French Football Weekly: Today for you is the Premier League still the best world championship?
Robert Pirès: I think so, because there are many clubs that can claim to be champion. It is a hard, demanding championship. You have to be good all year round. And I say that because in fact, it is the only one where there is no truce. That is to say that in Christmas, it plays, it continues. There is no rest. That's why when you win the English championship, at the end, you are super happy. There are many more big games in the Premier League, you know you have suffered a lot.
French Football Weekly: What are the big changes between the Premier League of your era and that of today?
Robert Pirès: I think in terms of combat, in terms of electricity, I want to say. Today is far too nice, far too tender. The technique, I think that it is there, even if I find it a little reduced compared to the 2000s. When I see, for example, the list of golden balloons, it does not dream like that of the 2000s. But it is just the evolution of football, that's how it is. Afterwards, the video has changed a lot. The Var has changed a lot in the behavior of the players. When I speak of electricity, it always feels good to see a little friction on the field between players. And today, there is no longer that, unfortunately.
“Arsenal has the cards in hand and has players to win the title”
French Football Weekly: What is your look at the transfer window that Arsenal made?
Robert Pirès: Let's say that is what we expected, that Arsenal spends a lot of money. Especially on a position that Michael Arteta was looking for, number 9. Today, they found it with Victor Gyökeres. It is not easy for him because he comes from a championship where it was the serial scorer. He scored goal on goal. Today, in the Premier League the defenders opposite are much harsher, much more rough than in the Portuguese championship. So it's not easy. And then good, Arsenal has this desire to be champion of England. It's not going to be easy because you have Liverpool, you have City who is there, Chelsea who will not be far. But I think Arsenal has the cards in hand and has players to win the title.
French Football Weekly: Is Mikel Arteta the man of the situation?
Robert Pirès: In my opinion, if this year, there is no trophy, management will think of going to get another coach. Because it's been five years since he was there and unfortunately, the title escapes him. What is important for supporters is the championship. So today there is money that has been spent on the summer transfer window. There were certain requirements from him, which were carried out by the Arsenal board. If Arsenal is not champion, I think there will certainly be a change on the bench.
French Football Weekly: Do you see similarities between today's arsenal and that of your time which ends up champion of England?
Robert Pirès: No, because football has changed, he has evolved. Today, Michael Arteta plays in 4-3-3. We, at the time, with Arsene Wenger, we played in 4-4-2. And I think, if we have to compare, in my opinion, it only looks at me, but football from 2003-2004 was much faster and much more fluid than that of today. But afterwards, it depends on the players you have. I was privileged. I played with Vieira, Gilberto Silva, Edu, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Kanu and in quotes, it's easy to play football with them.
“Cherki has the game to adapt to Manchester City”
French Football Weekly: Today what is the most important for Arsenal, win the Premier League or the Champions League?
Robert Pirès: In England, the Premier League is much more sought after. So of course, the Champions League is the Grail. But let's say that the English are in love with their championship. Because he's hard, he doesn't stop. You start in August, you end in May. The Champions League, you always have trucers, you play every 15 days about. Afterwards, of course, you play against large teams. But what I mean is that the English championship, it is so difficult, so rough and so demanding that when you win it, you are super happy. So, I think that if you do a survey of the Arsenal supporters which they would prefer to win between the Premier League and the Champions League, they will all tell you Premier League.
French Football Weekly: Many French players arrived in the Premier League this summer, do you have a preference for one of them?
Robert Pirès: Already what is good is that the French player always attracts on the side of England. So that’s good news. I think I have a little preference for Rayan Cherki, because I like the player, because technically, he is very, very strong. Where I am surprised, it is the price where it was sold by Lyon or paid by City. But I think he has the game to adapt to Man City, and also to the Premier League. Because technically, I really like what it does and what it offers on land even if the PL is difficult.
