Arsenal might surprise everyone tomorrow! | Arsenal vs Liverpool Preview FT @MaychTV

Just as Ian Wright said there, people deluded, I'm back again. Of course, we've got Arsenal versus Liverpool at the weekend, so I had to get a very special guest. Paul, how are you doing? Happy New Year's to you, my guy. How are you doing? Yeah, yeah, very good, very good. Certainly feels better now than it did just in those couple of days before Christmas. Things feel a bit more positive around football, I'm sure you 100% agree. And it's just as you said there, man, I mean, it's been a bit of a weird one for us Arsenal fans. Personally, we've hit a bit of a blip of things, but you know, it's New Year, new optimism. I'm because I'm sure there's plenty of talking points with VAR decisions and diving and all sorts of stuff. Even Klopp lost his wedding ring and then found it back. It was a crazy game. It was a crazy game. I've no idea what you're talking about. I didn't see any of that. But I did see two Stonewall penalties go Liverpool's way, which very, very, very rarely happens. So yeah, I won't be complaining about that too much. No, it was a wild game of football. I mean, it was like, torrential rain, howling wind. On the main stand, about the first sort of 40 rows were all absolutely soaked. I mean, I was dry because I was in the coffin mercifully, but it was one of them. It was one of those games where that could have been one of them, where, you know, Newcastle were straight to whatever. But no, Liverpool just absolutely wiped the floor with them. It was brilliant. I mean, as we get closer towards, I guess, the AFCON starting, how are you feeling about Mohamed Salah going off? Yeah, I mean, look, it's kind of standard at this point. Every time he comes around, it's a surprise and it shouldn't be because he goes to AFCON. Ultimately, that's part of his mission statement, is to win the AFCON Nations for Egypt. So, you know, I thought it was really interesting. He got asked about it by Jamie Carragher post-match. And he was saying, you know, a Liverpool fan could ask him, how quickly can you be home? How quickly are you going to get knocked out and come back home again? And he laughs because he gets it. He's like, oh, I want to win it. And yeah, look, he is a natural born winner, isn't he? So, yeah, as much as I would love to wrap him in cotton wool and say, no, you're all right, mate, we've actually been all right in recent years. We've managed to find a way to get by. We've certainly got more players this time around in those positions. So, fingers crossed. But no, I hate it. I hate it when he goes to AFCON. I just wish he'd just retire from international football and play for us forever. I mean, I feel the same way where Thomas Partey and Garner's concerned. And even though it's not in Africa, with us, with Tommy Assi, there's the Asia Cup. Basically, you know, it kind of made me think... Yeah, we spoke about that with Endo as well. Exactly, Endo as well. So, you're missing about two players. It can't be any more than that. We're missing players as well. Obviously, with Salah going off to AFCON, does it make you kind of think of post-Mohamed Salah life at Liverpool? Because, I mean, he's still got a number of years left. But, I mean, he's in his thirties now. He's very much the present. He's getting older. Do you think about life with that regard? Yeah, yeah. We've had two this last year because, obviously, he was so strongly linked to the Saudi Pro League in the summer. He's got another year on his contract after this. So, like, this will be a big summer for him in terms of what Liverpool choose to do with him, what he chooses to do next. So, yeah, I think more than ever, again, he's been going to AFCON every year since he's joined us. But, definitely, this is one where, I think in years gone by, Liverpool have found makeshift ways to get by without him. So, Oxlade-Chamberlain did a bit on the right a couple of years ago. Jota did a little bit as well. But, as this time around, you know, we haven't necessarily got a straight Salah replacement because you don't have a replacement. Yeah, so, yeah. But, you know, we've just got more attackers than we've ever had before. So, yeah, life without Salah is never going to be that straightforward because nobody's just going to come in and score, you know, well, get the best part of 40 goals and assist the season. It's just unreal. So, yeah, I don't really want to think too much about post-Salah life. But we are going to have to cross that bridge at some point. You're right, man. What have you made of Liverpool this season? The good, bad and the ugly, if anything. Where's your strengths? Where's your weaknesses? Yeah, where are you at with your club 19 games in? I am amazed we are where we are. And not because I don't think we deserve it. Because I just didn't expect it more than anything else. I thought last year, I knew last year it wasn't a fair reflection of how good Liverpool are. And I think there was a lot of mitigating circumstances around that, which was the case a couple of seasons earlier. The season after we won the title, you know, we decimated with injuries at the back. And eventually it all sort of fell apart. And this had a similar sort of vibe. So, I didn't think Liverpool was bad. I just didn't think they were going to be ready to go right back to challenging at the top again. So, I'm cautiously optimistic. You know, they keep passing tests. And moreover, actually, other teams keep failing them. So, that's one of those things where this doesn't look like one of those seasons where Liverpool and City are going toe-to-toe on 98 and 97 points, which is just, they're just the most stressful thing you can do in your entire life. It feels like there's three teams there who are all capable, but all vulnerable in their own ways. So, I'm quietly kind of enjoying it. I don't think the pressure's on. I think of the three teams at the top, I think the pressure's on Liverpool, the least of them, certainly internally. So, yeah, I'm actually quite enjoying it, whereas I normally don't. It's normally just horrendously stressful. I think you're bang on the money there with the pressure's probably less on Liverpool. Because I think many people, you know, Liverpool don't lie down forever. I think many people would have thought you would have hit back. But considering your failure to bring in a number six, people would have said, you know, knock that Liverpool out of the equation. But as you said, it isn't going to quite be toe-to-toe with City. It's very interesting when you look at Manchester City and, you know, everyone says they're falling off, they're out of it. I don't look at the league table personally. But when you do, for all the noise said, in terms of the mathematics, nobody's pulled away from anyone. So, it does beg the question of, you know, talking points and actually hardcore evidence points-wise. So, there's a lot of football to be played. And I personally feel there's more pressure on City because they've won the treble. Arsenal because we haven't did it under Mikel Arteta. And obviously, we're talked about as bringing Arsenal back to where we're supposed to be. Liverpool, it feels like there's a tiny bit of a watershed moment in that, you know, people expect you to be up there, but probably didn't expect you to be up there at the same time. So, that's interesting. On the topic of Arsenal-Liverpool, what did you make of the game at Anfield? It was a weird one. It felt like a lot of the Liverpool-City games over the years, which I think is a lot of higher confidence that I can kind of pay really to Arsenal, that it felt like two really good teams kind of playing their own brand of football and being at a very similar level, to be honest. It would have been interesting because I think the timing of the game just wasn't... I think it suited Arsenal a little bit better. Obviously, we had the league cup quarterfinals, you know, in and around that time as well. So, I think it took a little bit from us. I just looked at that and went, yeah, I could see how that could be an ongoing thing, you know, like every few years there's a new top-of-the-table rivalry. There's very rarely three really good teams at the same time in the league. It often tends to be two. Now, the problem is Man City are just so stupidly dominant. But I could see how if City was to come undone, I could easily see how Liverpool and Arsenal go toe-to-toe for a few years right at the top of the league. And I quite enjoyed that, to be honest, because I like what Arteta's doing. I like what Arsenal are doing. And mainly a lot of this is to do with how much I don't like what Man City are doing and how Man City are doing it. I think I can make... Honestly, I can make me peace with... It's not like Arsenal and Liverpool are paupers, they're not. But they build football clubs in the right way, they build sides in the right way, and then they do the style thing. And they've got to find ways to win, they've got to find marginal gains whilst not having bottomless resources. So, there's something a bit more natural about what Arsenal do. So, I have a greater deal of respect. So, I enjoyed it. I really wanted us to win because I wanted us to show definitively that we were better than Arsenal, but we didn't. And I think that's a fair reflection, really, where both teams are at. I think that's a fantastic way of articulating it. Personally, any time I can leave Anfield with a point, I'm not going to complain because we don't travel well there. But it is disappointing that the hoodoo kind of remains, really and truly. And for me, it's them kind of mental blocks that Arsenal need to get over. I think we're a team that can get 70 to 75 points, as you kind of alluded to. I believe anyways, when you go into a season trying to pit City to a title, give or take, as the season plays out, you might need a little less, but I think you need 90 points. And I was very disappointed in that game. Obviously, you lot are known for your comebacks and things like that, but it's another game, like against Fulham, like against Spurs, where we've taken the lead and not left with three points. And I think that's where we need to get over, really. I think for us to show we're competitive, to step in the right direction, for instance, beating Man City at home and actually getting a point off Liverpool. But we need to show that we can go to Anfield and kind of play like that and be competitive and ultimately one day get three points. And for us, I know United aren't really in the best of form, but I'd say a ground like Old Trafford because we don't travel there as well. Are you expecting a different game at the Emirates then? Because it is the FA Cup, you know, a couple of our players may or may not be out. Yeah, and it's just like the Emirates, really. It's a different kind of landscape, really. Yeah, 100%. And I think it's weird because walking out of Anfield before Christmas, I was looking at that game and thinking that's a big one. But weirdly, because of how the results have fallen since then, I'm looking at it now This has taken on a bit of a secondary importance. Liverpool have got a two-legged League Cup semi-final against Fulham to come in a couple of weeks as well. So, well, actually next Wednesday, we play that a week tomorrow. So that's obviously a big one because that's two games away from Wembley. I feel weirdly like it's not a free hit because if you lose to Arsenal, it kind of dampens the mood. It does kind of run the risk of cutting the legs off the optimism that Liverpool are building. But at the same time, over the course of how you build a season, I wouldn't be terribly upset if this one got by us, you know what I mean? Because as I say, that Emirates game, if we can keep going as we're going and even go and get a point at the Emirates, that puts us in a really good place in the League. So, yeah, I like the FA Cup, I really, really do. I'm not sure Liverpool are equipped to go all the way in for the season. Not that I'm throwing it, by the way, because when it comes around to kick-off time, I'm absolutely going to want us to win that at all costs. But, yeah, I think the last couple of games, I think seeing Arsenal drop points and Liverpool going to the top of the League, there's one domestic Cup semi-final in the bag and then the League to follow. Yeah, I feel like it's just kind of slipped below in the pecking order for me. I think I agree with you. I'd say for Arsenal, I think there's more of a demand for us to win because, you know, again, December's been, it started off great, but in the last five, six games, it's been anything. But I do think the FA Cup can be a welcome distraction. I do think while I'm unhappy that we've dropped points, not just in December, but in general this season, because I don't feel a team, whether that's Arsenal, Liverpool, City, they've all done well, but they also all could do a lot better. And I think there's an opportunity for us to kind of pull away. And I think that's kind of the luxury I'll give us because we started the season so great. When we've had this wobble, there's a certain sort of flooring. I want the FA Cup to be a welcome distraction because I know football fans are very reactionary, but based on the sentiment towards the end of December, it's kind of like, let's pack up the League now. Let's try and finish as high as we can and then obviously win an FA Cup. And it is at the Emirates. So I kind of want to see a competitive game. And I personally think games like against Liverpool, I want to see my players relish it because these fine margins or how good you are as a footballer, when you're playing against the best, you have to raise to the occasion. It's not good enough to be good for 10 minutes or 20 minutes. You need to be good for 90. So I'm hoping we can be optimistic and things like that. My last question for you would be, you kind of alluded to it, you know, you kind of said something along the lines of, you know, you're a bit concerned about Liverpool's depth. What do you mean by that? And do you think you have enough depth? And what areas would you address for those that don't support Liverpool that are looking in? Honestly, I think our depth's all right. I think we've probably got the deepest squad in the league. I'd certainly be attacking the teams attacking the league. Obviously, no Salah, no Endo, and Robertson and Simicast both being out at left back is a concern. So there's that. And Liverpool, I think we're probably a defender. Well, at the start of the season, I think we felt we were a defender light, but then Janelle Clance has come in and he's been absolutely, absolutely brilliant. Yeah, I think Liverpool could do with a left-footed centre-half who can do a little bit at left back if need be. That would be the absolute ideal. And that means that we can start to consider Virgil van Dijk's future as well. I think he's been back to his best and amazing this season, Van Dijk, absolutely incredible. But, you know, we've limited his minutes. He's not played as much in the cup competitions in Jordan and what have you. It'd be nice to start thinking about someone who can do that. No Endo means a lot of pressure on McAllister to come back in the six. And look, I think he's done a pretty good job of it. But Endo, actually, it's just this last few weeks since McAllister's been injured. That's really good. He's been one of our better players. So there's still the question of do we need to go and get another number six, another professional number six, and then let McAllister play a bit further forward. But I don't know. I think Liverpool just feel reasonably happy. I think their transfers now, from now on, need to be great. They need to buy brilliant footballers. If one becomes available in January, they'll move for it, because we've seen that happen with Garpo and Diaz. But yeah, I mean, they need a little bit more defensive cover, but they've just brought Owen Vech back from loan, who's a 21-year-old Welsh left back, who, by all accounts, has been having a really good time with Dundee. Whether he's at the level, we'll be interested to find out. But we've just got to get through this month, really. So I don't know. Honest answer is I think Liverpool's squad depth is OK. I think it's hurt by the Asia Cup and AFCON, obviously. But I wonder whether they'll just find a way to muddle through for a few weeks and see where it goes. I mean, you said something interestingly there about you need to just buy quality footballers, borderline amazing footballers. I personally think that's what Arsenal need to do. I think when you look at Mikel Arteta's trajectory since when he walked in, we've done very good. But if you look at last season and just consider this year and it's OK, they kind of forget that and we're here to be title contenders, then all you need to do is look at the competition. City are littered with stars. You're littered with stars. And if they're not necessarily stars, they're difference makers. They're significantly experienced. They move the needle. And if they don't move the needle for your team, there's a certain flooring. I personally think that's where Arsenal are concerned. I wish I felt like you in relation to depth, because I feel we're maybe kind of someone like Timbo or someone like that that can play left-back, right-back, centre-half. I think we badly need a midfielder or two, a six or eight wouldn't go amiss. Saka, Martinelli and Trosser are all feeling the strain. So I'd like a winger. And obviously, I'd like a forward as well. But you know, a lot of that is probably going to be addressed in the summer. In January, I at least need a defender. That's a busy January now, Jesus. Busy January. And we probably have to do outlawings. And as you said, we're not littered with cash as well. So I wish I felt the same way you did about your squad depth. But we're going to have to get on with it. I know I said last question, but last question, I've got to get a prediction from you for Sunday's game. And I'm going to go to you, Arsenal. More positivity more than anything. What have you got? I never, ever predict Liverpool defeat. I can't believe you. 15 years on YouTube, never done it. So I'll say draw. I've just got a feeling about this one. You know, I'm not sure it's right at the forefront of everyone's sort of mind and importance. And I think it'll be when I think Arteta will have everyone pumped up for it as well because of the last few weeks. So yeah, in all honesty, I think Arsenal will get past us. But yeah, it doesn't have a prediction. If Liverpool can get, I can just put a good, strong showing in so that so it doesn't feel like an absolute kick in the teeth. That'll kind of do for me. But look, if they just want to run off to the Emirates and win and then do the same in the league, then yeah, that'll be fine as well. I hear you, man. I want to win more than anything because it's a welcome distraction and kind of what you said. I want to avoid a replay at Anfield. I don't want to be visiting Anfield again until next season. And I think both managers probably don't want to replay. And again, it's kind of like, you know, the introduction for us meeting in the league at the Emirates. So if we want to be competitive, we need to show we can go against Liverpool in City and be competitive and win these games. And for me, get to a scenario where even if we do beat Liverpool, it's not all City. It's not really a shock. It's kind of business as usual. I think that's the territory you lot are in. And that's where we need to aspire to go to. But you know, Paul, I know you're pressed for time. So I'm going to let you get out of here as usual. Appreciative for you for previewing the Liverpool game with myself. May the best set of teams win, my guy, man. Let me let you get out of here. Appreciate that. In a bit, my dude.