him to make any mistakes or do anything good and Arsenal haven't got anything to show for it I don't want it to be in vain I don't want him to go to what I think he will do one day the Real Madrid's the bosses What have you and say? Oh that didn't work at Arsenal. I'm gonna do it elsewhere And I guess I'm not gonna say there's not pressure at the club on him But that's kind of where I want it to see I do think I am starting to get a bit more harsher on Mikel Arteta like the players purely because as you Articulate since the man came in we've done fantastic like he's rebuilt the club that kind It's not that I can ever forget it But now if we're moving into title contenders and silverware, I can't keep relaying on that I need to be a bit harsher within reason and that's kind of where I want to see it That's kind of where I think for argument's sake, you know, I think have arts are settled I hope he goes on and becomes amazing and we could have brought in someone completely different and it didn't work But then I wonder that's 65 million. Could you have sorted out our midfield to another level? Could we have had a more like-for-like replacement to push after and maybe Martin any would do a lot better I don't really have a clue really my last question for you before I let you get out of it Then man, how you feeling about Crystal Palace? I mean after the last few weeks, you know, it's ridiculous to say Confident but I think it's one of those games where You know after the break come back. You're at home early kickoff Against the team, you know, we've got some very talented players And who can definitely cause you problems, but I think if you were picking Not the ideal side like you prefer to play Sheffield United maybe and you could just you know, make another five mil Yeah, we've already done that so we can't I I feel like it is a decent Decent fixture to get back to I think we're capable of beating palace. I think we've got to find our shooting boots. Amen But I'm feeling pretty confident about it because I do feel like what's happened over the last few weeks has been Not unlucky that's what's wrong because you're the master of your own destiny when you've got the ball in front of goal You don't put it in the back of the net right that that's what it boils down to But I think we are capable of better. I think this weekend. We'll say we've been terrible. Yeah Unluckiness, I agree. I think we'll see some of these players find their range again and I'm gonna go with maybe you know, two two or three one win for Arsenal because I do think a Vulnerability that will we might concede a goal But I think we will find our shooting boots this weekend against palace and I think we'll get back to winning ways I think I'm like you man I think we've got no no choice but to kind of be positive at the end of the day What's done is done the good the bad the ugly what we do beyond this point. We just have to learn from it You know, I hope my players and again kind of in line what we're talking about about moving into being title contenders It's now time to control those fine margins and be a bit more street smart It's not necessarily good enough to have all them touches in the box all that possession all them shots You need to put the ball in the back and then I feel when we have lost this season with the exception of full and we've Been the better team but I would trade places with David boys with Eddie Allen and whatever have you because they've got points on the Board and we all know city is starting to rule that man. Kevin De Bruyne is back I think the one luxury is we're in and around everybody still not that I look at the league table and I share your thoughts But maybe I'm a bit more optimistic because I've just simply put mr Boys, like I've been watching a lot of Premier League football and we hate being in action So I'm gonna you know, I'm gonna go for three nil man. I'm gonna talk a clean sheet into existence I'm gonna go with Sacra Martinelli getting on the scoresheet. You know what the whole front three hazy SACO Martinelli Let's hope they bagged I'm a bit concerned about what we're gonna do at left back because you know reports coming out today still touching goals in Chenko Hopefully that's a bit of game playing. I'm not necessarily being convinced with Kirill Necessarily, even though I do like him, so I'm gonna go with three nil But I'm sure Crystal Palace are gonna spoil the day man But Andrew this has been a fantastic stream man in this just under an hour. We've spoken about everything I can't imagine anyone doesn't know about your platform, but we'll let them know where they can find you Just arse blog.com Everything operates off that the podcast the new site all the rest of it so if people want to check it out, they can do that and Thanks for having me man. Always a pleasure. No, it's appreciative man. It's been far. It's been far too long Make sure you send me the link to your articles. I can put into the description as well. We'll do And hopefully the next time we speak Well, we're Premier League champions or in a bad to better sentiment man. Oh, we've got a striker Champions League as well. Why not? But I mean secretly off air that's the one I really want I really want us to win the chance But you know, they say you go you go around you go walk before you can run man So let's see what you're saying there man But yeah people make sure you're taking an arse blog make sure you're checking in all the socials and listening to the opinions that Andrew and all the people that are on his platform say Let us know your thoughts hit the like button subscribe to the platform and on that note Andrew take care yourself Happy New Year to you and your loved ones. Once again, we're out folks. Peace