Ex Arsenal & Liverpool player Jermaine Pennant speaks exclusively to William Hill about this weekends FA Cup 3rd round clash and shares his view as to where each team are at this season and what’s needed for them to chase down Manchester City.
Jermaine Pennant also shares with William Hill his big break as a youngster moving from Notts County to Arsenal at such a young age and what it was like to be thrust into the limelight.
We also hear from Jermaine on his former clubs in the Championship, where Jermaine shares his views on Birmingham City, Stoke City and Leeds United.
Jermaine Pennant on Liverpool
The problems they’ve been crying out to get sorted these past few seasons seem to have been fixed. They’ve now got a fresh, young and athletic midfield and it is starting to show. They are not only good players, but they’ve made the right signings and they all fit in.
Yes, they can be a bit hectic at times but it’s so entertaining, it’s great football. Jurgen Klopp’s a great manager, the DNA is attractive on the eye. The reason why Manchester City don’t burn out is because they’re fresh, and Liverpool are now are rotating at the right time. When things aren’t going well, their attacking force changes – that front five start for most Premier League teams. They’re looking very, very strong.
It’s nice to see the youngsters like Curtis Jones scoring and playing well. He’s on a great little run, if he doesn’t start he can come off the bench and make an impact. Darwin Nunez’s lack of clinicalness is difficult for Liverpool – he’s had 18 months now. The first year you can put it down to finding his feet in a new country and learning about his team-mates. But we’re now deep into year two.
I think he’s a great player, he’s always involved, and it’s often chaos but he needs to sharpen up on his finishing. You have to be putting the chances away or it becomes costly. If they fall to Salah, they go in. He can still be a great player for Liverpool. It’s difficult to block out the criticism, you can’t ignore or avoid it. All he needs is a few runs of continuous goals. The more he scores, the more he puts his critics to bed.
Diogo Jota has got a massive case to be starting. Every time he plays, he scores, he’s always involved. I would start him ahead of Nunez based on how likely he is to score. For me, my forward three for Liverpool and Salah, Diaz and Jota.
If Liverpool received a big-money offer for Nunez from Saudi, it would be a big decision. If it was crazy money it would be tempting. Would that mean keeping Salah? I wouldn’t want to see him go, but heads do get turned. For £80 million he needs to be a better finisher.
Jermaine Pennant on Arsenal
Arsenal need a striker if they want to be major contenders and win the league. They got to where they did last year as everyone was chipping in. So many got into double figures. But if they aren’t getting to those numbers, they won’t win the same number of matches. They need a 20-goal man and without a top striker, they’ll struggle. Every team has a figure-head but Arsenal don’t. They haven’t got that guy.
They need to get Ivan Toney, he would be perfect. He’s good on the ball, skillful, works hard and scores goals. He’s a modern Ian Wright. I think he would be a perfect fit, especially as a London boy. It’s a no-brainer – I would be shocked if they let say Chelsea get him first.
They’re still in the title race but they have to start winning again quickly. Manchester City, yes they’ve slipped a bit in the past few months but they always turn it on. They can easily go ten games straight. It is closer than it was last season, and Arsenal are still in the conversation – they and Liverpool shouldn’t give up, but they’re strong, City. It won’t need 97 points to win it, nothing crazy. They’re in it, but City are favourites.
Jermaine Pennant on the FA Cup plus Arsenal v Liverpool (FA Cup 3rd round)
It doesn’t matter what people say, when you’re playing in the FA Cup, it’s still a special competition. When you get to the latter stages, the big guns take it seriously. I loved it as a player, when the quarter finals come out then things really build up.
I think Arsenal v Liverpool is a great third round draw and both teams will go as strong as possible. I think part of that is because it would be an advantage mentally. It’s not just an FA Cup tie – it’s about getting one over a Premier League title rival as well. You can start putting in doubts and there’s mind games going to be going on.
It’s tough to call. Arsenal are great at home but Liverpool are on a fantastic run. It could go either way as they’re just as good as each other on their day. Arsenal need a good showing, they need to beat a good team to say ‘look, this was a blip and we’re back on it now’ so it’s bigger for Mikel Arteta, he needs to get the fans believing again. It can take one game, and they need a big result.
Jermaine Pennant on Birmingham City
Wayne Rooney leaving was always a matter of time. You can’t take over a club in sixth position and within weeks be 20th. Something was just not right. Yes he had a plan for the future but they were going backwards. Two wins in 15 games, you’re skating on thin ice. The decision to hire him was a bizarre one when you’re in a good position to challenge. The American owners saw a big name, but a player and a manager is like night and day, totally different. It’s a business, they will look to change things or you are fighting a relegation battle.
Is 85 days enough? They either had to back him or sack him. If they were more comfortable, things would be different. It’s a relegation dogfight. It’s broken, and it was too much of a risk. It’s better to get rid of Wayne and get a new manager, with new ideas, and the transfer window.
Birmingham City’s treatment of John Eustace is a good lesson for the owners. The grass isn’t always greener and if it’s not broken, well just don’t fix it. They’re lessons in life, English football is ruthless. They will have to learn from this mistake. Stability is key, look at Manchester United. As soon as you get that, you can fight for the next level. It needs to be the right fit. It all starts with the board – there are certain managers who know how to win in the Championship, and they need to find one.
Can they get Steve Cooper? I’m not sure he would go. Is Frank Lampard’s win ratio enough? Big Sam even? Jesse Marsch could be a good fit. If they don’t get it right, they could get relegated. It’s a huge appointment. Lee Carsley has been mentioned as well, but he’s not managed in mens’ football yet. They have to get this one right.
Jermaine Pennant on Stoke City
Stoke’s situation is a tough one. When the club was in the Premier League they had an identity, they had a real DNA. We played a certain way, the type of football wasn’t pretty at times but we got the job done. We were so difficult to beat and it was direct. We were a horrible team!
The fans maybe at the time didn’t enjoy it, but in my three years there we always stayed in the Premier League. It was our way. Mark Hughes came in and he changed that and it didn’t work – since then, they haven’t found ‘Stoke City’. They try and play out, try to be technical and pretty. They’ve changed things, and yes they’ve evolved but sometimes you have to stick to the basics. They just can’t get it right.
Steven Schumacher has taken over and he’s done it before, that’s a valuable asset. It’s very hard to build something when you’ve got players going in and going out. He needs to keep the right players and find a way to kick on.
Jermaine Pennant on Leeds United
When you go down it’s so difficult to get used to the Championship again, as anyone can beat anyone – unlike the Premier League. Now Leeds seem like they’ve really got used to it and they’re kicking on. Leicester City have taken off like a rocket and Southampton are in the groove and as I said at the start of the season, I think the three clubs that went down will come back up. Are we going to see Ipswich really dip now they’re not winning as much?
It’s massive that Leeds keep the squad together and add to it if possible. The moment you start breaking things up, problems begin. Daniel Farke knows this league, he knows how to get promotion and will know he has to keep his key players if they want to maintain this run and get the club back into the Premier League.
Jermaine Pennant on his career and early days
I remember when I was 15-years-old. I was in the digs at Notts County and I got a knock on my door. It was an agent and my dad. He said ‘son we’re off to London, you’re about to sign for Arsenal’. I remember saying ‘are we? I don’t get a say in the matter!’
So off we went and met Arsene Wenger and looked around. We signed the deal and a week later I was leaving Nottingham and starting at Arsenal. It was amazing seeing such legends walking around. Henry, Adams, Anelka – this was my dream coming true but it was overwhelming. My life changed. I was recognised, I was quite well known and my name was in the press. Being that age you don’t realise what it means, as a kid you still do your things and you’re still immature.
I actually made my Premier League debut hungover. I just remember saying to myself that I had to give this everything as the players in front of me were so good. But the hangover disappeared once I scored the first goal!
From where I came from, and the hurdles I had to jump and the difficulties that I faced, I look back and say I had a great career. What I can say as well is that it could have been better, I could have reached higher heights if there weren’t off-field incidents or if I didn’t have certain things going on in my life.
I would say I achieved good things. Some are in my position and never manage that. I played in a Champions League final, I played for my boyhood club. Some don’t make it at all. Yes, I could have achieved more if I had better family support and better background support. Things may have been different, but I didn’t have that so I got there on my own to a certain degree.
I look back and tell myself to not be too critical and that I achieved a lot. Yes, there were regrets but I didn’t have any help. At the same time I know I have to be very grateful.
I had two really surreal moments in my career. There’s clearly playing in the Champions League final, that is every pro players’ dream. Then the news that I was signing for Liverpool, a moment I will never forget. I had just come out of prison, playing for Birmingham, then a year later my agent calls and says we’re signing for Liverpool. To come from that, to sign for the club I supported as a kid, was one of the best feelings in my life. All within a year, I worked hard and got an incredible reward.
I played with a tag at Birmingham. It was uncomfortable, but we fiddled around with it. I trained with it all week, and it’s like a watch or a ring – you just get used to it by a certain point. The fans always reminded me that it was there, but you almost forgot about it. I was just happy to be out on the pitch a week after I was released from prison. Steve Bruce threw me in, he was the best manager I worked under – he never gave up on me, even though I drove him around the bend.
Jermaine Pennant – Predictions
FA Cup 3rd Round
Arsenal v Liverpool – 2-1 to Liverpool
Peterborough v Leeds – 2-0 to Leeds
Hull City v Birmingham – 1-0 to Hull City
Stoke City v Brighton – 3-0 to Brighton
Premier League – Sat 13 & Sun 14 January
Manchester United v Tottenham – 2-1 to Tottenham
Newcastle v Manchester City – 3-1 to Manchester City
Everton v Aston Villa – 1-1 draw
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