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That Peter Crouch Podcast

4 May 2026 · 8m · 2 chapters

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CLASSIC CLIPS | with Ramsdale On The SECRET Goalkeeper Tactics At Arsenal & The Most PARCHED For Arteta?

In short

Ramsdale discusses Arsenal goalkeeper tactics and “secret” goalkeeper involvement by Mikel Arteta, then jokes about free-kick “draft excluder” positioning (a designated defender in the wall) and whether they should face the ball.

Guest backgrounds

The guest is Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal goalkeeper). The host references “Crouchy” (Peter Crouch) and mentions Martin Odegaard, Bernd Leno, and Cedric Suarez as Arsenal-related figures.

Key claims

Arteta is heavily involved with Ramsdale during build-up, giving a format but encouraging independent decisions; Ramsdale says he’s not “parched” despite jokes about players being thirsty. Ramsdale explains draft excluder value: if the wall jumps well, the excluder blocks the keeper’s view/angles and helps manage gaps; facing the ball can aid seeing ball placement and offside control.

Notable examples

Odegaard speaking Spanish/English post-match; James Ward-Prowse free-kick scenario with tall wall jump; hypothetical “full frontal” draft excluder at West Ham with Creswell.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes.

Chapters

0:45

Manager Involvement with Goalkeepers

Discussion on the evolving role of goalkeepers and manager interactions at Arsenal.

“not necessarily favoritism but you get the big coat do you know what I mean by that?”
2:41

The Concept of a Draft Excluder

The importance and nuances of utilizing a draft excluder in football tactics.

“Back in the day, you never had the foam.”
A man walking through an airport, asking his phone a question

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Transcript

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0:00Right, so the impression I've always got from Crouchy with the manager's relationship with goalkeepers is that the manager was always, maybe it's just how you saw it or maybe I've misunderstood it, quite possible. But the manager was more bothered with the outfield players and the goalies were kind of more into themselves. And the impression I'm getting from you is that the manager's quite involved with you. So this is where I know when we and Crouchy earlier were having a bit of banter about goalies being more important, but that is the way it's going now. like when we're doing build up phase the manager's basically speaking to me he tells people where to go he gives me a format of how to play but then puts his arm around me and says you're playing the game you make your own decisions he was heavily involved in bringing me to the club so I almost not necessarily favoritism but you get the big coat do you know what I mean by that?

0:53he gives me the added sense of are you parched? no absolutely not Who's parched?

1:01It sounds like you might be parched at Arsenal. No, no, no. He's put a lot of time and effort. Leno would think you're parched, I reckon. 100 % think. He's there. That's right. He's texting everyone else, isn't he? He's texting his pals. Oh, God. They've signed parched. Martin Odegaard's parched. Martin Odegaard. Martin Odegaard. Sweet boy. Odegaard's parched. I can see that. He looks parched. I knew he was parched. Martin, to be fair, he was playing for Real Madrid when he was 12 or something. He's been around. Is he already talking tactics with the manager at his tender age? I don't know what they're saying because they're speaking in Spanish.

1:38But, you know, like the day after a game, if we're in the gym for recovery, he'll speak to most people in English. Maybe one or two of the lads who English ain't great. But Martin's English is perfect and he's speaking Spanish. Yeah, but he's speaking Spanish. That's parched. El parched. El parched. And I'll tell you who's another parched. Cedric Suarez. he thinks he's a oh I'm putting people on smash here don't mind it he is a future he thinks he's a future pep really oh really yeah oh he needs to write it right brilliant really yeah is he doing the hands the oh Cedric gives all sorts so he's a future manager in the making yeah Cedric but then Martin's just the El Parchio El Parchio what a revelation there was some more of your languages coming out then wasn't it I'm glad he loves the languages I'm good at them very good Spanish for parched is El Parcho El Parcho I want to get into the draft excluder this is your favourite isn't it this is my absolute favourite I've been gagging to talk about this this is also for me as well like it's not something that I had when I was playing like so I'd be a hell of a fucking good draft excluder but you'd be it but they don't they don't often use a striker as a draft excluder but you would have you'd have to do it you'd have to do it attributes that I have.

2:53You'd be so good. So... Back in the day, you never had the foam. You did towards the end of your career, no? What? Foam on the floor. No, no foam. Yeah, towards the end. But then back in the day, you all would be seven yards. Yeah. Because you just creep. So you never needed really... And that's how... So now you do... With the ten yards... You have to... Really? Is that important for you? A free kick? You would say to Artes, you'd say, I need a draft excluder. And are you doing it because you think you need it? or are you doing it because you just want to see one of your players act like a little bitch?

3:25No, it's just need to need to depend on who we're playing. Do you think it's important? So many questions. Do you think it's important? If you play James Ward-Prowse if you've got someone underneath the wall and you've got and you've got a six foot three six foot four a six foot three and a six foot three in the wall and they jump all at the same time when the ball is at going over the wall it gives him hardly any chance. he's so good where he can still do it and I depending on who we play I have one do you request like do you so do you so free kick right do they look at you to make the call whether you want to draft it's good and then do you point at the player and go you no he knows before the game so designated draft excluder the draft excluder knows the Arteta will pick you're excluding I'll set peace coach I'll pick do you get a say no I could do if he starts putting Gabrielle as a draft excluder and I've got Cedric and Martin defending James Tarkowski in the box yeah do you think draft excluders because I think what makes it quite funny is they face away from the ball they have to so they're lying yeah but don't you think it's more manly to face the ball not allowed as the draft excluder not allowed if it hits your hand or hands you won't get a VA but how manly would it be if you faced front on and put the arms behind your back that's a Terry Butcher So that is the key, Zah.

4:51That is the good. Do that. You are a fella. You are a man. Now in the Euros. So before the Euros, referees came in and whatnot and spoke to the team. And we asked a question and they said, it's better if you turn the wrong way. You asked if the draft excluder can face the ball. It's going to win you a tournament or not. Yeah, but why? But there's not many benefits other than just looking fucking hard. No. You would take a ball in the face. or the bollocks you need to switch on now you can say about the wall why doesn't the wall face the other way you need to switch on because if something happens and he's facing the ball he can see most of where the ball lands so he could be facing the other way and be keeping people offside and stuff can you tell me is there a rule against say some goggles being brought on like like a mask you're so childish like yeah you're so childish but just entertain it for a minute shall we do it Martin Odegaard he's my job Are you facing forward?

5:50Alpaccio. Alpaccio. Alpaccio. Alpaccio is my draft. Scaludio. Yeah, but when he goes to lie down, go, no, turn around. Shall we try? I'll try. Face it. Have I got this weekend? No. Face it. So if we see Arsenal and Odegaard's draft excluding full frontal. Full frontal? Whichever brought a cup on. We know. A cricketer's cup and an helmet. Yeah, that's what I think is when someone runs on. Odegaard's going full frontal who have you got the weekend? West Ham West Ham full frontal who takes the worst down? yeah Creswell Creswell so we will need a jumper because he's a decent left foot see if you can bring in Odegaard full frontal on the weekend Alaska can you imagine the first full frontal draft excluder is El Parchio is El Parchio Twitter will explode

6:44full frontal you're so invested in this draft excluder I love it I'll tell you what I've got a question sorry I think it's just to explain I think the draft excluder is new and I think that's why it's fascinating it's been interesting seeing what Crouchy thinks of it because it and why it's there and sometimes I feel it's just people going through the motions it's a bit like sniffing the court with a wine or something it's not totally necessary it's like something it's interesting hearing obviously a modern day goalkeeper explain it to me and the way you've explained it there is like if the wall's jumping, the draft excuse is underneath, it's almost cancelling out that whole corner to some degree where you're in the other corner.

7:24If a wall jumps properly and there's no gaps, and that allows me to stay where I am as long as possible. And it also depends for me on angles. So if it's more on the angle of the ball, more outside the angle of the goal, you don't necessarily need one. If it's a right footer, you're going to see it's going to come in to out. But you make the call. I make the call. buying furniture for your business can be full of compromises confusing choices and little support national business furniture is here to change all of that we believe that every business deserves furniture that lasts service that cares and a partner who gets it at a budget that works at national business furniture that's our commitment to you find the right furniture for you and your team at National Business Furniture.

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From the publisher

FROM THE VAULT: In this clip, former Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale joined the lads to break down the evolving role of the modern goalkeeper and how the position has become more influential than ever. Ramsdale lifted the lid on his relationship with manager Mikel Arteta, explaining how he’s given responsibility to dictate play and make key decisions during build-up phases.


The conversation dives into the tactical details behind set pieces, including the increasingly popular “draft excluder” role, with Ramsdale offering a goalkeeper’s perspective on why it’s used, when it matters, and how it can impact the outcome of free kicks.


He also shares insight into communication within the squad, the intelligence of teammates like Martin Ødegaard, and the growing importance of goalkeepers in shaping a team’s overall strategy.


But most importantly… who was the most parched?


If you like this clip, you can catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/b9ftLa8_nDU?si=ieykWFS-X11g78Sp


Chumbawamba


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