OTB Football
FOOTBALL DAILY: LOI star on the way across the water, pressure on Arteta's Arsenal and Ireland's oldest EFL player on storied career
27 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
off the ball daily a home for your favorite podcasts from off the ball it was one of the dream conversations but naz was trying to hold on to that he said to me at 11 years old you know i want 10 million but if you weren't 40 million brendan never got that he never ever got that this is that dream talk subscribe to the off the ball daily podcast feed right now off the balls football daily
Hello and welcome to Tuesday's Football Daily. I'm Phil Egan. Coming up today we have news that one of the brightest young stars in the League of Ireland could be off to Scotland.
Chapter 2: Who is Eoin Elding and where is he transferring?
Tiano Barry continues his good goal scoring record for Everton to earn a point at home to Leeds and are Arsenal in danger of letting the Premier League title slip? But first, Sligo Rovers teenager Eoin Elding is close to securing a move to the Scottish Premiership side, Hibs, according to reports in the Sligo Champion.
It's believed the club's agreed a deal for the 19-year-old on Monday night, and it includes a six-figure sum with a number of add-ons that could potentially see that figure rise further. Eldeen, the son of Sligo's Cup hero Anthony, scored 12 goals in the League of Ireland Premier Division last season. He was named PFAI Young Player of the Year and was also named in the Team of the Year.
Hibs are currently fifth in the Scottish Premiership.
Chapter 3: What impact did Thierno Barry have on Everton's recent match?
In the Premier League, Thierno Barry scored his fourth goal in five games for Everton, who came from behind to draw one all at home to Leeds. The point at the Hill Dickinson Stadium took the Toffees into the top half of the table and boss David Moyes was delighted to see the French striker continue his good form.
His play has got better. He's getting a little bit more settled with his training. But obviously we need to create more chances.
Chapter 4: Is there pressure on Mikel Arteta as Arsenal's manager?
We're still trying to get all our attacking players back and everybody fit and ready to go again.
Barry's also delighted to have turned around his difficult start to life at Everton.
I played in Spain last season, so it's not the same competition. I need just to work every day to be ready for the week to score. I worked all the day, so I'm happy.
Chapter 5: What are the implications of Arsenal's recent performance?
James Justin got the goal for Leeds, which put them ahead in the first half, but the result moves Daniel Farkas' side six points clear of the relegation zone. It's now just one loss in ten.
Come away from Everton is a tough place, especially once they're on it, like in the second half. It's definitely a good result. Of course, Bury was in one step quicker than my centre-back and was avoidable, but overall, good performance from my lads and to a good point.
Chapter 6: What are the latest transfer news updates in football?
On the news round last night, Eoghan Sheehan was joined by Stephen Doyle and former Ireland international Keith Tracy. And after Arsenal's loss to Manchester United on Sunday, they discussed if Mick Allertetta could be sacked if Arsenal fail to get over the line this season.
If Arsenal don't win the league this year, they have to look beyond Arteta. Style of play has become so negative, and if it doesn't result in major honours, his head should be on the line. This is the worst Premier League quality-wise in a long time.
Chapter 7: What challenges does Joe Murphy discuss about his football career?
It could be the best Premier League ever in terms of entertainment if all these storylines keep going towards the end of the season, and maybe the middle-tier teams are better than we've ever seen before. There's that argument as well. One theme that often comes up with Arsenal, though, is whenever they have a poor result, whenever they lose a game,
Arteta's head has got to be on a spike I mean after the Liverpool game earlier in the season gotta sack Arteta I think there will be a really gleeful response from every non-Arsenal fan out there if Mikel Arteta does not win this Premier League I don't think he needs to go.
Chapter 8: How did Joe Murphy reflect on his time with the Ireland national team?
Honestly, there's only a certain amount of trophies up for grab every single season. Arsenal have gone close with the Champions League. It was a PSG that beat them last season. The eventual winners, Manchester City, Liverpool in the Premier League. There's some really good teams around in Europe and the Premier League.
I take on board that this is probably Arsenal's best ever chance given how poor Manchester City are. But I would also argue that Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Fulham, Brentford, Newcastle, they're all banana pills.
There's banana pills all over the Premier League and I wouldn't be surprised if a Brentford were to go and beat Arsenal, if a Spurs beat Arsenal, if a Fulham beat a Manchester City. Like I've said it before, I don't think Manchester City will be perfect. I don't think Villa will be perfect between now and the end. And I also don't think Arsenal will.
Everybody will drop points and it's going to be up and down and all around. But after 23 games, if somebody said Arsenal would be four points ahead after 23 games, they'd be putting their hands off. I want to start a petition to get Keith Tracy as the face of Arsenal fans. Everybody's like, Arsenal fans are idiots. They're reactive. They're overly emotional.
That's the most measured response I've ever heard from an Arsenal fan. I mean, I was having a mini breakdown driving up from Kerry after watching that Arsenal game. That's how I was just like, you know, almost kicked my television in watching that yesterday. So it's good to hear some sort of measured approach to it. Finally, an Arsenal fan with a reasoned approach to life.
And if you want to listen to that back in full, you can do so now for free in your OTB Daily podcast feed. And remember, you can tune into the news round each and every weekday evening from 7 o'clock on Newstalk. It's also on the Go Loud app as well.
On the football show last night, I questioned Keith as to whether Arteta's decision to make four changes at the one time and whether the panic that was felt amongst the Arsenal supporters was justified.
I can understand why Arteta makes a decision. He does it at 58 minutes. So it's very much a question about the players here. but it really does spell a massive issue, even within just one game in that midfield when you're taking off your two of your three midfielders, one of them being your captain, like a quadruple sub in that moment.
If you are of the anti-Arsenal camp, you'll definitely say, well, that just spelled panic. That just says that something is not right. Now, to be fair, Gary Neville in commentary was saying that Arsena needs to act quick and he needs to act swiftly and decisively, and that's exactly what he did.
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