- 4/25/2025
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00:00They've stopped the rot on the road, and they've done Liverpool a big turn here in North London tonight.
00:06Final score, Arsenal 2, Crystal Palace 2.
00:10Well, I'm not sure anyone's going to remember that game for too long, but they might remember that goal, Theo.
00:15Yeah, it was some goal. It shocked us all, and it got me saying, run to the corner flag, Arsenal, at some point.
00:21But yeah, incredible finish. It's a player just breathing with confidence, and going into the FA Cup semi-final now against Arsenal Villa at the weekend.
00:28But, I mean, to get a result at Arsenal like this, it's pretty strong for Crystal Palace going into it in good spirits.
00:36Villa, beware, because there is, they didn't already know, and I'm sure they did, there is plenty of attacking power and guile and craft in that Oli Glasner Crystal Palace team.
00:47But I'm trying to picture the scene on Merseyside right now, Jamie.
00:51You know, you've got fans who've been gathering to watch this game tonight on TV, no doubt.
00:56And players?
00:56Players have been gathering at the training ground, we understand.
01:01Cameras on standby, just in case.
01:04It's been a really strange atmosphere.
01:07Yeah, I mean, I think in some ways it was a perfect result for Liverpool and Liverpool supporters in that you want to have to do something in your own ground.
01:16I mean, to win it tonight, I mean, some of them probably just want a quiet night in tonight rather than going on the ale and celebrating, really.
01:22And they can save that now for the weekend.
01:23But it obviously, at the weekend, makes it easier.
01:26It's not just about winning the game, it's making sure you don't lose the game.
01:29That won't be Liverpool's mentality, we know that.
01:32But it just means an even greater chance that Liverpool get the job done on Sunday by just picking up a point or three.
01:40One point is all they would need now against Spurs on Sunday to be crowned champions of the Premier League.
01:47Well done to Palace tonight.
01:53Arsenal move on to 67, 12 points behind.
01:57They can't overtake Liverpool now, so it just goes down to the goal difference, which means that, for the maths, Liverpool just need one more point against Spurs on Sunday.
02:07But probably Arsenal just have to be careful with difficult games ahead of them against Bournemouth, Liverpool themselves, Newcastle as well, that Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, even Newcastle don't creep up on their shoulder.
02:28Crystal Palace stay in 12th place, stay in the bottom half.
02:32For them, a huge gain this coming weekend against Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final.
02:44So, Super Sunday looks like this for us.
02:47European chasing Bournemouth, take on Manchester United.
02:52And then it is at Anfield, where there may well be a party mood.
02:56Because Liverpool need one point to become champions when they take on Spurs.
03:03And that gets underway from four o'clock on Super Sunday.
03:09And we've got tomorrow the NFL Draft kick-off.
03:12Nine o'clock Sky Sports mix for that.
03:14And a huge night of boxing is coming your way on Sky Sports Box Office.
03:24The headline, Eubank Junior facing Ben.
03:29It all gets underway from five o'clock and it's available to Sky and non-Sky customers in the UK and Ireland.
03:34Virgin Media and ETV customers, please contact your operator at skysports.com forward slash box office for more information.
03:44And on Sky Atlantic, every Monday, there is a new episode available of Season 2 of The Last of Us.
03:56That's Sky Atlantic for that.
04:01Theo Walcott and Jamie Carragher are here.
04:04You'll hear much more from them when we come back.
04:06We're going to have a look at this again and again and again.
04:11Because it was really special from Jean-Philippe Mateta.
04:15And it had the nerves jangling, the excitement building on Merseyside as well.
04:20And it's left Liverpool on the brink of the title.
04:23You'll never stop this day, I will never let you go.
04:32...the captain to take him.
04:36Drops it in.
04:37Kivio!
04:38What a brilliant header from the pole!
04:44Eza.
04:45Oh, that's brilliant!
04:47In off the post from Eberi, Eze.
04:49Trossard, very good first time.
04:56And Leandro Trossard is in regular form at the moment.
05:04Teta, good strength.
05:06Brilliant effort.
05:07Oh, what a goal!
05:09Old smile for Jean-Philippe Mateta.
05:12The title edges closer to Anfield and further away if possible.
05:17Yes, Arsenal pegged back by Crystal Palace.
05:20And that means that Liverpool just need a point on Sunday
05:23to clinch the Premier League title.
05:26No doubt about the moment of the match.
05:28It came from the super sub Jean-Philippe Mateta,
05:32who's giving his reaction to David Crane.
05:36Jean-Philippe, only one place to start with that goal of yours tonight.
05:40First and foremost, just how aware were you where David Rea was
05:44when you took hold of the ball?
05:45Yeah, first of all, when I started on the bench,
05:49I just watched the first half.
05:50It was very high.
05:52And when I came in the pitch, I knew if we win the ball high,
05:56I know it will be in the next goal, you know.
05:58And I tried.
05:59And I scored.
06:01Alan Smith, our co-commentator,
06:03described it as one of the very best goals of the Premier League season.
06:06Is that one of the very best goals that you've scored in your career?
06:09Yeah, I think so.
06:11Yes.
06:12Yeah, yeah.
06:12Well, how aware were you that it was going in when you hit it?
06:17Did you know from the minute you hit it, it was on target?
06:19No, I was scared the ball hit the crossbar.
06:22And I just wait until the end and after the ball goes in, goes in.
06:26That was happy.
06:27Big games ahead for both teams coming into this match tonight.
06:32At times, the game seemed a little bit pedestrian watching it from the sidelines.
06:36But in terms of performance tonight from Crystal Palace,
06:40how big was that performance in terms of your recent Premier League games?
06:43Yeah, today we just took out our plans.
06:46You know, we struggled for the last three games.
06:50I don't think we scored.
06:50Yeah, we scored, but we lose.
06:52And, yeah, we just keep, we just listened to the gaffer.
06:56And today was a good game for us.
07:00You've played Champions League semi-finalists tonight.
07:03At the weekend, you played Champions League quarter-finalists.
07:06Is this the perfect way now to go into that game?
07:09Yeah, I think we have confidence now.
07:13And hopefully we will win this semi-final.
07:18Just how big is the weekend for everybody, Jean-Philippe?
07:22Yeah, it's a very good game for the fans, for us, for everybody.
07:27And, yeah, I can't wait to be on Saturday.
07:3014 goals for the season so far.
07:32How happy are you with your own form,
07:35particularly after such a serious injury as well?
07:38Yeah, I'm very happy.
07:39I hope I will score a lot of more goals.
07:42And 14 goals is good, but I hope I will score much more.
07:46I think you'll get a start after that goal, won't you, at the weekend?
07:48Hopefully, hopefully.
07:50Listen, well done, Jean-Philippe.
07:52You are the player of the match.
07:53Take your trophy.
07:55I'm very happy, thank you.
07:56Good man.
07:58I think maybe a little bit surprised to get it.
08:00He only had five touches in the game.
08:02His third one was that spectacular equaliser.
08:05But did we see in that little moment just how important he is as a player to Crystal Palace?
08:13I think you get the sense he's a good character around the dressing room as well.
08:17I mean, it shocked him getting the player of the match.
08:19It really did.
08:20But look, when you create a goal like that and what he's done off the back of the performance with the national team,
08:28it's been an incredible turnaround.
08:29It really has.
08:29But yeah, he's got this stature around.
08:31They play so differently.
08:32They just play to their comfort when he's up front.
08:35Very different to Eddie Nketiah.
08:36But the goal itself was absolutely incredible.
08:38And I love the fact he said he was watching the game because sometimes, as a substitution,
08:42don't get me wrong, I've been there at times when you could be a bit upset if you're not starting.
08:45But look, he understands the process.
08:47He understands it's not about tonight.
08:49And he's always monitoring the game.
08:51And I think it's really important to actually create that goal because he was focused on the bench,
08:57not on the pitch as well.
08:57That was an intriguing little insight, wasn't it, Jamie?
09:00Because we were, all of us, asking where was David Wright in that moment.
09:04He had a really strong idea because he'd been observing from the sidelines.
09:09Yeah, and I just want to highlight his position here, the goalkeeper.
09:13Now, we're going to see this more and more in terms of goalkeepers almost becoming,
09:17not just being good on the ball, but if you look at him, he's part of the back four there.
09:21Because I think that Kivio there has almost gone to left back.
09:26Lewis Skelly moves on.
09:26So this is almost trying to sort of get your extra man, if you like, in the build-up.
09:30And I think that's fine.
09:32You know, there's no real pressure on the ball.
09:33He can handle the ball, David Wright.
09:34That, for me, is fine.
09:35But that is where he sees him.
09:38He sees him now.
09:39He knows he's not in the goal.
09:41So where I do have a problem with David Wright is eventually when there's players around the ball.
09:47So still now, he's in that centre-back position.
09:50But as soon as Odegaard almost takes up that position there as another centre-back,
09:56and then Kivio becomes your left-back, I think you've just got to get back and go.
09:59Do you think it's because he's got so much confidence in Odegaard as a footballer?
10:02Yeah, of course it is.
10:03And maybe it's this thing, you know, we're winning 2-1.
10:06It had a little bit of a feel of it, second half, maybe at Arsenal.
10:08Not so much he's thinking about other things, but it's just that little bit more lax than what it maybe would have been.
10:13But I think as soon as Saliba's got another player there to play with, the goalkeeper doesn't need to be there.
10:19He's certainly not thinking worst-case scenario at this point, is he?
10:21No, he's not. But that is where Mateta's seen him.
10:23And then it's just a mess from Saliba.
10:25And it's happened a couple of times now.
10:26He was brilliant in the Bernabeau.
10:27And again, lost his concentration, his focus.
10:30But then this is fantastic.
10:31And you see the goalkeeper trying to get back.
10:34And that is absolutely outstanding.
10:36I'm fascinated by the finish, Theo, that he doesn't seem to look up.
10:39And he just, at the first possible opportunity, seems to get his shot away.
10:43Well, as a forward, like you say, you always know and recognise spaces.
10:47And you recognise where the keeper is.
10:48You alluded that to the interview.
10:51But, I mean, it's one of those where he doesn't think about it.
10:56And I think the best football, a lot of footballers these days, they tend to not think about what they're doing.
11:00It just happens in moments.
11:02And what I find interesting as well is, I'm not a big fan of having a number 10.
11:07I know Odegaard's a very important player for Arsenal.
11:11At that point in the game, I think he was out of the game completely and wanted to get involved.
11:15And I think that was one thing.
11:16But also going back to Rhea as well, there was a few instances that may be playing on his mind going into the, obviously, to midweek next week.
11:23But, yeah, look, fantastic Mateta.
11:25This goal, I thought Ezez was very good, but this is very special tonight.
11:28The old cliche about being, you know, for a big man, his touch isn't bad.
11:32And he's a really good player.
11:33Yeah.
11:34I do.
11:35How good, Jamie?
11:36I mean, what context would you put that in?
11:36I think that there will be other clubs.
11:39Listen, I don't like saying that.
11:41Because, you know, Crystal Palace, you know, supporters understandably get upset by that.
11:45But that's a brilliant finish.
11:47And for a couple of seasons now, he's been not just a real handful, he's been a real goal-getter for Crystal Palace.
11:53And you look at him, you're thinking, OK, can he go to that sort of next level of, maybe not teams challenging for the league,
12:00but teams who are challenging for the Champions League positions, you know, you think of sort of the teams in and around.
12:04And that's really competitive, those type of teams.
12:06You'd say Crystal Palace are a level below that, almost your typical mid-table team, really.
12:11But I think he's brilliant.
12:12I really like him.
12:13He's a really good player.
12:14Just a little point you mentioned there, Theo.
12:16I hadn't really noticed it so much with it being Odegaard, being back in that position.
12:20I knew it was him.
12:21But we were speaking through the game.
12:23I mean, it's something I've sort of looked at a lot with Odegaard this last season.
12:27I feel like a lot of the time, he's not in the positions he should be, which is between the lines.
12:34You know, I think not so much this season.
12:36I think he's had an average season.
12:37But before that, I was looking at him thinking he was almost on the level of Kevin De Bruyne, I felt to me,
12:42where he'd get the ball between the lines.
12:43He was threading things.
12:44Everything was going through him.
12:45Felt like I was watching one of the best players in the Premier League.
12:47And we've done this feature this heavily, I think, on Monday Night Football, two or three times this season.
12:52He's always coming off the danger area.
12:54He's always coming into a central midfield position.
12:56An easy position for me, where he can make nice passes, look neat and tidy, but he's not actually hurting anybody.
13:00So if you're the opposition team, is that where you would want him?
13:03Is actually amongst his back four, rather than hurting you at the top of the pitch?
13:06Of course, but I mean, he doesn't normally go that deep.
13:08And I don't want to be too criticised, because I've just seen that clip.
13:11There might be a reason why he's there that I'm not aware of.
13:13But in general, even when I'm watching them tonight, and we've watched them all season,
13:17I feel like he's always on the outside of the game looking in, when he should be in the...
13:22Maybe getting less touches, but actually in a position where he can get on the half-turn, he can play people through.
13:26I mean, you mentioned his goal return as well earlier on as well.
13:29Two in this season.
13:30Yeah, for a player in this position as well, there's a lot of competition, you know,
13:33amongst the Premier League with the best talent and the number 10s.
13:35You'd want more goals from him.
13:36You would.
13:37I get that.
13:37And I understand the point of he's that player that connects everyone.
13:40But he's got a player, Ethan Manieri, behind him.
13:43It will push him at some point.
13:44You spoke earlier about saying that a player will only so long stay on the bench.
13:48Ethan has probably sped up his process of challenging.
13:51And this is the point for me at the start of the season when Odegaard was injured.
13:54Ethan didn't play as much at all.
13:56But I'm getting a sense now that he's pushing him.
13:58And I think Martin Odegaard at some point will realise this,
14:00and he can't just rely on being the team captain as well.
14:02But, look, I just think it's one of those where it was a disappointing performance,
14:07and we spoke about performance going into a big game next week.
14:10Mikhail Teta will be pulling his hair out of that one tonight.
14:12I think the point you make there about...
14:13I was surprised Nwaniere didn't play.
14:17You know, Sterling played.
14:17He found it tough.
14:18He has done.
14:19But we were speaking off air.
14:21What you've just mentioned, in terms of...
14:23Sometimes the only problem Arsenal have got with Nwaniere is
14:26he plays in the same position as the best player, which is Saka.
14:29And eventually you've got to find us...
14:30One of them's got to be the number 10, probably eventually.
14:34And I think for another 12 months, they can move that around, mix it around,
14:38give Ethan a few more games, a bit more games.
14:42But eventually it's going to be like, I want to play.
14:44And I do think one of them's going to end up being that Odegaard position
14:48in the next sort of 18 months.
14:49Well, that Mateta goal made it 2-2.
14:52And there was still time for some nervy moments for the Arsenal crowd
14:56and some exciting moments if you're watching this on Merseyside tonight.
14:59Because remember, another goal at this stage was going to hand Liverpool the title.
15:03And here we go.
15:0391st minute and this had a couple of people squeaking in the studio.
15:06Let me tell you as well.
15:07Theo, what happens here?
15:09I mean, look, again, it's another factor that they've got to deal with.
15:12Mateta is completely the polar opposite to Eddie.
15:15I think it was going wide anyway.
15:16But it was more the problems he was causing and now putting the defenders in a different situation
15:22that they've not been used to.
15:23Because it was a game that was comfortable for both teams.
15:26But look, very nervy, I felt.
15:28And if you go into the next week particularly, it plays in players' minds.
15:32It really does with certain moments in games.
15:34And look, for someone like Mateta, you get the likes of some of the PSG players
15:39that can cause a lot more damage than Mateta.
15:41No disrespect to him.
15:42But look, he's very different stature.
15:43But you're going to be watching that very closely and know the weaknesses of Arsenal.
15:49So they were the crucial moments towards the end of the game.
15:52But let's wind it all the way back to the start.
15:56And Arsenal relying on a good old set piece.
15:58Yeah, and they're absolutely brilliant at them.
16:00And if you just look at this, we couldn't show this in all of it
16:04because of the time constraints at a half-time.
16:07But I just wanted to look at that.
16:09There's Kivio.
16:09There's the goal scorer with the taker.
16:11So you can see everybody's set.
16:14So he's gone right over.
16:15He knows what the plan is.
16:17He's basically telling them, you know, something that we've worked on.
16:19I know exactly what I want to do.
16:21Look.
16:22So just keep an eye on them too.
16:23And then just watch the knock-on effect.
16:24So look at Kivio running side now.
16:27So if you just look here now, you've got sort of, I think it's Timber here.
16:31So as soon as Kivio gives him a message about what he wants me to do,
16:35Timber completely changes his position.
16:36So initially he's saying, OK, I'm behind the ball.
16:38So Kivio comes over.
16:42Lewis Skelly goes slightly deeper.
16:44He now comes and has a word with Timber.
16:45Right, we're all going to the back post.
16:47And then everybody...
16:48Sorry, just let me just...
16:49Let's get in the queue for the bus.
16:49Yeah.
16:50So even these people who are actually in those positions,
16:53as soon as Kivio comes over, gives the message to Timber,
16:56then looks at Trossard as well,
16:58and now everybody goes to the back post
16:59because there's a plan in place.
17:01And then that's what we highlighted at half-time.
17:05You know, I think there's only Kivio really who's looking to score.
17:09I think the rest of them have all got a job to block the opposition.
17:13Stop it there, Jamie, sorry.
17:14Stop it there.
17:14If you flip that to the Crystal Palace perspective,
17:17because if you just wind it back a bit,
17:19there, you're defending your line as a diligent Crystal Palace defender,
17:23and then suddenly you've got no one to actually mark.
17:26How unusual is that?
17:27Now, this has been going on for a long time different to this
17:30in that people would already stand there.
17:32So I'd be standing here defending a wide free kick,
17:37Theo would be there, and he'd just stand there.
17:39And you're only fighting.
17:41So what I used to do later in my career,
17:43and Van Nistelrooy was the master at it,
17:45and he used to do it in general play, actually, Van Nistelrooy a lot.
17:48But you'd have to be brave at the last minute,
17:50and then at the last minute, you'd have to...
17:51I'd almost try and get myself and throw him round that side.
17:54But this is different that they're coming at the last minute.
17:57They're not stood there.
17:58They're just bumping you.
18:00Now, I actually think, what would you do?
18:03Because no one can stop this little bump
18:05if someone actually goes the other way and plays them offside.
18:10So, OK, you're all in our line.
18:11They're running from this side.
18:13Just before the fellas are out to take it, the whole line,
18:15you give a little shout, everyone moves two yards that way.
18:17And then you're trying to maybe catch these offside.
18:18Someone's got to try something.
18:20Because, you know, this is...
18:21What we're watching this season, set piece-wise, is absolutely...
18:24Listen, it's outstanding.
18:25You have to say that for Arsenal.
18:26But as we run it in now, again, everyone...
18:31The backsides are out.
18:32Here we go.
18:33The okie-kokie.
18:34And it just creates that space.
18:36But if you think you've got four or five players in the box,
18:40and most of them aren't looking to get the ball,
18:43there's only one or two looking to get the ball,
18:44that delivery has got to be unbelievable.
18:46And it is from Eau de Garda.
18:47And we've just criticised them before.
18:48But this delivery is fantastic.
18:51And still, the header is out of this world as well.
18:53It's 12 yards out.
18:55It's on the penalty spot.
18:56And as a centre-back, how much confidence will that give Kivio?
18:59Getting a goal.
19:00Yeah, it will.
19:01You know, listen, if...
19:02You know what?
19:03I think Gabriel scored a goal like this at Anfield a year or two ago.
19:06Something pretty similar in that type of position.
19:10But on this one especially,
19:12Thomas Partey is a big part of Kivio there.
19:16Kivio gives the whack to Enketiah and stop.
19:18And then what you've got is that.
19:21That is just being created exactly for him to run into that space.
19:25The rest of them have been blocked.
19:26They've created that space for Kivio,
19:28who looks a different player than what he did last season
19:31when he was playing left-back.
19:32Looked completely out of his depth.
19:33But now he looks, you know, a credible Arsenal centre-back.
19:36It's not Gabriel.
19:36You know, but it'll certainly give them confidence
19:40going into sort of the semi-finals.
19:42Is he a player that's risen to the challenge, Theo?
19:44You know, it shows the mentality and the strength in his character
19:46because, like you just said there, he's been pushed out full-back
19:49and he's not gifted with pace.
19:52He really isn't.
19:52This man's quite quick.
19:53You're quick in himself as a full-back, but...
19:56You talking about me?
19:56Yeah, I am talking about yourself.
19:58We're going to have a race here.
20:00But just to be on the sidelines and to not play at all,
20:03to wait for your moment,
20:04and then to play in such a big opportunity, a big game,
20:07knowing that you're not playing for a long time.
20:09We've obviously spoken about Raheem Sterling
20:10not up to game fitness, and you can clearly see that.
20:13And that's not the Sterling we know.
20:15But Kivio is well there.
20:16It just shows the strength and the homework that Mikel Arteta
20:19is to bring in a player like this,
20:20understanding that you're going to be a starter,
20:22but when I need you, I need you.
20:24And as well, that goal, confidence goals,
20:26you know, obviously always happens.
20:27But look, he's going to have a busy, busy week ahead.
20:30Certainly is, but he looks in a good place right now, doesn't he?
20:33It was an equaliser from a set-piece from Crystal Palace.
20:35And do you think this one, Theo, is sort of conjured
20:38because they know they have the quality of Eze on the edge of the box?
20:42Yeah, look, I said this a half-time.
20:43They were back in a situation like this to get a shot away.
20:46Yeah, what it was is obviously Raheem and Trossard
20:49were pinned back to create all that space for Eze.
20:51But for me, you cannot give any opportunity,
20:54any Premier League player, that much time on the edge of the box.
20:57And I know it's not often you see goals go in like this,
20:59but, you know, my position as a winger,
21:02I would always be on that edge of the box,
21:04knowing that I'm not going to win headers.
21:06I'm not going to challenge someone.
21:08Put me in a position where I can be in a strength going that way as well.
21:12If you lose the ball, I will counter.
21:14And to have players nowhere near Eze,
21:16and again, it's one of those you mishit it,
21:19but it ended up being, you know, obviously perfection as well.
21:22But look, never give any Premier League player time and space
21:25on the edge of the box.
21:25Like I say, even goals like that we want to see more of.
21:29But look, fantastic finish from Eze tonight it was.
21:33Yes, again, though, yes, they are strong offensively at set pieces,
21:37but they're also conceding goals from set pieces as well.
21:40I think we've got a graphic to show you.
21:43Not at this stage.
21:47We'll move on.
21:48The graphic isn't there.
21:49Yeah, I think we know the numbers, we'll get to the graphic,
21:52but I think Arsenal now conceded six goals from corners.
21:56That's what you believe is the most in the top half of the Premier League.
22:00And I just don't know if...
22:02Oh, yeah, here we go.
22:04We get there.
22:04There's lots goals conceded from corners,
22:06and that is the percentage this season.
22:09So, obviously, you look at Wolves and Southampton
22:11have possibly conceded more than Arsenal,
22:13but they don't conceded as many...
22:15They have to defend more corners than Arsenal.
22:18So, in terms of a percentage,
22:19there's only Manchester United who are actually worse
22:21than Arsenal this season, set piece-wise.
22:24So, when we make a big deal about the set piece coach,
22:26he's absolutely out of this world in terms of going forward.
22:29But they've got a big problem.
22:31Defensively, so, should we be cutting his wages in half?
22:33I mean, do they need a defensive set piece coach?
22:37Maybe that's the way it goes, isn't it?
22:39Yeah.
22:40A couple of guys bouncing at me down on the sidelines.
22:42No, but I feel like it's been one of the stories of the season,
22:44and rightly so.
22:45I mean, even tonight, the delivery, you know,
22:48Kivio talking to players, people blocking people,
22:50getting the delivery right in the right position.
22:52The head, it's unbelievable.
22:54You know, you feel like every game you go into,
22:56Arsenal are going to score a goal on a set piece,
22:57or they come very close to score it.
22:59And, of course, he's had a huge impact,
23:01but it is funny, isn't it, that on the flip side of that,
23:04they're having huge problems themselves.
23:05Theo, Trossard gave Arsenal the lead before half-time.
23:08How important is it his ability
23:10that he can play off either foot?
23:12He can shoot with either foot
23:14when he's playing in this more central position.
23:16Do you know what?
23:17It's a player as well who's gifted anywhere in that front line.
23:20He's always comfortable with his back against,
23:23you know, the play.
23:24His first touch is absolutely outstanding
23:26to kill the pass with that much pace.
23:28But as well, because he keeps people guessing on,
23:31when he plays on the left-hand side,
23:32you're never quite sure if he's going to go on the inside,
23:33the outside.
23:34He creates himself, he gets his luck,
23:36obviously from the deflection.
23:37But he's a player that's been so important
23:40and probably an underrated player in some sense.
23:43When I say underrated,
23:44I think he's had moments where he may not be in the game,
23:47but he will get that goal.
23:48And I think that's when you have players like that
23:50in the dressing room or in that team,
23:51that in a slip of a moment,
23:53they can just create something out of nothing.
23:55He's certainly got that Arsenal
23:56because there's not many of them
23:57that can create, you know,
23:58finishes like that that easily as well with both foot.
24:01And so for me, yeah, he's important.
24:03It's going to be interesting to see where he plays as well.
24:04I'm still trying to figure it out himself if he's going to drop Mourinho.
24:07Were you convinced?
24:08If that was the audition, were you convinced by it?
24:11I mean, he gets a goal, yeah.
24:13I mean, you know,
24:13it's one of those you put yourself in that position to get a goal.
24:15He's done his job.
24:17I think there was elements in the second half,
24:18it did start to die off.
24:19And it was one of those where as soon as Crystal Palace got that goal,
24:22everyone woke up a bit.
24:23But yeah, I think he's definitely,
24:25he's put a little bit of pressure on that side of it.
24:28But look, he lives with that.
24:29I think the fact that at home in the first leg
24:31makes it easier to go with
24:33sort of Trosha at the top end of the pitch,
24:36Mourinho a little bit further back.
24:37I think it would have been a lot tougher
24:39if it was away from home in the first leg.
24:40Obviously, you know,
24:41Par to be back for the second leg.
24:43I think that would have been a much more interesting conundrum.
24:46But again, it's another situation with Arsenal
24:48without a player, an important player in party.
24:50Think of Gabriel, obviously, Havis, Jesus as well.
24:53And I think if Arsenal had the full repertoire of players,
24:57I think they'd have a really strong chance of going on
24:59and winning the Champions League.
25:00It's just going to obviously be a lot tougher missing players.
25:03He has one or two decisions to make, doesn't he?
25:05Selection-wise, Mikel Arteta.
25:06And maybe we'll get some clues when we hear from him
25:08on the other side of this break.
25:11I'm sure he wasn't thrilled by the final result tonight.
25:142-2 with Crystal Palace.
25:16His thoughts next.
25:24With David Craig.
25:27Yeah, we're disappointed with the results
25:28and with performance, I think.
25:30I think we never find enough consistency in actions
25:34to end the right to completely dominate the game.
25:36We have periods of that.
25:38But then we start to give the sloppy balls away.
25:40We drop the standards in certain defensive habits as well.
25:43And, yeah, when you are not your best but you are winning 2-1,
25:48obviously you can give the ball away in the manner that we did it.
25:51It's part of football and it costs us two points.
25:54It's been an intense past week for you,
25:57starting in Madrid and then at Ipswich on Sunday
25:59and then three days later again tonight.
26:02Has that played a part in perhaps some of those errors
26:05than performance that you've alluded to tonight?
26:07It can be very difficult.
26:09We will never know.
26:10But certainly the standards are required in the Premier League
26:13to diminish many aspects of the game
26:16that we should have done better today.
26:19We're in there.
26:20And then, yeah, the game is always in the air
26:24for the position to help you
26:26if they have the quality to deliver.
26:28And especially on the goal that they scored the second one,
26:31they found that.
26:32It's always difficult to find perfection,
26:34but there was a sense perhaps around the stadium tonight
26:37amongst fans and maybe sometimes the players
26:39that minds might be elsewhere.
26:41And would that be forgivable looking at what lies ahead for you?
26:44No, because we require the consistency
26:46in the competition that we play to be at our best
26:49and sometimes the opposition.
26:50And today I think they were very organised
26:52and they deserve the credit.
26:54But as well, we have to be critical with ourselves
26:56and look what we have to do much better.
26:58I think it's fair to say that both William Saliba
27:01and David Rea have been brilliant at times for you this year.
27:04But did you get punished for errors?
27:06And are those the type of errors you have to rule out
27:08at the highest level?
27:09Yeah, for sure.
27:10I mean, that's going to cause you points that we don't have.
27:13But they're a part of football.
27:14And it is damaging, but I think that's part.
27:18And I think we have to accept when we play
27:20that those errors can happen.
27:23It's a huge week that lies ahead.
27:25You have six days now.
27:27How do you go about that preparation
27:29and managing the expectation
27:31that is in this part of North London?
27:33With massive enthusiasm
27:35because we play the most important game of the season
27:38in six days.
27:39And now we need to recover and get the energy back
27:42and full focus on that game.
27:44Just finally, has everyone come out all right?
27:47And the likes of Jorginho and even Kai Havertz
27:50have been mentioned,
27:51has been potentially back involved.
27:54Have you any news or update on anything?
27:56I haven't spoken to the American staff, so no news.
27:58Well done.
27:59Take care.
27:59Yeah, I'm sure that enthusiasm and excitement
28:03will be back next week for, as he says,
28:05the biggest game of the season so far.
28:06But do you think, Theo, there is,
28:08as well as the frustration and disappointment,
28:10there is anger there as well from Mikel Arteta
28:13about how his side have failed to have that consistency
28:19that they really needed to push Liverpool.
28:22You could clearly see that, couldn't you?
28:25I mean, it's all I know.
28:27I don't think Mikel's not the type
28:28to get distracted by other games at all,
28:30but it was completely out of character.
28:32They completely spoke about performance.
28:34It was the patterns of play.
28:36Everything wasn't there.
28:37It was too safe, too many mistakes.
28:39Have we seen this too many times now?
28:41No.
28:41It's 13 draws.
28:42And this is what I'm saying
28:43about going into another game in bad habits.
28:46And he needs to get those bad habits out of the system
28:48because, like Jamie was saying,
28:49there's been too many draws,
28:50there's been too many mistakes by certain players
28:52which you wouldn't expect in difficult situations.
28:54And the fixtures, you know,
28:56you can see there the results.
28:58Look, it's been a bit indifferent,
28:59but that's what I'm talking about, the draws,
29:00and particularly the teams you're playing against as well
29:02who you'd expect Arsenal to get points from.
29:05But this is going to have to change next year
29:08if they're going to want to win titles.
29:09You're talking about, Jamie,
29:09you spoke about the points system.
29:11How many points to win the league?
29:13Nowhere near it at the moment
29:14if they want to win the league, right, with points.
29:16Do these drop points that we've seen consistently
29:19over these challenging few weeks and months,
29:23does that all play into this concern
29:27that for us they still are going to have a bit of a headache
29:30before this season is out?
29:32Yes, they've got the Champions League games
29:33that will almost take care of themselves.
29:36There's still work to be done.
29:37I think he'd be furious tonight, Mikel Arteta,
29:40because they'd be fine in terms of qualifying for the Champions League.
29:44The point being is you want to put that to bed as early as you can.
29:47Now, when you look at the fixtures,
29:49I think they've got Bournemouth,
29:50which is not an easy game at home,
29:52but that's in between the two biggest games of the season.
29:55Now, if you win tonight,
29:57you can almost write the Bournemouth game off
29:59and you change the whole team.
30:01I don't think he's in a position to do that
30:03because what comes next, Liverpool away.
30:06So, if you put a really weakened team out against Bournemouth,
30:08which I think he would have wanted to do
30:10to really go for this Champions League final,
30:13and you lose the game,
30:14and then you go to Anfield,
30:15and there's a good chance you're probably going to lose at Liverpool
30:17on the back of playing PSG.
30:18Liverpool are at home with a free week.
30:20If you lose the next two games,
30:22the others are a point or two behind you.
30:24And then you go on...
30:25I mean, you've got Newcastle.
30:26And then Newcastle becomes a crunch game, doesn't it?
30:28Exactly.
30:28So, that's why I think he'd be furious,
30:30and that's why I think he went with his team
30:32as strong as he did at Ipswich.
30:33It's like, put this to bed now,
30:35and then we can concentrate on the two Paris Saint-Germain games,
30:38and we'll be fine.
30:39And they'll qualify for the Champions League next year.
30:42Of course they will.
30:43But you just don't want that sort of thing.
30:45You know, you're looking behind,
30:46you're looking over your shoulder.
30:48I mean, I've just looked at the stats then.
30:50You can't believe when you look at the...
30:53Obviously, they're six points ahead of City.
30:54City have had an awful season by their standards.
30:57They've won the same amount of games in the Premier League.
30:59They've both won 18.
31:00That's...
31:01You can't believe that.
31:04And that's when you just look at the numbers
31:06of the other teams there.
31:08Do you think that's a realistic concern,
31:12given the evidence that Jamie...
31:13Jamie, the case that Jamie just made,
31:16that one or two of those could actually catch Arsenal?
31:19There's a possibility they could go past Arsenal.
31:21Well, we're talking about Manchester City.
31:22Who've been dominating the Premier League for many, many years
31:24and had a poor season.
31:26Who could then end up ahead of Arsenal.
31:28Which everyone expected,
31:30whoever finished above City, would win the league.
31:32And, yeah, I think that's the disappointing things
31:34because there's been certain situations in the season
31:37where, you know, there's been discipline issues.
31:39There's been, you know, referees' decisions
31:41or whatever you want to see it.
31:43Injuries as well plays its part.
31:45But it just shows there for me that certain players,
31:48obviously going back to Odegaard,
31:52starting to feel a bit comfortable
31:53and not being pushed a bit more.
31:56And there's a sense of that in some performances.
31:58What about the goalkeeper tonight?
31:59Would that be a concern?
32:00Well, the goalkeeper tonight, yeah,
32:01it was, again, a bit of indifferent.
32:03But I can't...
32:04You know, Rea's been absolutely fantastic for many times
32:07because a period of times when he won't be on the ball at all,
32:09but he's always been very consistent.
32:11Tonight it was a few wobbles,
32:12but, look, it's one of those, I think he's the type of character
32:14that would really put this to bed.
32:16I think as a goalkeeper, you have to.
32:17If you make decisions like a poor error,
32:19you just need to forget about it
32:20because otherwise you won't be able to play at the top level,
32:24and particularly for Arsenal Football Club.
32:25So, for me, Rea, I'm not as bothered about.
32:28I'm just talking about other players in certain positions
32:30that will be too comfortable and need to be pushed.
32:32I think just looking at that,
32:34I still think Mikel Arteta's got to be really brave
32:36in the Bournemouth game.
32:38And I think he does have to change the majority of the players
32:40because Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final,
32:42a chance to win the Champions League,
32:43you've got to go for it.
32:44The reality is I'm not sure he can change it.
32:46I know, I know.
32:47He had four players on the bench tonight.
32:48He never started a Premier League game.
32:49The point I'm trying to make is
32:51sometimes as a manager,
32:52you have to make a brave decision.
32:54And the likelihood is they'd still qualify
32:58for the Champions League.
32:59But, as I said, he won't want it
33:01or be in the back of his mind
33:02or what to do in the Bournemouth game.
33:04But you're that close to creating history for Arsenal.
33:06Never won the Champions League before.
33:07He has to go for it against PSG.
33:09And if he has the rest players in the middle,
33:10he has to do that
33:11and then back himself in the next sort of three or four games
33:13to get the job done in terms of finishing in the top five.
33:16Big semi-final ahead for Crystal Palace as well.
33:19We can hear from Oliver Glasner now with David Craig.
33:22We've talked about facing Champions League semi-finalists.
33:25You face Champions League quarter-finalists
33:27in the FA Cup semi-final.
33:30How big a boost after your recent league form
33:33has this given everyone tonight heading down Wembley Way?
33:35Well, let's see.
33:38On Saturdays, it's easy to talk about it.
33:40But, of course, when you perform like this
33:43and being very, very well defending,
33:50not giving them a lot
33:51and always creating chances,
33:53this gives you confidence.
33:55And I think this word is,
33:57especially at the end of the season,
33:58you don't change something,
34:01you don't get physically better,
34:02you don't get technically better
34:03within two, three, four weeks.
34:05It's now keep the good things
34:07that you are doing for the whole season
34:09and having the confidence also
34:10how we move the ball today
34:11and play it against their press.
34:13And this is what we need.
34:14We talked about it before.
34:16We need our time of possession.
34:18We need to have possession in their half.
34:20And this is what we did really well.
34:22And this is what we need again
34:23because Villa is also in an amazing shape.
34:26But we're looking forward to this game.
34:28It's a huge game for us.
34:29And, of course, a draw and a performance like today,
34:33this can help us in their approach.
34:36You alluded to it before the game.
34:38It's new territory for you,
34:40an FA Cup semi-final,
34:41new territory for a lot of your players.
34:43How much are you relishing that challenge?
34:47No, I was told that the size of the pitch
34:49is the same than here,
34:50so it should be the same.
34:51The grass should be green.
34:53And we don't talk about all these circumstances.
34:57For us, it's a game that we want to win.
35:01And we always want to compete with the best teams.
35:04And we want to show our performance.
35:07I think we know what we want to do.
35:10And they changed a few things
35:11because we already watched them.
35:14And now it's also finding the right tactics
35:17against their shape
35:20and then perform on the same level,
35:21perform as a team.
35:23And then everything is possible.
35:25And this is how we will walk into Wembley.
35:31They'll skip into Wembley this weekend,
35:33that is for sure,
35:33and would have done even more
35:34had their late chance gone in
35:36and had actually won at the Emirates
35:37for the second time since 1994.
35:40They've got class, though, Jamie, haven't they?
35:42Have we seen a big step forward
35:43from Crystal Palace this season
35:44under Oliver Glasner?
35:46Yeah, I do.
35:47I mean, there's some managers coming in
35:49in the middle of the season,
35:50playing that type of system.
35:51We know that was something
35:52the Manchester United manager,
35:53the Wolves manager have come in.
35:55He made a huge impact last season.
35:57They had a really tough start to the season.
35:59But as I said,
35:59that middle period of the season,
36:00you were as good as anybody
36:01in the Premier League.
36:03And understandably so.
36:04They've dropped off a little bit
36:05on the back of the result
36:06they got up full in the FA Cup.
36:08But it's a huge moment for them
36:10at the weekend.
36:10Aston Villa will be favourites.
36:13But I don't know there'll be
36:14too much in the game.
36:14And if you can go to the Emirates
36:15and get a 2-2 draw,
36:17maybe almost win it at the end,
36:19that'll give them big confidence
36:20going into that game.
36:21Do you agree, Theo?
36:22Have they got the quality
36:22to hurt a team like Aston Villa,
36:24who we've seen have put in
36:26some big performances
36:27in recent weeks?
36:28Do you know what?
36:28It's a space where the players
36:29may not have been in this position before
36:31because at this stage of the season
36:33with certain clubs,
36:34certain players would switch off,
36:36knowing about the summer
36:37and looking after themselves.
36:38but because they need to stay focused
36:40and they want to be in that
36:41starting line-up
36:42or the semi-final
36:43and even make history
36:44and be in the final,
36:45these players will be
36:46in a different mindset
36:48than they have ever been in before.
36:49They've never been in this position.
36:51Obviously, they have reached
36:52back in 2016 the final course,
36:54but I just think
36:55there's a different sense
36:56of this arrogance
36:57in a good way,
36:58these players
36:59and this togetherness.
37:00And for me,
37:01it's really important.
37:03I know from myself
37:04when I had a long injury
37:05and I was out for a period of time
37:06and with the FA Cup final
37:07and I hadn't played that much,
37:08but I got myself into the team
37:10just off one performance.
37:11And it's the same thing
37:12for these players as well.
37:14One performance can change anything.
37:16Like I tell you,
37:16Mateta, of course,
37:17was going to start,
37:18Eddie comes off,
37:19we saw,
37:21and he'd be really disappointed
37:21with that.
37:22Of course he will.
37:22But look,
37:23it's all about performance
37:25and doing the right thing
37:27at the right time
37:27at the season
37:28for the managers asking of you.
37:29But there's going to be
37:30a little cluster of teams
37:31that hope Palace
37:32don't do well this weekend as well,
37:34led by Bournemouth,
37:35because if Palace don't make it,
37:38then eighth place
37:39could well be,
37:40well,
37:40could be Conference League
37:41next season.
37:41And that could have an impact
37:42on the last few games
37:43of the season as well
37:43in terms of what teams
37:44have got to play for.
37:46Anyway,
37:46there end of the lesson.
37:47Theo,
37:47thank you very much for tonight.
37:49Jamie,
37:49thank you very much indeed
37:50as well.
37:53And don't forget
37:54what this all means
37:55tonight.
37:57It means that,
37:58well,
37:59for now,
37:59Bournemouth have plenty to play for
38:01when they take on
38:01Manchester United on Sunday.
38:03That kicks us off
38:04at one o'clock
38:05and Liverpool Spurs
38:06for the title.
38:09Four o'clock.
38:11Do you want to stop, Dave?
38:12Go on.
38:14The corresponding fixture
38:15between Tottenham and Liverpool,
38:16you're looking at me all worried.
38:17No.
38:18The points Liverpool had
38:20after that game,
38:22Manchester United's
38:22still a point behind them.
38:24That was Manchester United related.
38:27We're going to have
38:27all our biggest hitters
38:28involved in that game
38:29on Sunday,
38:30Liverpool Spurs.
38:31Jamie,
38:31you're going to be there?
38:32I'll be there, mate.
38:33No, you're not.
38:37We'll see you then.
38:38We'll see you then.
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