Say the name Perry Groves to any Arsenal fan and they’re sure to break out in a broad smile. A cult hero during his playing days at Highbury, the former midfield dynamo has cut an impressive figure in the player-turned-pundit world penning his much praised and incredibly entertaining autobiography We all Live in a Perry Groves World and regularly appearing on Sky Sports, talkSPORT and the Gunners’ own in-house channel.
Now working for the Betting Channel, sport.co.uk caught up with the fan favourite to discuss Arsenal’s title challenge, possible transfer window action, the race for fourth place and why Liverpool won’t win the league under Benitez.
Oh and before we forget, he also has very kind words for his colleague Simone Thomas…eventually. Keep reading.
It’s been an amazing turnaround for Arsenal since the defeat against Chelsea in November. What do you put that down to?
I think it’s down to the faith that Arsene Wenger has shown in his players. He’s such an experienced manager that he didn’t panic. Most experts, including myself, thought that defeat finished Arsenal’s challenge. It wasn’t because they got beaten, it was the way they were beaten. Chelsea were just far too strong and physical for them. It was nothing to do with technical ability and natural ability; it was all about the power and mental strength of Chelsea that day.
Arsenal haven’t been beaten in the league since then and with each game they’ve won it’s given the players more confidence. Great credit to them because for a lot of those games they’ve had to do it without their two best players; Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie.
What do you make of the injury situation at Arsenal, do you still think Arsene Wenger needs to buy?
I thought they needed to buy anyway. In fairness Arsene hasn’t moaned about injuries but if they are to have a chance of winning it then Cesc Fabregas has to stay fit.
My heart wants Arsenal to win, because of the way we play football – that’s how you want youngsters to be taught how to play the game – but I still think there is an ingredient missing...a bit of physical strength, the grit needed when games aren’t going so well to battle you’re way through.
I’m not sure how much Edin Dzeko would cost you from Wolfsburg. He’s the tall Bosnian striker, 6ft 3in, who got 30 goals last season. He’d give you a physical presence.
Wenger’s been chasing Chamakh at Bordeaux as well, but he’ll never pay over the odds for a player if he can wait and get him cheaper. The man’s got a degree in economics after all! Other managers don’t give a monkey’s about balance sheets, they just go to their chief executives and chairmen and ask for £20 million whether the club can afford it or not.
Wenger always has a value of a player in his head and he won’t go over it in negotiations. Look at Arshavin, he could have bought him for £20 million the year before but in his eyes it wasn’t value for money at the time.
In the summer they lost out on Felipe Melo to Juventus, but Wenger rated him at around £12 million and in the end he moved for around £17 million. As it turns out he’s been shocking at Juventus…he might have suited Arsenal better, but you never know.
I think an ideal sort of player, although he probably won’t go for him due to his age, is Louis Saha. If he could keep his injuries sorted he’s very strong and has great technique.
Aside from strikers would you go for anymore cover at the back? Obviously Sol Campbell has been re-signed and Song has been known to fill in…
I’m not sure how long Djourou is out, but by signing Campbell he’s sorted for the rest of the season. When Song comes back from the African Cup of Nations he can play centre-back if needed.
Song’s a player who has had a lot of game time this season and really made that holding midfield role his own. He’s got an advantage over others who play that role in that he’s a great passer. If you look at many holding midfielders around the country they constantly pass sideways, Song goes forward. Wenger insists his men go forward; the first or at least second pass always goes up the pitch allowing Arsenal to play through teams.
How important is Cesc Fabregas?
Fabregas is the key; Arsenal are a 40 percent better side when he plays. I always call it the ‘Jonny Wilkinson’ effect. When Wilkinson was in the England rugby side, every player alongside him thought they could win every game. Every fan, even if you didn’t know anything about rugby, felt the same way if Wilkinson was playing. He was that important and Cesc Fabregas is exactly the same for Arsenal.
Theo Walcott has been suffering with injuries again this season, what do you make of his time at Arsenal can he still make Fabio Capello’s England squad?
He’s behind Aaron Lennon in the England pecking order at the moment. Lennon’s game and final ball have developed more recently in comparison to Theo who hasn’t played.
It will be interesting to see how Wenger uses Walcott for the rest of the season. Will he use him as an impact player? When clubs pack the midfield against Arsenal, Theo is the man to make them sit deeper. Opponents worry about his pace and the fact he can sprint in behind the defence. It gives the Arsenal midfield more space, whether its Nasri, Fabregas, Denilson or Diaby they suddenly have more room on the ball. Theo’s a top weapon still for Arsenal.
Realistically, can Arsenal cope with the pressure and win the title this season?
To be fair, Arsenal have shown resilience and have shown they have a fantastic team spirit but their season will be judged at the end of January and start of February when they play Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. Those four games will act as more of a barometer of where Arsenal stand. It’s a pivotal couple of weeks.
If they can get a draw or win at Villa the confidence will be up, then it’s on to the big boys and those are the games any player relishes. These games define whether you’re a great player or not and Manchester United and Chelsea are not going to be found wanting.
When Arsenal play the lesser teams I always fancy them to win quite comfortably. A lot of the teams that come to the Emirates pack their midfield and try and close Arsenal down and dominate them physically, but those tactics are growing less effective with referees clamping down on persistent bad tackling.
This side have matured a great deal in the last 18 months since they struggled against the likes of Bolton, Stoke and Blackburn Rovers. Arsenal aren’t intimidated as much and their pace and passing has got a lot quicker this season.
Another thing is how strong they are in the last twenty minutes. When teams go to the Emirates they chase Arsenal down, trying to deny them space, but you can only do that in 20-25 minute bursts before you need a rest.
Arsenal don’t panic. Arsene’s philosophy is to keep passing and moving and obviously creating opportunities if you can. In the mean time you’re wearing the opposition down which means you can take advantage in the last ten minutes of the first half and especially in the last portion of the game.
Chelsea are going about their business very quietly under Carlo Ancelotti, are they still the team to beat?
Everybody always suggests that Chelsea aren’t playing very well and the football isn’t great but they have mentally and physically strong players who have won trophies. Anelka is a better player than he was a year ago, he’s taking more responsibility and with guys like John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Petr Cech, Michael Essien, Michael Ballack and Joe Cole - they know how to win things.
I never thought the African Cup of Nations would be much of a hindrance because the four games in that time aren’t particularly taxing. The only thing that might hinder them is that Essien looks set to spend 4-5 weeks out with a knee injury.
That being said, I still feel that if you finish higher than Manchester United you’re probably going to be crowned Champions.
What do you make of the open race for fourth position?
I said at the beginning of the season that Liverpool would not be good enough to get fourth spot and that they would never win the Premier League under Rafael Benitez. Although it pains me to say it, Spurs are impressive. Alongside Aston Villa they have a squad which is better than Liverpool and which is two years further down the line than Manchester City.
I still think that the balance of the side at City is wrong; it was under Hughes and it is under Mancini. They are buying players just because they can, rather than them fitting into a system. Looking at the side they put out last night they’ve got Barry, de Jong, Kompany and now they’ve bought Vieira and have been linked with Mathieu Flamini. I know you’re Italian Mancini…but you can be too cautious. They’ll probably try and get Makelele next!
If you push me I’d say Villa need a couple of signings to keep the impetus going. This time last year they had a dip in their form which cost them dear. Spurs on the other hand have an all-round strong squad.
Liverpool are obviously having a nightmare season, where does the blame lie?
It’s with Benitez. He sets his teams up not to get beaten, rather than to go for a win. Also, if managers are judged on their signings, then look at his record. I would say 60-70 percent of his recent acquisitions have been duds. Dossena [who was sold last week to Napoli], Degen…you can go back to the Chilean [Mark]Gonzales, Jermaine Pennant.
In comparison you have to say that 70-80 percent of the signings made by Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson are alright. They make mistakes, everybody does, but you have to get your percentages right. Benitez is lucky if he’s at 50:50.
Finally, you’re working for the Betting Channel, can you tell us how it’s going?
I’m working with [former Sky Sports presenter] Alan Bentley, he’s the driving force behind it. The channel lives and dies by its experts and we’ve got great guys.
People who are betting want an inside track, a bit of insider knowledge to give them the edge over the bookies. We can offer that to punters.
One of the sport.co.uk team also interviewed your glamorous Betting Channel colleague (and current Sport.co.uk Hot Babe of the Week) Simone Thomas earlier…have you got any kind words to say about her? She says you are a gent!
(Laughs) She obviously doesn’t know me very well. She’s very good.
Cheers Perry, best of luck with the Betting Channel.
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Five minutes later the sport.co.uk phone rings…
Sorry mate, I couldn’t talk about Simone earlier. My wife was next to me…I didn’t want to get in her bad books.
Simone’s great, she obviously looks amazing but she’s also really intelligent. Very nice and very switched on girl. You might think looking at some of her pictures that she’s going to be an archetypal bimbo…you know, the type who just knows about going out and fashion…but she’s not.
Put it this way, you know those little quotes they put next to the Page 3 girls? Well her one wouldn’t be made up. She’d have a view of her own.
Thanks Perry, I’m sure Simone will be very pleased to hear your kind words.
Ex-Arsenal hero Perry Groves is a pundit on the newly-launched www.thebettingchannel.tv alongside ex-Sky Sports host Alan Bentley, Monday to Saturday between 9 and 11am.
Keep an eye out for his new weekly tipping column on www.sport.co.uk.