Did VAR Get It Right? Arsenal’s Title Push & Madrid Need Mourinho

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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. You can clearly see the arm across his face, and it impacts him getting to the ball, so I think it's the right decision. It's the one time I actually think we had done a really good job. I remember there was one time we played Stoke, and he gave me Ryan Shawcross and I remember, I think it was a corner or a wide free kick come in and there was loads of bodies around me and I just got caught in the middle of the bodies the ball hit me, I didn't want to score that own goal so I was walking there thinking, oh he's got to kill me Also, did you see that 40 million people in here have signed a petition for Mbappe to leave Real Madrid?

2:11Which is wild Would you take him at United?

2:17I think it's safe to say there's only one place to start should West Ham's late equaliser that wasn't have stood, Wayne? No, it's a clear foul. I think you're going to get, obviously, a lot of people saying they think it should have stood because it's controversial and probably all the City players, staff, fans are going to say it should have stood. And then you're going to get all the Tottenham fans, players, staff saying they should have stood and, of course, the Arsenal fans and stuff. But it's a clear foul, I think. you can clearly see the arm crosses his face and it impacts him getting to the ball so I think it's the right decision okay it's the one time I actually um think VAR did a really good job in such an important yeah it was a big moment wasn't it I really felt for the VAR and and also when it got sent to the referee as well I was like imagine what's going through I didn't because I I didn't think it was a hard decision.

3:19I think it was a simple decision. And I get the importance of it, but you can't take that into account. You've got to just see if what it is and it's a foul. So I think the right decision was made and obviously Arsenal have benefited from that. So yeah, I think it was a good call from VIA. Maybe it was a magnitude of the decision as well. I don't even think it's the magnitude of the decision, Kelly. I think it's just the inconsistency. That was a foul and that should have been ruled out. But I think what people are really confused about is the inconsistency of PGMOL and the referees and VAR throughout the whole of the season where people have been jostling inside the box like crazy and there have been similar fouls all season and they haven't been penalised.

4:08to the point where, like even yesterday in the Liverpool and Chelsea match, it was like, it was ridiculous some of the fouls that they were doing on each other even before the ball was being kicked. No, I agree, K, with that. I do agree with that. And then if you look at the one last week for Everton and City game, so I completely agree. But I think where VAR is consistent and the referees are consistent, and I hate it, is you go anywhere near the goalkeeper and it's a foul. So I think outfield players are a bit different, but you go anywhere near a goalkeeper and you give a foul. I've throughout my career as a player, I've had a dislike to goalkeepers for whatever reason.

4:51Because of that reason, I think, because they have an advantage where they can jump with their arms, so they have got a big advantage, and normally they come out with the knees and the studs down your back and stuff. but I think it is it is consistent with goalkeepers that you go near them then they normally get a free kick you also can't if they've seen there's a foul there they can't just go oh because we didn't give it before we can't give it now I get your point Kay but it's such a no I'm saying I'm saying that's where the outrage comes from I'm not saying to I said it at the beginning I do think it was a foul but I think where people's outrage and anger comes from is the level of inconsistency throughout the season with regards to similar things like that I knew it was going to get this loud and I'll be honest the first thing what came into my head was can you imagine the Man City fans sat in the pub watching the game and of course that was the first thing you thought the jumping up and there's beer getting thrown everywhere and absolutely buzzing and then as soon as you see the replay you're like yeah it's a foul that goal's not going to stand just they must have been deflated after that Yeah, it was a huge moment, wasn't it?

6:03I think Jarrod Bowen also said similar to UK in terms of, if you look at the screen for as long as you do, you're going to find a lot of grappling and holding. I know a lot of people have also kind of circled on the image. You can see Declan Rice. I think it's on Mavropanos where he's kind of looks like he's got his arms around him. But I guess the argument there would be that's not actually interfering with the goalkeeper or the goal. But I mean, it shouldn't go on, should it? Yeah, no, Davin Reyes jumping for the ball and he's got an arm right across his neck. right across his shoulder, right across his neck.

6:33That's quite obvious, as you said, from the first viewing, isn't it? Yeah, and you can clearly see he can't get his right hand high enough because of that. He's clearly impacted. So it's not even a close one. If it's a close one where you're like, yeah, I can see why they gave it or why they didn't give it. That's not even close. But here's a question though, Wayne. Here's a question though. How do you combat that for next season? Because you've been seeing this happen all season. How do referees combat it for next season so that teams aren't doing that throughout the duration of the season? I've said it since day one, get rid of the VAR and let the referees...

7:09That's not going to happen though, is it? No, it's not. But fair play to the EFL, the championship, because they've said they don't want it. The best way for it to happen is let the referees referee the game. Now, I know that's not going to happen. So it's tough, isn't it? Because it's the same with the hair pulling and, you know, what force can you touch your one's hair? You know, what's the force you have to pull to get a red card? You don't know. So I think they have to come out and make it clear because they go around all the clubs and they sit down with the players and the managers and the coaches and tell them, right, this is what's a foul, what's not a foul.

7:48But in two weeks, it's gone out the window. So you have to be clear with it and then stick to whatever they say the rules are, stick to it. Yeah, you do wonder if this moment will now, like you said, maybe make them look at it for next season. And just in terms of like, obviously, it's become such a big thing now, set pieces, scoring for them and defending them. When you played, was there much coaching about defending against opponents from corners? Obviously, there was coaching, but how much focus was there? Because it feels like there's so much, it's such a bigger part of the game now. Well, we didn't actually do that much on set pieces at Man United.

8:20And it was actually quite simple. And it was, that's your man. If he scores, it's on you. And that was it. That sounds very Sir Alex. Yeah, and that was it. So I remember Sir Alex, he used to give me Sammy Hippier. I was Mark and Christian Benteke. I used to get the bigger players because I used to get my body in and not let them jump. So, and I always remember there was one time we played Stoke and he gave me Ryan Shawcross. So he said before the game, are you sure you're okay with that? So I was like, yeah, no problem. And then I always remember, I think it was a corner or a wide free kick. It come in and there was loads of bodies around me and I just got caught in the middle of the bodies and the ball lit me, I didn't want to score that own goal.

9:07So I was walking in thinking, oh, he's going to kill me. But yeah, no, set pieces, you work, there's so much work. I don't think people understand how much work you do on set pieces. So you probably do a little bit on a Thursday and then you're probably doing 45 minutes to an hour on a Friday if you're playing Saturday. So the amount of detail you're putting into set pieces and especially now, most teams have got a set piece coach. So that set piece coach is going to feel like he has to earn his money and do a lot of work on them. So there's so much detail into set pieces now. and I've got nothing against set-pieces, it's a big part of the game.

9:45You can win, you know, you can win. Like today, for instance, you might win the title on that decision or West Ham might get relegated on that decision. So set-pieces, they're huge and 30 % of the goals are scored off set-pieces. Why wouldn't you? Why do you think there's not such a focus on it in the Champions League? Because I don't think it's as important in the Champions League, is it? Whereas in a Prem, it's pretty much Prem. I'm not sure on the stats on that, but I think it will be. I still think it will be as important. I always remember when I was at Derby, Anthony Barry, the England assistant with Thomas Dushlin's pro-licent, he's done a big presentation on throw-ins.

10:32When you're in training, you work on throw-ins. It's boring, no-one's to do it. Actually, the difference getting your throw-ins right can make in terms of how much possession of the ball you have, how many chances you create, how many chances you concede. It's huge. So it was really insightful going through it and understanding actually, if you get your throw-ins right, it can make a big difference to winning the game. Did you have a set-piece coach when you were managing? No. Shea Given used to do our set-piece at Derby. And a lot of the time, well, a lot of the time beforehand, the goalkeepers used to do a lot of the set players the goalkeeper coaches do a lot of set plays and now obviously they have a set piece coach in and you can I think Arsenal have been brilliant in terms of they've spotted a weakness which is difficult for teams to defend and the one that they're actually doing now where they're all going around the back I done that years ago with Derby the exact same one we scored actually against Middlesbrough the first time we've done it so it's not new but it's there's different things which you look at it and you think would I like to defend that so I get my defenders in and show them and set it up and say how do you feel defending that and if they don't like it then obviously it's something you're going to do in the game Would you have a set piece coach now if you're still managing?

11:59It depends on where you are of course if you've got the budget you'd have all the help you can from that point of view. So I don't dislike or disagree with set-piece coaches. I'm not sure every time there's a set-piece they're out there showing themselves. And when they concede one, they're going in the bushes like Homer Simpson. Good analogy. Yeah, true. As for the game overall then, Arsenal would obviously be very relieved that decision did go their way. But what did you make of them overall? Because it took them a long time to find the breakthrough. It did. I thought they started really well and Trossard, obviously the match winner, thought he started really well down the left hand side.

12:43And then West Ham were gradually getting back in the game and it looked like West Ham could have actually went on and nicked a winner, it looked like. But for me the big difference in why they won the game was Oldergaard and he hasn't been in his best for him this season but he come on and he showed two or three bits of real quality in terms of his passing his decision making when to hold the ball when to play the ball and then obviously his composure in the penalty box for Trossard's goal and that's the difference you know he's the captain obviously of Arsenal he's probably not happy with obviously the season in terms of how it's gone for him personally he's been left as captain to be left out the team.

13:30That's not a great thing. But he showed us professionalism. Come on. Showed real quality when Arsenal needs it. So I think that was the difference. Yeah, watching that game, Kay, I was thinking, I don't think the goal is going to come here. I mean, part of me was also thinking, is this good for us neutrals? Keeps the title race alive a bit more? Yeah, I mean, it was a bit scrappy at times, but do you know what? Like, I did want it to go to the wire to the end of the season, just to the final day because I always just think... Still good. Yeah, still good. But I mean, looking at the fixtures, I don't think Palace are going to put up a fight on the last day of season.

14:08They could have a big day. Glasner's already said that and he's already marked the card. Yeah. Glasner's already said it. So I think they're focusing on their European final. I think it's pretty much wrapped up. It is Arsenal's title now. I mean, it's wrapped up. You never know. And obviously, I felt Arsenal win it after the City game, after City beat them. I still felt Arsenal win the title. But the Premier League, you never know. Strange, you know, you look at City nearly threw away against QPR. No, they didn't. When you never said QPR would go there and even get close to getting the results.

14:43So in Premier League football, last day, nerves, pressure, you never know. Wayne, you see on Glasner's comments, if you were going for the title and you saw a manager like that talking, saying, oh yeah, that Arsenal game's just not in our plans. How would that make you feel? Wouldn't you be fuming if you were like some of the City players? Listen, Glasner's worrying about Crystal Palace and Palace only. And I actually agree with his comments where he said there's 37 more games throughout the season. But it does feel with what's at stake, if he rests all the players and plays a bunch of kids, then And I think that would be really, really harsh for City.

15:30So the remaining games, and actually Palace could have quite a big say in it because they play City in midweek. And then they've got Arsenal on the final day. I didn't realise they've actually still got both of them to play, but I guess... Are Palace safe? Yes. Yeah. And actually, today's result means that Nottingham Forest and Leeds are both definitely safe now as well. So it literally is at the bottom coming down to West Ham and Spurs. Yeah, well, I think if I was Glasner, if you're Palace then to save any argument you rest half your team for one game, half the team for the other game but also he's the manager of Crystal Palace not the manager of Arsenal City what I was going to say is he's off at the end of the season anyway you know whatever way he does it however way the league plans out whoever wins it, Arsenal City the losing team are not going to be happy with whatever Palace do doesn't matter like they just yeah i know but but that's that is gonna come that is gonna happen so palace palace but a brief themselves because that will 100 percent happen

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17:16Then go seafood. There's an abundance on sale at Whole Foods Market, where it's all sustainable while caught 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.

17:43Okay, so we think the title race probably... Wayne, are you going to go as far as saying it's over or is it not over yet? No, as I said, anything can happen. I've fancied Arsenal for a long time and I just felt with the last five fixtures, I've said over the last couple of weeks, Arsenal won every game. And I fancied them against Burnley and Palace. So I do think they will win the title. But I'm not going to say it's definitely over. You know, different things can happen. So, yeah, it's well within their grasp. Anyway, that's for sure. It did also feel like maybe they've learned to really, they've obviously had that wobble.

18:22And I wonder how much that City game has played into it. You know, like psychologically, once the City game was out of the way almost, I wonder if that's just enabled them to play with a bit more freedom now. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, well, I said that. I thought after that City game, they were still top of the league. So I think people forget that. So when City beat them, they were still top of the league. So if I was Mikel Arteta there, I would have sat the players down, showed them the fixtures and said, lads, we win every one of these games. There's a massive chance we win this Premier League.

18:51So I think that was a chance for them to sit down, regroup, have a chat about the remaining fixtures. Obviously, they had the Champions League semifinals within that as well. But in terms of the Premier League, say lads we've just been through our our toughest test in the season we've come through it, still top of the league now we've got five games left let's go and finish it and change the mindset and being positive with it and watching Arteta and how he's been this season and how positive I've said before I think he's been great as messaging he's been really good, different to what has been in previous years I'm pretty sure that's how we would have approached them.

19:33Okay. What have you made of kind of the way they've started to handle the pressure? Because they were brilliant. Wayne, in fact, we haven't spoken to you, have we, since you did the game on Tuesday night? Yeah, it was fair play to the Arsenal fans and the atmosphere is one of the best I've been for a long time. I thought before the game just different things which they were doing and the fans getting ready before the game was really good. And then the atmosphere throughout the game was brilliant. I remember playing the Champions League semi-final against Ferman United, and the atmosphere was nowhere near.

20:09Maybe because we were just far superior to them at that time, and much better than them, that they didn't feel they could win. But the atmosphere was, before the game, after the game, was really good. And we sat in the stands, and so you're in amongst it as well. No, it was brilliant. And I think Arteta and the club deserve a lot of praise for that because I think it looks like they've brought that in whether that's Arteta or whether that's the club whoever that is whoever's done it deserve a lot of praise because it's certainly a lot different I remember playing at Highbury and the atmosphere there was great but that's the best I've ever seen at the Emirates it was really good Do you think that's the difference now as well though?

20:50Like there is that belief from the Arsenal fans actually you called it earlier this season didn't you? where you said the Arsenal fans needed to believe a little bit more because they could have an impact as they did. Yeah, and listen, the fans, I'm sure they do realise, but the impact the fans can have is massive in terms of getting behind the team and not just through the good moments, through the bad moments as well. And that's where Man Utd fans, for me, are the best. I think I'd just say that, but I think that's where the United fans are the best because you have to be behind you when you win and you're successful and you win trophies, but also when you're going through a tough period, they're still behind you.

21:29They're with you, they're standing right beside you in those tough moments. I feel over recent years, Arsenal fans have been with the team but then when they've hit a tough patch, they've not gone against them but you're in air booing and then the belief has gone. They're almost feeling sorry for themselves. There was one moment this season, I think it was the Bournemouth game, if I'm right Yeah that was the game you said it after about the fans Yeah they booed the players off and that's what I said they need to get behind the team because the difference that makes the players is massive and fair play to the Arsenal fans I think they have got behind the team and I feel in recent years that mightn't have happened and then that might have made it a bit more difficult for the team to win but they have stuck by them from everything I've seen and it looks like they're going to get the reward for them K, will you be happy for them if they win the league?

22:27Well, I've wanted Arsenal to be I've wanted Arsenal to win it more so than City Really? It's just I found it funny that they were going to bottle it that's all it is and I wanted them once it looked like they were bottling it Should we have a word on City actually? Because they I mean they did their part Wayne this weekend didn't they really? They looked pretty impressive and that's all they can do at this stage, isn't it? Yeah, they did and fair play to them I think they were very efficient I thought Doku was absolutely incredible All the same sort of didn't he? It's that little team talk. I know they pointed out our match of the day as well.

22:58It's come from you, isn't it, Wayne? No, he went around to keep it at Wembley in Southampton and he should have shot and before he come on air with us, I said to him, I said, mate, you get an opportunity to shoot, shoot, be selfish. I said, you're not selfish enough and to get to the next level, I feel he has to be a bit more selfish and he has done since then. But when he's like that, he's unplayable. it's so difficult to defend against and you know teams are doubling up and it creates space for other players and he's creating a really good understanding with O 'Reilly as well and so yeah no he was you know unplayable yesterday I feel a bit I don't feel for them but like it felt like they'd put a real statement win in did you also did you see the bit of Pep Guardiola in his press conference at the end when he said come on you irons I loved that but maybe that shows the pressure of the title race I don't know but I love to see that little bit of personality but I guess now for City all they can do is beat Crystal Palace next week and just hope Arsenal slip up I know you're probably Wayne imagining all of those City fans enjoying that West Ham goal and then watching it be ruled out but yeah it's not been the best day for them Yeah no they've just got to be professional and keep trying to win win the games and I think Aylan Harland said that he can't look at Arsenal all City can do is keep winning their games and hope that Arsenal slip up and he's completely right on that you can't think you know they can't think like we're thinking and looking and saying these will win this game these might drop points in this game they've just got to look the next game and say right just sign win our games and then hope that Arsenal drop points There was something I wanted to ask Wayne do you see like the only the only teams now that are sort of like playing for something are the ones going into the Champions League or fighting for a European sport or Half the Premier League are fighting for Europe though it feels like still I mean I don't think a lot of people want to get into the conference league because you probably lose more money than you make but how do you motivate yourself if you're not going for a title if you know the title is done and dusty how do you motivate yourself to play those last remaining games win bonuses no listen you want to finish as high up the league as you can and if that's to get in the Champions League or Europa League or Conference League then you want to try and do that it's probably the team sitting like a palace and like your leads now but you want to want to finish the season well and you'll have players with personal goals who want to score more goals or keepers who want to get more clean sheets and you've got a responsibility to the fans as well and it's very rare you play games where the pressure's off so when you get a chance go and try and enjoy that enjoy playing with the you know no pressure of getting relegated whatever and enjoy playing football again I've always said you forget when you're playing professional you forget to enjoy it so on these rare moments it's a chance where you can go and enjoy it and express yourself.

25:52It's a luxury that the West Ham and Spurs players don't have of course Spurs playing on Monday night and they could kind of be three points further clear of West Ham they'll then be four points clear of them it it feels like Spurs from last weekend are getting some momentum together but I mean imagine after today West Ham will feel pretty crushed, Wayne. Yeah, they'll be sitting anxious tomorrow watching the Tottenham game and if Tottenham win tomorrow then it looks it's going to be very difficult. The biggest one for me was last week. It was Tottenham in West Ham. Brentford. Was it Brentford last week?

26:34I don't know how much it was there. And the defending was terrible and that's cost them more than today because today it was a big possibility of going to lose the game and that game the defending was horrendous they were white today weren't they yeah they defended really well how Wan-Bissaka started the game today after last week was beyond me but today they actually defended really well but that's why they're down there they're inconsistent they're not consistent enough okay you think West Ham are gone? if they play if Tottenham play anything like they did last week with the urgency and the way they were pressing and it just looked like a completely revamped Tottenham side.

27:14If they play anything like that, then yeah, I think West Ham are going down. And it's unfortunate because they've had so many good seasons under David Moyes when they were here and they were complaining about it and they wanted more. And now they're in the position that they're in, which goes to show life's not always better. It's not always greener on the other side. So Leeds were safe today with that result, yeah? Yes, yeah. How much will that help Spurs tomorrow, Wayne? So the Leeds fans, Leeds players will probably have been traveling to the hotel or been in the hotel. Are you suggesting that in an activities way?

27:51I'm not suggesting that, but I'm just saying you might be a little bit more relaxed in that hotel tonight than you possibly would have been. Have you ever been in that situation, Wayne, where you were kind of going into a game and got some news beforehand that gave you a little boost, perhaps? No, but I remember when I played for Everton,

28:10what year was it I can't remember what year it was and we had to win win or draw I think it was to get in Europe and we played Man United the last game of the season it was the goal where Dave Beckham scored I don't know if you remember he whipped it far court reversed whipped it and I remember the start of the game and I won't name names but I hate it when you tell a story in a midnight there was whiffs of beer going round on the pitch so I think a few of us had the celebrations of being good because they thought they won the league but yeah but United Sir Alex used to do that all the time though if United won the league he'd just start putting kids on the last few games of the season wouldn't he I remember when we played Chelsea I felt bad I did I felt really bad because we won the league and Chelsea was given us a guard of honour and oh yeah and he played I think it was Kieran Lee it was Dong Adam Echolsley he played all these young lads and you've got like Lampard John Terry you've got all the Chelsea first team players giving all these young lads a guard of honour and I felt I felt bad it was that was poor that from us we shouldn't have done that why?

29:22why is that poor? it's your prerogative because the lads who walked out didn't deserve a guard of honour that was their first game of the season yeah but it's your prerogative it's Alex's prerogative to play who he wants They were part of the squad. I'm sure they were great cheerleaders. Yeah, but that was their first... Well, I just put myself on... I put it the other way around and I wouldn't have liked that if Chelsea would have done that. Yeah, okay. But it goes back to Palace. It's the manager's prerogative. They can do what they want, which is the best for their team. And also, it does annoy me at this stage of the season.

29:52Not annoy me, but I do think, like with my team, the EFL season's finished. At the end of the season, we had nothing to play for. You want to see the kids. Otherwise, they're never going to get those opportunities, Wayne. That's what these games are for, no? If you're already safe, if you've got nothing technically to play for. Yeah, but you can play one or two. Yeah, I suppose. Especially if you've got players that are going to go to the World Cup. But also, that... It almost feels like they've got one eye on a World Cup rather than... Like, if they know they've got nothing left to play for, they don't want to be going in 100 % on tackles when they know it could leave them injured and they can miss out on a spot at a World Cup, do they?