Pennant sends Arsenal "party pooper" warning as Liverpool backed for title tilt
Jermaine Pennant's footballing experiences have been nothing if not varied.
Signed at age 15 by Arsenal from Notts County for £2 million, a record transfer fee for a trainee at the time, he would make his first team debut for the Gunners just a year later. But his bow in professional football was followed by 18 years where class on the field seemingly went hand-in-hand with controversy off it.
He would retire in 2017 having represented in 15 separate clubs and plied his trade in Spain, Singapore, and India as well as his native England. And yet it's his time at the Gunners, and then later Liverpool, which he's arguably most renowned for,
Indeed, the 40-year-old currently has a keen eye on both sides in what he believes will be a close Premier League title race this season. And despite the pre-international break win over Man City, his warning for Arsenal is clear.
"I don't want to be negative party pooper here; I think that's a fantastic result," he told Mirror Football, on behalf of Minimum Deposit Betting Sites. "Any result against Man City is a superb result and a statement. But you've got to understand they were playing against weakened City team. No, Rodri was a massive miss. And then on top of that, Kevin De Bruyne is injured as well."
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But if Mikel Arteta and co miss out on a first title in 20 years, will that represent another big opportunity missed? "I won't say a disaster, but a failed season if they're not pushing for winning the league," replied Pennant. "And even winning another trophy, winning a trophy this season of some sort. They have to win a trophy this season."
Jermaine Pennant thinks former clubs Arsenal and Liverpool are in the Premier League title race (Daily Mirror)HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Jermaine Pennant have been capped by England? Comment below.
His time as a player on Merseyside arguably proved more fruitful. Pennant was man-of-the-match in Liverpool's 2007 Champions League loss to AC Milan, and impressed for two seasons before falling out of favour with Rafael Benitez.
"Yeah, my time at Liverpool was amazing," he reflected. "You know, obviously playing for my dream team - so that in itself was a fantastic achievement for me. And then playing in the Champions League final, like you said, was the highlight of my career."
And he has high hopes for Jurgen Klopp's current crop, adding: "They really look good. Every season, Liverpool goes into the season thinking we want to win the league. That's their aim. They're in amongst it and if they continue to gel well, like they are doing so far, there's no reason why Liverpool can't be contenders this season."
The form of the Reds has been tainted of late following the VAR controversy that accompanied their defeat at Spurs last month. Pennant was retired before the advanced technology came into play in pro-football, but has no issue with the notion - just those currently operating it.
With a smile, he also implied the system would have benefited his own career stats, as well as harming those of who marked him: "I think I'd have got a lot more assists in my time. Definitely would have got more people sent off, that's for sure. There were a few defenders who got away with a lot in my time."
For all his trials and tribulations at club level though, one call never came for Pennant. Indeed, he remains the subject on an unwanted stat, the only Englishman to play in a Champions League final without ever representing the Three Lions.
"Yeah, it did bother me," he admitted. Obviously playing in the Champions League final, I thought that's a massive step forward. Then getting the man of the match, obviously I know we lost, but I thought every English player who plays in a Champions League final they go on to play for their country.
"I was good mentally, I was good physically, I was in great form. And I thought it might be time before I get called up into one of the friendly squads. And it goes from there, but it didn't happen. It kind of bothered me to a certain degree."
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Jermaine Pennant shoots past Paolo Maldini in the 2007 Champions League FinalAdmitting he did have himself to blame for off-field headlines he believes plagued his chances, Pennant is also cynical about the current international selection process: "I think if it was in this era, I'm sure I would have got a cap because they seem to be giving up caps like Skittles," he said. "You don't need to play to get called up these days."
But he still follows national fortunes. On the hand, he's positive, arguing the current crop of players at Gareth Southgate's disposal is as good as any England manager as had. As for Jude Bellingham, according to Pennant, a future Ballon d'Or win is inevitable for the man taking Real Madrid by storm.
However, there is one aspect he fears could cost the squad another major international tournament win at Euro 2024 last summer. And it has nothing to do with the players.
"My only concern is the manager, Gareth Southgate. I think he hasn't got the knack to win," said Pennant. "I think he's too negative. With the plays that we've got, we should be more on the front foot rather than going into games not wanting to concede or not wanting to lose.
"We should be going in there knowing that we're going to dominate. With the players we've got going forward, attacking-wise, we should always be on the front foot. And I just think sometimes he's a bit slow in making changes and decision-making. By the time he's made the changes too late, the game's gone by."
Ironically, Pennant ultimately concedes that his own career may have panned out differently, had he too taken a different approach to decision-making. But for the winger who exploded onto the scene before he was even able to drive, a love for the game clearly remains.
But one personality trait clearly remains. On the field or off it, few can ever accuse Pennant of not speaking his mind.
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