Did Man City Just Blow The Title? Rooney’s Arsenal Verdict

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1:19Then go seafood. There's an abundance on sale at Whole Foods Market, where it's all sustainable while cod or responsibly farmed. At the bakery, grab seasonal treats like their strawberry pretzel cream pie, and you can't go wrong with a ready-to-heat quiche Lorraine, deviled eggs, and fresh-cut fruits to go. Celebrate mom with Whole Foods Market. And this is what happens, the pressure. We've talked about Arsenal feeling pressure. You've seen it tonight with Mark Gay. Is this a team of champions? Michael Carrick is a clever person. He's a really good coach. He can lead the team for the next, you know, however long he wants.

1:54I think them players, they've blocked themselves. That's Coquere, that's Ernst O 'Fernandes. You don't play coming out and being vocal about whatever, you don't like the manager, but go and perform. Well, fair play, Wayne. You've called it. You've said multiple times recently that Everton were going to cause Manchester City problems and an issue in the title running, and they did exactly that, didn't they? Yeah, they did. I think, do you know what? I think it was a game, a tough game for City, tough game for Everton and I always felt this was the game which City could slip up I think Arsenal win all the games that's why I've been strong on this, I think Arsenal win the league and this was the game I thought City would drop points so listen, you never know in the next few games but this is what I felt a few weeks back and I think this could be a really important night.

2:53A lot of your predictions have come true. Even the stuff that you've said about players or like, you know, obviously the Van Dijk stuff and the Salah stuff is well documented. But yeah, even when you were saying stuff like Everton could be pushing for Europe and what we're seeing now as well with the run into the title race, you were saying Everton are going to be a problem for Man City. And it's, yeah, it's all coming to, what mystic kind of powers have you got going on over there? Well, I did say Brentford to get relegated. I lost over that one I was only going to bring that one up I have to apologise to Keith Andrews and the Brentford fans I've been a breath of fresh air actually watching them so I'm delighted they do really well I think when it's a title running there's games which you look at and you're thinking that looks a bit tricky Everton away from Manchester City is always going to be a difficult game I've really loved the atmosphere at the new stadium so in the big games the atmosphere even when they come out to Z cars in the evening games and they have a little bit of a light show it's a little bit different to what they had at Goodison Park so I just felt this could be a tricky game it turned out to be City weren't at the best a couple of mistakes and this is what happens, the pressure we've talked about Arsenal feeling pressure you've seen it tonight with Mark Gay in pressure when you're going into a title race.

4:22This is what happens. What did you make of it at 1-0 though, Wayne? Because we can say your predictions were great, but at 1-0, it did just kind of feel like, okay, maybe City are just going to get the job done. But Everton never gave up on it. And then to turn it around the way they did, I mean, it's impressive. Yeah, no, I think at 1-0, you look and you think, right, is this a team of champions? and you look at it and you're thinking there's a few players in there who've won the league there's a few players who won a obviously time win the first Premier League Pep Guardiola's a serial winner and this is what happens and this is why it's so good when it comes to the last few games of the season the teams don't know how to close it out teams are chasing and that's why I've always thought Arsenal are very consistent in their performances City can be a little bit up and down once they're at the best they're the best team in Europe it just goes to show how much they miss Rodri though innit like whenever Rodri isn't in that side it does look like a completely different City team yeah it does but I think there's a few things with it even being honest I think Foden has to play every game for me I think you have to put him on the team I've been big on this on Phil Foden and I don't know why I love watching him play.

5:48I love his little movement. I love how he gets into the pockets of space. And it's not nice watching him sitting on the bench. And I think he has to play every game. And I know you've got Cherky and you've got Semenyo coming in. And Docu is a breath of fresh air as well. He's incredible. But I just think you have to play for them. Do you think it's going to be down to ability? Or is there something else going on in and around there? because it feels like he's got to be having some problems behind the scenes or something. I don't think Pep's going to be taking somebody of that quality out of the team for no good reason.

6:25Listen, when you're in Manchester, you hear different things on players. I was the same. People will have heard things on me when I was playing. Very rarely on Phil Foden. You very rarely hear anything about him. so I couldn't tell you if there is something going on behind the scenes but I just think he's come through the academy he's a young lad he's bad at the time to get into the first team I think he's won six Premier League titles it's incredible and to see him sat on the bench even out of Man City it's not nice to watch him and then you're seeing foreign lads coming in and getting an opportunity ahead of them.

7:14I'm just like, come on, put them in there. Went to Buena, went to them. Put them in there, leave them in there. But sometimes, isn't that down to the player to take that position when somebody leaves? Yeah, it is. But I think also when you come to the academy, then you do get put in a position where you can get left out a few times. When I sat for Man United in 2004, Ryan Giggs was getting booed. Yeah, yeah. By the Man United fans and I remember going in thinking, wow, what's going on here? And then he played for another 10 years and it was incredible. And I think when you come through the academy, and I've spoke about this, you don't get paid to the standard of what the foreign players get paid to when they come in as well.

8:00So, you know, I'm just like, feel forwarding the ability that guy has got. Just play him, just put him in there. Has he shown it enough this season though, Wayne? I think he was doing well. He's had bad moments. But when you have a bad moment, to be taken out and put on the sidelines for a week on end, I just think a player of that quality, you have to just keep playing them. But was he, do you think they're missing a piece then today? because looking at the two goals Doku scored, they were unbelievable. And I think Turkey was still a bright spark, Haaland as well. Is Foden that missing piece that they need to hold things together?

8:40No, but this is why everyone loves Pep, because he keeps changing his way of playing, doesn't he? And you've got Doku there who can do anything. He'd be a nightmare for defenders to play against. You've got Semenyo who can go outside, come inside. so it's real power and pace and raw speed going up against you so I don't know whether that's a reason why Foden's not playing in there as that turned him maybe wanted a little bit more help defensively but I just felt tonight and we've heard a lot Arsenal are cracking under pressure and we've seen the Man City fan with his Arsenal bottle and throwing that round everywhere whatever but Mark Gaye has never been in a position where he challenged him for the Premier League so many who hasn't and I think you've seen tonight that might be the first sign Gaye's been absolutely incredible over the last few years been incredible City went into Man City but that might be the first sign that we're trying to win this Premier League there's a little bit of pressure can you handle that?

9:47Where does this leave the title race then Wayne? I think Arsenal win I think Arsenal win every game So it's over? well it's not always but no I think Arsenal win every game and I hope to do if I'm being honest yeah you've said that I really like I'm doing a game on Tuesday so if Jokka if you see me over there mate you can come over I did a big piece on matches today so no but I really like Arsenal this season not because even when people have criticised him how do you play I've very liked how they've played, how they've gone about the business. And I just think it's their year. And I hope it is.

10:32For that, the work he's put in over the last five years and then against his former boss, Guardiola, if he goes and wins that title, I think that is huge for him. To be honest, I worry about him a bit if they don't because it looks like he's so... I know every manager's invested in it, but he's like next level the way he lives through games. Well, Thierry Henry is saying he thinks West Ham's going to be a massive problem for them. Do you agree? You said you think they're going to win every game, but do you think West Ham are going to cause them any problems? No, I'm concerned for West Ham. I just think Arsenal are efficient and professional.

11:08And I just think they'll win every game. So, obviously, with the result tonight, that means they win the league. I'm intrigued, Wayne, because you were complimenting Arsenal before. and in a season where they've had a few critics saying they've kind of tried to 1-0 their way, set-piece FC, all of those things, which I'm not saying, by the way, but some people have said. Do you kind of admire Arteta for sticking to a way of playing and knowing how to get the best out of his team and kind of seeing that pay off? Every game's different, so you have to read the game. And where I was really impressed with Arsenal at the weekend was you got the first goal, then you went again, obviously, then you got to 3-0 at halftime and then they managed the game really well.

11:48and you have to take each game as it comes and these last few games, now these are very tricky. They play with your mind. When you're going to bed overnight, you're thinking about what happens if this happens here, if they score a goal or you're thinking of everything. And if you haven't won the league, for some of them players who haven't won the league, it is a little bit complicated. So this is where they need Ateta. Gabriel Haynes on the coaching staff Albert on the coaching staff we had him at Man United they're all a big support to Arteta but I love Arteta's energy I know there's people saying he shouldn't be out his technical area and stuff like that I love his energy and some things I don't agree with which he's done but if they win the league that is it's worth it's genius when you win the league and it just looks a bit cringe when you don't.

12:49Did you not, were you not surprised yesterday that they didn't try and score more goals? Because it looked like they were in complete control of that and with goal difference being so important, did you not think they'd try and go for more? Well, I think they did, but it's hard. It's hard to score goals, isn't it? That's the hardest thing. That's why the attacking players get paid the most money. And then you change players, you make subs. The best thing about being 3-0 up, you lose the intensity. In the second half, 100%, you're going to lose the intensity and the game becomes a little bit slower.

13:21You played it round, you're moving it round the back or to the midfield. And this happens. And if you're a player who's coming on and wanting to show the manager, you want to fast pace, you want to keep going tonight to score more goals. But naturally, the game's over. So the intensity of the game does go from it. But I thought it was a really good professional performance from Arsenal yesterday. and it felt like a game. We played for Man United, I remember we played Everton at Goodison Park and we were losing 2-0 and then we ended up winning the game 4-2 and Chelsea threw with Bolton 2-2. So at that time we hadn't won the league but that was the game where we know we're winning this league.

14:12I think that was Arsenal's one yesterday. But going back to scoring more goals, they've also obviously got the Champions League, as you mentioned, Wayne, on Tuesday. And a word on Bukayo Saka, because they took him off early. I presume that was just to protect him, because, Wayne, surely they have to protect him at all costs, because his return... I think we said it on last week's pod, didn't we? It looks like it could be key, because he looks like he's the Bukayo Saka of old, pre-injury. He was brilliant for that 45 minutes. he was brilliant and and I've said all season obviously on this podcast I've said about Jokres I really like him I like him how he how he works the defenders it brings he's using his physicality a lot more isn't he it brings the Luba 10s the wire players into more space and so I'm really pleased with him because he has gone through a bit of stick but Saka comeback is huge and listen he probably won't want one wanted to go off yesterday you want to play all the games you want to finish the games I'm so hard I think is being a bit smart but you want to play every game I drive my bus in a busy city that's why road safety is so important to me I know that I must slow down and be extra careful when I make a wide turn buses need more room than cars Everyone can help keep our roads safe.

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16:32Has your career's kind of form been a bit overlooked? He's got 21 goals now in his first season at Arsenal. And it feels like maybe we've spent a lot of the season, you were side-wing, because I know you're a big fan, where people have been saying, oh, he's not the striker that they thought. He's not kind of reached the levels. But 21 goals, it's not bad, is it? It's a sign of the times though, isn't it? I think we judge players too quickly. You need a season, don't you? Yes and no. But I just think he fits and he shoots the Premier League. So he can adapt. he runs in behind he holds the ball up well he makes good runs in the penalty area is he Erling Haaland?

17:12No is he Mbappe? No he's not but I think what he does do I've said this all season he occupies defenders and when you're playing this at number 10 and like Eze for instance I thought his movement or lack of movement was incredible because he weren't actually moving much and he was standing still in his positions behind the Fulham midfield and Declan Rice and Lewis Skelly were coming a little bit deeper drawing midfield on and he was actually just standing still and I've always said the hardest thing in football to do is stand still and be patient and as I've done that it really I was really impressed with how he'd done that on Saturday Okay moving on then it sounds like Wayne is pretty convinced that Arsenal win it Kay you've not been so sure or are you getting more convinced actually?

18:03I think it's going to go down to the wire still. I think there's still points to lose, but given Wayne's record on his predictions this year, I'm not going to start arguing. I'm not going to start arguing. I'm not going to start arguing today, so I said by five points, Arsenal win it by five points. That's quite a big margin, Wayne. Listen, I want Arsenal to win it. I mean, I don't like City by any stretch of the imagination. It's just funny if Arsenal don't win it after being top for so long. but why do people hate Arsenal I don't get it either it's the fans but the teams have always been great I sat in the Anfield road in Anfield when Thierry remember when he ran past Carragher I sat in the Arsenal end watching that game and I don't hate Arsenal we've had big battles against them so yeah I think it's a good club it's like when you think of David Dean and Arsene Wenger it was a really well run club they spent a little bit more money over the last few years but I think you know what they've had a structure they've had a plan with Arteta he's come in his first manager of the job he's come in he's stuck to it and fair play to him if he goes in winter fair play to not just Arteta but for the club for having a vision and sticking with it Okay from one London club that are doing pretty well to another London club who I mean they're struggling aren't they you know I'm going to say Chelsea big defeat Wayne today to a much changed Nottingham Forest as well it just feels all quite strange there at the moment obviously they've got through to the FA Cup final Liam Rossini has gone but I mean today was pretty poor wasn't it yeah it was weird it was weird watching the second half of that game and you know the fans have left the seeds to leave the stadium and it almost looked like the fans didn't know who to have a go at because the manager weren't there I think it was clear they weren't having Liam Senior from the start which is a shame and he got judged way too early but they didn't know who to have a go at so it was quite quiet and the players I think them players need to look themselves and that's Kokorea, that's Endo Fernandes they need to look themselves because you don't care coming out and being vocal about whatever you don't like the manager, but go and perform.

20:31You have to perform. And they're both top players, but they're letting themselves down. They should be the leaders. They're the ones, you know, they've won World Cup, they've won European Championships with the countries. So you go and be the leaders and they're not leading that team. They're not being examples. Do you almost think that those Chelsea players look around at where they are in the league and just sort of do think right now, what is the point? What are we even fighting for now? Surely you can't think like that as a player. I don't know. No, but how do you motivate teams, like players that think they're meant to be in the Champions League or whatever?

21:03How do you motivate them to go, all right, lads, we can get into the Conference League again? Well, go and give them a nine-year contract, eight-year contract. It's true. Yeah, you're right. And if you're 24 and you're getting an eighth nine-year contract, it's absolutely crazy what is going on there. and the money they spend and how they're trying to operate is absolutely crazy. And for a player, you don't want to be signing a contract. Well, maybe financially, if you want to be secure, then of course you do, but you don't want to tie yourself in for that long. It's absolutely, it's madness. But I'm just trying to make sense of why the players are doing well in a cup competition and in the league.

21:51they can't seem to get themselves because they have got the experience and I've said this many times experience is key to any you know successful team and they've got very young players who can be very good players world class players if you like but when it gets tough you need to you know go to your reserves and you know when you've been in their moments before you know how to to deal with that and get out of it and some of them players a lot of them players haven't been in them that moment and um there's still time to figure out when you've got experienced players they they guide them young players through that that moment um where i don't think there's anyone who's guiding them through and you've got obviously liam is a young manager that the the lad now who's gone in um is a young young coach um so there's not the owners i'm i put a bet on they don't know too much about football.

22:50I assume they're very good business people. So there's actually no one there to give them any guidance on football. All right, well that moves for us six points clear of relegation now. So I think it's, is it safe to say when we're looking at West Ham Spurs and we're probably looking at things in an opposite way to what we were last weekend. You've already said you were pretty worried watching West Ham this weekend. Yeah, that was a bit good turn for me. To defend them from, especially the fullbacks to youth. and in particular Wan-Bissaka who he didn't even start the game he come on sub and it was like he just didn't want to be there he didn't look bothered and Wan-Bissaka he prides himself or he has done on getting tired of people being difficult to to to play against and he might have other things going on and we're always quick to say that but but you've got you've got to judge him on what what I see and it it went good they did hit the post four times though didn't they so they had chances they did so they went 1-0 behind and I was watching the game and they played really well they went into half time 1-0 down and I felt if they got a goal they probably would have won the game but then they come out for the second half and they just didn't have the I don't think they had the belief that they could win the game and Brentford were clinical and had to play and deserve the in the end.

24:18Talking about belief, did you see Spurs? What De Zerbe's been doing to them? I don't know, but it seems like he's been having a shout at some of those players because the pressing I was seeing and the intensity for them to come out and put in a performance like that was insane. Yeah, all cultures are different, I think, and De Zerbe has done well in the job he's done. But when you coach your team to have organised press, when you have an organised press whether that's a throw-in whether that's a goal kick a free kick deep in the opposition's half you can organise your team so they're the moments where then you're like we're organised here what's the trigger to go and press and that looks like what he's done he just got them in a shape and then once the first man goes everyone knows where they're going Richarlison as well looks like I mean I watched him at Watford and Wayne you'll have seen him at close quarters at Everton as well he's not had the season like many Spurs players would have wanted to have had but it looks like he's kind of up for the fight.

25:21I thought he was I thought he was quite impressive. Yeah he should be shouldn't he? I couldn't remember if you were his biggest fan or not as I asked that question. No no listen he was really good for Everton and when Everton needed them most towards the end of the season when it looked like he possibly could have got relegated he come up and really helped him so it wouldn't surprise me if he does the same thing for Tottenham. What you're saying, the rest of the time, maybe you don't get enough from him. Yeah, I don't think he's a player who you're going to think he's going to get us in Champions League, but he's a hard-working, really good quality Brazilian international, scored some really great goals.

26:01But I think if you're looking to move into the higher positions, then you need a little bit more. OK, we can't end without talking about Manchester United, because they beat your favourite team, Wayne. Yeah, and we were at the party at my house for me boys communion. What, because you beat Liverpool? No, so the party started at 2 o 'clock, so we were at 3.30. It was literally all the men at the front end, where they had a big scene on watching the game. And then obviously friends from Liverpool, Liverpool fans, some United fans as well in there, and really enjoyed it. I also wanted to ask you, I saw Mateus Cunha come out.

26:38I don't know if you've seen the quotes today that have come out, Wayne where he basically said that Michael Carrick is magic and he just said we want him to have the job it's happening now the dressing room are saying it the momentum is getting louder it's almost becoming harder for them not to give him the job isn't it yeah it's it's it's when I don't know I think but do you know do you know just on that there's been a lot of people that try and criticize Carrick getting the role saying oh it's going to be enough for Ollie 2.0 one sec

27:13It's important you've got to do your fatherly duties.

27:21Sorry, my dad, you forgot to feed the pigs.

27:26Okay, of all the excuses. Some of the stuff that I hear. Anyway, yeah, there's a lot of people that say, oh, Carrick shouldn't get a job. it's just like Oli 2.0 and the club are afraid of making a decision. And that really annoys me because I think, A, we played some of our best football under Oli. And two, even if you get another manager, we've done that before. We've done the whole, you know, flavour of the month, foreign manager, bring them in. But nobody seems to think that's a mistake. And people are talking about bringing in Iriola or somebody like that. But I think Michael Carrick understands the club.

27:59He's already auditioning for the role. I assume this isn't the football he wants to play and given the level of the squad I mean Wayne you've said it countless times at the start of the season where you said this squad isn't good enough so he's overachieving with a set of players he has I don't see a mark on his on his performance so far that would warrant this being a bad decision in my opinion it wouldn't be I've said that myself but I think the and the one thing that we're hearing is on Champions League football next year there's more games so how is he going to deal with that he's been in the Championship with Billsbury the squad rotation there is actually even more difficult than it is in the Premier League because normally you've got like 14 players who've got a bit of quality and the rest beyond that haven't so he's been there he knows how to do that and if you bring who is it Luis Enrique or Thomas Tuchel and you say do you know what in the first 14 games you're going to win 10 you'd be like that is incredible so I think just because he's a young English guy then sometimes that's not always the the right way to look in many people's eyes but Michael Carrick is a clever person he's a really good coach and I think he can lead the team for however long he wants if he gets it right.

29:37Other pundits, Wayne, this weekend have been saying that maybe Manchester United can be challenging for the title next season. Do you agree? I think it's got to be interesting summer. I think it depends on what happens with Pep. Obviously, if what I expect that Arsenal can win the league, how they kick on, what Liverpool do if Arnie Slott's still there or not you know how they adapt the squad so I think Chelsea as well it's a really interesting summer this summer but I think actually for the first time in a long time my nights look like they've got a bit of a bit of calmness about the whole place which is always a good thing How many signings do they need?

30:27does that does that mean quite a few we need at least three midfielders we need at least three midfielders I think Casemiro's gone and you can't replace what he gives you I think with a player just like Casemiro you're going to probably need another couple maybe promote somebody from the academy as well but you might have a player who I think I forgot about him he's got a lot more to him and obviously he's had injuries so so for someone like Michael Carrick that might be a goal for him to say, you know what, I'm going to bring Eason Monk back into, make him a top player again and get back in the England squad and play in the regular league for Man United.

31:06So you don't know. They certainly need some players coming in and some players going. I think that's for sure. So the quicker they can get the decision on the manager, then I think that makes that whole business a lot easier. I'll get the feeling we'll probably do a few more deep dives on Manchester United over the coming weeks and probably before next season. Let's end with call the title, Wayne. Who's going to win it? Arsenal. Okay. I mean, I said City a couple of weeks. I'll stick with them just for the... Oh, you're stumbling. You're not sure. Yeah, let's just say City. Let's just go. Let's just say City.

31:43Relegated club, Wayne? West Ham. Okay. Yeah, West Ham. West Ham. I think Deserby's going to do a number. You can't have Deserby in a championship, man. No, that would be weird, wouldn't it? No, he's done a brilliant job, hasn't he? That's all, we'll leave it a reminder you can watch The Wayne Rooney Show on the BBC iPlayer or on the BBC Sport YouTube page, or you can listen on BBC Sounds.

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