- 5/19/2025
any thought of full match? Mention us on X
Category
đ„
SportsTranscript
00:00In big time again next year, Arsenal 1, Newcastle 0.
00:06Paul Merton, it was an important win for Arsenal.
00:09Yes, it makes sure that they're going to be playing Champions League football next season.
00:12All that guarantees that they're going to be finishing second in the table.
00:17But as much as anything, it's about finishing the season by picking up a bit of momentum as well.
00:22Yeah, 100%. 100%. As Gary said, you know, Liverpool away last week and in this game,
00:26two difficult games and get four points. Yeah, they're going to finish second again.
00:31Yeah, I know people are going to go, oh, they haven't won it again. They've come second.
00:34The club are getting, they're going somewhere.
00:36You know, four or five years ago, this club was going absolutely nowhere.
00:39It was an also run. Now, you know, the season starts again next season.
00:43They're expected to be in the top two again. So there's improvement, in my opinion.
00:48I'll put that to you and I'll talk about that a little bit more often.
00:51But there are the results that we've seen already so far this weekend.
00:55And Declan Rice is waiting to talk to Patrick Davison.
01:00Declan, job done. Champions League confirmed.
01:03I can see from your face. Did that take every last scrap of energy and resilience you've got left in your body?
01:10Yeah, everything. Look, we've been poor by our standards the last few weeks in the Premier League.
01:16We obviously went so hard in the Champions League that our form dropped in the Premier League.
01:21And, you know, that happens sometimes.
01:23But Newcastle is such an informed side and we've lost three games for this year.
01:27And the manager's message before the game was clear.
01:30You know, take it personal.
01:31And I think we did today.
01:33I think first half, it's a bit of a slow start.
01:35But we grew into the game and in the end we showed that grit.
01:38And, yeah, three points at home last day.
01:40It was a nice day to top it off.
01:42When you've had that moment where, as you say, you've dropped and maybe your focus has gone on the Champions League,
01:47how hard does it then become to pick it up and try and regain your top level?
01:52No, like, listen, we're Premier League footballers.
01:54We have to be at the level every single week.
01:56It was that we felt like we had such a good chance in the Champions League that, obviously, we had the momentum with that.
02:03And, obviously, with the league, it kind of slipped away a few weeks ago.
02:05So, it was really tough to take, you know.
02:07But today to win was massive.
02:10And, obviously, Newcastle is such a good side.
02:12So, to win was a big win for us.
02:14I mean, you've always had the odd long-range goal in your locker.
02:17But it sort of turned out in the last month or so that you're very good at shooting.
02:21It's another great finish.
02:22And about time.
02:23I've started scoring frequently.
02:26That's nine goals, ten assists.
02:27Your best numbers in both.
02:28Yeah, I don't know.
02:29I like that finish a lot where, you know, I can whip it on top of the ball across the keeper.
02:34And, you know, it's a special moment.
02:36I'm really, really happy.
02:37Last one, then, because the thank you banner for the fans is out behind us.
02:40How do you reflect on this season, Declan?
02:43Difficult.
02:43Really difficult.
02:45After coming so close last year in the Prem, this year we was, by our standards, poor.
02:49Let's be real.
02:52And, obviously, to go out of every other cup competition and Champions League,
02:55with the team we've got, the manager we've got, you know, we need to be competing for titles.
02:59You know, we can't be taking anything for granted.
03:01And next year we'll be back for more.
03:03Hopefully, you know, we strengthen in the summer.
03:05We sign more players because we're probably going to lose a few as well.
03:08So, yeah, we're going to come back next year, be ready, be stronger, and even more hungry to win something for this club.
03:14And that's what we all want.
03:14Well done.
03:18Declan Rice, the match winner in this game against Newcastle United.
03:22Those three points precious for Arsenal.
03:24In terms of Champions League football next season, it means that they are confirmed as finishing in the top five,
03:30whatever happens on the final day of the season.
03:33And because of that huge goal difference of plus 34, it means that they're all but guaranteed to finish in second place in the table.
03:41City could catch them, but their goal difference is 10 behind Arsenal's.
03:45Newcastle in third place so far.
03:47They will qualify for the Champions League definitely if they can win on the final day of the season when they have a home game against Everton.
03:55Then it's Chelsea in fourth, Villa in fifth.
03:58Nottingham Forest win earlier today means that they're level on points in Manchester City and moved to within a point of both Aston Villa and Chelsea.
04:06Nottingham Forest play Chelsea on the final day of the season.
04:10The rate for eighth is still on.
04:11It can still technically go down to eighth place.
04:15And there's teams in there that will very much have their eye on European football come the end of next season.
04:20So a big win for Fulham against Brentford.
04:22Meanwhile, down at the other end, it was a win for Everton, a 2-0 victory for them in the men's last game at Goodison Park before it becomes the home of Everton's women.
04:33West Ham beaten Manchester United and Tottenham both beaten in the unit.
04:38But for Leicester, it was a 2-0 victory.
04:40Jamie Vardy scored his 200th goal on his 500th appearance for Leicester and will not be playing in the final game of the season.
04:47He draws time on his career.
04:52One of those teams in the hunt for eighth place is Brighton.
04:56They're in action against Liverpool on Monday Night Football.
04:596.30 for all the build-up for that.
05:01Then on Tuesday, Manchester City take on Bournemouth.
05:047 o'clock for that one of Sky Sports Premier League.
05:07And Super Sunday next week is the Premier League final day with all the twists and turns that may ensue.
05:133 o'clock for all the build-up ahead of those 4 o'clock kick-offs.
05:16And there's live cricket coming away, Nats of Lebrun's first match as Captain England against the West Indies in the first 2-20.
05:236 o'clock on Wednesday, Sky Sports Cricket.
05:25And the men are in action as well at day one of their test match against Zimbabwe.
05:2910 a.m. on Sky Sports Cricket.
05:34The Wild Robot is also available on Friday.
05:37Pedro Pascal, Lupita Nyong'o and Mark Hamill.
05:40It's Oscar-nominated family animation available Friday on Sky Cinema.
05:45And there's more live sport to come this evening.
05:51Live footage of the US PGA.
05:53The leaders go out at 7.40.
05:55Rory McIlroy, of course, not in that group.
05:57But his round is underway at the moment.
06:00Scotty Scheffler et al.
06:017.40 for that on Sky Sports Golf.
06:03Coming up, then, we're going to reflect on a big win for Arsenal.
06:12Declan Rice with the goal to give them all three points and ensure Champions League football for a third successive season.
06:19Jack, why don't we back off break?
06:43Is that next season's schedule you've just put in?
06:49That can't be right.
06:50Are you joking?
06:51Peter, have you seen this?
06:53215 games next season.
06:54That can't be right.
06:55I'm going to need a bigger notebook.
06:57Too much for me.
06:58Have you told Roy about this?
07:00I'm going to call him.
07:01Hello?
07:12Roy, it's Gary.
07:13Who's this?
07:13What do you mean, who's this?
07:14Nev.
07:15Gary.
07:15What do you want?
07:16Have you heard about these 215 games next season?
07:19Games next year?
07:20215.
07:21You're such a baby.
07:22It's your job compared to what all the games are doing.
07:25Is there extra games next year?
07:26Baby.
07:27Nev, what's happening?
07:28It's big, big.
07:29215 games.
07:30Come on, more time with me.
07:33How are you going to fit that lot in with all the stuff you do?
07:37All right, lads, you OK?
07:38Kara, it's Gary.
07:39What is it?
07:39Have you heard about these 215 games next season?
07:42No, no, there is more games.
07:43That's what he wants, isn't there?
07:44They've got more of us.
07:45More money you said.
07:48OK, phones away, please, guys.
07:49I'll see you later.
07:50Gary, can we get your lines to the camera, please?
07:52Right, let me just do this bit quickly before we come back from break.
07:55You can watch more Premier League action than ever before on Sky Sports
07:59with 215 games live next season.
08:03Perfect.
08:04That is perfect.
08:06Wait, have we been live that whole time?
08:08Yeah.
08:08You'll never stop this day.
08:13I will never lie to you.
08:15Porter's not quite the trophy you wanted to bring them.
08:18As you stand here now, how do you reflect on what you have achieved?
08:21Well, we're clearly very disappointed because we wanted to be here with the Premier League
08:26or the Champions League, and it's not the case.
08:29But chasing a dream has its ups and downs, but as well, make sure, as I said, that doesn't
08:35get blurry and doesn't get recognized what we've done.
08:38Because any other team, and I've seen it with one injury too, finishing eighth, fifth, 16th,
08:4417th, what the team has done, in my opinion, to sustain the level throughout the season
08:49with everything that happened is incredible.
08:51We don't want anybody to value, but me as a manager, I have to value what these guys have
08:55done.
08:55I think it's your 11th season as an Arsenal man, you know, player and manager.
09:02Has this one tested you more than any other?
09:04Yeah, and probably I'm more proud.
09:07Because of the culture that we set, because of the standards and the mindset that we have
09:11set at this football club, that regardless of what happens, you have to seek for the best
09:15and do your best, and that's certainly what we've done.
09:18I think your team were 10th, and maybe the club had lost the sense of itself when you
09:23were appointed Arsenal manager.
09:25It's kind of interesting now that you come second, get to a Champions League semi-final,
09:31and it's to mix reviews, even from yourselves, you know, you're your own harshest critic.
09:36But that's fine.
09:37I think if you raise the expectation, that's what is coming, but make sure that is with
09:40realism and analyzing properly what you have.
09:43Because we are there, nobody wants us to be there.
09:45We've been there now for three, four seasons, and they're going to want to take us from there,
09:50and that's going to be difficult.
09:51How big is the period of analysis that's ahead for you, Mikel?
09:56Obviously, I mean, a lot of focus on the injuries, and you have had it tough, a lot
10:00of focus on the red cards, but I guess from your point of view, the analysis will be thorough
10:05and maybe you have to be uncomfortable in places.
10:08Yeah, like always, nothing different to any season.
10:11How big is the summer ahead there, Mikel?
10:14You're the guy you know exactly what they need.
10:16Finish the season, go to the beach, enjoy a few days, and make sure the ones upstairs
10:21do what they have to do.
10:22Enjoy.
10:23See you soon.
10:23So, Paul, as you sort of touched on earlier, it's another second-place finish for Arsenal.
10:32It's a semi-final in the Champions League.
10:35At the moment, are you focusing on the progress for them and the direction of travel rather
10:40than the fact that there haven't been trophies in that time?
10:43Yeah, I would.
10:44I mean, if you look at the all-round picture, four or five years ago, they're also runs.
10:49You know, the club's gone.
10:50It's going nowhere.
10:52He put the heart back in the club.
10:55You know, the fans are here.
10:56They turn up every week again.
10:58They're not far away.
11:00They need a centre-forward.
11:01You know, a couple of injuries here.
11:02And I know people go, oh, yeah, but everybody has injuries.
11:05No, they don't.
11:06Not to key, key players.
11:08You know, I say it, I always say it.
11:10If you took Salah and Van Dijk out of that Liverpool team, believe me, that is not winning
11:15the league if they're out for a long period of time.
11:18And that's what's happened.
11:19Saka's a big player for them.
11:21You know, big players.
11:22You know, him at Havertz.
11:24People have a go at him.
11:25He's a big player.
11:26You know, when he hasn't been playing, he's been missed.
11:28You know, they need a couple of players.
11:30You know, I hope he doesn't end up like Wenger did many years into his reign when everybody
11:35in the world knew he needed a centre-half and he never went and bought a centre-half.
11:39You know, I hope that isn't the case.
11:40They need a centre-forward to start with and they need backup in good positions because
11:44at the moment, when they make changes, it weakens the team.
11:49And I don't mean that disrespectfully.
11:51You look at, you know, Liverpool have won the league because players score goals up front.
11:56They've got five players that will nick you a goal here and there.
11:59At Arsenal, the front three are not real natural goal scorers.
12:03You know, I'd be surprised if they put together, if they got more goals than Salah, the front
12:08three.
12:08He has said, Mikel Arteta, that he and Andrea Berta and the board are aligned on transfer
12:13policy and they're looking at a summer of bringing players in for Arsenal.
12:18On the elements that they can control, do you think, and Arteta's mentioned it again
12:22this week about injuries and red cards, do you think from a kind of overarching perspective
12:29at the club, they can look at those as things that, to a certain extent, Les, they can control
12:33a bit more?
12:34You know, you have to look at the injuries, the state of the injuries that they're getting.
12:38If people are getting the same injuries and you're doing something wrong in training,
12:42you know, the point you made about they need a centre-forward, I think you've been saying
12:46that for a few years now.
12:48You know, Arsenal, but you need a centre-forward.
12:50So this is not last year's problem.
12:52This is the year before's problem.
12:53And you still haven't solved it.
12:55You know, I find it hard to understand where you've got Lewis Skellin and Manieri, who,
13:01young players, coming through the system, but you don't have a centre-forward.
13:05At Arsenal, that can go in and play three or four games and might get a run like they've
13:10had.
13:10They sold the Ladlers, didn't they, to Man United?
13:13The young kid went to Man United.
13:15Quito, yeah.
13:15Yeah, he went to Man...
13:16I think they had big hopes for him and he chose to go Man United instead.
13:19I mean, you're still right.
13:21I still think it's not just one centre-forward.
13:23I think they need...
13:24They need to...
13:26There's a saying in life.
13:27You keep on doing the same things, you get over and over again, you get the same results.
13:31It's insanity.
13:32If they keep on doing it again next year, then it's madness.
13:35And you look at this Arsenal side now and it's disappointment here tonight.
13:39You know, they've finished second in the league.
13:41And instead of being happy, it feels dead.
13:43It feels...
13:44There's not that level of excitement.
13:46I mean, this Arsenal side this season was expected to win something and they haven't
13:50done that this year.
13:51I think you're right, Les, and as well, I agree with what you're saying, Paul.
13:53There is progression in a lot of aspects, but I've no doubt that Arsenal and Arsenal fans
13:57and the manager will look at it as, this is the big miss.
14:00This was the biggest miss of all because Manchester City have lost nine matches this season.
14:04And for you, at the start of the year, if someone said that was going to happen, you
14:07if it was only one contender, it has to be Arsenal.
14:10And for them to not be as close to Liverpool as what they've been to, some of the performances
14:14haven't been good enough, over-reliant on set pieces, not enough quality at times.
14:18And Paul's right, they need a killer in front of the goal.
14:20The only one that you would say that's going clean through on goal that you'd really want
14:23to take that opportunity would be Bukayo Saka.
14:26Apart from that, everyone else doesn't really, are they clinical finishers?
14:30And that's been the difference.
14:31Liverpool have four of them.
14:32So that would be an area that certainly is going to strengthen.
14:35It looks like they're going to be getting Goykeres from Sporting.
14:37Who knows how he's going to do?
14:39He's obviously got a lot of qualities.
14:40He was at Brighton, then he went to Coventry.
14:43He's done really well at Sporting.
14:44That's an area they're going to try to address.
14:46But no doubt at all, you can dress this up as a real positive if you want,
14:50say second again, it's not good enough this season.
14:53This will be the big miss for him because Man City in other years have been so good.
14:56Yeah, but disrespectful to Liverpool.
14:58Liverpool are a good team.
14:59I'm not saying that.
14:59You know, this team are not coming from nowhere.
15:01I mean, Liverpool should have won the league last year.
15:03You know, they were in the box seat.
15:05You know, they get beat at home to Crystal Palace.
15:06And it went then.
15:08You know, they're a good team.
15:10It's not like they've won it on 60 or 70 points.
15:14They've been brilliant up until they've won the league.
15:16But to not be as close to them, that's what I'm saying, Paul.
15:18But I'm not saying this is Liverpool.
15:19It's very hard, though, Jane, when you get what I'm saying.
15:21It's very hard when you're juggling Champions League and that.
15:25You know, they had that big game against Real Madrid.
15:27So were Liverpool.
15:28Yeah, Liverpool went out, you know.
15:29But Arsenal were chasing them at the time.
15:33And then they sort of threw their eggs into one basket.
15:36And then it was PSG.
15:37Because you're thinking, they beat PSG.
15:39They're going to win the Champions League.
15:40You know, just beat Real Madrid.
15:41But Real Madrid wasn't as good as what everybody thought they were.
15:44And I think that's the thing.
15:46And this problem is with this Arsenal team.
15:48It's all right, I'm saying.
15:50And I'm trying to back them up and say, you know, they're a good team.
15:53But you've got to win something.
15:54It's not easy.
15:55You know, it's not easy.
15:56Every time it gets to, like, latter stages, they go.
16:00And I know people go, oh, they were ruthless last year.
16:02And they just put their foot wrong once against Villa.
16:05But they did put their foot wrong.
16:06You know, all they had to do was be patient and win that game.
16:09I was here that day and they lost the game.
16:10And Man City went perfect.
16:13But again, today, you know, last week, you know, next year,
16:16they might have to go and beat Liverpool away and beat Newcastle at home.
16:19And it just, I don't know, it's not as easy as what people think
16:22to keep on, to win something.
16:24And they keep on falling short.
16:26And sometimes people fall short.
16:28You know, it becomes normal.
16:30Do you know what I mean?
16:31It becomes natural.
16:31It's hard.
16:32And that would be my worry.
16:33I think Arteta's got till Christmas.
16:36Till everybody starts.
16:37I mean, they will have to be in the top two at Christmas
16:40to keep on going.
16:41You think he's got to win something next season?
16:43Yeah, I think next season.
16:44I think four.
16:45Do you know what I mean?
16:46I think if you get to four and then, no, you know, you can't.
16:49Because everybody wants to play for Arsenal.
16:51Do you know, a lot of people will come to Arsenal.
16:53So it's not like they're stretching to get players
16:55and they've got the money.
16:57For me, yeah, next year, he's got to be in the top two by Christmas.
16:59Four?
17:00Yeah, they'll go for someone else.
17:03They will.
17:03You've got to...
17:04It's timings.
17:05You know, you have timings.
17:07You've got to make opportunities.
17:08When it's your time, you've got to make it count.
17:12You see it go in circles.
17:13You know, teams like, look at Liverpool.
17:15They went 30 years.
17:17Nearly 30 years without a title.
17:18A club like that.
17:20You know, and then all of a sudden it comes round.
17:22Now, bang, they win trophies.
17:24You know, they're there and thereabouts again.
17:25You know, Man City.
17:26I remember, I was at Wembley yesterday at Man City.
17:29I remember when they were needing to score against Gillingham.
17:32You know, and look at it now.
17:33Like, I walked out yesterday and I'm walking behind the fans
17:37and it was like, ah, that's how it was.
17:41It was like there was no...
17:42We win something next season.
17:42Yeah, there was no devastation.
17:44It was like, and I'm thinking, well, I ain't sure about that.
17:46I think, again, that's turning.
17:48They're not going to win 16 games on the trot next year.
17:51You know, and you've got to make it count.
17:52You know, Man United were dominant.
17:54Look at them now.
17:55You know, and I just think...
17:56I just think they have to make it count.
17:58And I think this is the last year.
18:00Before you know it, after that...
18:02I think people like Saka, Jamie,
18:04I think people like Saka next year,
18:05if they don't win anything, will be going,
18:07wait there, Anita, I need to start winning stuff.
18:09You know, I want to win trophies.
18:10I see Arsenal win Liverpool.
18:11I think Manchester City have got a big rebuild.
18:14It's not going to be as easy for them
18:15as thinking that all of a sudden they're getting Rodri back
18:17and everything's going to be perfect again.
18:19It's going to be a lot more difficult than that.
18:20You've lost one of the best central midfield players
18:22in Premier League history that get you out of trouble
18:24time and time again in Kevin De Bruyne.
18:27It's very difficult to find those types of players.
18:29So I do feel that the two best sides, again,
18:31will be Arsenal and Liverpool next season.
18:33Is there a worry or something that maybe the Arsenal need to balance
18:36when they're making decisions potentially at Christmastime next year
18:40that Mikel Arteta has brought them this far,
18:43taken them from a team that wasn't challenging for the league title
18:46to a team that three seasons in a row has finished second,
18:49has qualified for the Premier League and reached the semi-finals
18:54in the Champions League this season?
18:56Is there a danger that they interrupt that progress
18:58if they make a change, do you think?
19:00I'm hoping...
19:03I expect them to be in the top two next season.
19:05You know, I think it's owning out of them and Liverpool again.
19:09But they will have to get over the line come what may.
19:12Yeah, it all depends who's around.
19:13They'll have to make that decision.
19:14You can't keep on...
19:15The fans will soon start getting fed up.
19:18And especially if Tottenham go and win Wednesday night.
19:21I'm not getting away from it.
19:22But this is the elephant in the room, isn't it?
19:24Of course it is.
19:24They could end up...
19:25Spurs could end up this season having qualified for the Champions League
19:28and with a trophy.
19:29And, yes, a much lower finish in the league
19:32in what's been a really difficult season for them.
19:35But you could argue or you could certainly have a kind of pub argument
19:39about who's had the better season there.
19:41You look at what you're saying and you're saying, like, you know,
19:44last season it was Arsenal and Man City.
19:47You know, you're challenging Man City, you're challenging Man City.
19:49And I think if you spoke to most people at the start of this season,
19:52they would have had Arsenal as finishing above Man City.
19:55But it wasn't Man City.
19:55It was Arsenal, wasn't it?
19:55Yeah, Arsenal finishing above Man City.
19:57They've done that.
19:58But now Liverpool have overtaken them.
20:00So it's Arsenal and Liverpool.
20:01At some stage, you need to be the team.
20:04You need to be the team that wins it.
20:06And Arsenal, each year, great finish second three times.
20:10But after that, people want you to win it.
20:11You have to win something.
20:12You have to come back with something.
20:13And Arsenal still look a way away from doing that.
20:16When you ask that question to Paul about stopping the progress,
20:19look what Arna Slott did in a year.
20:21He turned them into title winners.
20:23So it can happen.
20:24So, look, I think Mikel is right.
20:26He's done so many good things at his club.
20:27They're short of a couple of players.
20:29It's been proven.
20:29But they do need a striker.
20:31Whatever way you dress it up, you can't say.
20:32Because you'd rather have someone trying to finish the opportunities
20:36that they've missed this year than it's that short of centre-forward.
20:38Tottenham winning the cup on Wednesday might just give them the lift they need.
20:41Give who the lift they need?
20:43I'm not sure it's going to give Arsenal any kind of lift in terms of that.
20:46Look, if the league is bread and butter and the trophies are the jam,
20:49they've got the rice.
20:50And he's kind of the one who's managing to put the balls away.
20:54He's got record figures in terms of goals, in terms of assists.
20:57And he's the one who has been delivering when needed
21:00with direct free kicks at times.
21:02He's a top player.
21:03He's a top player.
21:04This is a brilliant, brilliant guy.
21:05It's a brilliant pick-out by Odegaard.
21:07Brilliant pick-out.
21:08Gets his head up.
21:09You know, he's top draw.
21:11And you know, the biggest compliment I can give him?
21:13When was the last time ever anybody mentioned his price tag?
21:17And that's the biggest compliment.
21:18You don't get it with Casado now.
21:19Them two went for a lot, a lot of money.
21:21People were like, they're worth every penny.
21:24And he's a top draw player.
21:26Turns up in big football matches.
21:28You know, and he's always seven, eight out of ten every week.
21:32Very rarely you go, for Declan Rice was non-existent today.
21:35He always gives everything.
21:37He's a prime example for anybody watching football kids.
21:40He has an unbelievable attitude and he's a top player.
21:42Love that strike as well.
21:43They're showing it there.
21:44They get that top spin on it.
21:45It's not an easy one.
21:46Anyone will tell you, you know, when it's coming across to you like that,
21:49making sure you can keep it down.
21:51Not skying it because it's easy.
21:53You just lean back a little bit.
21:54You've got to get your chest over the ball.
21:55And he does that so well.
21:56Lovely piece of play by Saka.
21:58You're right with a pick-up by Odegaard.
21:59But his technique is so good here.
22:01It's a hard finish, Jane, because the most natural one is to go the other way,
22:05isn't it?
22:05Of course it is.
22:05To try and hit the ninja at the other post.
22:06You just try to whip it as much as you can and just keep it down and hit the target.
22:10And it's a brilliant finish.
22:11But there's no doubt the two goals against Real Madrid have just given him that belief.
22:15You know, maybe if he hasn't scored those two, he takes a touch,
22:17maybe plays it safe.
22:18It's good to see players shoot from outside the box.
22:21Yeah, and that gave Arsenal the important three points.
22:24We'll be reflecting more on this.
22:25There's also live golf for you as well.
22:28Rory McIlroy has already been out, but the leaders tee off at 7.40,
22:32including Scotty Scheffler, after an exceptional round yesterday
22:34to put him right in contention.
22:37Sky Sports Golf for the final round of the PGA Championship.
22:41Well, it was a big win for Arsenal.
22:46It means that Newcastle still probably need a win on the last day of the season
22:50to be absolutely sure of finishing in the Champions League qualification spots
22:54come the end of the season.
22:55We'll hear from Eddie Howe shortly.
22:56Well, Eddie, it almost felt like a classic game of two halves.
23:15If we take the first half first, how good were your team in the opening of 45?
23:19Yeah, really good.
23:21Very pleased with the performance bar, the last action, the most important action.
23:25We created the chances, which is difficult to do here,
23:28but I also thought our general play was really strong.
23:30We were competitive, good with the ball.
23:33Yeah, I was really pleased with the majority of that first half,
23:35and we lost a bit of that momentum at the beginning of the second,
23:39became a bit too passive and not as strong on the ball.
23:42We discovered it very quickly after they scored,
23:44so probably a frustration in that opening period of the second half.
23:49So what happened in that chunk of time?
23:51I don't know, maybe 20, 25 minutes at the start of the second half.
23:54What changed?
23:55Well, I think when you're away from home, you have moments like that in games
23:59where suddenly you can lose control, the crowd can get into the game,
24:02and suddenly whatever solidity you had can sometimes go.
24:07And then I think we've been really good recently of just riding that storm.
24:09And it felt like we were going to,
24:12and it took a very special finish from Declan Rice to actually break us down.
24:16It wasn't as if they were creating huge chances.
24:18It was more the feeling of pressure.
24:21And I think if we could have withstood that,
24:23we would have come back into the game anyway,
24:24but unfortunately it wasn't to be.
24:26I mean, you've beaten them three times,
24:27but would you say for the...
24:28I mean, there is that 20 minutes in the second half, I guess,
24:31but is that as well as you played against them in the four matches?
24:35Yeah, without thinking back too much about each individual game,
24:37I think it was a really strong away performance,
24:38one of our strongest against very good opposition.
24:42But you've got to score, and we didn't,
24:44and we only have ourselves to blame for that,
24:45plus some very good goalkeeping, I think.
24:48But I thought we looked really dangerous,
24:50and the set-up of the team was good.
24:51I thought the players individually played really well,
24:53and we have to take that into next week.
24:55I mean, is that the positive and, of course, the priority now?
24:58You go into a home game next week
25:00where it's in your hands to make Champions League football happen again?
25:04Yeah, I think that's where you want to be.
25:05You want it to be in your own hands, as you say,
25:08and we back ourselves at home, we back ourselves under pressure.
25:12But there will be all the build-up to the game will be big,
25:15and we have to just detach ourselves from it
25:17and just focus on how we need to play,
25:19which I'm sure the players will.
25:20I think the performance today was strong,
25:24and I think we have to take that confidence into the next game.
25:26Who's likely to be available or not available next week,
25:29particularly thinking about Alexander Izak?
25:31You lost late today.
25:33Is he likely to be OK next weekend?
25:35Yeah, I don't know the answer to that question.
25:37It's far too early to make an assessment
25:38on whether he will or he won't.
25:40I think he's got a chance.
25:41I don't know any more than that, really.
25:43OK, and just for people who maybe didn't see you speak pre-match,
25:46just maybe tell us a little bit of what you've been through
25:48with Izak in the last 24 hours or so,
25:50because it was only this morning, actually,
25:52that he was ruled out and had a scan.
25:54Yeah, he had a scan this morning.
25:55I think he felt a little bit of stiffness last night
25:57after travelling down.
25:59Didn't feel anything, really, during training.
26:03Had the scan that showed some swelling.
26:05So we took him out of the game,
26:07and we hope we can get him ready for next week.
26:09Pleasure.
26:12Too early to say whether Alexander Izak
26:14is going to be fit for the final game of the season,
26:17but if Arsenal have missed a striker
26:18over the last couple of seasons,
26:20did Newcastle miss their number one striker
26:22in this game against Arsenal today?
26:24You'd have to say yes.
26:25You know, although Reyes was on fire today,
26:28I think he may have made the difference in me.
26:30We spoke about it right at the start.
26:32You know, these chances that have fell
26:35and the goalkeepers made some outstanding saves.
26:38You just felt maybe if Izak was there
26:39with the amount of goals he scored this season
26:41and the confidence he's got in front of goal,
26:43the finishes might have been a little bit different,
26:47you know, but take nothing away from Reyes.
26:50I thought he was outstanding today
26:52and some of the saves he's made.
26:54I mean, this one here, he's going in the wrong direction,
26:58deflection, and he's at full stretch
27:00and turns that round the corner.
27:01And I think, you know, he's man of the match.
27:04So it shows that Newcastle must have had
27:05some good opportunities, which they did.
27:07And like I said, this is, for me, was the save of the bunch.
27:10Great header from Dan Byrne and his reactions,
27:13just to save it and then get up and get the second one.
27:18He was the difference today.
27:19It was five shots on target from Newcastle
27:21in the first 18 minutes, Jamie.
27:23And then it sort of seemed to fade away a little bit.
27:26It fizzled out, I have to be honest.
27:27Second half, when you see Saliba coming off
27:29and then you see Calafiore and Kivio as your two centre-backs,
27:33I thought this was a big opportunity for Newcastle now.
27:35But they lost that intensity and momentum.
27:37And Arsenal, in fairness, a bit like last week at Liverpool,
27:39where they struggled first half and second half,
27:41they found they got themselves in the ascendancy.
27:43They looked the better team.
27:44And I just didn't feel they had enough belief
27:46or enough quality.
27:47Even what it also showed you, when he brought on the subs,
27:49there wasn't sort of the backup that you'd normally like.
27:52And that might be an area where Eddie would be looking at
27:54in the summer, just to thicken up the squad,
27:56strengthen it so you have subs coming on.
27:57Because when you haven't got Isak,
27:59it definitely leaves you a little bit short
28:01in that department list, doesn't it?
28:02And the fact that they had two goalkeepers on the bench as well,
28:05today, just to fill up the spaces,
28:07tells you that they're lacking in that bit of quality
28:09that they need to really push on
28:11and sort of like be challenging at the top of this division.
28:15The live golf continues on Sky Sports Golf.
28:18It's the final day of the USPGA Championship.
28:20Bryson DeChambeau is up and running.
28:24You can follow him on Sky Sports Golf.
28:26Up next, we'll look back on the early kickoff
28:35when Nottingham Forest took all three points,
28:37keeps them in the hunt for the Champions League places.
28:40But who is the favourite to finish?
28:42There, we'll get all the permutations next.
28:44You'll never stop this, babe.
28:48I will never let you go.
Recommended
1:19:00
|
Up next
55:51
0:43
1:39:54