Sky Sports pundit understands why supporters at the Emirates may be unhappy
Saturday 13 December 2014 10:03, UK
In his weekly column Jamie Carragher has his say on the main talking points surrounding Sky Sports' upcoming Saturday Night Football and Monday Night Football fixtures, which feature Arsenal’s home clash with Newcastle United and Queens Park Rangers’ trip to Everton.
The former Liverpool and England defender discusses everything from the contrasting recent managerial fortunes of Arsene Wenger and Alan Pardew, the eye-catching form of Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal’s Champions League hopes, Newcastle’s surprising league position, QPR’s current struggles on the road and Everton’s progress so far this campaign.
Carragher also says he understands why Arsenal supporters are currently so frustrated with their manager, while at the same time not condoning the abuse the Frenchman has received from the club’s fans of late.
Was the abuse that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger received after their defeat to Stoke City last weekend warranted?
CARRA SAYS: I do not think that any manager really should be getting criticism on that scale. I understand that Arsenal fans get frustrated, they pay the highest season ticket and ticket prices in the league, so they would expect to see more than what they are seeing at the moment.
But I think, especially for a manager who has achieved so much at the club, that overstepped the mark a bit to be honest. It was a bit over the top. But there is a frustration there and no one should have a job for life because of their past – I said that on Monday Night Football. I just think that, all in all, it is not a good thing when you see a manager getting that much criticism and it boiling over like that.
But it shows the frustration and, as I said, the fans pay the highest prices and maybe that’s where it is coming from, as the fans are expecting to see a lot more than they are and they are obviously seeing the same sort of failings year in, year out.
After last Saturday’s loss at the Britannia, is this now a hugely important match for Arsenal and one they dare not lose?
CARRA SAYS: It is a big game but it is at home, so it is the type of game that you would expect Arsenal to win. We know they struggle against the top sides home and away – they have done for the last few years – and against teams like Stoke away from home, which everybody knows.
Newcastle are a team in form – they are doing really well under Alan Pardew, who was a manager under big, big pressure earlier on in the season, but who has turned it around brilliantly. But it is a game that you would expect Arsenal to win at the Emirates.
Do you think that coming second in their Champions League group will again badly hinder Arsenal's chances come the knockout phase in February?
CARRA SAYS: Yes you would expect so. That has been the case now every year – Arsenal have come second, they get a tough game in the knockout stage and then they go out, and that has been a major problem for them.
On the other hand, they qualify every year, so you have to pat them on the back for that, but unfortunately they have given themselves a lot to do and they are not quite at the level of the teams they come up against.
You may get lucky and get a team who have finished first but are not at your level, but you would have to be very fortunate. And if you look at the teams who have finished top in their group, a lot of them are top sides, so you would imagine that they will get another tough game.
How impressed have you been with Alexis Sanchez for the north London club so far this season given this is the Chile forward’s debut campaign in England?
CARRA SAYS: Hugely, and I am just disappointed that he was not at Liverpool! He has come in and been brilliant for the Premier League. Arsene Wenger mentioned recently that he was in the red zone and I think that he has played more minutes and games this season than probably anyone in the league.
But physically he looks like he can cope with the demands of the league. He was rested in midweek, and that is something Arsenal may have to look at as he has been a massive player for them and where would they be without him?
That was a highly impressive win for Newcastle against Chelsea last Saturday, especially from a defensive point of view, but do you think they can produce a similar type of display at the Emirates on Saturday night?
CARRA SAYS: They have a way of playing at the moment that has proved very successful: they defend deep and play on the counter-attack and it is causing teams a lot of problems. They have great pace in there and with them defending so deep and so organised, it obviously helps their defensive record, because when they get exposed it is obviously a problem for them.
I think we have seen that in the past with Newcastle teams, but now they look like they are defending as a team and they are a big threat on the counter-attack.
Do you think that Newcastle manager Alan Pardew should get more credit for his achievements since taking over at St James’ Park four years ago?
CARRA SAYS: All in all, Alan Pardew has done a good job at Newcastle. He got Manager of the Year one year as well, the next year they went into the Europa and found it difficult, and then they started the following season very well, but lost Yohan Cabaye.
Pardew has done a really good job and I'm sure the Newcastle fans, even though they were criticising him, will want this to continue
But I think that the fans’ frustration comes more towards the owners than Alan Pardew and the fact that when you have a manager for so long, I think that at times people become bored and they want change. They want something new, something different.
And of course, it was a difficult start to this season after the end to last season, so you can understand the fans’ frustration.
However, credit to Alan Pardew, I think he handled himself really well. He was dignified in his interviews afterwards, he always said the right things and as I said, I think at this moment they have come out the other side.
And I also think that you have to give owner Mike Ashley some credit, because obviously in the past a lot of owners have got rid of a manager early after the fans turn on them. But he has done a really good job and I am sure that the Newcastle fans, even though they were criticising him, will want this to continue.
Do you think that Everton have stalled slightly under Roberto Martinez this campaign after the excellent progress that they made under the Spaniard last season?
CARRA SAYS: No, I would not say stalled, they just have different obstacles to deal with in terms of the Europa League, which is difficult for any team that goes into it. And if you think about Everton, they have never really had the biggest of squads, they have taken the Europa League very seriously and finished top of a group which wasn't easy. It had Wolfsburg in it, who are second in the German league.
So they have done really well in that, but I think that has halted their push up the Premier League table, and I think that when the Europa League is out of the way, we will start to see the old Everton coming back.
They are a team that always finish in and around the top six. I think the top four will just be out of their reach, they cannot really compete with the teams who are going for that in terms of squad size and money, which is understandable.
But they are always knocking on the door and I am sure that when the Europa League is out of the way for the next few months, we will start to see Everton moving up the table.
QPR really need to start picking up some Premier League points on the road if they want to move away from the relegation zone don’t they?
CARRA SAYS: You want to pick up points away from home and at the moment they have not picked up a single point away from home, which is something that will have to change. But their home form is brilliant at the moment.
I said a few weeks ago that they have to make Loftus Road a fortress, and that is exactly what they have done. It is now becoming a place where teams do not want to visit – it is a very difficult place to go.
But now and again they will have to pick up a point on the road between now and the end of the season, because if you do not pick up anything, it puts so much pressure on your home form.
Watch Arsenal v Newcastle United live on Saturday Night Football, with coverage from the Emirates starting at 4.45pm on Sky Sports 1HD.
Watch Everton v Queens Park Rangers live on Monday Night Football, with coverage from Goodison Park starting at 7pm on Sky Sports 1HD.
