Lauren Exclusive: The title race is in Arsenal's hands

Former Arsenal invincible Lauren speaks exclusively to Sporting Post on all things Arsenal in the aftermath of their draw at Liverpool, and ahead of the crucial last few games for his former club.

Ramsdale will be pushing to start for England

Sporting Post: Ramsdale made some amazing saves to save the point against Liverpool on Sunday - how crucial is a top goalkeeper for a top team? And how impressed were you with him yesterday?

Lauren: A top team needs a great spine, and at the top of the spine is the Goalkeeper. Ramsdale has been brilliant all season and yesterday he made two amazing saves when it was 2-2 in a difficult moment. He’s one of the top goalkeepers in the Premier League and I’m sure he’ll be pushing to start for the England national team soon. I also think it highlights good strategy from the club. They signed a player with great potential, and that has now become a reality. He’s been proving it all season and I think he’s one of the best in the League.

SP: You were an important part of Arsenal's defence during your time as an invincible - how much do you think Arsenal will miss William Saliba due to his injury?

Lauren: We have to give the confidence to the players that we have in the squad, that are currently being selected instead of Saliba. We need to boost their confidence and believe in them.

Saliba is of course out at the moment, which is unlucky after he has had a great season. But when one player is out it gives an opportunity to another and at the moment we need to talk about Rob Holding, who is the one now playing week in, week out in his place.

Rob has been playing very well, he has been a great servant to Arsenal. Everyone in the club will give him belief and confidence and it’s important that the focus is on how well he is doing, not just when Saliba may return. He needs to be 100% confident at this crucial time in the season.

Liverpool vs Arsenal reaction

SP: Arsenal received praise the first 35 minutes of the game at Anfield. What was most pleasing to you about the opening half an hour of the game? What was most impressive about them?

Lauren: The single most important aspect of the game at Anfield was the belief that the Arsenal players showed. Everyone has to acknowledge that Arsenal have a very young squad without a lot of experience in being in the top of the league for the whole season. I saw a team with a huge amount of personality, playing with a lot of belief and the kind of freedom that showed such confidence in their own ability.

The team has to deal with the pressure. The strong belief amongst the players was absolutely astonishing in the first thirty minutes. We saw the likes of Martinelli Saka, Jesus and Odegaard really impacting the game. Also, the back four looked full of confidence and full of belief. It looked like a side that were top of the league and felt confident in their ability and each other.

SP: Why do you think Arsenal couldn't carry on that level in the second half?

Lauren: You have to acknowledge what Liverpool did and the team they are. Let’s not forget this is a side that may be lower than expected in the Premier League but one that has shown huge quality in the Champions League year after year. They have top players.

From around 35 minutes into the game, they started to press very impressively and make the game have a greater intensity. They found gaps and opportunities and started to dictate the game.

This is Anfield. You are going to be under pressure. We’re only a few games on from when they beat Manchester United 7-0. Their home record is fantastic.

They put Arsenal under huge pressure with quality in the middle of the pitch, on the flanks and in forward areas. Arsenal’s inability to play in the same way in the second half, was in my opinion down to what Liverpool did.

We also need to acknowledge the changes that Klopp made to help Liverpool. Firmino and Nunez allowed Liverpool to press even higher and get into those spaces that you need in order to find the equaliser, which eventually they did.

Arsenal are a brilliant young side, who are full of belief but they haven’t been in this situation before. That can be a good thing, but sometimes it can go against you. It can go against you, in terms of managing a situation when you’re 2-0 up away from home and you need to kill the game, when you need to calm down. Arsenal could not manage to do that.

SP: Arsenal won 2-1 at Anfield in your 2001/02 season and 2003/04 title winning season. How much do you look at the result and think Arsenal will really regret not holding on for a two one victory? Or actually, is this a good point for Arsenal in their title ambition?

Lauren: I don’t want to compare what this side are doing against what we did and our Invincible side!

This game was one of the all-time great Premier League games. Arsenal hugely contributed to that and were exceptional for the first half hour. Arsenal could have won, Liverpool could have won and we ended up with a draw.

You can view this as a point gained because of the way the game ended with such pressure from Liverpool, but my feeling is that Arsenal should view this as two points dropped, because when you score two goals away from home you have to find a way to maintain the lead and get the three points.

It’s not a criticism, it is certainly not easy at Anfield of course. Arsenal will learn from the experience and Arteta and his coaching staff will as well. I’m sure they will benefit from going through this type of game and it’s the type of challenge that comes with being top of the league and trying to fight so hard for the Premier League title.

The team showed incredible personality, ambition, determination and willingness to win, and the first 30 minutes showed exactly why Arsenal are deservedly top of the League.

Arsenal need to maintain the very highest level until the end of the season, but overall I can’t help but feel we lost two points because to score two goals away from home you have to find a way to maintain what you’ve done and get the three points.

In these moments, it's not just the responsibility of the manager to impact what is happening, it can come from the players on the pitch to manage the situation. The players have to find it within themselves to manage the game and win the game.

Arsenal can cope with the pressure

SP: How well do you feel the Arsenal players are coping with the pressure? This is the first time many of them have been in such a situation.

Lauren: I think they have been coping very well. We saw the best example of that a few weeks ago, when they fought back from 2-0 down to beat Bournemouth in the last second.

Right now, I feel Arsenal are coping with a nine out of ten rating with the pressure. But to get over the line and win the title, they may need to reach a ten out of ten and see out the three points like they didn’t quite manage at Anfield. I think they will show they can cope with the pressure. I feel very proud of this team because they've been dominating games, winning seven games in a row going into Anfield at such a crucial period of the season. It’s been fantastic. I think they will show in the next eight games they can cope with the pressure and get over the line.

SP: Arsenal are six points clear, but they have played one more game than city of course, play Arsenal in a few weeks time at the Etihad. Who do you think is the favourite to win the title in your opinion and whose position would you rather be in right now?

Lauren: The big talking point coming out of the game at Anfield was that it is now in Manchester City’s hands. Ok it’s true, but it’s of course in Arsenal’s hands!

I think there’s psychology from many of those wanting Manchester City to win the League, including some pundits, waiting until we had a moment where Manchester City had the title back in their hands. That doesn’t mean they’re going to! I respect that some pundits will believe they will, but everyone can have their own opinion.

Arsenal are six points clear. What a wonderful situation. If Arsenal win their games and draw with Manchester City, they will be the Champions. They may not need to even do that as it’s not a formality that Manchester City will win every fixture left.

Arsenal can’t start worrying about the title being in the hands of anyone else. It’s in their hands. The only concern must be West Ham now on Sunday. A game they have to win. I am not bothered if the bookmakers make Manchester City favourites. Let everyone else talk about this now being Manchester City’s title to win, for Arsenal they need to worry only about themselves

The Champions League is a distraction for Man City

SP: Do you think it could be a benefit to Arsenal that Man City are still in the Champions League and there is so much ambition to win it? Could it be a distraction that could benefit Arsenal?

Lauren: It’s more than just a distraction, it is the reality when you play in the Champions League. There’s huge pressure at Manchester City from everyone involved, to win the Champions League. They’ve failed during Pep’s time there to win it, so for these games they will put out their strongest side, they will need full intensity, everything to come through their European games. All of this effort they will need to give could benefit Arsenal.

I also think that, if Arsenal are going to win the league, it was not a bad scenario that they lost to Sporting Lisbon and are out of the Europa League. Arsenal have a young and relatively small squad that is not used to playing every three or four days at full intensity and I don’t think the squad were going to go the distance in both. So I think that it could benefit Arsenal that Manchester City are still in the Champions League.

SP: If Arsenal don't win the league this year, could it have a big impact in the next few years? Or do you think regardless this squad can go challenge next year and the year after?

Lauren: First of all, Arsenal can’t be thinking about the negatives, “if we don’t win”, “if we lose”. It’s always negativity coming out from others but Arsenal can’t be thinking like that. They just have to continue what they’ve been doing until the end of the season, believe in what they’re doing every single day and trust that, tactically, it will work. They have scored 72 goals so far this season! All these positives mean I don’t even consider the negatives.

Arsenal have to think “we are going to do it” and ignore everything else, and I feel the same. This young Arsenal generation believe that they can win things and we can challenge whoever they face in the Premier League. Great things are coming in the future, I truly believe this. The Premier League this year has been more competitive than two, three years ago. There are so many good teams. It’s one of the most competitive Premier Leagues I can recall.

That’s why I’m focusing on the positives rather than the negatives and I think this Arsenal team will win the Premier League.

SP: Looking ahead, they play West Ham away next Sunday, and then they have Southampton home on the following Friday. Two teams involved in the relegation battle. Do you feel Arsenal will get six points? How essential is it to get two wins now?

Lauren: I’m sure that they will get six points. But they just need to focus on West Ham and not even think about the other games. Think about the win against West Ham and that’s it.

SP: On Sunday at Anfield, Trossard came on, and we saw Kiwior another January signing come on as well whilst Jorginho has featured regularly since arriving too. What have you made of the impact of the January signings?

Lauren: They have been outstanding. Jorginho has been fantastic coming into the team and scored a hugely important goal against Aston Villa. He has a very good understanding with Thomas Partay, with Odegaard, or whoever plays in the middle of the park. He’s full of experience and has been a top addition.

Trossard gives you so much in the system, in 4-3-3. He can play in the wide position, he can also come inside, he puts himself in great positions to either pass to strikers or receive as well. They have been top signings. Kiwior at the back hasn’t played a lot yet but will get more opportunities I am sure.

They are top additions, but in the long term, when Arsenal play in these big games, I believe they will play 4-3-3 with Thomas Partay, Odegaard and Xhaka in the middle, the front three that started at Liverpool (Saka, Martinelli and Jesus) and the same back four, unless Saliba is fit as he would start ahead of Rob Holding.

SP: One thing that seems certain is Arsenal will have Champions League football next season, something people took for granted during your time at the club and for the years after. Do you think Arsenal will strengthen the squad in the summer regardless of winning the League or not? Are there any areas of the pitch they are more likely or less likely to look at in the transfer market?

Lauren: Transfer targets are something that the scouting team and data analysts know very well and will be working on.

Next year, hopefully Arsenal have won the Premier League and they will be in the Champions League, so you need to strengthen the team. We saw during the season this year, against Sporting Lisbon, that in order to play in four competitions, and playing every three or four days, you need the squad to compete at this level, so Arsenal have to strengthen the squad in the summer.

SP: One player that should be back in a few weeks is Nketiah, who did well in the absence for so long of Jesus. Do you think he will get an opportunity to contribute when he returns? Or now, with Trossard, Martinelli, Saka and Jesus, do you think Arsenal are quite well covered already in the forward areas of the pitch?

Lauren: I was asked similar questions when Jesus was injured, and I’ll say the same now, you need your full squad to compete in the Premier League. The more players you have available from now until the end of the season, the better it will be for your team and for the club. The fact that Nketiah is hopefully coming back soon to the team is a good thing and you need it. You never know what will happen, if someone gets injured tomorrow you’ll need him there!

When Nketiah gets back he’ll get his chance and he’ll be full of energy to prove he should be involved, trying to score goals and he’ll have the ambition to be there. Everybody wants to be a part of what is happening, to be part of the squad. You need the full squad - everybody is important and everyone is keen to make an impact and be part of the success of the team.

I don’t see why Tierney should go

SP: What do you think about the Kieran Tierney situation? Do you think he can still stay and be satisfied with his limited minutes?

Lauren: I don’t see why he should go. If Arsenal don’t need the money, why would you sell him? He’s a very good player. We saw it against Spain in the recent international for Scotland and he played very well. He understands the ideas of Arteta now – rather than being in the wide areas, tucking inside and being like another midfield player, receiving the ball from the centre backs and then starting the moves from there.

You need everyone and you need Kieran to be in the squad. You never know from now, anything can happen with injuries and he needs to be focused and to play the way he is being asked by Arteta. For next year it depends on what he wants. If he wants to be in a team week-in, week-out then it’s his decision. But for Arsenal you need the bigger squad and they should keep him.

SP: Zinchenko looked so upset when he came off straight after the second Liverpool goal where Alexander Arnold put the cross in. How difficult is it when an individual has a situation like that at the end of the game? And how do you think Zinchenko can respond to the error that led to that equaliser?

Lauren: First of all, in my opinion it’s not an error. You can have tactical errors, or positional errors. You can have errors where you try and do something stupid when a team is playing out from the back under pressure. But this wasn’t the case, it was a case of brilliant skill from Alexander-Arnold and we know, offensively, that he’s a top, top player! So it’s unlucky and there wasn’t much he could do. I have no doubt that Zinchenko has a great mentality and he’ll come back next game desperate to play, stronger, and I don’t think it will affect him.

SP: Where did representing Cameroon in a World Cup rank in your all-time career? Is it one of your most proud achievements to represent your country at the World Cup?

Lauren: Absolutely. I was privileged because I was also part of one of the best teams in the nation’s history. So that was one of the best moments of my career. Not the best because that was winning the League! One of the best moments of my career was also winning the Olympic gold medal with Cameroon.

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