Arsenal icon Robert Pires believes N5 FC’s new goalkeeper Declan McCarthy will be crucial for his side to succeed in Baller League this season.
Baller League, an influencer led six-a-side league played at London’s Copper Box, was founded in Germany in 2024, before expanding to the UK in March 2025.
Pires, who manages N5 alongside ex-Arsenal teammate Jens Lehmann and YouTuber Eman ‘SV2’ Balogun, highlighted the importance of having a good shot-stopper in Baller League’s six-a-side format.
The former French international said: “I said since the beginning, when we play this concept of football, the most important on the field is the goalkeeper.
“And with Declan, we found a good goalkeeper; he made a big difference against NDL last week. So, we believe in him.”
McCarthy, a Goalkeeping content creator with over 1.9m followers on TikTok, replaced FA Disability Cup champion goalkeeper Owen Locke as N5’s number one at the start of the season.
N5 FC finished bottom in season one, conceding 56 goals in 11 games and only winning once — a controversial 4-3 victory over Santan FC.
The 1998 World Cup winner said: “Of course, I believe in all the players, but maybe most on the goalkeeper, because for me, he’s the key.
“I remember against NDL, he stopped the penalty. And at that moment, it was very tight. He’s the key for every game this season.”
This season, Pires’s side are unbeaten, sitting top after two games thanks in part to McCarthy’s magnificent performances.
The Arsenal Invincibles’ side came back from 3-1 down to take down former Chelsea captain John Terry’s 26ers thanks to three goals from Martyn Waghorn, former England under-21 international.
N5 face a fellow Arsenal-centric side in matchday three, as they take on Chloe Kelly’s ninth-placed Clutch FC who are hunting for a first Baller League win.
Featured image: Baller League
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