Alan Smith talks exclusively to William Hill

Former Arsenal, Leicester & England striker and now Sky Sports Commentator Alan Smith spoke exclusively to William Hill this week about Arsenal’s summer transfer window, the impending signing of Viktor Goyogores and what an impact it could have on the team. Alan Smith also shares his view on two special nights as an Arsenal player and what other signing he is looking forward to seeing play next season.

What have you made of Arsenal’s transfer activity so far?

Alan: I think Arsenal’s transfer activity has been very good for far. You see Partey has left and Zubermendi is a top replacement for him. Zubermendi is a superb player, he is one of the best in the world in his position, Spanish international and is going to be a huge asset to Arsenal. Joghino has departed and I’m really impressed with Nørgaard signing. He isn’t going to be looking to sit on the bench all season and I think he can be a very effective player for Arsenal next season. You can’t always get top back up / number 2 keepers and arsenal have a fine one in Kepa. Proven last season at Bournemouth on loan, I think Mikel Arteta will use him when needed, given last year he kept playing Raya all the time.
Now onto the most recent singing in Noni Madueke. He has a lot of potential and I don’t understand any fans not being on side with this. He can play on either wing and therefore gives good options to Mikel Arteta. He is young, in his prime, English and a very attacking player with good skill and flair. The icing on the cake and potential final piece of the jigsaw, will be if Arsenal get Goyokeres over the line.

How big of a difference would the signing of Gyokeres make?

Alan: It would be the icing on the cake for Arsenal. The missing piece of the jigsaw. This is the signing every Arsenal fan has been graving. An out and out number 9 and someone who can get Arsenal over the line for the title.
You saw last season when Arsenal had a striker crisis, that they struggled to score goals and dropped well behind Liverpool. Gyokeres if he signs will mean Arsenal can play a different style at times and get the ball forward quickly, rather than the build up they have been doing. He gives a different dimension to their style which can cause teams lots of problems. The fans would be ecstatic and competing in Premier League and Champions League, having Gyokeres, will give Arsenal the boost they need

Arsenal now have a good 2nd keeper in Kepa. How important is this for Mikel Arteta?

Alan: Arsenal have definitely strengthened in the goal keeping area bringing in Kepa from Chelsea. He had a very good loan period at Bournemouth as he and they impressed in a top 10 finish. Now with Arsenal, Mikel Arteta will be confident to rotate where needed in certain cup competitions which he was reluctant to do last season.

Can Arsenal win the league in 2025-26?

Alan: Three 2nd place finishes in a row shows the consistency of this side. But to get to 1st is the toughest part. They still have the hunger, they have recruited well, so no reason why this can’t be the year. However, Liverpool have added really well to their squad and they are the main danger as I see it. Man City will improve as well, so between those three teams I believe, you will see the Premier League winner and I hope it’s Arsenal who can get over the line. They would have learned from last season and… it’s important they stay clear of multiple injuries at the same time, which hindered them last season.

Premier league winner odds

Talk us through that night at Anfield in 1989 when Arsenal had to win by two clear goals.

Alan: The media didn’t give us a chance. Liverpool hadn’t lost at home by two goals in many years and Arsenal hadn’t won at Anfield in a very long time. Everything was against us, so as we travelled up on the coach, there wasn’t much pressure on us so as we arrived we were pretty relaxed. As we got in the changing room, George gave us clear instructions as how the night could go in our favour and for us to stay in the game.
We came in at half time with the score at 0-0 so we knew we had to push on in the second half. We got an early goal through myself when Nigel floated the ball in the box from a free kick. And then we all know what happened at the end of the game as Michael Thomas scored the all important second goal and we won the title.
It was an amazing night. I believe around 17 million people watching on TV as the game was live on a Friday night and the celebrations were great.

When you were at Arsenal and new attacking players came in, including Brian Marwood, how did this give a positive feeling amongst the squad?

Alan: Yes, we look at this Arsenal side and the important of bringing in quality players to freshen up the squad, keep everyone on their toes and to push the team forward. For us, we had Brian Marwood who was a very important signing for us and helped us compete for the title.
Another signing who made everyone step up was Anders Limpar. The Swede was so important for us, but his made us all raise our levels and was an influential player for the 1991 title win.
When we won the League in 1989 we hadn’t really improved the squad and our title defence wasn’t as good as it could have been. So relating my experience to the squad now, Arsenal can look to once again really challenge for the title with the increased quality.

Then in 1994, you scored the winning goal as Arsenal won the Cup Winners Cup against a well fancied Parma in Copenhagen.

Alan: Yes, It was another special night for Arsenal. Our 2nd European trophy and another one for George Graham. Parma were well fancied to retain the trophy, but we knew we had a great defence and they were excellent that night. Everyone put their bodies on the line. Describing my goal, well, the ball just bounced up and I struck it with my left foot from outside the box. I didn’t know it had actually gone in as the goal keeper made a big drive and I couldn’t see the ball as it had gone past his hands and hit the post and then I looked and saw the ball had bounced across the goal and into the net. A brilliant night again for Arsenal and everyone connected with the club.

Going back to the Premier League and what other signing in the Premier League has you most excited?

Alan: As a former Striker, I am interested to see and excited to see how Liam Delap does at Chelsea. Technically he is good, physically he is strong and his enthusiasm for the game is there to see. Now taking the step up, he will cause defences a lot of problems and with plenty of quality in the build up play for Chelsea, he should be presented with plenty of opportunities to score goals. It looks as through the Club World Club has been good for him to settle into the way Chelsea play, so when the season starts, he can be fresh, confident and ready to get started.

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