William Gallas exclusive: Jackpot City speaks to Premier League legend William Gallas about the 2025/26 EPL season.
Fans of the popular online slot game Football Star Deluxe this is for you! Speaking exclusively with Jackpot City Casino, Premier League icon William Gallas has explained why the next season will be tough for Viktor Gyokeres – while backing Arsenal to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The former France international has also explained why Noni Madueke deserves an apology from his critics and why Jack Grealish to Spurs makes a lot of sense this summer.
On Chelsea, Gallas has tipped Joao Pedro to score 20 goals in his debut season for the club while admitting that Liam Delap will feel the pressure at Stamford Bridge.
Q: Should Arsenal target Rodrygo or Eberechi Eze before the transfer window closes?
“The talk on Rodrygo has gone quiet, but we all know that he would be in the starting eleven if he did join Arsenal, which means that there would be a player on the bench who was used to playing last season. Would Gabriel Martinelli be happy with not starting? We don’t know.
“With Eberechi Eze, I think he had a great season with Crystal Palace, but I don’t think he’d be in a starting role with Arsenal. He could be in the future, but I’m not sure if he would be straight away. It depends on what Arsenal want to do, if they want to win the league, they need starters.”
Q: Will Viktor Gyokeres hit the ground running in the Premier League?
“Will Viktor Gyokeres be able to adapt straight away? Personally, I don't think so. It doesn't mean it's not a good player, but when players come from abroad we usually see that it takes time.
“Strikers often take time, playing in Portugal is also completely different to playing in England, but Arsenal do need him to adapt straight away because their target is to win the Premier League.
“If I could’ve chosen between Gyokeres and Alexander Isak, I think Isak would’ve been a better option. We know he is proven in the Premier League and that he is 100% at the level.
“If Gyokeres can go and score 20 goals, it will be a good season.”
Q: Was not going in for Alexander Isak a big mistake for Arsenal?
“I can understand why Alexander Isak wants to leave Newcastle, he had a great season last year and he probably sees this as an opportunity to go to the next level.
“He has scored 20 goals in each of the last two seasons and it’s normal that he wants a move, I don’t know if the fee was too high for Arsenal but Liverpool might pay it.
“Time will tell if Arsenal made a mistake in not signing him.”
Q: What are your thoughts on Noni Madueke joining Arsenal from Chelsea?
“I know that a lot of Arsenal fans were not happy with the signing of Noni Madueke, but the fact he is from North London suggests to me that he is a fan of the club.
“That would explain why he wanted to move from Chelsea to Arsenal because he was in the starting XI and looked to be a big part of their plans.
“Seeing the reaction of Arsenal fans, I think he deserves an apology because that would’ve hurt him. He deserves the support of the fans because it might’ve been his dream to play for the club and I hope he does well.”
Q: Should Arsenal sign Yoane Wissa as a back-up to Viktor Gyokeres?
“I think Arsenal have options when to comes to back-up for Viktor Gyokeres, Mikel Merino played there last season and we know that Kai Havertz is an option.
“If Gyokeres gets tired or injured there are options there, I think Mikel Arteta could also change the system if he needs to.
“I don’t think Yoane Wissa would be the right move for Arsenal, I think the manager knows what the team needs in this window.”
Q: Is it time for Leandro Trossard to leave Arsenal this summer?
“It all depends on what Leandro Trossard wants to do. Does he want to play in every game or is he happy sitting on the bench at times?
“Sometimes you have to think twice before leaving, he could leave Arsenal and they go on to win the Premier League which means he would’ve missed out.
“Playing for Arsenal, even off the bench, is a chance to end the season as a Premier League winner, but it might mean you get less minutes.
“You can be a champion without starting many games or start every week for another club but not have a chance to win a trophy. Sometimes you have to think twice before leaving a club like Arsenal.”
Q: Should Nicolas Jackson join Manchester United or Newcastle this summer?
“If I was Nicolas Jackson, I would be very upset with myself.
“He had a great opportunity in his hands, he was the number one striker at Chelsea and he didn’t take the opportunity. He could’ve done something special with Chelsea.
“He worked hard but he was expected to score goals, but he got red cards and it wasn’t a good look for him.
“He could end up with Manchester United or Newcastle and it will be a shame in terms of what he could’ve done with Chelsea.”
Q: Could Nicolas Jackson thrive at Manchester United?
“Nicolas Jackson might be joining Manchester United, he won’t be joining the club that they once were.
“United have struggled for a long time now and it’s hard to explain why, when I was growing up I’d watch them dominating in the Premier League and they really were unbelievable.
“The atmosphere was amazing, they were fighting for titles, looking at them now, they have signed so many average players.
“Looking at Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City, they don’t have average players. United do.”
Q: Should Chelsea try and secure a move for Alejandro Garnacho this summer?
“Should Chelsea sign Alejandro Garnacho? I think they do need a winger with Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho leaving.
“Garnacho has shown his ability at Manchester United in spells and he might benefit from a fresh start. He has been in and out of the team but he could be a good asset for Chelsea.”
Q: How exciting is the signing of Joao Pedro at Chelsea?
“Joao Pedro is a great striker for Chelsea for now and the future. He is very intelligent inside and outside of the box and has already scored some great goals.
“I think he is going to have a great season and I think he can reach the 20 goals that Chelsea need for him. He can bring a lot to Chelsea."
Q: Is it going to be hard for Liam Delap to have an impact at Chelsea?
“Liam Delap has a different style to Joao Pedro, I also think he is still young so needs time to develop, but he does offer Chelsea something different.
“He’s now training with players who have more quality than what he was playing with at Ipswich and will need to adapt, but when he’s playing for Chelsea he will feel the pressure, he has to score goals.”
Q: Is Xavi Simons the wrong move for Chelsea given Cole Palmer’s status?
“Cole Palmer is the main player at Chelsea, any new players linked to the club will know that and they will know how Enzo Maresca likes to play.
“Palmer has to be able to enjoy his football and Enzo Fernandez will also score more goals, but the season is long and there are too many games so Chelsea will need some quality to back him up.
“He can’t play in every game across a season and might pick up an injury, so a back-up in his position might be a good idea.”
Q: Should Chelsea go after Manchester City’s Ederson?
“I think Ederson can still play for Manchester City, and if he wants to leave I think he’ll have a very good offer from Saudi Arabia.
“Between Chelsea and Saudi? I can’t see him choosing Chelsea, even though the club have had issues in that area.”
Q: Can Wesley Fofana work his way back into the Chelsea XI?
“I think it will be very hard for Wesley Fofana to get back in the Chelsea side and to get back to his best form.
“Unfortunately, he has had so many injuries and not small injuries, big injuries. When you get hurt like that, it is so hard to get back to your best level.
“The biggest issue here is that Chelsea spent £70million to get him after he had a serious injury while at Leicester, I said at the time that it was a big risk.
“It was a huge gamble at the time and now with all his injuries, getting back to his best level is far from easy.”
Q: Could Marc Guehi form a partnership with Levi Colwill?
“Marc Guehi plays on the left hand side of defence and Levi Colwill plays in the same position, so he’d have to adapt if he came to play for Chelsea.
“All his natural movements will be based on that side, I was in that situation for many years on the left and right side of central defence and you don’t want that to impact your performance.
“He is still young and he could learn, I think he could be a first choice defender for Chelsea next to Colwill, and be first choice for England too.”
Q: Do Spurs have what it takes to tempt Rodrygo to the club?
“Rodrygo is used to winning titles with Real Madrid, La Liga, Champions League, Copa del Rey.
“It looks like he has decided to stay at Real Madrid, but if he was to leave, I couldn’t see it being for Spurs. They won the Europa League but they don’t have a chance of being Premier League champions.
“If he ends up in the Premier League at some point, he would go to a club that gives him a chance to be a champion, I can’t see that with Spurs.”
Q: Is Spurs the perfect club for Jack Grealish to thrive?
“When Jack Grealish signed for Manchester City the fee was too high, it was really high, he had one great season in the Premier League and the price was £100million.
“When you spend £100million you want that player to be the biggest star but it didn’t happen, you have to perform week in week out and it’s difficult.
“To see him training alone, I cannot understand it. He needs to go to a club in which he will be a big star.
“I would be shocked if he joined Everton from City, but to Spurs? I think that would make a lot of sense.”
Q: Can Mikey Moore benefit from joining Rangers on loan from Spurs?
“A loan can really benefit a young player and that could be the making of Mikey Moore, going to Rangers.
“Getting that experience would be a great opportunity, he is young and he could come back a really strong player.”
Q: Why did Bryan Mbeumo pick Man Utd over Spurs this summer?
“Bryan Mbeumo picked Man Utd over Spurs, maybe their reputation from the past, Manchester United is still a monument club. Unfortunately for him, they are not the same team on the pitch. Perhaps also as well for the wages that they would be willing to pay.
“Maybe Mbeumo believes they can get back to the top of the table, he might be one of the reasons.”
Q: Is Damien Duff’s next job in the Premier League?
“Damien Duff is making good progress as a manager. He wasn’t someone I expected to go into management but that was something I must have missed.
“Could he be a Premier League manager? I think he needs to get some more experience first. I think he could go to the Championship to get some experience because he would learn a lot there.
“He had a great season in Ireland but the Premier League and the Championship are at a different level, he needs to slowly build because you don’t want to get a big job too early.
“I think the Championship will be a good step for him and his family around him, and maybe a Premier League job after that.”
Q: Is it sad that Kylian Mbappe will be 27 without winning a Ballon d’Or?
“We have been talking about Kylian Mbappe and the Ballon d’Or for so many years now, it’s a bit surprising that it hasn’t happened yet.
“What I know about Mbappe tells me that he will not rest until he has won the Ballon d’Or. He will work hard everyday until he has won it.
“It is one of his targets, but I think there are so many really good quality players that it’s been very difficult for him. One good example to follow is Karim Benzema, who finally got his Ballon d’Or when he was 34.
“Mbappe went to Real Madrid and didn’t win the trophies he wanted but still scored 44 goals, he won’t win the Ballon d’Or this year but next season who knows.
“The World Cup is next summer and that could be the key to him winning it. He is still fighting and one day he will win it.”
Q: Who are you predicting to win the Premier League next season?
“I went for Arsenal last year and they let me down. I think even if Arsenal had the best squad, a monstrous squad, I would still back them to finish behind Liverpool.
“Even if they keep improving their squad, I’m being realistic. I think Liverpool will be champions again after what they did last season.”
Q: Who are you predicting to be in the Premier League top four?
“My top four is definitely Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea. That is definitely my top four – but I don’t know in which order they will be.
“I have to say that I don’t think Chelsea have what it takes to be champions yet, I think they need one more season. It’s hard to bet against City, but I’m backing Liverpool for the title.”
Q: Who are you predicting to be relegated from the Premier League?
“I’m going for Brentford, Sunderland and Burnley to be relegated. Brentford have a new manager and have lost a lot of players, Sunderland and Burnley have just been promoted and we know how hard it can be. But I think Leeds will have enough to stay up.”
Q: Chelsea vs Crystal Palace prediction and why?
“No question for me that Chelsea will win this game, being at home and having won two trophies. I can see a comfortable 3-1 victory.”
Q: Manchester United vs Arsenal prediction and why?
“I can see Viktor Gyokeres being on the bench in this game before starting for Arsenal at home in their next game. He could come off the bench and who knows, he might get his first goal for the club.
“But I still think Arsenal will have enough, I’ll go for a 3-1 away win.”
Q: Liverpool vs Bournemouth prediction and why?
“This will be a big game and I think Liverpool being at home, I’m predicting them to win 4-0. They are my favourites for the title.”
Q: Aston Villa vs Newcastle prediction and why?
“These are two evenly matched teams but I can see there being goals to start off their seasons, I’ll go for 2-2. We want to see goals and I think both sides can score twice.”
Q: Sunderland vs West Ham prediction and why?
“I’d go for 1-1 in this game, Sunderland have just come up and West Ham will be looking for a steady start to the new season, so I can see it being evenly matched.”
Q: Tottenham vs Burnley prediction and why?
“I’m hoping to see Spurs start the new season well with their new manager and a few new players, they need to avoid disappointing their fans. I’ll say 2-0 with Dominic Solanke scoring.”
Q: Wolves vs Man City prediction and why?
“Manchester City have made a lot of new signings recently and I think they will win 3-1 in their opening game. Erling Haaland looked tired this season, but I think he will be rested and will want to show himself as the best striker in the league.”