As another weekend of football dawns upon us, we talk to yet another artist, with Joe Black giving his predictions for the GRM Premier League.
When he’s away from the booth, he focuses a lot of time into football, even coaching a number of youth sides in the area.
The legendary North London rapper is a well-known Arsenal supporter, so it was only right that we hit the big man up.
What are your expectations for Arsenal this season?
As an Arsenal fan, I always want us to win the title, it’s something we should be aiming for. Seeing how the first few games have panned out, there’s no runaway leader, so I think we’re in a good position despite our shaky start. Once Cech gets into it, he’ll be more important as the season goes on.
Do you need a world-class striker to challenge?
Obviously Giroud isn’t converting as many chances as he should be, but he brings a lot of valuable things to the team, like his hold-up play. In the grand scheme of things, goals aren’t our problem – I’m not fussed where we get them from. Obviously it would be nice to have a big striker, but I hear Wenger’s cry about a transfer needing to be a viable option, and not risking it spending crazy money on a player, like certain clubs. Despite what everyone says, I think Alexis Sanchez playing in a striker role is his best position, so he’s a good backup if we get injuries.
Are you Wenger In or Wenger Out?
100 % Wenger in. I don’t see a replacement for him right now, no one can do a better job straight away, in my opinion. Maybe if you give someone time, then it could work out, but he’s the best man for the job at this current moment. Wenger knows the club inside out, and that’s impossible to find nowadays.
Favourite player of all time?
For Arsenal, it’s tough man. You have to throw the captains in there – Tony Adams, Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Ian Wright. Patrick Vieira vs Roy Keane back in the day was the one, it got everyone gassed. But the player who’s given me the most satisfaction and moments as a fan is Henry, so he just shades it.
Outside of Arsenal…. again there’s too many to choose from. Growing up playing football, Zidane and Ronaldinho were the guys for me. Zidane was like any man playing football, he looked like a shopkeeper, but what he did on the pitch was incredible. Ronaldinho had the skills that EVERY kid wanted to try in the playground. What he did with the ball, constantly smiling… I think he just shades it. Oh wait… hang on… fat Ronaldo. Everything ended in a goal with him… pop, pop, bang, goal. Do you know what, definitely big Ronaldo.
If you could choose one footballer to collab with on a tune, who would it be?
That’s a good question you know… it would have to be John Barnes, he can spit bars you know. We should do a tune for the 2018 World Cup, what is it now, 50 years of hurt? Spit some pain bars.
How do you think England will do at Euro 2016?
They can win it, but it’s a mentality thing which always stops us. We have the talent, but there’s always something that ruins it. Minimum expectations for it would have to be the quarter-final, semi-finals are realistic too, but you never know. Another problem is we need to start picking players based on form rather than name. Roy Hodgson’s done that, but it’s been a bit ‘flash in the pan’ – it needs to be consistent.
Away from football, have you got anything in the pipeline musically?
Yeah, me and Benny Banks are doing a mixtape together. No features, just us two on the whole thing. Expect it to drop at the end of the year.
