"DISRESPECTED!" Tony Cascarino BELIEVES criticism of Viktor Gyokeres at Arsenal is "UNFAIR"

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talkSPORT debates unfair criticism of Gyokeres and the fall-out from City's appeal

The show reviews the morning's back pages and focuses on whether Viktor Gyokeres should lead Arsenal's line after Kai Havertz's injury: Tony Cascarino defends Gyokeres against unfair criticism, while Sam Lee doubts he is top level. They also discuss Michael Carrick's call for more fire, Spurs' inconsistency, and Enzo Maresca's defiant response to Manchester City's appeal.

Shebahn Aherne and Tony Cascarino are joined by The Athletic's Sam Lee to dissect today's back pages, including looking ahead to Arsenal v Leeds. Subscribe: https://youtube.com/c/talkSPORT?subconfirmation=1 🏆 Ready to win? Check out the latest prizes at talkSPORTwin.com Enjoyed this YouTube video? 😍 🖥️ talkSPORT's Website: https://talksport.com/ 📲 talkSPORT's X/Twitter: https://x.com/talkSPORT 📷 talkSPORT's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talksport/?hl=en 👤 talkSPORT's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkSPORT/ 📱 talkSPORT's Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talksport ? 🔴 Download the talkSPORT app HERE! - https://talksport.com/apps/ 🔎 Want to see if you feature on our YouTube channel? Check out our Best talkSPORT callers playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFVMnSsi04LGLa9pS9xDvme-Gjmlu2 talkSPORT PremierLeague

Transcript

Uh, let's look through today's back pages. We've got the Athletic Sam Lee with us this morning. Sam, you get anything of that wealth? Otherwise, you [laughter] probably wouldn't be with us at 7:07 on a Saturday morning. How are you? >> Yeah, exactly. Get a slice of the pie. Yeah, good, thanks guys. How are you? >> Yeah, we're looking forward, Sam, um, obviously to the Premier League being back and lots of intriguing games. Tell us your take on the the back pages of the sports uhish papers this morning. Yeah. Well, it's good, isn't it? After this long international break and all the City stuff, you get back to like the nitty-gritty of each team. We've got Gary Jacob in the in the Times asking if Yokarez can play up front for Arsenal because obviously Kai Havtz got injured and then you remember before the international break when things were a bit more normal. Arsenal lost 3-0 to Brighton. So, they're in an interesting spot. But yeah, Gary's wondering about whether Yarez is is the man if if Havitz can't play. Um, but he ends up talking about Mikuel Mourinho and I feel like that might be the way to go. with Yokarez. Um, I know he only had one season last year and this one's new, so it may still be early to judge him, but it doesn't look like it doesn't look like he's got >> Is he unfairly? Do you feel uh Sam that it's a little bit unfair on him? Is he because he's had a decent international uh career as well and he's had this period got got a number of goals and you know last year he played a big part. Okay, he's not to the to some people the elite level striker that they believe Arsenal should have, but he's still done a really decent job. I find it I I think Yarez will play today. I don't see him Marino coming in and playing in front of him. I just don't see that. I think he'll go back to Yarez and say here's your chance. Here's your chance to prove, you know, now Havitz is out the side to show what you can do. I mean, he had his his day in the sun, didn't he, last year and when he scored, I think hattick against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. He's had some really big moments for for Arsenal. >> Yeah, I don't know. He's he's maybe it's just that he's aesthetically not very Yeah. >> Like in terms of it, it doesn't look clean. It doesn't look [laughter] >> that that Here we go. This is the reason this is the reason why you're sympathetic towards him. You just you just see yourself. >> Well, no, it's >> you recognize it. Um >> it's played a part in Arsenal winning the league last year. >> 18 goals or something. >> I mean, everyone played a part to some extent. >> Yeah. >> Oh. Oh, Sam feeling about of a space. >> I just don't I don't know. I um just not convinced. He's just not He's just Yeah, I'm just not I'm just not convinced. He's not He's not top level. If he was, we wouldn't be having these opportunities. Um >> did I see his goals for Sweden? No, I didn't actually. >> No, he was playing golf the other day. Victor Yokes. >> Oh, God. >> Oh, it was so bad. >> He might be better at football than golf. I'll give him that. >> Well, no, no, no. He's not completely rubbish, but um if Yeah, if we're talking about is he going to be the man long term or even even short term. I don't know. I do like Mel Marino in there. Um, I understand the point about giving Yarez a chance and saying, "Look, this this is an opportunity for you." I certainly I certainly understand that. But in terms of in terms of viability longterm, I think Marino's better. And then it might end up being someone else. But I'm glad he got back to golf cuz I shot 88 the other day and didn't lose a ball. So absolute career high point. >> That's not bad for nine holes, is it? [laughter] >> Yeah. >> Took took seven hours as well, but it was fine. [laughter] I'm laughing because literally that's me. Um, talk to us about Michael Carrick as well ahead of the big game today. >> Well, he's just said they need a bit more fire in their performances which again, you know, like I say, going back to this the Premier League coming back and it's always an opportunity to remember what all these different teams are up to. Um, United obviously they they got five points for five games I think it is and they had that draw with Fulham and everyone was talking about their running stats and lack of intensity and I know Carrick's been questioned about his own kind of lack of fire as well and kind of he's just very laid-back isn't he when he talks to the media but also on the sidelines. So yeah, now he said his team need to play with a bit more fire. I don't know if he's just trying to appease the journalists who are asking him about this stuff or or if he's recognized that as an issue, but yeah, United, you know, they've got an interesting game today. United versus Spurs over the last few years has been really interesting because one or both of them has normally been in a difficult spot. And again, it's both of them. So, it will be really interesting to see how how United fare in that one in particular. Yeah, when me and Shabban were taken back by Michael's character comments on Spurs and they're not as bad as they are, you know, their position in the league they're in, but they've actually had been that bad. >> Yeah. Um Yeah. I mean, I guess he's just being generous, isn't he? I mean, if he's um if we're working out what he's seen seen signs um if he's seen signs that you know they they're good in they're good in flashes you know they can they can be dangerous at times but yeah it's only at times isn't it you you'd have to be on an off day for this version of a Spurs team to beat you but I guess he's being nice you know he doesn't like controversy and he used to play for Spurs so makes >> we'd be redundant wouldn't we if we didn't mention the uh the team of the last what two or three weeks every speak every day. Manchester City the latest or just you know Moresca's been talking yesterday. So tell us your your thoughts on that. >> Yeah Moresca he look because Guardiola when Guardiola was there he'd be super defiant. It'd have been all the headlines this morning would have been mad stuff that Guardiola said and like really passionate stuff that defends city. Um and Moresca's defended city and he's been defiant but he's done it in his own way. He's a very smiley, relaxed bloke and the stuff he was saying was kind of similar in essence to what Aquadas would say, but just delivered in a in a different way. And I suppose the main takeaway from it was he kept saying, "I'd like to talk about this, but we'll do it more when we win the appeal." >> Which kind of shows that defiance. But I also find it interesting that all the other managers have been talked about it and I think they probably had a word from their press officers, why would you get involved? If you're a manager from another team, it's already a massive story in its own right. And it's it's easy to put the boot into City at the moment to be honest because we've had that for the last two weeks. But I just think Premier League clubs or particularly the press officers have probably thought we don't need to be in the middle of this. And there's not too many managers this morning who have who have decided to put the boot in or say anything too controversial. >> Yeah, I actually thought we would have heard more managers saying a little bit more, but you're right, press officers and things are so controlled now in these press conferences. Sam, you'll know that better than us. Um, if if they lose the appeal, is Enzo Moresca going to be asked these questions or will be aimed at somebody above? >> Uh, well, he will be because he's going to have to keep doing the pre-match ones. Moresca was asked yesterday, you know, should it not be Fanso or Kaldun Mabarak who's here? And the press officer and Moresa said, well, this is a Liverpool press conference like nominally it was about an a football match. Um, but look, if if in that event the city lose the appeal there, well, I can't imagine Sorano or Caldun Alabarak would sit down and do a press conference, but I'm sure they would put out more statements, but then Maria is going to have to carry on his job anyway of sitting in front of the media and he will keep being asked questions about it. So, yeah, he absolutely will. >> Okay. Um, Sam, have a great day today. Always a pleasure to speak to you. Thank you. >> Cheers, Sam. >> Cheers, guys. Have a good one. Byebye. >> All the best. The Athletics Sam Lee with us this morning going through today's back pages. It continues. >> It rumbles on >> and and you know what? We'll be doing this tomorrow because Liverpool take on Manchester City tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 >> and it will continue. >> It's pure drama and it Yeah. And that's the thing. It's like the Premier League going on as normal, but with this over it. Manchester City going onto the pitch playing as normal, you know, as a football team. No control over what's going on. >> What What do you think the reaction from the Liverpool fans are going to be to City? >> Oh, be hostile, won't it? Well, and also there'll probably be chance that you're gonna get week in week out. >> I mean, look at Southampton and the banner they got. Everyone came in dressed as a bush, you know, with their glasses on and the binoculars with a spygate, you know, shade, >> which was actually quite funny the way they they played into that. Whereas, this is a different beast alto together, you know, if they're not to not win it appeal. Uh, you listen to the weekend sports breakfast here on Talk Sport. Coming up next, I've been out and about this week. We're paying tribute to a Premier League legend. Find out where and why and when next. Good morning.