Exclusive interview with Tim Sherwood - Part 2: Mikel Arteta would turn down the Man City job, Thomas Tuchel has failed if England don't win the World Cup, and more...

After giving his verdict on Tottenham's current woes in Part 1, Sherwood now turns his attention to the top of the table and the international stage. Sherwood assesses whether Arsenal will finally pip Manchester City to the Premier League title and shares his thoughts on an unlikely quadruple.

Sherwood also gives his thoughts on the England setup under Thomas Tuchel. He outlines exactly why Jude Bellingham is the perfect understudy to Harry Kane, discusses Declan Rice's Ballon d'Or prospects, and explains what Tuchel must achieve at the World Cup. Finally, he takes a trip down the football pyramid, offering his unfiltered predictions on the Championship promotion race, Wrexham's inevitable Premier League rise, and the heartbreak of points deductions in League One.

See the full interview with newbettingoffers.co.uk below.

Q: Is this Arsenal team ready to go and win the Premier League?

“Do Arsenal have what it takes to win the title? You don't know until they do it. I was always asked questions because with Blackburn we finished fourth, then second, and then we won it. And people always ask the question.

“The question they want to ask is about your mentality because they see the quality around your squad and they see previous years that you have the quality to be able to do it.

“Arsenal were always asked questions about strength and depth. I think they've addressed that now, so they've ticked that box. Have they got the quality? Have they got the firepower? I think they have because they share their goals around the team. Obviously, set pieces are a massive part of it for them. But I don't care how you win games, as long as you win.

“The question is always going to be, have they got the mentality for it? Until they do it.

“I’d say just embrace the fact that people ask you that question. I always felt like people used to ask me, and I remember that year, '94/'95, when Sir Alex Ferguson was talking about, ‘Let's see how they get on in April with squeaky bum time’ and all that. When the journalists used to ask us, I genuinely said, ‘Yeah, I'm petrified. I am, I'm really nervous.’

"You know why I'm nervous? Because there's something I want to achieve more than anything in the world and I'm very close to it, and I don't want Man United ripping it off us.

“So I just embraced it. I embraced the fact because if you're an Arsenal player now, just take comfort in the fact they're not asking Chelsea players if they're nervous. They're not asking Liverpool players if they're nervous. They're not asking Tottenham players if they're nervous. They're only asking Arsenal players. And they're not asking Man City players because they've already been there and done it. Not all of them, but a lot of them have.

“So the ones who haven't done it at City might be the ones who let them down. They might be the ones with the weak mindset to go over the line. I just think with the lead they have now, once they do it, and I believe they will do it this year, then they would have that swagger and belief and that confidence of having done the course and distance. I just think they might be a force to be reckoned with.

“But everyone's going to get better. Man United are going to get better. Chelsea, you'd think, might get a little bit better next year. Man City would have integrated these players a lot more. Liverpool have to get better. So it'll be a hell of a race next year.

“In the Premier League right now, I don't think the quality is great, I really believe that, but I just think the competition at the top is getting stronger."

Q: Can Arsenal or Man City do the quadruple?

“The quadruple? It's never been done, but it's not impossible for anyone to do it. Never say never. You imagine a team who actually do do it, you'd think Man City because they've been there and done it and gotten close.

“I just think that Arsenal are favourites to win the league now because of the lead they have. City have the wrong end of the draw in the Champions League. I mean, they've got Real Madrid, and I think they beat them. Then they play Bayern Munich.

“We’ve seen what they can do and they can rest the players now in that second leg and get themselves ready. They're probably, by the time that game comes around, pretty much over the line in their domestic league as well.

“They've got the squad, the players, and the environment there, and the Allianz is unbelievable. It's going to be hard for them to win the Champions League."

“Arsenal, we say, would have the easier pathway in the Champions League because the draw has come out brilliantly for them. But you have to be the best in the end. I think it's more likely Arsenal could possibly do the double, the Premier League and the Champions League, with the draw. They got an easy draw in the FA Cup as well.

“I believe Man City might win the Carabao Cup. I know that won't be a great season for them. And then you think, this game on the 22nd of March is really important to whoever wins the Premier League.

“I don't really buy that too much because I think Arsenal have already got the lead in that. I know they've got to play each other at the Etihad. But no, for me, it would be impossible for any of them to win four.

“I really believe that if anyone does that, they might as well just retire, they can't do it anymore.”

Q: Are Declan Rice’s Ballon d’Or chances dependent on the World Cup?

“The Ballon d’Or will come down to the World Cup. Harry Kane, he’s got closer over the years and he's right in the frame for it this year as well.

“I would think if Harry was to win the domestic league with Bayern, which is probably a given, Champions League, where they're very close to being able to do it, and the World Cup, think Harry Kane would win the Ballon d'Or, and I don't think anyone would begrudging it.

“If Arsenal were to win the Premier League, the Champions League, and the World Cup, Declan Rice would win. So hopefully there’s an English winner.”

Q: Is this Harry Kane’s last major tournament at his peak?

“Harry Kane is fit, he's durable, he's a very fit boy, he always has been. He won't think it's his last tournament, I think he'll feel like he can play in the Euros. I'm sure he can. But it all depends who's coming up behind, who's the competition.

“At the moment you don't see anyone, do you really? Who's going to go as a second striker? Ollie Watkins? At the moment, Danny Welbeck is one of the best English strikers we've got.

“Ivan Toney is scoring over there but he's outside out of mind so I'm not sure if he'll get a look in unless he emerges. But I just think Harry, I think Harry might have this tournament and the Euros and then decide where he wants to be, you know, the Dad's Army team in the next World Cup.”

Q: Who would you be playing in the number 10 role for England

“I think Morgan Rogers is in the best place to start for England at the moment. He's played well for England, he's been good for Aston Villa, they've had a little bit of a hiccup recently because they've had injuries to John McGinn and Youri Tielemans, where they haven't got Morgan on the ball quick enough, passing the time over to him in between the lines and that's where he's good.

“I think there are mitigating circumstances why Morgan's not performed recently but I still think he's the man with the shirt and it's up to anyone else to get it off him.

“It's not happened for Phil this year. I love Phil Foden. I think he's a magnificent footballer. It's just not happened for him on a regular basis. He's not getting the game time. They've bought Rayan Cherki and they've bought a few others in Omar Marmoush and Antione Semenyo.

“So I just think he's struggling to get in the game time. I don't see him getting a run of games. So I think he's an outsider. I think he might miss the boat.“

Q: Who should be England’s back up to Harry Kane?

“Our back up for Harry Kane? I think it’s Jude Bellingham, he's more of a Frank Lampard 10, where he'll make runs into the box, anticipate where the ball might bounce and can be a threat, and score big goals.

“He's done it in the past for England, certainly done it for Real Madrid, plays on the biggest stage.

“I think if anything happened to Harry Kane, I think that, and please God, it never does, because that would be the end of us, I think Jude would play as a number nine in the England team, in the England setup.

“I think that is where, without talking to Thomas, I think that's where he sees him.

“He has the attributes to play in a similar style to Harry Kane. He's a threat, he knows where the goal is, he anticipates well, he puts himself about, and he's a threat from crosses.

“I think he could be the answer. He's the nearest thing we would have to Harry Kane playing in that position. Obviously, Ollie Watkins is a little bit different, he runs off the shoulder with a bit more pace, but that's an option.”

Q: What do you make of Eddie Howe’s position at Newcastle?

“I think it's been difficult for Newcastle, they won’t be in the Champions League next season and they've only got an outside chance of Europa League or Conference League.

“They're still in this, but Barcelona is going to be very difficult over there. Obviously, that was a real blow, a penalty with the last kick of the game. I still think Eddie Howe has got plenty of credit in the bank.

“I think he's a top-drawer manager and I don't think they'll look elsewhere. I really don't. If they were to, I don't know where they'd go.

“I'm not sure their recruitment has been fantastic, to be honest. I think he's getting the best out of them. Yoane Wissa has not been good, Nick Woltemade hasn't been great.

“He's sort of like resurrecting players like Harvey Barnes to be their star man, Anthony Elanga hasn’t been fantastic either. So, yeah, the recruitment has let him down a little bit, but I wouldn't write him off. I still think they've got a big part to play.

“Even if it isn't for achieving anything this season, I'm sure between now and the end of the season, they'll be spoiling parties for other people. Dangerous team.”

Q: What does Thomas Tuchel need to do to keep his England job?

“If Thomas Tuchel doesn't win the World Cup, he has failed. We've had second places under Gareth Southgate, this is about winning it, and he knows that.

“It's going to be very difficult over there, by the way, 40 degrees. There are a lot of South American teams that have an advantage over us. But I believe he's a good manager. I really like him a lot, his personality.

“I think that, as much as he wants to do really well, it won't be as much of a disaster to sack him if things go wrong. I think we will be competitive, even though I don't think we're going all the way.

“I hope we do, I hope I'm wrong, but I just think it might be a bridge too far. However, he'll be 100% favourites to win the Euros on home soil, and I think he wants to be part of that.

“I think he mentioned before he was around England, I remember him mentioning it, saying he was aware of the euphoria of the country, and I think he wants to be part of that home Euros.

“He will sign the contract up to that, won't he? I don't see them getting rid of him unless it's a disaster in the summer, but I don't see that happening.”

Q: Is Frank Lampard in the mix to replace Thomas Tuchel?

“Frank Lampard to replace Thomas Tuchel? If he is promoted with Coventry City and then all of a sudden they get relegated out of that league and then he's no longer 'flavour of the month' and his stock's not that high.

“It's difficult, Scott Parker's been promoted a few times, English manager, and then all of a sudden he goes into the Premier League with the same squad. They don't really give him a chance to succeed.

“They get relegated and everyone says, ‘He isn’t a good manager.’ Well, he is a good manager. He just hasn’t got the tools to work with.

“There are plenty of options there. Eddie Howe would certainly be one of them because he's obviously proved and done it at the highest level, but he's had more tools to work with at Newcastle than Frank has at Coventry. And obviously Scott at Burnley, Fulham or Bournemouth.”

Q: Who could you see managing Spurs in the Championship?

“I could see Scott Parker or Michael Carrick, if he doesn't leave Manchester United, managing Spurs next season.

“If Carrick doesn't stay there, I'm sure there will be a lot of clubs who want to take him. He's level-headed, knows the game, very sensible. He has common sense, using players in the correct positions.

“What he's done, bringing Kobbie Mainoo into the fold, playing a back four, which everyone understands, with a little protection in front, pushing Bruno Fernandes forward.

“He's got the players to work with there. I'm sure he's done the Championship previously as well. He's cut his teeth there at Middlesbrough.

“He knows the environment. Michael's a very good manager and if Manchester United don't take him, I'm sure he'd be a great fit for them next season.”

Q: What would Mikel Arteta say if Man City offered him the job?

“Mikel Arteta to Man City? He says no. I think he appreciates the time Arsenal have given him, he keeps talking about the process, the project, and I think he will appreciate that the club has given him the opportunity to succeed, and they've had to wait, obviously.

“Now the time might be over, they might win. He's won an FA Cup, which he inherited when he first came in with Arsenal's team. But they've seen gradual progress over the years, and I think they're happy with that.

“I think he appreciates the fact that the club has given him the keys and let him manage how he wants to manage. I don't see him turning his back on them to go to Man City, I really don't. And he knows, he knows, it's a thankless task.

“I mean, it's a great job, obviously, very well paid, and you've got great, fantastic players, but does anyone really want to follow Pep Guardiola in?

“It's like asking me if Vincent Kompany will leave Bayern Munich to go to Man City. I mean, he loves the club. That would be a more likely option.

“But in the back of his mind, he's saying, ‘How am I going to follow this fella?’”

Q: Who can you see joining Coventry City in gaining automatic promotion?

“With Ipswich, I think Kieran McKenna knows how to do it. He's done it before. I think he's got good enough players to be able to do it and put a run together towards the end. That's his strength. And I don't know why, I'm not saying it from any knowledge really, just from the outside watching them and having done a few of their games, but Middlesbrough just might fall away.

“I think Coventry will get the job done. That massive result against Middlesbrough kickstarted their season again, giving them that confidence. They've got the firepower.

“Something just doesn't sit right with me with Middlesbrough, I don't know why. I just think Ipswich might just come on the rails and take that second spot.

“I just think Ipswich are there to put a run together, and I think they're capable of winning ten on the spin. I just think that they've got the players to be able to do that.”

Q: How impressed have you been with Millwall under Alex Neil?

“Alex Neil's done an unbelievable job there with those players. He's given them a real belief that they can actually get promoted to the Premier League.”

Q: Could Middlesbrough struggle in the playoffs?

“It's damning when you’ve been up there and then drop into the playoffs late on, Middlesbrough would have to pick themselves up again. It is really difficult.

“You wouldn't want to go to The Den in the playoffs. You're talking about massive games of football, right to the end. In the playoffs, I'm going to say Millwall.”

Q: Is it a matter of time for Wrexham to get to the Premier League?

“Phil Parkinson has done a great job at Wrexham. I think he's a very good manager. And it's still a great story, isn't it? I mean, he got robbed in the FA Cup against Chelsea, they looked like they were really pushing them. They were hard to cope with.

“In the Championship, sometimes you watch a game and if you just came down from the moon, you wouldn't know who's top of the league and who's bottom when you're watching it.

“Anyone could beat anyone at any stage. The project they've got going up there is they seem to be all enjoying it, and I see that not stopping anytime soon.

“The Premier League is a matter of time if they keep spending the money, and it seems to be largely down to that with the teams you want to get promoted, if you've got the financial purse, then you can really push, but you've still got to have the right manager in charge.

“It isn't about how much you spend, it's about what you spend it on. And if they're letting Phil take control of the finances and the football side of the recruitment, I think they're on the right path, and I think eventually they will get to the prime intent.”

Q: Is it 50/50 for Coventry City to stay up in the Premier League?

"Well, what you're looking at now at Coventry City, you give them no chance of survival. I would have said that even in the playoff final, when I watched Sunderland, I would have said this team have got no chance. I thought they might get a record low points in the Premier League.

“All of a sudden, there'll be a surge in the transfer market, bringing in players like Granit Xhaka gives them real belief. They'll see everyone else follows after that. It can be done, but you have to spend the majority of your money what you're getting in the Premier League in that first season, just to try and survive it, consolidate and then spend again and keep your head above the parapet.

“Any team who gets promoted out there now, I'd say, would absolutely have zero chance, but I did say that about Sunderland and look what they've done and it looks like Leeds are going to stay up as well."

Q: How impressed have you been with Philippe Clement at Norwich?

“Philippe Clement is a manager who can blow hot and cold, but he had a good spell when he went in, which was at rock bottom. Sometimes that's a good time to join a club, as long as you have enough time to turn it around, which he has.

“I think he's steadied the ship. He looks like an experienced man who doesn't get too emotional. He's done a good job. He has previous experience managing in Scotland. You have to say that if you ask the Norwich fans, they're happy with him at the moment.

“I think next year, if they spend in the right areas, he could push them towards the playoffs. I really believe that. But then again, he might lose five on the spin, as anyone is capable of doing, and then we'd start talking about him losing his job. That's football management.”

Q: Can John Mousinho keep Portsmouth in the Championship?

“John Mousinho has done a good job, but Portsmouth need to pick up. The home form has to pick up. They have to do better at home. Because I know what it's like playing in front of them home fans there at Portsmouth. They're fantastic. They help you over the line. But they can get on you if you don't get the positive results.

“So if you start the games well, they get you through it. I think that they will be the difference. The Pompey fans will be the difference between them staying up or not.

“I think the players have to have the character to perform in front of them. It's so tight. I think he's done a good job. I really do. And the fans are with him there. And I think they give him the support.

“Hopefully all my teams can stay up. Looks like Watford are okay. He's gone in there and done a decent job. Norwich, Philippe Clement, brilliant. Hopefully John can pull it around and I need Michael O’Neill to step up at Blackburn and get us over the line.”

Q: Can Blackburn beat the drop to League One?

“It's gonna be tough for Blackburn. There are disgruntled fans. My message for the fans is to stay with them, your club will always be there, but they cannot drop to League One.

“Everyone knows that things are not right there with the ownership, the players need the fans now. You need to turn up and you need to support when you can, and hopefully we get enough points to consolidate in the league next year, and hopefully in the meantime there might be a Jack Walker out there who comes and buys the club.

“There was only one Jack Walker, unfortunately.”

Q: How sad would it be for Sheffield Wednesday to get a points deduction in League One?

“It’s sad for the Sheffield Wednesday fans, this has nothing to do with them or the players. You’re going to struggle to get players to the club, and that shouldn't be the case, as it's a huge football club.

“I made my full debut at Goodison, but my debut was for Watford at that ground, Hillsborough. It was a magnificent stadium. I remember the support there and the fantastic individual players they had, and it was a great side.

“It's just a real shame how this has happened. Mismanagement at the top end of football clubs can happen in the blink of an eye, and you're in League One, potentially with a 15-point deduction. It's just unbearable for the fans to think about.

“I felt when they were getting relegated that it would be a good club to manage, probably one of the best in all the divisions at the moment in League One.

“But then they got hit with a 15-point deduction. I mean, if someone took over fresh, they wouldn't have to pay that. Well, they want an extra £15million or something for them not to get the points. I mean, it's going to be an expensive club for someone.

“But if someone bought it and took it over, it's a great club to manage, because you could take them right up through the leagues, like Wrexham had done, like Ipswich had done.

“You're capable of doing it, back-to-back, with the support you would be given at Hillsborough. But it’s a real shame and it’s sad for football.”

Tim Sherwood interview, Part 1 - I’d have one question for Spurs if they offered me the job, Michael Carrick could be in charge of Spurs next season, and more...

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