Latest / Let's Kick It Off! / PL Title Run-In: Arsenal or Manchester City to win it?! | LKIO - Ep 64

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PL Title Run-In: Arsenal or Manchester City to win it?! | LKIO - Ep 64 · Let's Kick It Off!

0:14
Let's kick it off. I'm your host Steve, and I'm
0:17
joined by Ash and AJ, the Arsenal fan who's been on the
0:20
podcast before, and Sal, another Arsenal fan.
0:23
Season ticket holder, right, Sal?
0:26
That's right, yeah. Nice, how long you been a season
0:28
ticket holder for? They're around 15 years so I've
0:32
seen the bad times as. Well, wow, so.
0:35
There's been any good times? Coming.
0:38
It's nearly there. Yeah, fair play, fair play.
0:41
That's a long time. So, yeah, cool.
0:43
All right, there's only one place to start, obviously.
0:45
Manchester City, Arsenal. On the weekend.
0:48
People were saying it was a title decider.
0:50
Manchester City won two, one. So, AJ, come to you first.
0:53
What did you make of the game? The game itself, I think with
0:57
sort of City in the form they've shown since the League Cup final
1:01
really, I think they were probably slightly the better
1:05
team on sort of balance of play for Arsenal turned up and did
1:11
pretty well. I didn't expect them to go sort
1:14
of as attacking as they did with as a left wing go to guard
1:18
playing. I thought there was some good
1:20
performances. I don't think anyone really sort
1:23
of hit. I thought Mad Wakey was poor but
1:25
he got hooked sort of at half time.
1:29
But overall in terms of Arsenal, I thought, you know, they gave
1:33
it a go and City would just slightly the better team on the
1:37
day really. So yeah, that's that's it's
1:41
unfortunate, but that's where we are really.
1:43
It should have been done and dusted before this game.
1:47
Fair, yeah. I mean, as a neutral, it was a
1:48
great game. Like the intensity, like you
1:50
could tell there's so much on the line.
1:52
So so when obviously Ryan Cherky scored that first goal, really
1:56
good goal, to be fair. How are you feeling in that in
2:00
that part of the game? When he scored and I knew it was
2:05
Cherky. Most like not Cherky.
2:08
No, not him because, you know, it, it it brought back of, you
2:12
know, memories of him in the Caribou Club and dinner with a
2:14
little keep you up. He's diving on the floor, you
2:17
know, smiling at his seat. He found out more.
2:19
Not. Yeah.
2:20
It just makes my blood boil, honestly.
2:23
You know, I hate the guy with passion, but, you know, pretty
2:25
clear. Probably we should have gone in
2:28
for him, but it's what it is. Yeah.
2:32
I mean, at that point I, I just thought, you know, one nil, I, I
2:37
think he scored what, in the 17th minute or something like
2:40
this, I can't remember now, quite early, but yeah, it's, it
2:44
was, it was quite hurtful, I'd say.
2:46
Yeah, but like, did you feel obviously going the goal down in
2:49
such a big game, obviously the pressure was massive.
2:51
Did you feel like, oh shit, like, you know, where's his head
2:55
and or did you feel relatively confident that you felt like you
2:57
could get back in it? No, I mean, the way we started,
3:02
I I felt like, yeah, you know what, right, we're going to get
3:05
chances in the game, but we just need to take our chances.
3:08
And unfortunately we've not been doing that in the last couple
3:11
games. Yeah, I mean, even against Man
3:14
City, yeah, we have so many great chances.
3:16
But you know, it just wasn't meant to be.
3:19
You know, you had as a hit in the pulse inches close to the
3:23
like, you know, for the bull going in, Gabriel hitting the
3:27
poles right out there, you know, in the in the 94th minute.
3:31
I think it was habits with that header.
3:34
So we should have buried that. But yeah, I did feel like, you
3:37
know, we could have got a goal or two, like, you know, more,
3:42
you know, it's what it is. It was a tight game and
3:45
obviously Ash, you were watching it with another gooner part of
3:48
the community, Callum. So shout out Callum and shout
3:51
out to his son Alfie turning one on the weekend.
3:54
So you're watching it with him. I'm I'm assuming when city
3:56
scored, you're like internally laughing, but you know, couldn't
4:00
really laugh in front of Cal. And then obviously to Aster got
4:03
the equaliser very quickly after with that crazy moment from
4:05
Donna rumour. So yeah, talk to me about that,
4:08
those few minutes in in that household.
4:10
Yes, funny Sal mentioned the the Cherokee thing because I think
4:15
it was last season we just had the one year anniversary of
4:20
Manchester United against Leon. And I think Cherokee did
4:23
something when they were winning similar to what Sal was saying.
4:27
Like I think he put like a hands up to the crowd at Old Trafford
4:30
and then obviously we know what happened.
4:32
So when he danced through the Arsenal defence, I'll be honest,
4:36
I was actually in in admiration. And then Cow very discreetly
4:42
pointed out to me like the first mistake on the goal where Eze,
4:46
he actually kind of moves away from the ball.
4:48
If you actually see the footage and I never actually picked it
4:52
up. And it just shows you the
4:54
differences that you see as a neutral versus, you know, your
4:57
own club so that, you know, that was like the person.
5:00
But yeah, obviously fantastic goal, first of all.
5:05
And then, yeah, defensively you can pick holes in it, but it's a
5:08
magic goal. But that's the key.
5:11
Arsenal got back into it. And to be fair, like people, you
5:15
know, I always give Arsenal fans a hard time.
5:18
But actually Arteta deservedly got that goal because he set up
5:23
in a way where they press high and they obviously saw the
5:27
weakness in Donoruma in terms of closing him down.
5:29
So fair play for getting the goals so quickly and levelling
5:33
it. And generally I agree with the
5:35
boys. I thought Arsenal played really
5:38
well. I think the difference was
5:40
literally the finishing. Haverts should have scored at
5:46
least one, probably 2 essays. Incredibly unlucky like that was
5:51
a fantastic strike. That was A1 all right as well
5:54
when it when you hit the post. And if I remember right, I think
5:57
haverts had already had the one-on-one chance already.
6:01
And then and then essays, you know, hit the post.
6:04
So asked her in the ascendancy. And then it's the minor, minor
6:08
details. I, I saw some of the highlights
6:11
this morning and it was like Martinelli presses and Donna
6:15
Ruma then launches the ball into Nico O'Reilly and, and they're
6:19
away. And those are the marginal
6:21
things that you need to be on top of like in a big game.
6:24
But considering City have been the best team for like,
6:27
unfortunately for like 7-8 years, I think it's one of the
6:31
best away performances I've seen, you know, from an
6:35
opposition team to come and they didn't park the bus.
6:39
So I thought actually Arsenal were very unlucky and it was a
6:44
great contest between Gabrielle and Harland.
6:47
Like, yeah, it, it was a proper game, I have to say.
6:52
So I I really enjoyed it even as a neutral.
6:56
Yeah, let's, let's touch on that.
6:57
That incident then between Gabrielle and Harland.
7:00
So, So was that a red card in your book for Gabrielle?
7:05
If you take the Arsenal, you know Lens out if this was
7:08
another team, right? Yeah, I I mean, when I saw that,
7:13
when when I saw him move his head towards him and I'm
7:17
thinking no, don't go down Holland because if he would have
7:20
went down straight red card. But yeah, I mean.
7:24
To be fair though, Harlan Harlan did push him because I was
7:26
watching the highlights before just to remind myself he pushed
7:29
him like, you know, like, but he puts.
7:32
His head into him first. But obviously Gabrielle's fell
7:34
for the trap, right? It should have been off in terms
7:37
of like, if you've watched other games, 9 times out of 10 that's
7:41
a red. I mean, I actually thought the
7:43
referee dealt with it correctly and you know, yellow card for
7:47
both of them. It's a tough one, isn't it?
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Because like, you know, by the letter of the law, it's probably
7:54
a red. But then, yeah, people talk.
7:56
It's red, yeah. People talk about managing the
7:58
game right? HF So like, you know, because
8:00
it's a big game is are the rules supposed to change?
8:04
Like is that fair? What?
8:05
What do you think? Yeah, same as Sal when I saw
8:08
that straight away. Red card if I not think back to
8:11
the game at DfT had last season and trusts are just before half
8:15
time. Red card.
8:17
Yeah, exactly. Just silly red card for kicking,
8:20
Sorry, a second yellow for kicking the ball away again.
8:24
That's letter of the law. And at the time, City were
8:27
considered title challenges along with Arsenal.
8:30
And, you know, we had to play basically the whole of the
8:32
second-half with 10 men. I didn't, I didn't see why that,
8:36
you know, the referee, you know, sort of went against the letter
8:42
of the law. But glad you did because it it
8:45
kept for a good game. I reckon was probably enjoying
8:50
that tosser between the two. You know, the second one came
8:53
there at 7 forwards, so I think he was probably enjoyed that
8:56
more than you know, if you would have booked them, it would have
8:59
been a totally different game. Maybe.
9:01
I mean what? What card does Gabrielle get
9:03
for, you know, ripping Harlan's sleeve?
9:06
Is that like an orange? Yeah, yeah, that was a that was
9:11
probably a cheap shirt he had on, definitely just to make.
9:14
A fake one. Or something like that from
9:18
Sports Direct. Trying to say it's like made in
9:21
Sri Lanka or something. Age.
9:23
I've never never disrespected Flankens but in terms of just to
9:28
change the sort of topic of conversation, we've seen Harland
9:31
and Gabrielle go at it and he's always really good.
9:36
Howling usually gets a goal against Arsenal.
9:38
That's just how it is. But Gabrielle does give as good
9:42
as he gets and it's always enjoyable to see.
9:44
And I sort of liken it to, you know, all into cricket.
9:47
So, you know, a bowler into, you know, really good bat Spurn, you
9:52
might get hit for two fours or three fours.
9:54
But if he gets him out, that's all that anyone remembers.
9:57
And it's the same with this. But what I'd say is I've seen
10:01
Slieber deal with Harland really well, a lot better than
10:06
Gabrielle does. I don't know what you think.
10:08
So, especially in the League Cup final.
10:11
So leave didn't really give Howland a sniff.
10:14
And I do think it's a conscious effort from Harland to to go
10:19
into battle with Gabrielle and leaves leave her alone.
10:25
That's that's my feeling. And I think it's a smart move
10:27
from Harland because he knows he'll he'll he might get an
10:31
opportunity with Gabrielle, as he has done previously, where
10:34
Slieber generally doesn't really give in too much.
10:36
So yeah, I know it's an interesting sort of tactic from
10:39
Harland. But yeah, you could see that in
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the League Cup final a few weeks back.
10:44
Slieber didn't really give him a sniff.
10:47
Yeah, totally agree on that AG. And you know, the way you're
10:51
saying, you know, if one centre back can't deal with it, another
10:54
can. And it's certain like, you know,
10:56
we're in a privileged position to be having two top world class
11:00
centre backs. You know, that Falaba, who can
11:04
one who can deal with Holland. And if he goes on the yellow,
11:07
then the other one, the other one picks him up sort of thing,
11:10
you know, and deals with him. So I I wasn't to be honest,
11:15
really and truly, I wasn't really that worried about
11:17
Holland. It was more like the wider
11:20
positions this many of the docus and and and Nico Nico O'Reilly,
11:27
you know, on the overlap on the left hand side, sorry, on the
11:30
right hand side of Mosquera. Yeah, fair.
11:34
And I was just want to touch on like Gabrielle, because
11:37
obviously he's a top defender. You touched on there.
11:39
So, you know, you've got a few and I know like his character is
11:43
to play on the edge and that's why he's probably so good.
11:46
So like Sal, do you almost. Yeah.
11:48
Do you hold it against him that he, he sometimes boils over, you
11:51
know, like the, you know, the headbutt incident?
11:53
Or do you just accept that's the way he is as a character?
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And we reap the rewards of it most of the time.
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And, you know, we've got to take, you know, the downside
12:01
with it. Yeah, it's exactly that.
12:04
I mean, you know, you just take it as it comes and you know,
12:07
whatever's it's, it's like blow to blow, isn't it?
12:11
Punch for punch sort of things. Yeah, it reminds me a little bit
12:15
of like, you know, Wayne Rooney, like obviously he was so
12:18
aggressive and played on the edge and like, you know, he
12:20
would do stupid things and specifically ours would call him
12:24
out. Yeah.
12:26
But like, that's his, that's his genius, though, isn't it?
12:29
It's like you can't just switch it off so.
12:31
I think that's why I enjoyed the battle because it's rare as well
12:36
to have a battle so good. So like, yeah, a lot of people
12:40
would be like, oh, Harlem won the battle because he scored.
12:43
It's almost like what AJ said, like if Warren gets Tendo
12:46
Corral, everyone just remembers Warren getting the wicket that
12:49
everyone forgets, like the the 10 boundaries he blasted him
12:52
for. And I think that was what was
12:54
good about it because generally in the Premier League it's like
12:58
you don't really get those battles anymore.
13:00
There's less centre forwards in in the Premier League anyway.
13:04
And also, I've said it on on this pod a few times, I think
13:07
the quality of defending this this season has been pretty
13:11
average as a collective. But obviously Arsenal are an
13:14
outstanding team defensively, and that's why I think it was a
13:19
good, good battle. I mean, AJ was on I think, the
13:22
opening day pod. And obviously me and you, Steve,
13:25
we're at the game. I said Gabriel and Saliba were
13:29
outstanding. So like, they've, you know, had
13:33
that form throughout the season. And it's an interesting point
13:37
that AJ made about Saliba. It's not just probably the way
13:41
he deals with Harlem, but yeah, it's his mentality.
13:44
He's like, you know, this cool French dude, whereas Gabrielle
13:48
was, you know, classic South American.
13:50
But you do love that if you, you know, it's like the man your
13:53
village for us right back in the day.
13:55
So I get it. But yeah, like really good level
14:00
of football. Yes, just to just to add to
14:03
that, I don't think you'd get any Arsenal fans sort of moaning
14:07
about Sleeper. I'm not talking about sort of
14:09
Twitter people or anything like that, but sort of generally you
14:12
wouldn't, you wouldn't see Arsenal fans moaning about that
14:15
sort of stuff. And like you both said, Sal and
14:19
Steve, it's every now and again, it does boil over, but it really
14:24
is maybe once a season or, you know, something something like
14:27
that. I can't think of too many sort
14:29
of situations where he's made a rush challenge and cost us the
14:33
game. Very, very rare.
14:36
Yeah. And you know, you'd forgive the
14:38
head, but you know, not long after he he did it.
14:42
It was not it, It didn't. It doesn't cloud my judgement of
14:45
not only his performance on Sunday, but just generally over
14:49
the season. You got a question for the boys,
14:54
Teta. Would you have done anything
14:56
differently? Was was was he fine in terms?
15:01
Of what I. Did from.
15:03
From my perspective, I'd have left as a on.
15:06
That's the only thing I'd I'd have said.
15:08
I didn't quite get why you took as a off.
15:11
I thought only Dad was really good, a little bit of steep, but
15:15
I thought he pressed really well.
15:16
You can tell the level of level of pressing in the team goes up
15:21
when he plays. I would have tried to find a way
15:26
to keep as a on with Odegard, but yeah, that's the only thing
15:30
I did for really over the weekend.
15:34
What about yourself? They made it.
15:35
Honestly, you know, Arteta is not we blame for anything at
15:40
all. Especially for that game.
15:42
There was a massive grey area like before the game started.
15:46
Is he going to set up to be defensive?
15:48
Is he going to be setting up to, you know, attack?
15:51
Not in my mind. I was thinking if he's going to
15:53
set up to be defensive, we're going to lose the game two to
15:56
three nil, But whereas he's gone for attack.
15:59
And to be honest, when I saw when I actually saw the team
16:03
sheet and I saw as they left being Havous upfront and then
16:07
Madhaviki, obviously we've we've not got another option on the
16:10
right. Otherwise it would have been
16:11
soccer. And then all of that behind I, I
16:14
felt like, you know what, this guy's going for it and he's got
16:17
every right to do so. Because, you know, if, if we're
16:20
set out to attack, then we're at least probably going to get a
16:23
draw, Nick, a draw somehow, you know, and that should have been
16:26
the case. I think it should have been, you
16:27
know, draw. I think the draw would have been
16:30
that even the best was up for both teams.
16:34
But you know, it's just not meant to be.
16:37
But honestly, the, the way we set up, it was really good.
16:40
Higher press, first 20-30 minutes, you're winning the ball
16:44
right up. You know who who goes to City
16:46
and presses like that. I've never seen a team that's
16:49
done that in the in the last couple of years.
16:51
So we've, we've, we've probably, I think it was about 7 or 8
16:56
times in the city half close to the box.
16:59
We've actually won the ball and created the opportunity.
17:03
But you know, if if we can keep playing like that the way we
17:06
did, the way we started against other teams, then I think we
17:11
should be winning all our next couple of games.
17:13
Yeah, I think the difference, sorry, Steve, I know you're
17:16
going to jump in there, but in the difference between two
17:18
teams, probably Bernardo Silva. I mean, he he's he's one of them
17:24
players. You'd love to have him in your
17:25
team, but on the opposition side you just hate him because he's
17:29
everywhere. He's at left back.
17:30
Is that right, right wing? He's just all over the show,
17:34
runs the game. I think the Premier League will
17:37
be a lot poorer without him. City have lost a few great
17:41
players over the last sort of three or Four Seasons with David
17:45
Silva and Kevin De Bruyner as well.
17:49
But yeah, I think, I think it was superb on on a Sunday
17:52
afternoon. Yeah, I think, sorry, just
17:55
touching back at that as a part which you mentioned.
17:59
Easy. When are you?
18:01
When I saw the book go up and it was as his number on there, I
18:04
was thinking, no way, you can't do this.
18:06
You just literally hit the post, you know?
18:09
I know it means nothing but that that show wasn't even on.
18:12
He created that. Who did he bring on?
18:14
Who did he bring on for as a? Yeah, trust.
18:19
What's up A Martinelli? I think he made a double subtly
18:22
at that time, Yeah. No, Martinelli came on at half
18:25
time. Sorry, no, yeah.
18:26
It'd have been trust, hard and. But what I probably would have
18:30
done was, like AJ said, try try to find a way of keeping Eze on
18:35
because he was literally making everything tick.
18:38
You know, I probably would have taken off Zubamendi and put, you
18:43
know, Rice a bit further back deep in and then put Eze and
18:47
Odegard in that position and maybe have us on the left or you
18:51
know. I've tested, done that a few
18:54
times. Right.
18:55
He's taken Eze off when? Yeah, generally Arsene fans want
18:59
to keep him on longer, so he does probably see him as like,
19:03
yeah, like a 60 to 70 minute player.
19:06
Then he brings on one of his other wingers.
19:08
And I was actually surprised and and I was actually surprised of
19:12
audio after like completing the whole game, like coming back
19:15
from injury as well. It's like, you know, high
19:17
pressured game. He's been pressured, like, you
19:20
know, he's been pressurising. So he's defenced the whole game.
19:23
He'd been running Miles that game, you know, pretty true.
19:27
He's, you know, he finished the game.
19:31
Yeah, fair play. So yeah, it was obviously a
19:32
really tight game. Like, you know, top level sport
19:35
is always about moments and I think that game came down to it.
19:38
Looking at the league table now then.
19:40
So as we record this, it's Tuesday night and we're all a
19:43
bit giddy because Chelsea lost three nil.
19:45
Manchester City are playing tomorrow against Burnley, right?
19:49
Burnley away and that's their game in hand.
19:51
So by the time this pod comes out on Thursday, it's possible
19:55
that City will be level on points with you.
19:57
So obviously you're on 70 points, 33 games played, five
20:01
games to go. Manchester City are on 67
20:04
points, 32 games played. So that could well be 70 by
20:08
Thursday unless there is a slip up, which I'm sure you boys will
20:11
love. Yeah, Sal, come to you first.
20:13
How you feeling then for this final stretch of the season, the
20:16
final five games? Bell I mean, to be honest,
20:21
before the City game, I, I, I thought, you know what, we're
20:24
going to lose to City anyway. So in my mind I've even after
20:30
the City played Burnley, I knew we're going to be level on
20:33
points. So that mentally I'm there like,
20:38
you know, I'm, I'm level on points already with City.
20:40
They can batter Burnley like four or five nil tomorrow or
20:44
something, whatever it is. But so you're going to be yeah,
20:47
because the goal difference. Yeah, second because of goal
20:50
difference, but you know, because we're going to be
20:53
second, it might actually help us now.
20:55
Like, you know, yeah, like, you know, he needs he needs to tell
20:59
them that boys, last couple of games, final stretch, you need
21:03
to get the goal difference up. Go go back, do your thing, you
21:06
know, get as they attacking auto card on the ball as much as
21:11
possible. Get habits and your career
21:12
through the middle, like, you know, start 1st and just put
21:15
away your chances for God's sake.
21:18
Honestly, that's what's going to matter.
21:21
Yeah, fair play. And obviously I mentioned five
21:23
games left, but you know, some teams like Manchester United
21:27
aren't in Europe these days, but you boys are, to be fair.
21:29
And you've got a massive tie against Athletico Madrid right
21:33
in the semi finals as well, so that's thrown in the mix.
21:36
So yeah, AJ, same question to you.
21:37
Ready. How you feeling in this?
21:39
Yeah, ahead of this final stretch?
21:40
Yeah, I think there'll be a few. Excuse me?
21:43
I think there'll be a few twists and turns.
21:45
I don't think it's as clear cut as everyone says that City are
21:49
going to win all their sort of remaining games.
21:52
But what I would say is if City do slip up, do our trust Arsenal
21:56
to take advantage? Not sure I do, yeah.
22:02
We've dropping points against sort of Forest, Forest away,
22:06
obviously Bournemouth at home. That was a killer, you know,
22:09
walked away in the last minute. You know, there's been a few
22:13
moments over the last few months.
22:15
They just think, you know, we shouldn't be in this position
22:17
where we're sort of chasing our tails.
22:20
So I don't, I'm not 100% convinced that city will, you
22:25
know, win every game. But I, I don't feel that, you
22:29
know, I don't feel that confident that we'll win every
22:32
single of our, every single game of ours, to be honest.
22:35
OK, so I. Think the mile just one more
22:39
turn in this title race as well. Honestly, live I just feel
22:43
something might just happen and maybe we can actually try grip
22:47
it again and and two specific fishes that stand out for me.
22:51
You can see would be I think they've got Everton away and
22:54
Bournemouth away Everton on a Monday night at 8 O clock and
22:58
then Bournemouth away the final week.
23:00
I mean I think it's before one of them two games before they
23:04
even kick a ball. We could be 6 Claire again.
23:06
So that psychologically might have a big impact on city as
23:11
well. You know, push comes to shove,
23:13
you never know, but on the only time to tell.
23:16
But you know, they are the 2 fixtures that I look at and I
23:20
fall and I think you know what might be something there for us?
23:24
Yeah, it hangs in the balance, right?
23:26
But are either of you boys willing to say here right now
23:29
you believe you're going to win the title?
23:33
I'm always confident in in Arsenal.
23:35
Always. Very Keir Starmer answer.
23:39
Even in the AFTV high days, always confident.
23:46
I'm sure you'll you'll, you know, screen a screen record
23:49
this and send it to me after the final game of the season.
23:52
But I mean, what, what's the point?
23:53
You know, if if you're not confident about your team, you
23:56
know, we're in the semi finals or Champions League, you know,
23:59
we're competing at the top of the Premier League consistently.
24:02
You know, you've got to have some sort of belief that we can,
24:05
we can do something. Yeah.
24:08
That doesn't mean that I'm sort of naive to the reality that,
24:11
you know, sit here in the ascendancy here, you know, like
24:14
you said, you know, they're not in the Champions League, they've
24:16
not got those sort of high pressure fixtures in a in a semi
24:19
final of the European Cup, whereas we do against Simeoni or
24:24
the worst, the worst. Yeah.
24:27
So it's one of them. But I still, I still believe in
24:30
the boys. Of course I do.
24:32
Yeah, same. Same with me on Arsenal through
24:35
and through. And you know, this is a message
24:38
to the Arsenal fans as well that if you're, if you think that
24:42
we're not going to win the the league, there's no point.
24:44
You come to the games anymore, you know, just give up your
24:47
tickets right now. Yeah, fair play.
24:51
There's no point honestly. There's AI think there was a
24:56
quote from Arsene angle years ago.
24:58
If you do not believe, then you can.
25:01
No, if you do not believe you can do it, then you have no
25:03
chance at all, you know? Any any fans you want to point
25:07
out near? You just in the ground, pull
25:10
your heart out. What's that?
25:11
Any fans you want to point out in the ground or like the stands
25:15
at the Emirates who need to show up or give their?
25:17
Tickets away I I will have my eyes pulled when I go to the
25:21
Newcastle game on the weekend and I'll look out for whoever's
25:25
not on it. Yeah, so on that point, right,
25:29
like Arsenal fan base and like, yeah, obviously like you're
25:32
going to be nervy because this isn't a dig, but you've not won
25:34
the title for 20 years, right. So there's it's obviously going
25:37
to be nervous. I was watching the overlap the
25:39
other day and Gary Neville, Skulls and Keem were kind of
25:41
winding up me and right, obviously Ian, right.
25:43
You know, he's openly saying he's nervous.
25:46
And then Roy Keane kept saying you're top of the league, you're
25:49
the best team in the league, you're in the semi final in the
25:51
Champions League. Like you said, AJ, you're
25:53
clearly a top team. So like it there's definitely a
25:56
mentality element here as well, right.
25:58
AJ? Would you say like just that,
26:00
you know, experience of having been there, done it, which City
26:03
and Pep have got, but obviously you boys don't at the moment.
26:05
Yeah, of course. I think that has to also sort of
26:08
come into it when you sort of look at predictions and stuff.
26:10
You know, City, I mean that not all their squad has been
26:15
together for a while. Excuse me, but the main two
26:18
players you look at in midfield, Rodgery, I know he's injured for
26:21
tomorrow, but Rodgery, Bernardo Silva in there done it, centre
26:25
of midfield that can control the game, control the tempo to sting
26:29
out games. And then obviously you've got
26:32
Holland again, who's been there and done it.
26:33
And then and then the rest of the squad.
26:35
You've got to say that apart from Donna Roma, who's done it,
26:38
you know, PSG and Milan and with the national team, it's still a
26:44
new team but they've got a call off you.
26:47
Know they what you need to remember AJ, it's is that
26:51
they've been there, they've done it and they've done it on the
26:54
pimp, you know? Yeah, that's obviously.
26:57
In terms of the rest of the squad, there isn't as much as
27:00
you as you think it's. It's three or four players
27:03
really, probably a couple on the bench like Phil Fold and maybe
27:06
one or two of us. But generally, you know, the
27:08
left, the fullbacks haven't haven't been there.
27:10
Newness and O'Reilly the wingers haven't done it it it is it is
27:16
really relying on the 2 midfielders and.
27:19
Yeah, but The thing is if, if like they do have players in
27:23
certain positions, you know where they've they've gone
27:27
there, they've done it. Yeah, exactly.
27:28
They know how to get it over the line.
27:30
You've you've even got Diaz. I know, isn't that you've got
27:32
Stones? You've got all these players who
27:35
are not being spoken about because they're injured, but
27:37
they're still there. They're part of the squad.
27:40
You know the then the changing room.
27:41
They know how to do it, get it done.
27:44
But with Arsenal, unfortunately we've we're not in that.
27:47
We've not had that opportunity. And I think that's where we're
27:51
sort of like cracking at the wrong time.
27:55
Yeah, you know this this season. And on that again, so like you
27:59
might be able to trace your dip in form this season back to when
28:03
Manchester United turned off at the Emirates and Michael Cairo
28:07
and pulled off a result. So like on that game
28:11
specifically, like I was watching on TV.
28:13
So you're there week in, week out at the Emirates.
28:15
I'm really interested to hear from you here.
28:16
Like I think, I can't remember exactly, but around half time
28:20
the game was in the balance and then you just like sense the
28:24
nervous energy. I've sensed it on the TV.
28:26
Like like question to you then, do you feel it in the ground #1
28:30
and #2 if so, like what is that? Is that just the nerves of what
28:33
we've been speaking about, like filtering through are?
28:37
We talking about just the United game or?
28:39
Just like, because it's a specific example, but you know,
28:42
you've probably seen it in other games as well.
28:44
So like, yeah, what is that? Yeah, I mean, like, you know,
28:47
sort of you're, you're kind of right because there there was a
28:52
lot of uncertainty and nervousness around the around
28:56
the stadium at that point, mainly because you guys beat CE
29:00
the week before. And thanks for reminding us.
29:05
You've got the, you've got the whole new manager bounce kind of
29:08
thing and that's like that. That's probably the worst time
29:12
to play a team. You have got a new brand new
29:14
manager. Unless if you're Spurs, that's
29:16
fine, yeah. Good dig, Good dig.
29:20
That's a great week. You can week out.
29:23
Yeah. Might need Yeah.
29:25
They can't leave up next season. Yeah, yeah.
29:29
But yeah, I mean, there there is.
29:31
You do feel? Like there is a sense of
29:34
nervousness around the Emirates, especially if we do not start
29:37
well. Like you know, if we're under
29:39
the cushion the 1st 2020 minutes, half an hour, then you
29:43
just sense like shit, you know what, they're going to get a
29:45
goal. If they get a goal, where's our
29:48
where's our goal going to come from?
29:49
Set pieces have dried up unfortunately, but maybe that's
29:55
not a bad thing because now they need to put the ball in the net
29:58
with with like, you know, on the ground or you know, by putting
30:02
in crosses and what not. Do it the proper football way.
30:06
Because when I was watching Leeds first Monday night or the
30:08
other week, honestly, I was watching that again and I was
30:12
thinking Leeds are playing amazing football and it was just
30:15
entertaining stuff. And, and there there was a point
30:18
where I was thinking with us Arsenal fans, we've become so
30:22
accustomed to watching defensive, defensive start of
30:26
play that we've just forgotten how to play or how to enjoy
30:29
watching real football. Yeah.
30:32
So there is definitely a sense of nervousness around the Emirs,
30:35
especially if we don't start though.
30:37
And being being top of the table doesn't really help as well.
30:41
I mean, even though pressure, we enjoy it, but it's it's just not
30:44
easy being there. Yeah, fair.
30:46
I mean, I guess we saw kind of similar with Liverpool, you
30:49
know, getting close to the title and obviously they hadn't won it
30:51
for like 30 years. And it's just, yeah, there's so
30:53
much like anxiety around. So Ash, like as much as we take
30:56
the piss out of Arsenal with, you know, the crumble in the
30:59
oven, etcetera. But yeah, apparently we do.
31:04
Are you slightly are you slightly jealous of the
31:08
situation they're in? They're going for the title.
31:10
They're in the Champions League. Sorry, semi final of the
31:12
Champions League. These are the days we loved,
31:15
right? And in in the moment, like it's
31:16
that nerve, that jeopardy, which you deep down you love.
31:20
So like, yeah, are you jealous in terms of where they are?
31:24
Yeah, I'm in awe like that game. That's what I say.
31:27
I really enjoyed the game on Sunday because it's 1st and 2nd
31:33
going for the league in April. You know, British summertime has
31:37
come Champions League semi final.
31:40
So like you know, when kick off it's going to be like that, you
31:42
know, like that dust time going in tonight.
31:45
I love all that and I badly miss it.
31:47
And that's why when Reuben was screwing up last season, I was
31:52
the first to like, speak up because I, I just don't want,
31:55
you know, United to go down unnecessarily.
31:59
Carrick's proven that, you know, you don't need to go that far
32:02
down to get back up. Obviously Arteta's a great
32:05
example and we'll probably talk about it in more detail, is
32:09
that, you know, when Arteta joined, Was it 9/20/19, boys?
32:14
Yes, P Corbett. It obviously, I think Emery had
32:17
finished fifth the following season and then they started off
32:22
badly, you know, brave move by the board to get Arteta in.
32:27
And as Sal's mentioned, like it's been progressive.
32:31
But as much as yeah, we've all talked about Bottle for the last
32:35
2-3 years, Arsenal have been in the title race at least till
32:41
April for the last like 2-3 seasons.
32:43
So they've had that enjoyment factor.
32:46
You know, some of the football they played like 2-3 years ago
32:49
was outstanding. But yeah, like, definitely in
32:55
awe, in awe of what they've been doing.
32:57
And this is the thing, like, you know, the guys have been talking
32:59
about City. I think it's real simple, Pep
33:03
Guardiola. It's as simple as that.
33:06
Like, I know players are incredibly important, but I'm
33:09
telling you, like pretty much any other manager in charge of
33:13
that Manchester City squad aren't doing what City are doing
33:16
right now and bringing this like form together.
33:19
Like I had this insane start that Pep Guardiola since 21, so
33:26
2021 April, he's undefeated in the league.
33:30
I think he's won 19 games and two draws in that five year
33:34
period. I mean, it's insane stuff.
33:38
And obviously the way City do it year in year out, it's very
33:43
reminiscent of Fergie, right? Like it is just like a machine.
33:48
And yeah, I cannot wait till he goes. 77 titles it will be if
33:54
they win it. I, I, I, I honestly, I, I don't
33:57
want him to vote soon because I want Arteta to get the edge over
34:01
him and then he goes. Yeah, fair enough.
34:03
Yeah, I get that. Yeah, Yeah, I get that.
34:07
So Ash Gun to your head, who's going to win the title?
34:11
I actually think Arsenal are going to do it.
34:14
Some of the reasons have been mentioned.
34:16
This isn't actually a vintage City team.
34:20
I think the Rhodri injury is crucial, as in how long is he
34:24
going to be out for with this groyne?
34:26
Because it does seem like it's definitely more than a one to
34:29
two week thing. But yeah, even the run in, we've
34:34
seen City drop points as well. Arsenal will probably drop
34:37
points as well. But I think Arsenal have got
34:40
enough to do it. So I'm going to stick my neck
34:43
out and go against, you know, the grain of Guardiola and City
34:47
and say that Arsenal are going to just fall over the line.
34:51
And how's that going to feel to you, Ash?
34:54
Absolutely horrible and for the second summer in array I will
34:58
not be seen. I've been going on holiday for
35:03
three months, like last summer. Cricket season soon, isn't it
35:06
Ash? Cricket season, I don't have
35:09
Formula One. I still won a couple of weeks.
35:11
Yeah, can't even go to that because it's too expensive.
35:15
But, you know, might not be able to fly because there might not
35:18
be enough jet fuel. Let's see.
35:20
That's that's another podcast, isn't it?
35:22
But like, yeah, I, I agree with Yash.
35:23
I've always felt this season, as much as I'm piling in, every
35:27
time you drop points, I've always felt you will just get
35:30
over the line. Obviously could be wrong.
35:32
But yeah, as much as earlier in the season, I was saying I could
35:36
deal with it. We've got to have a little word
35:38
on your fan base. Is it fair to say like.
35:43
I'll I'll jump in here. I'm.
35:44
Not even asked the question. Come on, Kia.
35:46
Yeah, I know. I know what you do.
35:47
Let's say this. Oh.
35:48
And I'll let you answer. I'll let you.
35:49
Answer no it's fine. I don't even know what question
35:51
I just I just needed the Arsenal fan base question would trigger
35:54
you so go. On this, this is just, this is
35:56
just social media, isn't it? But I had this argument with a
35:59
Bolton fan the other day and you saying oh I'd love it.
36:01
A Bolton fan, yeah. I'd love it if you bowled in and
36:04
this I was like, hang on a minute, why?
36:06
It goes well, I hate Arsenal fans.
36:08
So I said, how many Arsenal fans do you know?
36:10
I said you could not. So it's just all social media
36:16
and obviously we all know what works on social media, how the
36:19
algorithms sort of work. And and I give the example we
36:23
all watch the overlap and all that sort of stuff.
36:26
If you look in the fan debate these a few, maybe even a few
36:31
seasons ago, there was a fella, Sal, you'll probably know called
36:35
Clive and he's on Twitter. I think he's Clive AFC.
36:39
Not quite. Yeah, it does an Arsenal podcast
36:43
as well. But he's really level headed.
36:45
He's an older guy, really level headed, really smart, talks
36:49
really well, just logic and facts and you know, no, none of
36:53
this stuff. I think he did about two
36:55
episodes on the Overlap fan debate and just got rid of him
36:58
for another. You know, mouthy mouth idiot.
37:01
Two level headed, yeah. Yeah, and that's what works on
37:03
social media. And it's not, it's not just
37:05
Arsenal, you know, United, Chelsea, they've all got their
37:09
click bait fans and. Race, obviously, you know,
37:11
United is the mark gold. Goldbridge has just been bought
37:14
out by Gary Neville as well, you know.
37:16
Yeah, so. Gary Neville is going down that
37:18
route as well. You know, you see in all sorts
37:21
of media content that the fans who to make the most noise and,
37:25
you know, give the most silly opinions, they they get the most
37:28
clicks and views and in the end the most money.
37:32
So yeah, if you sort of logically think how many Arsenal
37:36
fans do you know in real life, you know that there's your
37:40
answer. You know, if, if I'm arguing
37:42
with a guy from Berry, you know, he's a Bolton fan saying, hey,
37:48
Arsenal fans. And then you ask him how many
37:50
Arsenal fans do you know when he goes?
37:52
Well, just you. And there's your answer.
37:54
It's just all driven by the algorithm and the media.
37:58
So Sal, do you agree Arsenal are the most hated fan base or do we
38:02
give you a good run for you? I mean 100.
38:07
Percent, like especially this season, I don't know what's
38:11
happened to people. Like, I don't know what people
38:15
have, but it's it just seems like Man City Monday night.
38:20
Like Monday night, I love in Man City fans.
38:23
Vice versa, Chelsea, I love in Liverpool fans.
38:26
You know Liverpool fans are coming together.
38:30
I'm just going to quash this right now when you were chasing
38:34
us in the league, when when we play Spurs, you support Spurs.
38:38
Like, let's just let's just leave it there.
38:43
Whichever rival is playing in terms of getting points off that
38:46
team. Yeah, yeah, we all want the
38:49
other. We all want that team to win.
38:51
When and Spurs played you lot last season in the Europa League
38:55
final, obviously it was funny that Spurs won.
38:58
But. You know, I give my standard
39:00
prediction or standard request. You know when when 2 rivals
39:04
play, what you want is a 22 man role and a points deduction.
39:08
That's what you want. Or the game called off.
39:10
You can never say I want Spurs to win or want United to win.
39:13
You just say no. I want the game to be called off
39:17
that. But it was funny when Spurs beat
39:19
you in the in the Europa League final.
39:21
But but I just want to say this like if Arsenal do win either
39:25
the Champions League or the Premier League, Man United fans,
39:29
Liverpool fans, Man City, actually, they don't exist.
39:33
But Tottenham fans down anyway. Chelsea fans, watch your bass.
39:40
Yeah, they. Get out, they get out a fair
39:42
play. They get out.
39:44
Oh, it's going to be interesting.
39:45
Yeah. I think in Yeah, basically a
39:47
month's time, we'll know roughly, right.
39:50
So, yeah. All right, we'll see how it
39:52
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40:18
Just quickly then to wrap up, I want to get your boys opinion on
40:22
Man United. But yeah, obviously we've just
40:23
touched on it there. Last season, absolute disaster,
40:27
culminating and losing to Spurs in the European final in Bilbao,
40:32
obviously finishing 15th in the league as well.
40:34
This season, knocked out of the League Cup to Grimsby, Reuben
40:39
gets sacked. I saw the smile on your face
40:40
there. So.
40:41
Do we need to list this out this?
40:43
Is yeah, no, because yeah, this is the roller coaster we've been
40:46
on. And then yeah, obviously
40:48
January. So Michael Carrick gets the job
40:50
and. But but but it seems like a lot
40:53
of United fans have forgotten that you guys have lost Grimsby.
40:58
Well, This is why I have to. I have to remind them because.
41:00
I have no memory from like last year.
41:04
Everything's rosy. The club's being run well, They
41:06
picked the right manager like. My season started on January the
41:09
8th I think. When When you know when Reuben
41:12
left? So yeah, obviously you know, we
41:15
we've had a pick up, you know that you meant, I think you
41:17
touched on itself, you know, that that first game of Carrick,
41:19
we beat City. Was it 3-1 in the end?
41:22
I can't remember. Should have been like 5-1 with
41:24
all the offside goals. But then we beat you guys and
41:26
you know, we've had a good run. I think Carrick's won Ash.
41:28
Is it 9 and 12 now? I want to say obviously we lost
41:32
the lead, so that is another defeat, but I think he's won 99.
41:36
Yeah, yeah, 8 or 9, I think. I think I rolled the stat
41:39
earlier in the group. Reuben I think collected 31
41:43
points from 20 games and Carrick's got 26 points from
41:46
12:00. So enough.
41:48
So yeah. So like, yeah, again, before we
41:51
started the POD, we were talking about, well, I was talking about
41:54
possible similarities between Arteta getting the Arsenal job
41:58
and Carrot getting the United job.
42:00
And I think it's slightly different because I know Arteta
42:03
had a bit of a bumpy start, whereas Carrots had a pretty
42:05
strong start. So yeah, Sal comes to you on
42:07
this one. Like do you reckon Michael
42:09
Carrick could be our Arteta in terms of getting United
42:13
competing for the title? I think everything looks a bit
42:17
too rosy bright enough for you guys, doesn't it?
42:21
It's mainly because, I mean, it's it's easier when you're not
42:25
in many competitions and you know, your your games are spaced
42:28
out every every week or it. Didn't help us for the Leafs
42:31
game though. Three games.
42:33
Three games in 49 days. It's.
42:35
Interesting how Arsenal like that but.
42:38
Bruno Bruno's got. A second job, social media.
42:40
It's all always social. Bruno's got a second job in
42:42
Tesco, right AJ stacking shelves.
42:44
Have you said that, mate? But yeah, I think Carrick's done
42:50
quite well to be, to be where he is.
42:53
But also I, I, I think you know what, from Arsenal fans
42:58
perspective, give him the contract, give him the contract
43:02
from for next season when he starts to play three times a
43:06
week, then you'll know the wheels will fall off by
43:08
Christmas, he'll get sacked. New manager welcome January.
43:13
The cycle. It's another resource.
43:14
Louis, Enrique here we come to ask.
43:19
Me if he was. On a level though, so very
43:22
quickly, because we talked about it in the summer, you said Ruben
43:27
is playing football to get himself fired, right?
43:30
With the tactics. So, so Carrick deserves like
43:35
credit, right? In terms of like he, people call
43:38
it gone back to basics, but he's actually just playing to the
43:41
strengths of the squad, isn't he?
43:43
Yeah, I think he's playing with the toys that he has already,
43:46
you know, sort of like Arteta on the weekend.
43:49
He he had to play Ezzy on the on the left, Madrid on the right,
43:52
even even though he probably didn't want to, but yet to.
43:55
But you know, sometimes it does work out, sometimes it doesn't.
43:58
But you know, like I said, I, I think the boys at Man United,
44:03
they have the full backing of the of the manager.
44:07
You trust them vice versa and stuff, you know, So it looks, it
44:11
looks good for United at the moment.
44:13
But like I said, it's not easy when you play 3 * a week.
44:18
Yeah, I'm an Arsenal fan. No, that's fair.
44:21
And also. Even with a big, even with a big
44:23
swan like that, it's it's quite difficult.
44:26
Yeah, definitely just. To sorry, just to add on that
44:29
you've sort of compared Arteta and Carrick in terms of is
44:33
Carrick the Artet of United, They're very different in terms
44:38
of, you know, temperament. And I think that's one of the
44:40
most important things for a manager.
44:42
You know, you want someone with the right temperament.
44:44
Carrick couldn't be more different from what I can see to
44:47
our Tata that is intense. Probably most certainly a micro
44:52
manager, sort of details person, you know, and that's what
44:57
Arsenal needed at the time. Did he did someone to sort of
45:00
shake him up that slumber, give him a bit of steel, you know,
45:04
make him a bit stronger. And Carrick, I think is has got
45:08
the perfect temperament for United.
45:10
It just calms everything down. You know, he's not throwing his
45:13
plays under the boss. He does a lot of noise around
45:16
United. You know, as we talk about, you
45:18
know, we're on a United podcast. So, you know, we know how much,
45:23
how much noise and soft stuff there is about United.
45:27
You know, just the amount, the amount of stuff you hear about
45:31
United, it's, it's unbelievable. And Carrick just seems to take
45:35
it all in this stride. He calms everything down.
45:37
And I think that is the most important thing, I think for
45:40
United, just to bring a bit of balance and sensibility back to
45:45
the club, really. But yeah, quite like Carrick in
45:50
terms of, yeah, the right temperament at the right time
45:53
for the right club. But you know what, right, I
45:55
think it also goes back to when you guys had Ollie Glenys,
46:00
Oscar. I I thought that he he actually
46:04
done a really good job, but you know, you got rid of them and I
46:08
don't understand why until today that happened because I think a
46:12
couple of more years maybe it would have done an excellent
46:14
job. But you know, I I hope that they
46:19
don't do the same with Carrick, but in a way, yes, I do.
46:23
I have your bet because then your wheels fall off earlier.
46:27
But yeah, it just seems that I, I think getting a younger
46:32
manager who has a bit more experience maybe should do the
46:38
job for you guys. Who else is out there you know?
46:42
Well, I was going to touch on this, so come on.
46:44
Steve, you want to get into it so.
46:47
Well, no, just like obviously we, you know, AJ, we've spoken I
46:51
think from the midway point of the season.
46:53
Obviously I think basically when Ruben got sacked, you know, a
46:56
lot of United fans were calling for the likes of too cool, Carlo
47:00
and Enrique and me as an arrogant United fan.
47:03
And I still believe this, that we could have got them if we
47:06
went for them aggressively enough, which I don't believe
47:08
Ineos have done. You always said that, you know,
47:11
they're out of our league, you know, because we did finish 15th
47:13
last season. So, yeah, Ash, like, do you
47:17
believe we could have got them? Or do you think it was a case
47:19
of, yeah, they weren't, they weren't available and you know,
47:23
it wasn't possible? I think we spoke about it on the
47:27
group chat a few days ago. If they wanted Louis Enrique,
47:32
Carlo Angelotti or Thomas Turkle, they could have got it
47:35
done. But they obviously haven't gone
47:37
deep enough or shown the willingness to go and get them
47:41
right because contracts are there to be broken.
47:44
Obviously you have to pay compensation to do that, but
47:47
it's been clearly a case of let Carrick take the wheel.
47:51
He's obviously done a good job. That's kind of blurred the lines
47:56
I'd say for for any us and look, obviously if it comes out in the
48:01
athletic in the 20,000 page, sorry, 20,000 word article, you
48:06
know in May that they did really aggressively go for all these
48:10
guys, you know, behind the scenes, but no movement for this
48:14
summer anyway, then fair enough. So we need that article to come
48:18
out. But in terms of what AJ said in
48:21
terms of, but those managers wouldn't want to manage United,
48:26
absolutely not in my case, like, you know, they would want to
48:30
manage Manchester United even if they had finished 15th.
48:35
You know, we shown in the in the transfer window last summer,
48:38
like to be fair, people like Brian Imbimo, Matthias Kenya,
48:42
that they would have been really good at Arsenal.
48:45
Like, you know, they really would have helped Arsenal, you
48:48
know, squad this season with the amount of goals they've got.
48:51
And you know, they still joined us rejecting Spurs, Newcastle
48:55
Champions League football. You know, Cesco rejected
48:58
Newcastle Champions League football.
49:00
So for actually half decent, which we are now like you know,
49:04
there's the scope, right, in terms of what who we want to
49:08
get, whether it's a manager or a player.
49:10
It's not happening now though, isn't it?
49:11
Like Carrick's got it, surely? Yeah, yeah.
49:14
I would have thought so because I think the way they're probably
49:16
going to play it now is give a job to Carrick.
49:22
If he does a good job next season, then they will just see
49:25
what the market's like. It probably depends on like the
49:29
progression progression of Carrick, Like for example, if he
49:33
finished fifth next season and they got Champions League.
49:37
But it's not quite trajectory what they're looking for.
49:41
And let's say Louis Enrique, Carlo Angelotti are available.
49:47
You know, they they might look at it again.
49:50
I don't I think I think the turn around of manager, the days of
49:54
Wenger, Ferguson, even clot Pep got Pep Guardiola like they're
50:00
very rare now. Like you've seen the mess at
50:03
Chelsea, like they're going to fire Racinea whether it's now or
50:08
at the end of the season. So Chelsea are getting a new
50:10
manager if Spurs get relegated deserve he's probably going.
50:15
Do you know what I mean? Like the cycle of a manager is
50:20
just very short and we are basically seeing Real Madrid
50:25
manager life lines. Now look, look at Xavier Alonso.
50:28
Unbelievable job at labour cues. And how long do they last?
50:31
Six months. Seven months.
50:33
Probably not even that. Not even that, right?
50:35
So it is the life of a manager. I think one of the boys is
50:39
talking about, you know, like you become a manager now and you
50:43
just basically pick up compensation.
50:47
So yeah, it's going to be interesting to see because like
50:51
going back to Arsenal as well, I don't think they should do this.
50:54
But like, if Arsenal don't win the league this season, there's
50:59
going to be a certain amount of Arsenal fans being like, well,
51:02
it's time to change what AJ said.
51:07
Who you're going to get is done what Arteta has done in the
51:10
league over the last like four or five seasons.
51:13
And that conversation sort of scares me as well at the same
51:17
time because the tools are around.
51:20
If Arteta doesn't win anything, then you know they'll look to
51:23
2nd man get says Fabregas in. Well, I don't understand that.
51:28
No, I'd rather still have Arteta on, especially if Pep calls.
51:32
If Pep goes next year, who do you think's been in the league?
51:36
He'll be favourites I think. Will be favourites, right?
51:42
You know, just to just to kind of like wind up everyone.
51:45
It's like Carrick, you know, with the 12 games or 11 games,
51:50
he's top of the table. So it just shows you like this
51:55
league is there to be taken at the moment in terms of like,
52:00
yeah, outside of PEP, the the league is there for everyone,
52:04
especially with good transfer windows.
52:06
That's key. Like the reason we're third is
52:09
because we had a good transfer window and, you know, we finally
52:13
got a manager who plays the right, you know, formation as a
52:16
minimum right, let alone the tactics.
52:19
So it just shows you like a Liverpool and Arsenal.
52:23
Even the Chelsea think the boys are talking about it before
52:27
recording goalkeeper, centre back and a centre forward.
52:30
Chelsea are back in the mix to, you know, to not just get top 4
52:34
but win the league. It's the same for United.
52:35
If, if we can get a boss midfielder and a couple of other
52:39
like better players, we can go for the league next season.
52:43
Doesn't mean we're going to win it, but we can at least go for
52:45
it. And I think there's about 4-5
52:47
clubs in the mix who can do that.
52:49
Like a Newcastle who've been unbelievable for like 4-5 years,
52:53
they can't do that because of, you know, the financial
52:56
restrictions. So even when they're good, their
53:00
best players then go to Liverpool.
53:02
You know, there's an argument I've been hearing over the last
53:05
24 hours that, you know, Arsenal should have gone and got ESAC in
53:10
the summer, you know what I mean?
53:13
Because it says it's fine margin things again, right?
53:16
It's like if he sucks in front of goal against Donna, rumour
53:19
does he put it in the back of the net versus Kai habits.
53:21
It's all these kind of like minor little details.
53:26
All right, Well, yeah, all to play for then, with five or six
53:30
games to go, I just end with asking you one question each, as
53:33
you've already said, who you think will win it.
53:35
But AJ, who's going to win the league?
53:40
Arsenal. Arsenal, I can't say that and
53:46
say it's not going to be. Yeah, you can't.
53:47
No way. Why?
53:48
You. I still believe.
53:49
I still believe. I do think Arsenal as well, Ash,
53:53
you've already said you think Arsenal will win it.
53:56
However, who do you want to win it?
54:01
Anyone to win it you. Want the season you want?
54:04
The season to end now. You want Donald Trump to.
54:06
I want Donald. Trump to come and just start
54:09
World War three. It's like proving all over
54:12
again. And Liverpool never won the
54:13
league. Go there, you got to say, gun to
54:17
your head, who you picking? Can't, can't do it.
54:22
I'll say, I'll say I'll. Say, have my brains blown out?
54:27
I'd I'd pick Manchester City. They are there are our rivals.
54:31
You should take it as a compliment that I, I value our
54:35
rivalry more fiercely than Manchester City.
54:37
You can see where they they've got 115 charges waiting to be
54:41
dealt. With I think Sal said it anyway,
54:42
like who are their fans anyway? Right you you look at the Etihad
54:47
with the classic games that's empty had.
54:51
Yeah mate, there were there were a lot of Arsenal fans in the in
54:55
the City and in the Carabao Cup final than the web City fan
54:58
probably. Honestly, they, they, they can't
55:01
feel this in their own stadium. Of Arsenal fans in their city
55:05
and at the Carabao Cup final. Wonder who that?
55:08
I wonder who had a good view. It's a great place to end on
55:12
lots of different kuk examples that a Long live the kuk.
55:17
Thanks for joining us on this episode and we'll catch you on
55:19
the next one.