Philippe Senderos talks to OLBG ahead of Euro 2024

Philippe Sylvain Senderos (born February 14, 1985) is a Swiss retired professional footballer famed for his role as a defender. His footballing career took off at Servette before his transfer to English club, Arsenal, as a teenager. 

Over seven seasons, Senderos made 116 appearances for Arsenal and was part of the squad that won the FA Cup in 2005. 

He went on to play for Fulham, Milan, Everton and various other clubs across Spain, England, Scotland, Switzerland and the United States. 

On the international platform, Senderos represented Switzerland from 2005 to 2016, during which he earned 57 caps and scored five goals. He played in three FIFA World Cups and at UEFA Euro 2008 for the Swiss national team.

Phillippe Senderos Interview April 2024

Speaking exclusively to OLBG, former Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos said Arsenal should look to sign Ollie Watkins this summer in their hunt for a 20-goal striker.

The ex-Switzerland international tipped AC Milan’s Rafael Leao to be a Premier League success, but questioned whether he’d fit in at the Emirates. 

The former Rangers and Everton man explained why Arsenal still have hope in the title race thanks to their newfound mentality and called William Saliba and Gabriel the best defensive duo in the country.

The former FA Cup winner also backed the scrapping of replays while agreeing with Pep Guardiola’s complaints over Manchester City’s tight schedule.

Q: Do you still have hope for Arsenal in the Premier League title race?

PS: “I still have hope for Arsenal, but Manchester City usually hit their form at this time of the year. Arsenal have done brilliantly to be in this position and fighting for the title at this stage of the season. 

“City still have the FA Cup final to think about with Arsenal just focusing on their league games, I do think they’re in a better spot than last year and they just need to build on that.”

Q: Have you seen a change in Arsenal’s mentality this season

PS: “This year I think Arsenal have been much stronger mentally, they can take confidence from that and their head-to-head record against City.”

Q: Are Arsenal back to where they should be, fighting for major honours?

PS: “I think Arsenal are back to where they should be and the team has been improving year on year on, so I think this is massive. When you look at a football club it's very important that you feel that the club is progressing and the players are progressing and Mikel Arteta has done that. 

“I think him and his staff have been brilliant and the stability that they've had as well at the club has helped and they've had the backing so hopefully it can continue. 

“The titles will in the end define how good a job that Arteta has done, but we can all see that they are a much better team than they were a few years ago.”

Q: Do Arsenal have the best defensive partnership in Europe?

PS: “I think William Saliba and Gabriel have definitely been the best partnership in the Premier League and it helps that they have been fit most of the year.

“Continuity and stability helps to build on defensive ability. It helps to have both of them all the time there. So they've been brilliant, one left-footed, one right-footed. It’s very complimentary. 

“One is very, very fast in Saliba and Gabriel reads the game very well. So I think they complement each other perfectly. Saliba’s speed is really a great asset. It would have been great to play with him.”

Q: Do Arsenal need to bring in a striker to reach major honours?

PS: “We talked for years about City not having a real number nine, but they were winning both before and after they brought in Erling Haaland.

“For Arsenal, they probably need a player that can guarantee you 20 goals, but those types of players who can score 20 goals in the first season in the Premier League are very rare.“

Q: Which strikers would you love to see at Arsenal?

PS: “I think Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins are the type of players that have proved it in the Premier League. They could be a good fit. But then again, they have to fit into the philosophy of what Arsenal are trying to do - and also financially.”

Q: What about Ollie Watkins would make it a good fit?

PS: “Ollie Watkins is a great finisher. This year he has been really on form, he’s one of the key elements of Aston Villa’s success.”

Q: Is anyone really impressing you at AC Milan or in Italy?

PS: “At Milan, I like Christian Pulisic. I think he's done well since leaving Chelsea. I still want to see Rafael Leao. Probably in England, it would be a great place to see him.

“I feel, with his physicality and speed, he’s now at a point where he needs to take the next step and I think it should be in the Premier League.”

Q: Would you like to see Leao at Arsenal?

PS: “I'm not sure about Arsenal for Leao. A lot of teams now play a low block against Arsenal and he probably needs a little bit of space, so he'd be good for a counter-attacking team.”

Q: Do Rangers have what it takes to beat Celtic to the title this season? 

PS: “Rangers definitely have the passion to beat Celtic to the title, but with the ability we still have to see. But it's a great club with great support and the title race being so close this year is credit to both teams.

“I'm very pleased to see that because you need that to create a competitive league and they have this season.“

Q: Are you surprised at how well Unai Emery has done at Aston Villa?

PS: “I'm not surprised. I think he's a fantastic coach. He's done a brilliant job wherever he's been. Even if he has been criticised at times.

“I think at Villa he's had the time to build the squad and build his team the way he wanted. And he really has a strong squad, a strong team and he's been playing brilliant football. I'm not surprised and I'm very happy for them to be fighting for a Champions League spot.”

Q: Could Aston Villa surprise a few people in the Champions League next season?

PS: “Let's hope they can qualify for the Champions League. England only get four spots, I think, and you're going to have to fight hard until the end of the season. But they could be a surprise next season, definitely.”

Q: Will huge European clubs be looking at Unai Emery this summer?

PS: “Unai Emery is the type of manager who will be looked at in other places. I think he's done a brilliant job at Villa, he's got his staff working with him, he's got the directors backing him. It's a great place to be and the club is progressing. For the moment I don't think there's any place for him to go, but in the future who knows.”

Q: Could Unai Emery even leave this summer?

PS: “There are a lot of factors that come into play in the off season and some clubs will be looking for managers this summer. A lot of big clubs, so you never know.”

Q: Could Marco Silva be looked at by big clubs this summer?

PS: ‘I think Marco Silva could be looked at by other clubs. He's done a fantastic job at Fulham. Fulham's expectations in the last few years were just to survive and he's just pushed on and the club is continuing to grow. 

“So I'm very pleased to see the stability, that's the first thing, and how this team has progressed. He's a fantastic manager and has a very good staff with him and I wouldn't be surprised if he went on to manage a more prestigious team.” 

Q: Could Tosin at Fulham join a top six club this summer?

PS: “Any English player playing regularly in the Premier League will get an opportunity somewhere else. He's definitely had a good season and his contract ends in the summer, so let's see. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes to a top six club.”

Q: Could Unai Emery be a target of Manchester United?

PS: “It’s difficult to say if Manchester United will be looking at Unai Emery. The new ownership will have different ideas so there could be a big call, even though they have qualified for the FA Cup final.”

Q: Could some managers, like Unai Emery, even turn down Manchester United?

PS: “I think it's a very difficult job to take now, but if Manchester United come calling, it's something that you will consider as a manager wherever you are and you will listen because it's still Manchester United. 

“They will have the resources in the future to continue to build a strong team and they're not too far away from getting in there. It's a very successful club. All managers would consider that job.”

Q: What have you made of another of your former clubs, Everton?

PS: “It's been a very difficult season for Everton, not only with the points deductions, but injuries have impacted their results and performances. But they’re still fighting and I think it’s a great credit to the football club.

“The fans are also behind the squad, behind the team. And it's great to see. It's a great club and I hope they do survive because their team should be playing in the Premier League.”

Q: You won the FA Cup with Arsenal, do you agree with replays being scrapped?

PS: “You have to protect the history, the decision on replays is tough but there aren't enough dates in the calendar.  So I think we have to be realistic and put the players in the best position if we want to see the best spectacle. 

“I do agree with what Pep Guardiola said after the semi-final where it's sometimes not fair on the players to put them in situations and expect the best performances. 

“I think with them playing on Wednesday and having the game on Saturday is also not fair. They should have probably had a day extra, even if they played on Tuesday and had an extra day when Manchester United and Coventry were playing on Sunday.”

Q: You also played in Spain, how does it compare to the Premier League?

PS: “A lot of teams can compete with Premier League sides, but I would say the Premier League is very competitive and every game is a different challenge. Probably in other leagues there is a bit more inequality, with all due respect. 

“It's still hard but might not be as challenging physically and mentally as the Premier League. But in knockout games, English teams don't have it easy and that's why they need to adapt.”

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