Inside Arsenal’s Title Celebrations, UCL Final & Set Piece Secrets | The Overlap Champions Special

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2:57Ian Wright: Thank you guys. See, I remembered.

3:09They are my inspiration and at the same time, they are the ones that have my back. This fan base has been through ups and downs over the years, the banter years, all those different things. We were always behind you. Yeah, come on.

3:24Ian Wright: They're pulling us back. I always find a hope, optimism and faith in my situation. I get emotional just listening to you, just talking so calmly. Our saying at this club is victory through harmony. And, you know, for whatever reason, we finally have achieved that harmony all across the club. I get winning goal energy off of you at the moment. I can feel the story now. You've been injured, you just come back at the end there and then bam, winning goal. Yeah, hopefully. You heard it here first. We're winning off the field, we're winning on the field, we're winning with the supporters, winning with our community.

3:53It's a really good time to be there. and it feels like it's just the start. There you go, you see. Arsenal fans, we knew it all along, didn't we?

4:05Go on, guys, do your stuff. Right. Right. Mikel, what a few days you've had. Just talk to us about it and sort of your immediate feelings. Well, it's been much better than I could never imagine, to be fair. It's been so emotional, so natural, and to see that much joy, happiness, and pride around the club. It's just amazing. Michael, when you look at this, I always think of it over the last few years, the question was, you were getting so close, could you get over the line? I know you're never going to get carried away, you're still young in your journey, but when I look at you now, I think of you as those great managers who've won the Premier League titles.

4:40Does that give you a different level of confidence and belief straight away that you're sat up there with some of the real greats who've won Premier League trophies? The truth is a lot of joy and relief, Gary, because when you are able to take the club and make the right steps and take it really close is great, but it's not what we're looking for. And I know that at this club, that's not enough. So to actually do it, it's amazing. It gives a lot of value to a lot of people that has contributed to achieve that. And personally, to be a part of delivering something that means so much after 22 years is just incredible.

5:18Do you know what I like about it most, Mikel, is that maybe seven or eight, nine years ago, they said managers don't get time anymore. There's this thing that managers don't get time. But Jurgen Klopp had time. Pep Guardiola's obviously had time at Man City. You've had time. So the three most successful clubs in the last 10, 12 years have given their managers time. How grateful are you to the owners, to the sporting directors, for the way in which they believed in the whole thing all the way through? I think it's necessary, but you have to earn it. I mean, when you talk about Jurgen and Perth, they end their time.

5:51I want to believe that I earned my time as well. Because when I came here the first day, unfortunately, it wasn't the Liverpool setup. It wasn't the Manchester City setup that they had already won a lot. They already won the previous years. This was a completely different animal. And we knew that. And I'm very lucky because we have an ownership that has so much experience in sports. And they understood that the picture is ugly at the moment. It's a lot that we're going to have to do. and everybody is on board with that. I'm very grateful for that.

6:23Ian Wright: What's been the hardest part in all the time you've been here, Mikhail? What's been the hardest part of the rebuild? I don't know how the hardest thing is... The best part of it was changing the culture. Right. But to actually... Is that with the fans and everything? That's the culture inside the organisation. To actually understand what was happening inside the organisation, how the people were feeling about working in the organisation. Right. And I did a very profound exercise to try to understand that. It's actually to understand deeply how people feel about working in the organization. And I wasn't happy and I wasn't impressed at all about the way they describe it.

6:59So I put my hands on that. And I needed a lot of support to change that. But I think that was the foundation that after we used to build that.

7:08Ian Wright: That's like a lot of extra work, what you surely weren't expecting to have to do. Yeah, I was expecting something, but not as deep as profound. And then you need time because you want to... This wasn't about changing the identity of a team to play in a certain way or improve certain tactics. It was much deeper than that. But I love the challenge as well. I mean, it was an incredible opportunity when things are not in the place that this club deserves. To help and to get certain direction and put them right is the most fulfilling part. And then the reconnection with the fans and even the North London Flora, the song and everything, the noise that stopped with our owners and that.

7:45Ian Wright: What about the reconnection with the fans and that song, how it came about? How important was that to you in respect to making sure the fans got back on board with everything? Because all the noise stopped. Well, the first step was to change the culture inside the organisation and we started to make some big steps towards that. But then COVID hit for 18 months and we could not be close to our supporters. And I knew how important that was because it was a clear disconnection between the club, the team, the identity of the club and what they were thinking that the club or the team should be doing.

8:16And the moment we started to be closer to them, that's when things started to click. I believe that music is a great way to connect diversity and different ways of thinking and to create moments. And we used that song as a part to do that.

8:30Ian Wright: You see, with the song, so when you heard the song the first time, was that it? You said, that's it? For a few years, I looked around the world. He said, because it couldn't be something that I could bring. It had to be something that everybody felt part of and contributed to. So that's why we did it. Just test it. I presented it to the players. I presented it to the staff. We brought Louis here to the training room to see how he was feeling, to tell the story about the song and what it means to him. And slowly and gradually, but this is the beauty as well as social media, that in 24 hours he can go wild.

9:05It was everywhere. Wild and he was everywhere and he got a great reception. It's an amazing song.

9:16In your job, I always think the characters of a manager that wins, they're obsessive, which we know you are. They've got something inside them, but they won't stop until they get what they want and they know they have to be harsh at times. You've had to be harsh at times, haven't you, along the way? It is harsh. I mean, to be fair, in our job it's very difficult. What is fair? first for you means that fair for right is not fair but at least to stick to your principles I think you explain things and you agree as a team that there are certain behaviours that we expect and we want to promote if somebody doesn't do it I mean it cannot continue to be part of that I think that's clear obviously we can put the best beautiful words here around the walls but they mean nothing The moment where I thought that Arsenal would win the league and you're never sure was the moment that you went and spent over£100 million on Declan Rice.

10:07It just felt to me like in that moment, I know you'll never say it's down to one player, but it just felt to me at that point, Arsenal have gone and won a player who looks like someone who's going to get you over the line. Get you over the line. Do you feel like, can you, did you feel like it was a moment, a big moment? It was a big moment. And I think we can send, we are constantly sending messages whether we want or not to the people in the organisation, to the supporters, to our opponents. And that was a strong message. I mean, we are here to go another level and we want another level financially, with the ambition of the player that we recruited, with the profile of the player that we recruited.

10:42And I think a big club has to make that kind of a statement.

10:45Ian Wright: And when you went to the owners with that, they were like, that's what you want, bam, we'll give it to you, no problem. Well, they were very supportive. I think you have to explain things and the reason we believe that they could elevate the team to a different level. But then we're talking about the amount of money. All of a sudden, we've gone to that next level of spending. I didn't know it was going to cost 70. I thought it was going to cost less. If you ask David Moyes, he always tells me, you got him cheap. You got him cheap. I don't get involved in that. I leave all the financial part for the other guys.

11:17Ian Wright: And they still stop. Yeah, but then if you're going in at 70, then it ended up, what, 105? That's amazing support you got there. Yeah. And you need that. and without that, at the end, this belongs to the players and the quality of the players that you need to compete in this league. We all know what we need. You know, boss, I tried to ask you the question on Sunday, but obviously there's too much going on, but the coaching staff with your guys and how much they've done, you know, obviously Gabby coming in and Miguel and Jova and all of the guys. Just give us a little insight into them guys, please, because they've been magnificent.

11:53They are my inspiration. and at the same time, they are the ones that have my back. So I said a coaching staff has to have always four elements. I think one, you need to be able to leave your skin open for the team. The second one, they have to be the speakers of the football club. I mean, we have one idea and they have to promote that idea in every sense. I think they have to be firefighters. So the less issues they come in my office, the better. and if they can prevent that, that's great. And then they have the capacity to eliminate and inspire me with ideas, with challenges, with other opinions.

12:35And that's what we have created. A very diverse coaching staff, very specific in qualities, completely different backgrounds, but all aligned in one purpose. And I cannot be prouder because they deserve a lot of credit for what we've done. Mikel just looking back when you've been on this journey for five years you've been questioned all along the way and I've questioned at times I'm trying to think of two big moments I'm trying to think of the Raya Ramsdale moment yes that six months was a little bit uncomfortable in press conferences for you I was there we were part of it and you're thinking what's Mikel doing here he's got two goalkeepers how can you have two number ones how do you reflect upon that and obviously your goalkeeper is sensational he's been the best well it's proven to be right But how do you reflect upon that moment?

13:21But that's a great example of what a manager needs. I was very convinced that we had to make a change, but not because Aaron didn't have the quality, because I believe to go to the next level we need a different profile of goalkeeper. And it was very difficult to explain, very difficult to explain upstairs, externally. It could maybe not make sense. And that's why you need then as a sporting director, in this case it was Edu, to say Mikel, are you 100 % sure? And I went through him, and again, again, again. But you know we're going to have an issue. He said, I know. Mikel, you're going to expose yourself.

13:55I know. You really want to do this? Yes, please do. And they were really convinced as well, the board, because they need to be convinced, because I understand. You know, Mikel says this, okay, let's do it. It doesn't work like this. And then it has to work, and then Iñaki played a pivotal role because he knew it from Brent for many years. And what I was sure is, I don't know if it's going to work or not, but David is going to present himself and dedicate to the cause and he's going to be an incredible ambassador for the club. That was true. And then the other moment is what you make... One sec, look, he's coming in.

14:28Ian Wright: How are you? Nice to see you, okay. Champ, how are you, sir? Hey, boss. Boss, champ, how are you doing? Figured I'd come sit down for a few moments. On behalf of our entire club, we have a little present. Oh, I believe. Oh, brilliant. What is it? Am I going to like this, Josh? I think you'll love it, Gary. Do you want me to open it on camera? I think you might have to. Absolutely. Sit across this table with you guys for three years now. Oh, there's two in there. No, that's for a ride. That's for me. Thank you. What's this? He's got enough Arsenal shirts. He wears one every single week. Oh, look at this.

15:03Ian Wright: Ian, you're the agent. Thanks for the best support. Good girl.

15:09There you go, you see. Arsenal fans, we knew it all along, didn't we?

15:16Gary was here a few weeks ago and we spent some time together we had a copy and we had a very good football discussion so I gave him that shirt and I said when we win it please you have to put it on so

15:30Ian Wright: did you say you wouldn't put it on or you just no he didn't say yes that was my suggestion that's enough thank you so much that will get framed it will go in the it will go in my house that thank you you deserve it Josh I was just talking to michael thank you so much we had to josh oh we were saying before as an owner you get put under pressure all the time to make decisions by the media by the fans but this has been a six-year project what at the very beginning when you met michael was it that you saw that you thought no this is right this is the person that we need to really back and he'll get us back to the very top um yeah the club was in a going through an interesting phase uh when Mikel well I guess first of all I met Mikel when he was a player here and so I had a sense kind of who the individual was my father and I knew a lot about the person behind the player um we knew he had very high goals uh after his playing career was over and he immediately jumped on that to go to to city and join Pep's um staff uh so I knew there was a bit of a football maniac um out there somewhere and But in the summer of 2019, after we went to Baku, Azerbaijan, for the Europa League final, that was when it kind of settled in me.

16:46And I remember talking to my father saying, you know, we had to probably, I don't want to say it, but maybe take a step back to eventually go forward. And so when we arrived that December, and it's kind of a transition period, we could really see that the club, you know, it was in a place where we needed to really reinvent the culture. And so when I sat with Mikel, you know, he had all of his football tactics. And what I really remember, the conversation that I really recall was one about culture. And so, you know, to see where we are today, I think that, you know, it's one to feel this amazing emotions and outpouring of support from all of our fans around the world for winning the trophy.

17:25But when I come out here to Colney and I see and I feel the people that are here, I think it's a testament to what Mikel and his staff have been able to do for the last six years, not only on the pitch, but off the pitch here as well. When Mikel comes to you and he says that the culture's not right in the organization, as an owner, you take that personally. I would know that if I'm a say. Absolutely. At that point, what were your feelings when he questioned the culture and the fact that it just wasn't right, the feeling wasn't right in the club? Well, I think that if you're going to make sound decisions, you have to take the emotion out of it at times.

17:55And so for me, I had already kind of come to the own conclusion, whether that was one of self-reflection or one of the direction we needed to go. it was whether no matter whose fault it is this is the the actual situation this is the reality of where we are how are we going to correct it going forward okay i think we've got to let the

18:12Ian Wright: boss go the boss has to go train or do something yeah all the best thank you thank you sorry thank you guys no no you're fine he has a job to do where was he there sorry sorry did you didn't interrupt no i think you just but you're talking about culture and obviously culture Sure, absolutely. You're someone who's won in most of your organisations. The Rams, the Avalanche, the Nuggets, the Women's Champions League, now the Premier League. But the feeling was here, the suggestion towards your family was, as long as Arsenal get Champions League and they're bringing the money in, they're OK. What do you say to that?

18:47I mean, because that's been levelled at you now for a number of years. Obviously, it's changed right now because you've won. Yeah, there's different phases of our involvement in the club. And I would say a lot of the conversation that you're referencing was in a, It was a prolonged transition phase to 100 % ownership of our family. And so, you know, I'm not going to dwell too much before that. But in 2018, that was when we really got a chance to get our hands in and start to get to work. And that corresponded with a massive amount of transition at the club where you were moving on from an absolute legendary person and manager from Arsene, moving to a different phase of operation, even with a sporting director.

19:22We were trying to implement what we refer to as a North American model. um and that's we're more of a head coach what we refer to in the united states as a general manager or sporting director um where our whereas underneath the structure of our son everything kind of funneled up to him in a different way yeah um and the the the business and the club had just gotten so massive over the years that you had to do a little bit of restructuring around those types of roles because the role had gotten to be way too big and other clubs through different transition phases whether it's a change of manager ownership or, you know, other things, they had kind of adopted different models along the way.

19:59And I think underneath our sin, that made a lot of sense. But going forward, we had to really kind of think about the structure off the pitch. And so 2019, we had a disappointment in Baku. And that was, you know, we had been a couple of years out of the Champions League at that point. And, Rydy, you might be able to recall, we were almost kind of straddling a dual strategy where we were bringing in a couple of young players. We had kind of brought in Gabby Martinelli. Bukayo was starting to break through. But we were also trying to straddle bringing in some experience at the time to try to make a push for that Champions League game.

20:32And after the loss in Baku, that was when I got back home to the United States and I told my dad that we really needed to potentially take a step back to come forward. And so we started to recruit a little younger that summer. I think that was the summer we signed William Saliba, loaned him back to his club in France. we brought in uh nicholas pepe you know um who was age he's around the age of 24 at the time and so we started to focus on a little bit of strategy like that um but once michael got on board and we started to really reinvent the culture that was when um you know we really got into the the the youth movement and that side of things you know i was going to ask you just quickly just because

21:10Ian Wright: on the manager because you've got a history of of backing young managers and staying with where's that come from? Why did you do that? I'm not saying it's a bad thing. No, I think that, you know, in different ways, we have different strategies with our different sports organizations. I assume you're talking about Sean McVay at the Rams, and that was an easy comparison for us. Sean had been in our group out in LA for a few years, and we had seen what he had done culturally to try to reinvent that group. And so, you know, I think that gave us some confidence in that moment to really go after a guy like Mikel, but we also knew that this was going to be a multi-year process.

21:48And so if you bring somebody in, and that's not to say that our goal wasn't to win right away, but winning at the highest level to me is very much a process. And sometimes you have to experience a little bit of failure to get there. And so I said it on Sunday, but I'll say it again, I think that the second place finishes and the runner-up finishes the last couple of years really shaped and framed this group to achieve something special this year. Josh, the moment where I thought, this is serious, and I have predicted that Arsenal would win the league in the last few years, it's not come true until this season, was when you signed Declan Rice.

22:21How does that arrive at your door? So basically, I don't know if it's the CEO, whether it's Mikel, whether it's the sporting director, say we need to invest over£100 million in a player. And Arsenal have never gone there before to that level. That was a gigantic moment for everyone, for sure. I remember when Declan's name started to come up, and I knew one of the player, but of probably the values associated with him just from reading in the media. And it's not to say it wasn't part of our plan, but it was probably a little, those price tags were a little ahead of where I thought we would be and what we could afford financially.

22:56And so from Mikkel to Edu at the time, Tim Lewis, Rich Garlick, when those decisions are that big, you have to all come together. and so I think for my one questions around a player like Deck is you can see if you pay attention to sport you know who Declan was but if you're going to pay that kind of price tag it can't just be for a talent on the pitch, you need to be getting a plug and play player and you need to be able to have a leadership ability off it I think and I think the first 10 seconds you talk to Declan I think you get a pretty good sense of who he is on and off

23:33Ian Wright: the field. It must feel great Josh you know to that much outlay to see a player come in and actually do exactly you know it must be amazing yeah absolutely hey richie what's up ricardo how are you ricardo it must be great yeah yeah yeah no and i think that you know and declan was going through at the time i think he had several offers from really big clubs um but i think one of the things that i remember from that moment was declan wanted to go to a place like where where we were to have a chance to achieve something that hadn't been done in a while. I think that says a lot about Declan, the person.

24:05Ian Wright: Exactly. Especially there's a lot of people who wanted him as well. Yeah. Other people wanted him and he came to us. Yeah.

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26:04Josh, talk to me about your team. Obviously, you're an owner, but you have a group of people who run the club. Richard's obviously CEO, sporting director, you've got a manager. What is your interaction with them like in terms of that spine that runs through the club? It depends on what's happening at the frequency and timing of year. You know, over the years, our structure has evolved from the board on down. But I'm really proud of the group, especially the group this year, because, you know, our saying at this club is victory through harmony. And, you know, for whatever reason, we finally have achieved that harmony all across the club.

26:35And it's been great because you can see and you can feel it when you come in the building. There is a feeling among Starstool fans, I remember two or three years ago, because obviously your family's name was getting dragged into the previous stuff, wasn't it? And that must be really tough. I can't imagine what it would be like. but there's a feeling that since you emerged as being sort of what would be the front man for the project that I think the fans are really on board with you and it's definitely done an about turn do you I mean how important was that to you just from a personal perspective from a personal perspective I mean I well I mean I was I was torn on the way that we wound up you know understanding that we won the league I was here for the Burnley match got up at 8 a.m.

27:14to fly back to the United States and so when I landed I think that they had Bournemouth had just scored They went up 1-0. And I'm trying to get home as fast as I can to watch it on TV. And so aside from being here with the group that, you know, put their blood and sweat and all their energy behind this, there was a little bit of being by myself with a loved one, with my fiance, and understanding that, I mean, it was just an outpouring of emotion. And to reference and answer your question, there were moments where, you know, it was rough. and you talk about the cultural change but when I'm in the United States and I'm getting on a plane by myself to come halfway around the world and you know everyone's against you, it's not a great feeling.

28:00And so you really have to know who you can trust in those moments and I'm really proud of the entire group. I think I'm proud for a lot of different reasons but for the people involved and what they've seen, the journey that they've been on has been great. Last question to you, Jan, we'll bring Richard in. What do you say to the fans? What's your message to fans now, obviously, with that Premier League trophy sitting on your shoulder? Thank you and you deserve it. This fan base has been through ups and downs over the years. The banter years, all those different things. Everything, everything, everything.

28:32We were always behind you. Yeah, come on. Come on. They're pulling us back. That's part of the fun of sport. Absolutely. We compete and we want to knock each other's heads in while we're out there. but as life goes on and you understand the person behind the competitor that you're facing, it's part of the fun. Nice. And that's what makes it really all worthwhile is to have a little fun with each other. Absolutely. Yeah, compete and have fun. You do have a lot of fun. I think, to be fair, what I would say is that this is a game changer in terms of how the club gets perceived. Because once you win a title, I was just saying to Mikel before, you're in that sort of group and that family of Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp.

29:12You know, for Mikel it's huge, but also for you now as an ownership and as an executive, you know how big this is. But Richard, I'm going to say this in a nice way, you're surrounded by huge egos, let's be clear. You know, football managers, football players, sporting directors, owners that have demands because they want success, and you've got to try and knit and glue all that together. How difficult or how enjoyable, challenging is that? it's it's challenging in that as you said it's different everybody's competing slightly differently everybody's got a different view on things but the thing we've all had the focus on the same thing to keep the eyes on the prize we've always gone back to what it is that we're here for what is it we're doing we might have had some bumps in the road we've got a clear strategy of wanting to win major trophies trophies not just one trophy major trophies to support that we need to win with our supporters and I'm sure the connection that we've now got with the supporters over these last few years has been incredible.

30:09We've seen it in the last couple of days. But also, and we financially, we want to make sure that we grow our revenues, that we can invest everything back into the team, into the training ground, into the facilities, into everything we do around the community as well. And I think you're seeing that, you said that winning the title, that's going to unlock a lot of that, that supporters, the trust that they've put in us, and also the journey that they've been on. And also, as I say, off the field, with everything that we're doing. We're winning off the field, we're winning on the field, we're winning with the supporters, we're winning with our community.

30:41It's a really good time to be there and it feels like it's just the start as well. But it's tough keeping... And I think I work with such a good group of people as well. We all get on, we all meet regularly, as Josh said, and we all want the same thing and we've wanted that for a long time. My last game of the season, because Arsenal had already won the league, Peter Drew and Alan Smith did the commentary on the game, but I was at Tottenham and on my way home I get a bike, you know the taxi bikes on the way home from Tottenham.

31:08Ian Wright: You're driving through Tottenham? Honestly? Yeah. Is that driving through Tottenham? This is literally about half a mile from Tottenham's ground and this is for about four miles and I was like, get me out of here. You know what, honestly, there were Arsenal fans, get me out of here. I mean, that's what you've created on Sunday evening. I've never seen it. It was unbelievable what you've created. Gary, just quickly, that's around the world right now. You've seen Kenya. Oh, man. You've seen these places. This is the thing with... I was in Selfridges on Saturday. Arsenal shirts everywhere. What are you lot doing in there?

31:42Ian Wright: This is the thing. This is the reason, right, Rich, where, you know, people were so against us winning because they know what's coming. Our fan base is being brought together now properly and they're seeing the enormity of the club right now in what our fans are doing, you know, and how we're responding to this because of what we've been through. And that's why I say, when you came on Baldrige, did you realise the enormity of our club, really? Obviously, I'd worked in football before at West Brom Jarby for eight years. A different way of winning there in terms of what it meant, not winning championships.

32:11It was about not losing, it was about staying in the league, then moving to the Premier League and working there for three years. I always knew Arsenal was a classy club. All my interactions with them were always great, whether that was as an executive at another football club. Actually, I remember West Brom beat Arsenal 3-2 in one of my first games and we got back to the table and they'd bought a glass of champagne for everyone. nice touch like that and you thought really classy club and everybody that I knew told me what a great club it was going into speaking to people like Dick Law or David Miles or people like that that have been at the club a long time you know they just told you everything about the club and it's everything I expected it's just we've managed to unlock that potential we've woken the giant we've poked the beast whatever you want to call it but you saw that Gary in terms of the amount of fans that are now interacting and it's just unbelievable I was going to ask as well

33:00Ian Wright: just quickly go back to the stadium and what's going on with the stadium, what's the ambition for the stadium? Because you see how many fans we've got everywhere. Half a mile from Tottenham, there's still thousands and thousands who want to be at our place. Yeah, we were... He is not the right man. You need to put the mask out of it. The mask out of it every week. I'll bring him on the steering wheel. Yeah, steering wheel. I'll get an impartial view. Is there an ambition for the club in the future, guys? There's always ambition about growing the club in every which way we can. Facilities, whether it's at the stadium, training ground, whether it's supporters around the world, whatever it is, we've got plans.

33:35We've been looking at these for a while now and looking at the options. It's 20 years since we've moved to the Emirates. It feels like a good time to assess what we can do and how we might go about things.

33:45Ian Wright: You know, the reason I asked the stadium, because I can't lie, Tottenham Stadium is amazing. And we are, we have to have a better stadium. The stadium is amazing. Josh, that's going to cost you another billion. we nearly made that in a year we might be able to do it next year you know it is and it's a beautiful stadium we are we have SoFi Stadium and other facilities in the United States and so we're going to be working on best practices to try to bring over here and really give the Arsenal supporters something special beautiful Josh it's never easy there was a moment where Vinay left and Vinay was seen as being really important at Arsenal maybe he was and then Edu left Just talk to us about that sort of change.

34:29Obviously, Richard's come in. You've also got a new sporting director. But there have been little things along the way. Yeah, there's been. And there's lots of people that are part of this victory that aren't here. You know, you mentioned Edou. You mentioned Vinay. There's many other people that have been part of this journey. I mean, for me personally, there's one name that I want to mention, and that's Sir Chips Keswick, which was our previous chairman. And he was a mentor of mine. And, you know, God rest his soul now. But, you know, I wish he was here to see this day. because during some of those transition phases I mentioned earlier, chips was a big part of my knowledge base and thinking about how to run the club.

35:07But there's just so many people to name, but I hope that they know that they're part of this as well. Absolutely. You've got the most incredible week ahead going to the Champions League final in Budapest, and that would be a talk about game changer, winning the Premier League title for Arsenal to win the Champions League on Saturday would be, I mean, be breathtaking and beyond, I suppose, your wildest dreams. but is this a point now where you get to next Monday and whatever happens... Hey, how are you? How are you? How are you, Richard? How are you, Charm? I'm very good. Very happy. Can I sit with you?

35:40Yes, sure. You can enjoy my shirt. Is this a point now to consolidate and just keep the family up or is it a point to go again and sort of invest again and just, you know, what's your feeling right now? Yeah, I think if you're not evolving, then people are going to catch you much quicker than you think. And there's already teams that are strengthening behind us right now. So we need to be evolving and strengthening as well if we're going to stay at the top. Because we have a gigantic target on our back now if we didn't already have one. And I think our staff and our players know it for sure. Yeah, we talked about winning not just one trophy but major trophies.

36:15And trophies one after another. And this is a great time for us. We've got a great platform to go forward from. And we need to make the most of it. As Josh said, if you don't evolve, you don't keep moving forward, you stand still and then people catch you up. And we'll do that across the club. Absolutely. I can't thank you enough for both of you coming out today to speak to us. Honestly, really appreciate it. And all the best on Saturday. Thank you. We did it, yeah.

36:45Ian Wright: That season, the season we won, I had the same problem. I missed a lot of the season, but I was in the dressing room for every single moment all the way up to it and then obviously I came back for the end but how has it been for you the journey down to the end with all the pressure that's on us and you being such a big part of the team how has it been for you Mick? Well to be honest it's been hard I'm very competitive I always like to be part of the team I always like to be involved in everything they do and to be away for four months has been really really hard moments where I know you you've probably experienced the same.

37:22You don't feel like part of it when you're for a long time out of the squad. But yeah, I've always tried to be involved, being in every meeting, being in every game, you know, giving tips, being around them. And they have been around me as well. So it's been...

37:35Ian Wright: So they've kept you, because it's very easy. Obviously, you was playing all the time. Yeah. But in this situation, the guys kept you in the circle. Yeah, absolutely. Sometimes it's easy for you to, you know, be only focused on the next game, on the next training session, and forget a little bit about the injured players. but for us it's so important to keep everyone around the team as an injured player sometimes you can feel apart from the team this club, this team is just a family and they helped me a lot during this period Talk to me about last Tuesday night, you were all together, the final whistle goal was Bournemouth Manchester City and it does take the magic moments how special was it all being together in that moment?

38:15No, it wasn't real it was probably the best moment in the season so far for me that celebration with all the staff members with all the players not even dressed as football players but you know being it was weird in some aspect because obviously celebrating a title with not wearing your kit and being on the pitch is weird but yeah that connection that feeling of relief you know of finally getting that trophy getting over the line is just unreal and you know being able to share it with everyone in this club is just great How tough has it been to get over the line? And what has been the difference this year that maybe last year just didn't quite happen the year before?

38:54You've been so close. Yeah, I mean, this club has been so close for so many years. And I think the big difference this season is that when tough times came, because always during the Premier League season, you're going to have tough moments. And we had a couple of decisions, but you could see the team being sticked together. And with that enough maturity to know, OK, this is a bad moment. This is a bump in the road, but we're going to get through it together. And it doesn't matter if we play a beautiful football or a bad football, but we have to stick together and, you know, get those points and those games going.

39:25And I think everyone's stuck together and here we have the reward.

39:29Ian Wright: You know, I saw a beautiful picture of you coming off the pitch and you're with Myles Lewis, Skilly and Ethan. What's it like with those guys of that calibre in and around you, obviously with your experience? It's great to have those young players around you. and it's a very delicate situation when you're young, when you're that talented, when you have that spotlight on you and everyone wants you to succeed and keep improving and show your best level every single time. You have to be very careful with them because the talent is there, but it's very delicate and a bad season, a bad moment can turn things around.

40:05It's great having them, they are very good kids. Everyone in this club is trying to help them in particular, that every single player from the academy to be in the best atmosphere possible. And yeah, me as a veteran right now, definitely a veteran in this team. I'm 30, but in this team I'm one of the oldest. Yeah, try to give them all the best advice. And to be honest, they are very good listeners and that's the most important thing. What are the dynamics like in that dressing room? You said you give advice, but who are the big talkers? Who are the big sort of what would be characters in the dressing room that sort of, you know, take the lead?

40:39I mean, obviously, as in every squad, we try to give everyone a voice. Everyone has the power of speaking their mind and being proactive. But yeah, the leadership group, there's a couple of us that we try and push everyone. You know, Declan, obviously Martin, David Royer, Timba, all the guys that have been here for a long time, that they know what this club means and represents. But yeah, everyone has a role, a different one. All of them are very important and you need everyone to, you know, fulfill their role to get to the Premier League.

41:17Ian Wright: In respect of now and obviously the league, how's the focus now for arguably, you have to say, it's probably the biggest game in Arsenal's history, especially coming off of winning it, something that we've never won before. What's it like at the moment? Because winning and trying to suppress the joy because you've got such a big game, what's it like at the moment? I'm intrigued. I mean, I would say it's exciting. As you said, I think we have to use that joy. Don't get carried away with the feeling of we've achieved something magical and just, you know, be happy with that. But, you know, get that momentum, get that energy, that joy, as you said, to, you know, prepare these couple of days before the final and then give everything.

42:02We know it's going to be a very tough game. PSG is an unbelievable team. but for certain we know that we are as well so it's going to be a tough one a close one and hopefully it's going to be on our side

42:11Ian Wright: I get winning goal energy off of you at the moment I can feel the story now Miguel you've been injured you just come back at the end there and then bam winning goal yeah hopefully you heard it here first yeah Miguel talk to me about set pieces and how much you know you've been criticised for them you've been praised for them you've got an incredible record what do you make of them how much time do you spend on them each week because you are sensational from them I mean you're such a threat Yeah It's a very important part of the game Not only for us But for every team You can see big games Being decided by that The momentum of the game Changing because of a set piece And That's something that we do Train a lot And we are very happy And very proud of Being good at that Because that's why you work Yeah Yeah I don't understand why You can get criticized For being good at something Exactly Exactly Especially the delivery People feel like The delivery is just something That just happens That's practice That's practice And repetition And mistake and learning and being humble enough Nico is probably the best coach in set pieces in the world definitely and he's very good at understanding what's going on and you know adapting to the players and I mean yeah hard work repetition and yeah frustration sometimes when things don't go your way but yeah improving every day what's up Kez yeah we've got a meeting right now if I get late especially with a big game like that coming take it easy take it easy thanks Thanks.

43:34Thank you, guys. I think I could have played for Arsenal. G Neville. G Neville and Arsenal shit, eh?

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45:54Hello. That smile. Do you know something? It's the best. I wish I could smile when I played football. Do you know what I mean? That's the problem. Are you smiling because of him? I love him. You're just smiling because of him. I know you're smiling. You're not smiling because of me. What do you mean he's smiling? What do you want him to do? Do you know something, Miles? I have to say I just said there about the smile you play with a smile you play with a freedom and it's completely and utterly alien to me because when I played football I felt like it was a struggle you know you wouldn't have watched me play it was a long time ago a little bit but do you know something how do you just keep you know you're so young and you've come in in the last few weeks you've been out of the team you've come in midfield and you're in there doing your thing how do you keep that sort of level of belief that confidence that happiness enjoyment in your sort of personality we're a very technical team I think it just comes from the preparation, not just in football, but in life as well.

46:46I pride myself on enjoying the moments, enjoying adversity, enjoying your trials or tribulations as much as when you face adversity. So for me, it's just finding the moments to enjoy because when we can't take moments like going on a pitch for granted, and, yeah, you know, life's too short to, I feel, just to be soaking or just to be disappointed because, for me, I don't like to see things that negatively, you know. I'm a very positive person and I always find a hope, a optimism and faith in my situation. Just something, I get slightly emotional just listening to you, just talking so calmly and serenely about how you see life and how you see perspective.

47:26At 19. At 19, it must be so difficult for you, though, being out of the team because you hadn't done anything wrong. I mean, you've played brilliantly well since you came in.

47:32Ian Wright: Well, that's what I was going to say. Mark, just talk us through, like, the Fulham start and how it came about, because I said something, but I want you to clear it up. So how did that come about, the Fulham start, and what's been happening? Because remember, you haven't been playing for a while. Yeah, I've been playing, so I was originally training in midfield for a couple of months, around, like, December till April. So I think just that period there, just learning my craft, learning that position, because, you know, For me, that was natural for me as a young player, because that's where I grew up, playing midfield.

48:04But it was just to kind of refine the smaller details in that position, in that team, you know, what different players like when I'm in different areas in the pitch as well. So, yeah, that was definitely... What was it like?

48:18Ian Wright: Was it confusing? Because all of a sudden you've been playing left-back and then obviously Kappi's doing well. And then you're training in midfield with no expectation because you've never played in the midfield. so then all of a sudden you're training in midfield what are you thinking to be honest it felt natural it felt so natural just going back in there it felt like this is where I belong kind of thing so it wasn't like nah what's going on here it kind of felt very natural to me are you a midfield player now then? he's always been a midfield player I know but do you see yourself I mean obviously you're going to switch you're going to go wherever you're told to go I'm sure that's what all players do but do you now see yourself as the best opportunity to play in this team with the fact that Incapi and Calafiora left back do you see your opportunity in midfield now?

49:06It's a tough one I believe so absolutely I believe so You look so good in there by the way Yeah thank you How do you Mariah just mentioned that Fulham game how do you just slot back in and it look like you belong there how does that happen? Preparation Preparation I think Talk about preparation what do you do every year I want to know what your week looks Miles has got to go as well, mate.

49:29Ian Wright: Miles, you're not going. This is a story for another day. I'd love to debrief you. Come back, you guys, please. Come back and talk to us, Miles, because people need to know. All the best to you. Nice to see you. Have a good session. See you next time. I love you. Send me preparation, mate. I love preparation.

49:55I love preparation.

50:07Across the U.S., counties have been quietly implementing bans and restrictions on solar and wind projects. As somebody who does sit on the right side of the aisle, it is extremely frustrating to see people within my own party continue to negate the effectiveness of clean energy. Listen to Good Things from Lemonada Media to learn what's at stake for job development, property rights, and the future of clean energy.