Arsecast Extra Episode 658 - 13.09.2025

0:00James McNicholas: This episode is sponsored by ZocDoc. Have you been putting off a doctor's appointment or need a dentist and you don't know where to start? We've definitely been there and that's why we use ZocDoc. Actually, over the holidays, Michael had a dental emergency and seemingly every office was closed. But we hopped onto ZocDoc, found an in-network dentist, had great reviews, saw real-time appointments available, which was key. It was on New Year's Day and booked an appointment in just minutes. It took so much of the stress out of the already stressful situation. ZocDoc makes it easy to search and compare over 250 ,000 local in-network providers across more than 200 specialties.

0:43James McNicholas: So you can find the right doctor or dentist and book instantly. Taking care of your health just got easier. Download the ZocDoc app today and book that appointment on your to-do list.

0:54Andrew Allen: That's Z-O-C-D-O-C. ZocDoc.

1:03James McNicholas: The corner of Noni Madue, the second ball, there is no one. The second ball, the finish!

1:12James McNicholas: It's called Martin and his name is Zubimendi, his name is Zurrimendi. Zuriagazo! for the opening of Arsenal! That's not for Sels, nor Alka-Seltzer, nor anyone you take away. Zubimendi, Zubimendi, Arsenal 1, Forestero. Martín, Martín, Martín, Martín, Alka-Seltzer. FUVI MENDY! BRRRR! BRRRR! FUVI MENDY! Martin! Martin! Alka-Seltzer! Aaaaaah! FUVI MENDY!

2:07Andrew Allen: This is Arsecast Extra.

2:10James McNicholas: Hello and welcome to another Arsecast Extra as always with James from Gunner Blog. James, a goodly evening to you. Goodly evening? Good evening. It's weird.

2:22Andrew Allen: It's really weird. It's Saturday night. It's an unusual, unusual time for the pod, but a good time for a pod off the back of a resounding win over Nottingham Forest.

2:36James McNicholas: I guess so. But what does it say about our lives that we're doing a podcast on a Saturday night? That we are dedicated to our craft. That's it. professionals we want to give the people what they want in the most timely way possible

2:51Andrew Allen: it's not that we're old or losers it's that we're dedicated we could be old dedicated losers it is possible i have a feeling that may be exactly what we are but no there's exciting reasons that it's tonight partly that you are is it right if I say bound for the Basque country?

3:15James McNicholas: That's true, yeah, I'm going to Bilbao tomorrow, so as a way of ensuring we have the podcast out in a timely way, so as not to be like a big rush. Tomorrow morning we're recording tonight because I've got a flight tomorrow, so yeah, I'm looking forward to going to see Arsenal's opening game in the Champions League. The San Mames, the stadium, Athletic Club stadium, has sort of been on my wish list, you know, for a while now, since the first time I was in Bilbao. It's incredible when you go and see the stadium in the daytime. There's just this sort of amazing, it's just right at the top of the town.

3:53James McNicholas: And then you sort of look over the river and the buildings and it's really beautiful. I've wanted to go there for a game for a long time. So I'm really looking forward to that. So that's part of the reason. So that takes what, about 13 % off the loser-ness?

4:10Andrew Allen: At least. Yeah. At least 13%. I mean, listen, that's still a lot of percent in the other camp, but what can we do? I mean, listen, I don't know about you guys at home, but I can't think of anything better to do on a Saturday night, frankly, than talk about Arsenal 3, Nottingham Forest 0. It was great. It was.

4:30James McNicholas: It was. It was a really, really good win. You know what? I was thinking about the game, And I was thinking about, you know, how we discuss it. And sometimes we do it chronologically. Sometimes we do it in slightly different ways by incidents, you know. And this one, it sort of reminded me of, I was trying to think about how do we talk about it. And there were so many things. It's like, you know, when you went to the cinema with your mates when you were a kid and you come out of the cinema and you're all excited having seen the film. and you're like, remember that bit when Rocky did blah, blah, blah, or remember that bit when Indiana Jones did this?

5:07James McNicholas: I kind of feel like we need to do it that way, but sort of almost player by player. Remember when Maduweke did this? Remember when Muscara did that? Remember when Timber did this? It's sort of like that in my mind. I could be wrong, but that's kind of how I'm feeling about it.

5:24Andrew Allen: One big highlight reel.

5:26James McNicholas: Yeah, sort of. I mean, do you want to do that? I don't mind what way we do it. I'm open. I'm going to take another few percent off my loser status by saying, listen, we can do it whatever way you want. But I do think it was like collectively, it's a great win and it's an indication that we have some incredible squad depth. but the the way that we sort of view some of the individuals who came into the team i think is going to be the nuts and bolts of how we discuss this game i reckon totally and like you

6:01Andrew Allen: know when you when you speak about moments obviously there's a goal that lit up the game there's little moments of individual skill i can think of from the likes of eze and madueke a stunning save, I think, at one point from David Rye that's probably worthy of a mention, some defensive interventions from Christian Mascara and Gabriel. Yeah, it kind of was a game that had, as Arsenal fans, really, it kind of had everything we're looking for. And like you say, players coming into the team and really impressing. I mean, above and beyond all else, I do just think this was a really impressive demonstration of the degree of depth that's now at Mikel Arteta's disposal.

6:48James McNicholas: Yeah, so I mean, let's talk about maybe team selection then because there was news in the press conference on Friday that William Saliba, he was fit, he was in training. Turns out he said afterwards he felt like he needed another couple of days, which I suppose makes more sense given the reporting that we had about that injury and what was expected from William Saliba, certainly ahead of schedule in that sense. so he didn't play

7:14Andrew Allen: I think always if Mikel Arteta sort of suggests a player is going to be a fit there's probably a decent chance he's not going to play and vice versa the fact that he sounded quite optimistic and positive about it we should have known it was all a ruse but I think it's impossible to talk about the team selection for today without thinking of the week ahead and obviously there's Bilbao on Tuesday night and then Manchester City the following weekend. So, you know, Mikel Arteta is, I think, picking this team through that prism, isn't he, of thinking I've got to use my squad as best as I can to get to these three very big games.

7:53James McNicholas: Yeah, I thought, you know, obviously seeing a midfield of Zubimendi, Marino and Odegaard was really interesting. I did want to play this. This is Arteta in his post-game press conference talking about the selection of Mikel Marino over Declan Rice.

8:09Andrew Allen: Because Mikel comes after scoring four goals in two games with a really high emotional state. And I want to use that. When a player is in that moment, I want to play him because he's going to bring something different with the qualities that they have. And Declan comes in and he will have an impact immediately. He will play the next game. And that's what we need to try to manage the best possible way.

8:30James McNicholas: I think that's fascinating because I saw the lineup and went, Rice must have maybe just tweaked something on international duty. He could be a little bit hurt. They're protecting him. As you say, it is a big week. But the explanation publicly anyway is that Marino, having gone away and scored a goal and then scored a hat trick, Arteta is saying, listen, I trust this guy. I have faith in this guy and his ability. He's not a DM, despite what some people might say. And I think that was evident in the way that he played today. But as a way of deciding how you're going to pick your team over the course of a really, really long season, And it probably becomes a little easier, you know, to explain to Declan Rice, for example, listen, we've got Man City next Sunday.

9:14James McNicholas: I really want you fit for that one. We've got a big Champions League game in midweek. You've been away. Marino's in good form. He's feeling good. You know, we're going to use the full depth of our squad. And that's been one of the questions we've been asking about Arteta and going into this season is how is he going to use that squad? And he's open to form and a player's mood or confidence dictating his team selection.

9:41Andrew Allen: Yeah, I think probably Declamice would have wanted to play this game. Invariably, he does. And from what I understand, there's no particular injury concern or specific worry. but this is what we've sort of hoped and kind of asked for at times Mikel Arteta to do to embrace the options at his disposal and you can't argue with his decision to pick a guy in the form Marino is in you know we spoke last week and we said I think I said well you know how do we use him I guess his best position is that kind of left eight well if he's not going to get a game in that position now when is it going to happen?

10:23Andrew Allen: And I think, obviously, as well, it's part of Mikel Arteta's long-term strategy of trying to turn Arsenal into Real Sociedad by playing Marino, Zubemendy and Odegaard together for the first time since July 2020 when they appeared for Sociedad. But, yeah, I also think, like, Teclan Rice, whatever he may, you know, feel about that decision, he's a pretty extraordinary player to have on your substitutes bench. I mean, it occurred to me in that final 20 minutes or so, like, you know, he's too powerful for teams at the best of times. But when they're tiring and their heads have gone down, I mean, he just absolutely glides through people.

11:09Andrew Allen: So, yeah, I had no issue with it. And elsewhere, Saliba, you know, giving a bit more time made sense. Calafiori continued at left back. I'm curious to see how many of these games, you know, three games in eight days he plays, given some of the concerns over him previously. And then a very interesting, very new, very sort of novel front three, right, of Jochenes, flanked by Madueke on the right, and then Eze making his first start on the left.

11:46James McNicholas: Yeah, that was exciting. You know, I really did want to see Eze on the left and we got that. It felt like Mataweka was going to be the guy who was going to play there anyway in the absence of Bakayo Saka. You know, before we get into the individuals, I suppose, you know, it is just maybe worth noting that, you know, having lost Martin Odegaard, we'll talk about that in a second. But, you know, having lost Odegaard, you've got no Saliba. Ben White doesn't play. Kai Havertz doesn't play. Bakayo Saka doesn't play. and there's a sort of relative calm to the way people are feeling about the team and the squad and what we have on the bench.

12:23James McNicholas: You know, Christian Norgard didn't even make the bench. It really is a very, very, very deep squad. And people have asked, how is he going to keep all these players happy? And maybe it becomes an issue over the course of the season. But when you look at the result, the performance, the control, the way that we absolutely deserve to win that game, playing it without players, that maybe even last season you would say, there's no way we could do that without those players. And we did it, you know. It really is a testament to the way this squad has been built out.

13:00Andrew Allen: Yeah, I think you just have to ask yourself kind of how you would feel this time a year ago if Arsenal were without that list of players. You know, Saliba, Saka, Rice, Odegaard going off after 20 minutes or whatever it was. You know, would we win this game with those players missing? I can't say yes with a great deal of confidence. I'm not saying it's impossible. Kai Havertz, by the way, I didn't mention. Yeah, yeah. Ben White. Yeah. That's the thing. We've had a bad start to the season in terms of injuries. We've lost major players for big games. And yet, I think I'm right in saying, or certainly we were at full time, we're top of the Premier League table.

13:48Andrew Allen: Right. And, you know, I don't remember an Arsenal squad with this kind of depth. You know, people will say, oh, 2004, the Invincibles, whatever. Squads weren't this big.

14:04James McNicholas: Fuck off. Well, for 2004 with the Invincibles, we had, you know, with all due respect, we had Graham Stack as our backup goalkeeper. Exactly. You know, and Jens Lehmann played 38 games and played all the Champions League games. You know, that was a small squad.

14:18Andrew Allen: We had an abundance of riches in attack. And I think that leads people to kind of, you know, misremember. But they were much smaller squads. Squads have never been the kind of size they are now. And I've never seen, you know, I've probably seen better first 11s than this Arsenal team. I've never seen a squad with as much richness of options for a manager. And that is kind of my overriding outtake from the transfer window is that they've kind of basically taken out an insurance policy against exactly the situation we're facing. You know, we as a club have kind of refused to let our story be written by injuries and the recruitment speaks to that.

15:11Andrew Allen: So, yeah, I do think it's you've got to take your hat off to, you know, the decision makers, the owners, everybody for kind of bankrolling this because it's a super strong squad. and that was reflected in my degree of comfort about the line-up.

15:30James McNicholas: Yeah, and of course you lose someone like Odegaard. I don't know when he got the injury. It was, let me have a look, eight minutes, seven minutes, eight minutes.

15:41Andrew Allen: Yeah, because he stayed on for a little while.

15:43James McNicholas: He stayed on like he did in the game against Leeds. He stayed on for a little while and then obviously couldn't continue. So that's a blow, you know, that is a blow.

15:52Andrew Allen: I'm curious as to what exactly he's done.

15:56James McNicholas: He says the shoulder, the same kind of area as the previous one. And you could see when he went in for that tackle, the way he landed was a bit awkward. He sort of landed on his shoulder more than, like his hand didn't break his fall in the way that you would have liked, you know?

16:16Andrew Allen: Yeah, I'm not an expert in shoulder injuries, but sort of traditionally you think of like a dislocation or something. You know what I mean? but I'm not sure. Is it a muscular complaint? Is it an impact injury that's just causing him a lot of pain? I don't know. But as soon as he went down, he kind of knew, oh, this is the same thing that he's been suffering with. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I suppose one of the benefits of the size of squad we have is that we can afford to take less risks with the players. If somebody like Odegaard is in a situation where they are playing through pain or there's risk of them aggravating or getting a more serious injury, then get them off.

17:08James McNicholas: Yeah, which they did. I'm guessing it's probably something muscular, right? The rotator cuff or something like that. I don't know if he's cracked a bone or anything like that, but yeah, just really unfortunate because he had such a good game for Norway in the international break, and he played the 90 minutes, and you're thinking, did he really need to do that? But maybe it suggested that the shoulder was okay, but again, he landed really awkwardly. His sort of arm slipped underneath him as he landed, and yeah, anyway, he went off. Ethan Weneri came on. I thought Ethan Weneri, like he was against Leeds, was very, very good, very tidy, maybe not quite as impressive in front of goal as you would have liked.

17:55James McNicholas: There was a moment, I think, where he had an opportunity from the edge of the box. I think it was Marino who set him up and he shot over the bar from a position where you think, oh, that's exactly where he wants the ball. But, you know, we were dominant in that first half in particular, weren't we? You know, played a lot of the game down there left-hand side, which is where Nani Madweke was getting a lot of joy against the sort of fill-in left-back, Murato, who, you know, is not a novice at left-back, but I think is more of a central defender. But he was having a lot of joy on that side, wasn't he?

18:38James McNicholas: I think he grew with confidence as the game went on.

18:42Andrew Allen: Yeah, I mean, it's interesting that Michelangelo made that point about Marino coming off international duty in like a really positive psychological frame of mind. Because you'd have to think Nani Madureke is in a similar place. I think he was always going to play this game because of Saka's absence. But he had a couple of really positive performances with England. Scored a great goal out in Serbia as well in the second of the two games. and I think you could see that he's a player who is feeling very confident right now. Yeah, he had some great moments. I mean, I particularly liked that one in the first half where he kind of went inside his man and then, was it a dummy that just kind of left a defender completely for dead where he sort of went to strike the ball and then just carried it past him?

19:36Andrew Allen: But he was very direct. He was a menace, you know, a thorn in Forest's side throughout the game. And actually, like, his numbers from the match are pretty astonishing. I think most crosses, 14. Most touches in opponent's box, 12. Most duels, 1, 9. Most chances created, 5. Most successful take-ons, 4. Most tackles, 3. Most fouls, 1, 2.

20:08James McNicholas: He was kind of relentless, wasn't he? Which I think is part of the reason that we maybe went for him is that high volume of action in the final third, which he's involved in.

20:24Andrew Allen: Michael Atteta spoke about his kind of physical capacity to repeat. I guess that's his stamina and his athleticism, which isn't to downplay the technical level but I think he is a hell of an athlete and he seems to be able to just go and go and go again and a lot of being a winger, particularly a winger who runs in behind like Madueke is happy to do, is making runs that aren't found that aren't seen, it's sprint, sprint, sprint, sprint and he seems to be able to maintain that across 90 minutes or certainly as long as he was on the pitch today, which is really encouraging. You know, there was a big kerfuffle, wasn't there, about the signing.

21:19Andrew Allen: But at this very early stage, you'd have to say that it looks like quite a smart piece of business. I mean, you know, I can't remember us ever having a player who, who, if not quite making up for Saka's absence, could certainly soften that blow in the way that Madueke has done in the last couple of games.

21:38James McNicholas: For sure. He's no Marquinhos, but, you know, I get what you're saying. Did you see the bit on TNT Sports after the game when Eze and Madueke were being interviewed?

21:55Andrew Allen: I have not seen that, no. Martin Keown, he's there.

22:00James McNicholas: And we know Martin can be a bit forthright, right? And he says, I'm paraphrasing a little bit here, but he says, Nani, you know, I have to say, I was a little bit worried when you signed because I always thought you were quite selfish. But... Really? Yeah, he said, but, you know, you've really, you know, found a way to find that balance, you know, take players on, but also bring your teammates into it. Is that the manager? is that, you know, playing with these other players around you. But you could see Eze and Matawaki were both a bit like, what the fuck?

22:36Andrew Allen: The thing is...

22:37James McNicholas: I mean, there's something, you know, and his reply was really good. He said, you know, as a winger, you have to have that belief in yourself to take the player on, to take your fullback on, but also find the balance, you know, to try and bring other players into play. And, you know, one of the things I think that we talked about maybe when he signed was the amount of dribbles, the amount of shots, the amount of take-ons that he produces in 90 minutes, which is, you know, completely different from pretty much everybody that we have. or the volume certainly was a lot higher, you know. So that, you know, I think there's a desire to bring that into the team.

23:21James McNicholas: And you could see the way he just kept going past the fullback, getting to the byline, cutting it back. They defended, they defended quite well. But, you know, he just kind of keeps going, doesn't he?

23:30Andrew Allen: Yeah, I mean, again, this sounds like faint praise, and I don't mean it as such, but he's buying a lot of lottery tickets, you know, like he's taking a lot of chances. Sure. he's there is a bravery there is a um willingness to try things that i think it has been a bit of a missing ingredient for us at times um and you know what like i don't know about him being selfish previously i've not really seen enough of him to say if there's any merit in that but we have spoken about how this is a guy who a lot of coaches and managers have said, oh, if he could just kind of take that final step, there might be a kind of psychological piece missing that's stopping him from being a truly elite player.

24:25Andrew Allen: This is in no way to excuse the reaction of what happened when he joined the club. But if it serves to sharpen a player's mind, Like it may turn out, but to be a really, it could be a really positive thing for him. Like, again, I'm not sort of condoning the reaction or saying, that's a good idea. We should do that to every player. Not at all. But I think that it meant that he arrived with such a point to prove. and watching him on the pitch now, it feels like this is maybe a more focused, more determined Noni Madueke than anybody's seen until now. And he deserves the credit for that.

25:15James McNicholas: Yeah, sure.

25:16Andrew Allen: For kind of taking that stick and turning it into a motivating factor. But I'm really pleased for him. And he got a massive reception today when he went off.

25:26James McNicholas: Yeah, he was very, very good. Really, really good. Really positive. You know, I know the stats won't show that, you know, he didn't get a goal or didn't get an assist, but it was from his corner that the first goal arrived. And we talked about this actually last week, wasn't it? The week before. It was about like, why can't Matuweke take a corner? And it turns out he can actually take a good corner.

25:50Andrew Allen: Yeah, Declan Rice is off those outswingers for now.

25:53James McNicholas: I think so. I think so. So I think the quality and the consistency of his delivery from the corners was really, really good. It was about the half hour mark there, thereabouts. We get another corner. We'd had maybe three or four in that previous five, ten minutes. Put it in. Forest cleared. And then Martin Zubimendi with a really, really impressive volley from the edge of the box. So the edge of the D, I guess you would say. one of those where do you know what it reminded me of? It reminded me of when we talked about the games against PSG last year or last season, right? Where you have that moment of quality that somebody is just capable of producing a finish, a volley, a strike that even if it gets a little bit of a deflection even if it does come off your shin a little bit the quality of the strike is such that you give yourself a great chance of scoring a goal and it was that that sprung to mind when Zubomendi smacked that one home to make it 1-0.

27:02Yeah unbelievable hit unbelievable connection great technique great concentration probably the

27:09Andrew Allen: last player one of the last players on the pitch we would expect to score but then he is a very technically gifted player so maybe that's you know maybe that's not quite fair um i remember speaking to people who've worked with him for years who said that there are attacking dimensions to his game that have not been fully exploited whether they meant smashing in volleys from 25 yards i don't know but um it's just an unbelievable hit i mean you know it takes a nick on the way through but I have to say it's hit with such power such force um I'm not wholly convinced that the keeper's getting anywhere near it anyway it's almost past him it's just such a clean

27:52James McNicholas: clean strike of the ball you know and it's not an easy technique either you know from there because you see players try that all the time and more often than not it ends up going over the bar or out for a throw or something like that so it's just an unbelievable way to to open the scoring And I think at a really interesting time as well, because you're sort of half an hour in against the team who you've been on top of, you've had possession, you've had domination, but you haven't really, really, you know, created chances or too many chances. And something like that just kind of blows the game right open.

28:28Andrew Allen: Yeah. Set piece again. I mean, I wasn't there, so I can't speak to this, but the commentators were sort of suggesting there was a few grumbles around the ground or maybe a little bit of concern maybe that Arsenal hadn't turned their dominance into a lead. And then you get this one moment and suddenly Arsenal in a really commanding position. But yeah, fantastic for Zubimendi. I mean, in his wildest dreams of how he might get his first Arsenal goal, I don't necessarily think he would have imagined that. And the players were clearly delighted for him as well. I think he's already quite a popular man in the dressing room.

29:08James McNicholas: Yeah, for sure. For sure. Spanish internationals and first Arsenal goals. We've seen a few good ones. We've seen a few good ones. The second goal really early in the first or in the second half, I should say, because Forrest didn't really threaten at all. There was that moment for Gibbs White, wasn't there, late in the first half and Timber got across. And I do want to talk a bit of Timber in a few minutes, but let's do the goals and then get into some of the individuals. Second goal, Ricardo Calafuri is playing as the left center half because he's sort of, you know, he goes where he wants. Basically.

29:49James McNicholas: I did like this from, got to give a shout out to Tony Dolan dot beast guy dot social. He said, Calafuri was popping up all over the place. Like the mole in Caddyshack. If you've ever seen that film, that will ring true. Like at one point he was, He was playing in the Odegaard position at one point. Played a right back for a bit as well in that first half. But much like the Calafiore goal or the Jokeres goal that he scored against Leeds, it was Calafiore who played a ball over the top. I think the defender will look at that and think he should have done better. He can't let the ball bounce. Eze Times is run, and it's a great first-time ball across.

30:34James McNicholas: and from there you just expect Jockeris to score.

30:38Andrew Allen: Yeah, I mean, it is poor defending that the right-back was kind of out of line with the defence. Brentford have just scored, by the way, sorry. Lovely news against Chelsea, if you're not aware. You probably know the result by now. But yeah, I mean, that Califuri pass, I know that it's poor defending for the full-back. It's still a beautiful hit. It's almost like a golf shot because, you know, it's like a golf shot that lands on the green and he manages to sort of have enough spin on it that it dies in Eze's path. And it's real quality, I think from Eberich Eze to just think, I'm not even going to take a touch here.

31:16Andrew Allen: Left foot first time, roll it across the six yard box. Yaya Sanogo was introduced to the crowd before the game, I understand. And I think he could have put that one away. So, Yoko Rez, I can understand why his immediate reaction was to point Eze.

31:36James McNicholas: That's just so random. Yaya Sanogo was introduced to the crowd before the... Why? What was happening? I think he was there doing... Oh, like the pre-match show or something? Yeah, I think so. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, no disrespect to Yaya Sanogo.

31:52Andrew Allen: I don't think it was like when they announced Eze the other day before the Leeds game. he didn't walk out to the center circle with you know 60 000 people in the stands

32:01James McNicholas: bowing down doing we're not worthy and stuff sunogo tent i mean i kind of hope he did to be

32:08Andrew Allen: honest as i say i wasn't there maybe that's exactly why maybe he was like he crowd surfed the entire way around the lower tier i don't know but yaya sunogo is there that's the important thing

32:23James McNicholas: and there to witness a very good like a really good actually good finish from Jokeres because he puts it into the ground

32:30Andrew Allen: yeah it gets a bit of lift on it doesn't it yeah and listen I it sort of was I mean he had an okay first half Jokeres he had one really nice layoff I thought into Eze's path I think it was but it's tough for him to get involved in these games against teams that defend very deep the defend in their own penalty area, which Forrest really did. And quite doggedly, I thought, for the first half hour or so. But he's there. He's Johnny on the spot when he needs to be. A few yards out, another goal in a home game. He very nearly had another as well, didn't he? Yeah, cracked the post. Shot that hit there outside of the post.

33:09James McNicholas: Is that the kind of goal that we've been looking for Arsenal to score more of?

33:14Andrew Allen: Yeah. Like when we talk about being more direct, I thought that was the sort of theme of this whole game actually and you know we were able to get the likes of Eze and Madueke into space, into situations where they were one-on-one where they had you know room to go in behind their man to beat their man and that Califiori pass I don't think it's coincidence that it was his pass against Leeds that released Jokeres and his pass here that released Eze. I think he's got the vision, the technique, and I think above and beyond all else, just that kind of mad, absurd level of confidence to try these things.

34:00Andrew Allen: And that's what brings that kind of X factor that I think we all acknowledge that at times we've lacked.

34:07James McNicholas: I think both Eze and Jocarez were better in the second half, and I think that's because you could see them sort of combine a little bit more. You know, it's a really good ball across from Eze. And you have to score if you're a striker. You've got to score from there. But, you know, right place, right time, made the run, and he was there. Forrest made it. Just in Eze, by the way. Yeah.

34:31Andrew Allen: Like, I loved the assist. I loved how – I loved the simplicity of it. But watching him play, you know, I think Madureka, I think they were probably better performers on the day. I thought Maduike was great. I thought Mosquera was great. Zubimendi scored two goals. But there was just something about watching Eze that, to me, and I think this probably says something about the kind of Arsenal fan I am, but it just oozed Arsenal. Like, it just all looked right to me. like the way he rolled in off the left, the way he would look to beat his man, the sort of, you know, the little sort of bit of pace he put on the ball when he passed it, it all just felt really right and familiar, which for a player making his first start might seem strange, but I suppose it's what the reason that I've wanted him for so long and that the reason so many people are so excited about this signing that he kind of just feels like a perfect fit for a type of football that we aspire to and that has become part of the kind of culture and the fabric of the club.

35:51Andrew Allen: So yeah, I really, really, really enjoyed watching it.

35:54James McNicholas: What did he say? Arteta said, Ebb's gives you something different, a different kind of flow and different connections and very unpredictable as well. And there are some lovely touches from him And, you know, as you said, like, this is the first time that front three has played together or started together anyway, you know, and those qualities. And he's not a winger-winger, you know what I mean? No, no, no.

36:19Andrew Allen: He's not Martinelli and he's not Leroy Sane or whatever. But again, I just think that that adds another dimension to our play, to have a guy who doesn't always want to hold the line, who wants to be in the pockets, who wants to drift infield, who is a bit more of a 10 than an 11, if you will. I think it really, really, really adds. And I'm really excited about what's to come. And I think Arteta's right to speak about relationships. I think that is what is sort of vengerish about this player, that there's a kind of chemistry and that feeling of, you know, Filippo Clare, who you had on the pod on Friday, speaking about Bengals football as being like jazz, that idea of kind of collaboration and duet and finding the same wavelength with his teammates.

37:14Andrew Allen: I think as a has all that sort of intuitively. So, yeah, very exciting.

37:21James McNicholas: So, look, Forrest made changes, didn't really make any difference. We made some changes. Rice and Lewis Skelly came on and then Arteta took both wide players off. And, you know, it really is something, isn't it? When you're taking two wide players off and you're bringing on Trossard and Martinelli, whatever people think about those two players or their form or whatever else, you know, for those to be your substitutes, again, is another indication of just how strong this particular squad is. And it was Trossard who provided the assist for Zubimendi to score his second goal and make the game safe.

38:00James McNicholas: I think they got that free kick routine a little bit wrong. It looked to me like they were trying to set Declan Rice up for a shot. But the ball wasn't right for that. He played it to Trossard, Trossard, little clipped cross, a nice clipped cross as well. And there is Zubamendi to head home. I suppose two goals that you wouldn't associate with him, like a belting volley and then a header. I mean, was it you who said he's bigger than you think? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So he is bigger than you think, but maybe in this Arsenal team of giant guys, he looks a little bit smaller, but he got up well and that's a good header and 3-0 to Arsenal.

38:45Andrew Allen: I mean, you can be 6 '4 and not a great header of the ball, but I think maybe it was Phil Koster or Lewis. Somebody I saw tweeting today, I'm going to give the right person credit for this, rarely for me.

38:58James McNicholas: Okay.

39:00Andrew Allen: I'm actually going to do my research because somebody was sharing a screen grab. Yes. I think it was from Phil Costa's piece when he signed about how Zubimendi had brilliant aerial statistics at Real Sociedad. I think he won 67 % of 250 aerial duels across the last six seasons, which is really, really good, really strong. I mean, that success ratio would rank with anybody, you know. And so, you know, I think he's got the timing. He's got the leap. It looked to me a bit like this header I couldn't quite see, but that he sort of headed it and it came off the Forest defender. I'm not sure. But, listen, fantastic for him.

39:51And I totally agree about the subs. I feel like Trossard and Martinelli maybe haven't had the most love from Arsenal fans over the summer

40:01Andrew Allen: because I think a lot of people wanted to see them upgraded. And for a lot of people, that meant seeing them sold. They kind of have been upgraded, or at least we've made signings in that area of the pitch. But to still have them at our disposal for however long, again, speaks to that depth. And they were both a threat in their time on the pitch. and Trossard gets the assist. Martinelli in that right channel, you know, had space to run into, was a threat in behind. I think there were one or two occasions where we might have released him sooner and quicker. So, yeah, I mean, as I said at the top, it was just a great performance all round and a great flexing of our muscles, really.

40:48James McNicholas: Yeah. So here's a stat from Orbinio who says, Leandro Trossard now has 50 goal involvements for Arsenal, 28 goals, 22 assists. Since the Belgian joined the club, only Bukayo Saka has more for the club in all competitions. Wow. You know? So look, I get it. He's a serious player. He is.

41:09Andrew Allen: He's a serious player. He is. You know, I think there's always been this feeling that maybe, you know, that he was kind of a, not a stopgap, but, you know, he was kind of second choice in that window. I mean, a far better signing by any measure than the player we hope to sign, which is Kylo Mudrik, for a multitude of reasons. But yeah, his ability to actually produce end product has few rivals in the Arsenal squad. And I'm really glad he's here. Like, I just think he's a player that... Because there was a bit of talk, wasn't there, about him potentially going to Turkey, like once the window's shut, or there was one or two rumors, but from what I understand, there was never any realistic prospects of that at all.

41:56Andrew Allen: Like, you know, Arsenal won him here. They gave him the pay bump. And I think he'll, I would wager he will find a way to make an impact this season, even if he's not starting.

42:08James McNicholas: Yeah. I was quite surprised by how many people were like, yeah, take the money. Take the money for Trossard. We've got to take the money. And I'm like, what the fuck good is 20 million euros now to Arsenal between now and January. Well, I mean, genuinely, listen, maybe the accountants have a different view on this than I would, and that's fine.

42:28Andrew Allen: Yeah, they may do, I think.

42:29James McNicholas: I think they might well do. But, you know, when you look at the schedule, you look at the games, you look at the competitions we're going to be in, Leandro Trossard is far more useful to Arsenal than any amount of money that we're probably not going to be able to spend until next summer anyway, because of how much we spent in this window. So it was really strange to me. I think he will be important and he got an assist today and we know the kind of character he is. So he's going to push to play and push to be involved. And that can only be a good thing, I think. So listen, before we go into the break, can we talk about a player who made his first start today, who wasn't Eber Echeza, but Christian Mascara?

43:15you know listen we got a I was going to say a glimpse but we got a really good

43:22James McNicholas: indication of his quality when he had to come on at Anfield after what four minutes and was really really good and there was a time and there have been times when without William Saliba I have felt uh-oh we're in big trouble here because Saliba is so fundamental he's just so good and so important for this team. But I thought there was so much to like about his performance today on the ball, off the ball, defensively. Like this dude is what, 20? And he is not even slightly rattled by any of your Premier League bullshit. He's like, yeah, I'll stand here with the ball at my feet. Come on, come on, I'll do it.

44:07James McNicholas: It was like Arteta said, do an impression of William Saliba. and he went okay that's exactly what i'll do he was so impressive i have to say yeah totally agree i mean i always do my um my little post-match video and you know i imagine people were expecting

44:26Andrew Allen: me to start by talking about madueke or zubimendi or yokras but i i just i couldn't start anywhere else but Mascara. I thought he was that good. I think he's been that good really across those two games. I mean, Anfield was just a huge test for a young centre-half. He came in and looked so at home. I think in this game it's a different calibre of opposition maybe, but I think he was even better because there were points where he made really critical defensive interventions in his own penalty area. I can think of two moments where he made really superb challenges. The one after the Raya save when it looked like we could clear the ball.

45:16James McNicholas: I can't quite remember what it was. Was it Timber? Somebody dallied anyway, and the ball broke to a Forrest player, and I was like, uh-oh. And he just made a really, really good tackle.

45:28Andrew Allen: Yeah. everything he does looks super smooth you know he's another who really glides across the pitch eats up the ground long stride closes the space really quickly never looks flustered so far I mean I suppose you've got to remember yes he's 21 but he played nearly 100 games for Valencia.

46:02James McNicholas: Yeah, once he got into their team, he did not come out of it. Yeah.

46:06Andrew Allen: You know? And he's played for Spain at every level, basically, from under-15s up to, I think he was in the 2024, under-23 Olympic squad. So he's kind of a Spanish international centre-half in the making. but he's hugely experienced for his age and that was something we talked about when the club signed the likes of Ben White or Ryan Odegaard these are players who although they had youth they also had experience and when you look at what Arsenal have reportedly paid for Mosca It's a steal Yeah, like an initial 13 million or so we believe exploiting a contract situation where he had a year to go.

46:55Andrew Allen: Just a really, really smart move. Feels like a player that, you know, we spoke about the accountants maybe and how they might feel about Leandro Trossard. I think this is one they'll like because his market value is probably, you know, more than doubled in his brief time in the Premier League. Oh my gosh.

47:16James McNicholas: I was talking to Andrew Allen about it. And, you know, we obviously having watched it on TV have a different view. And he was talking about how much of a communicator he is on the pitch, you know, and you kind of think sometimes a young central defender, you know, might come in and be deferential or whatever to, you know, more experienced players with Gabriel one side of him and Timber the other side. I mean, what a pair to have either side of you, by the way. but he was saying he's pointing, he's talking, he's communicating all the time, which I think is really interesting for a young player as well and a very good sign, I think, too.

48:00I think as well, we always speak about the strength

48:04Andrew Allen: of Saliba and Gabriel as a partnership and when one of those players is absent, I think you're always looking to the remaining kind of first choice centre-half to really step up and be the senior partner with whoever comes in, whether it was Saliba with Kivior towards the end of last season or Gabriel and Mosquera as it is at the present moment. And I think Gabriel really did that today. I mean, it was kind of a captain's performance. I thought he was excellent too. We're just more accustomed to him being excellent. But, you know, it must be... I'm not saying it's easy, but it must be a hell of a help to have a centre-half like that alongside you for someone like this.

48:48James McNicholas: Oh, my gosh. And listen, there was a point in that first, maybe second half, second half, second half, I think, when it could have been Hudson-Odoi had the ball around the corner flag and Timber came over and just started, I can't describe it any other way, it's just sort of kicking away at him. But he wasn't kicking him, He was just sort of making life so difficult for him. It must be so hard to play against Timber when you're an attacker because he's like, he is a really dogged. He's like a sort of Jack Russell in the tackle, if you know what I mean. He's like, he gets right in there and he came away with the ball.

49:33James McNicholas: And, you know, ultimately I don't quite remember what happened at that moment. But, you know, Hudson or whoever the forest player was had the ball. and just ended up losing it because Timber was relentless in the tackle. I thought he was really, really good today, not just in that aspect of his game, but going forward as well. You know, some of the overlapping he did with Matueke was very, very good. There was a chance he created, which maybe Declan Rice slid in on and couldn't quite get the touch. Both ways, I thought this was a really, really impressive game from Jurian Timber.

50:05Andrew Allen: Yeah, he's outstanding. I think you can make the case that I'm just trying to think. I don't think there are many better right-backs in the league. I really don't. I think he's probably the best from a defensive standpoint. And he seems to be adding more strings to his bow going forward. And I've got to give a shout as well to David Raya, by the way, played his 100th game for Arsenal today, and I thought made a superb save. An important point in the game. I think it was 2-0 at that time. And, you know, if you concede there, Forest aren't a bad team. They've got good players. Unfortunately for them, they've hired Ange Postacoglu.

50:48Andrew Allen: It's just who they are, mate. It's just who they are now. Don't quite know how that will go, but there you go. I was trying to think, what's the opposite of a new manager bounce?

50:59James McNicholas: Someone said, we had that on the Discord, and somebody said, you've just got to call it an Ange. Let me see who that was. Yeah, they've anged themselves. Yeah, it was Gibzinho who asked, would it be a new manager splat? And Jordi, Jordi in reply said, it's called an ang.

51:20Andrew Allen: So there you go. But, you know, goals change games. And I thought that was a big save.

51:27James McNicholas: Yeah. And a clean sheet in his 100th appearance seems nice.

51:32Andrew Allen: Yeah. I mean, Michel Arteson, he went big on it, didn't he, in his press conference? And rightly so. I mean, he took a lot of criticism from lots of different quarters at the time for the signing of Raya and for his handling of that situation. But his decision is justified by the numbers. You're looking at back-to-back golden gloves and a strong start to this season too.

51:54James McNicholas: Yes. All right. Well, look, all in all, a really good day. I think a very solid day, a day in which we saw the depth of the squad and we saw what these new players can bring. and we're four games in and there's a lot more to come. And I think the signs are very, very promising. So unless there's anything else that's struck you from the game or that's up for discussion, we should take a break, no?

52:18Andrew Allen: Yeah, let's take a break.

52:19James McNicholas: Let's take a break. Might get a glass of wine given it's Saturday night. Let's do that.

52:24Andrew Allen: It's Saturday night, Andrew.

52:26James McNicholas: Yeah.

52:28Andrew Allen: You know, we've got to claim all those percentage cool points back that we can.

52:32James McNicholas: That's it. Okay, time for me to get a glass of wine. We'll take a break here. We'll come back with your questions and more in part two right after this.

53:03James McNicholas: Over the holidays, Michael had a dental emergency and seemingly every office was closed. But we hopped onto ZocDoc, found an in-network dentist, had great reviews, saw real-time appointments available, which was key. It was on New Year's Day and booked an appointment in just minutes. It took so much of the stress out of the already stressful situation. ZocDoc makes it easy to search and compare over 250 ,000 local in-network providers across more than 200 specialties. So you can find the right doctor or dentist and book instantly. Taking care of your health just got easier. Download the ZocDoc app today

53:42Andrew Allen: and book that appointment on your to-do list. That's Z-O-C-D-O-C, ZocDoc.

53:49James McNicholas: Losing weight can feel like a rollercoaster full of ups, downs, and being thrown for loops. Like when someone brings donuts into the office or your kid's dino nuggets start giving you that look again. That's why there's Noom. They combine GLP-1s to quiet the food noise with healthy habits that help you keep it quiet, even if you get off the meds. Their program is designed to make weight loss a smooth ride, helping you understand what drives you, so you can build better habits to not just lose weight, but keep it off.

54:18Andrew Allen: Noom.

54:19James McNicholas: Lose for keeps. Get started at Noom.com. Not all customers will clinically qualify for medications. Individual results may vary. Is your cost of home insurance increasing? Get a quote online today with Arizona Home Insurance Company at ArizonaHomeInsurance.com. Arizona Home Insurance Company is a direct local home insurance company, is A-rated by AM Best, and has an over 90 % customer satisfaction reported. We are Arizona-based since 1990 and part of the Regional Western Mutual Insurance Group, which has been insuring homes for over 80 years. That's ArizonaHomeInsurance.com. Direct, reliable, affordable.

55:01James McNicholas: Welcome back to the ArseCast Extra. This is part two of the show where we answer the questions that you send to us on bluesky at gunnerblog.bsky.social and at arseblog.com. Also on the ArseBlog Discord chat server, which you get access to if you are an ArseBlog member on Patreon. James remember last week we talked about that bit that I didn't do for the Arsecast

55:24Andrew Allen: yes I do yeah the idea of Andrea Berta singing 20 pound 20 pound to the tune of Bella Ciao

55:33James McNicholas: yes I had people actually complain to me on on social media this week not in a bad way but they were saying god damn it you said that and I just can't get it out of my head I've got this earworm going around and around in my head. Yeah. Wow. I felt like I had to, you know, just sort of follow through on this whole thing. You know, you said there was a time you would have run with it, but obviously you're a busy man these days. Sure. You've got a small child to look after. It's not the same. But me, I'm just an old loser with a glass of wine on a Saturday night.

56:11Andrew Allen: So last Saturday night,

56:14James McNicholas: you recorded this is what you're talking about basically this is what i did here we go

56:26you want vienna you want locongo 20 pound 20 pound 20 pound pound pound

56:33James McNicholas: Ilon Zinchenko, Reece Nelson also, but no cash for Arsenal. Spent legal tender on eight new players. Lots of pounds, lots of pounds, lots of pound, pound, pound. So many dollar, stank, ronky, holler. Oh God, we're fucked for PSR.

57:01we're not like Chelsea we don't make money 20 pound 20 pound 20 pound pound pound but with

57:10James McNicholas: our tedda we make a team better and you can stick it up your arms wow a strong a strong defense of

57:23Andrew Allen: his of his transfer strategy there from andrea burta stick it up your arse is essentially your

57:28James McNicholas: ass yeah and to be fair you know this was the game you know certainly sort of seem to suggest

57:36Andrew Allen: that's an appropriate line to take one question andrea burta is known to be quite a private um quiet man how did you lure him into the recording studio to uh to get that track of 20 pounds

57:53James McNicholas: 20 pound 20 pound pound pound i i offered him a very expensive belt okay i said i'll buy you a really really expensive belt his one weakness his one weakness is expensive belts i exploited

58:05Andrew Allen: well he's got and selling players obviously

58:09James McNicholas: and by the way if anyone else uh listening if anyone out there listening thinks oh god that's going to be an earworm think about how my week has been having to put that together and listen

58:21Andrew Allen: to it to make sure everything's all right so yeah i very much enjoyed it i'm glad i think you made

58:26James McNicholas: the right decision thanks thanks you know it felt like the right thing to do felt like the right

58:32Andrew Allen: you know but that's well that's we try we try it's all we can do that's all we can do that's all we can do um right oh by the way oh yeah speaking of kind of novelty songs this is quite mad so i i didn't know this but i was just literally as we started recording part two i was just in my in the kind of back room of my youtube channel oh like the the sort of studio bit or yeah the ui studio thing right yeah and i did not know this but there is a tab called inspiration right which i guess is ai generated and it's ideas for your next video and it comes up with like suggested youtube videos okay so the number one suggested video for my channel is arsenal's summer transfer window rap battle A rap battle between who?

59:43Andrew Allen: And it's a humorous and engaging rap battle is envisioned between key figures involved in Arsenal's summer transfer window with their distinct perspectives on player acquisitions and departures being brought to life. I guess I would have to sample£20,£20,£20,£20,£1, for the hook. This unique format allows for an entertaining recap of the summer's activity. and yeah and it goes it goes deeper like it provides an outline absolutely crazy the opening diss tracks edu gaspar's verse focused on true business long-term vision future proof of the squad and the big money deals that got done edu's not even there wasn't even there michael arteta's counter addresses tactical needs um the fans fury A representative fan, perhaps a popular Arsenal fan channel personality, delivers a verse expressing common frustrations, missed opportunities, and celebrating unexpected gems.

1:00:47James McNicholas: You've taken the pride out of it, Kazidis.

1:00:50Andrew Allen: This is extraordinary. What the hell? And it's provided me with, like, potential thumbnail images. No way.

1:00:59James McNicholas: Where is this in the back bit?

1:01:02Andrew Allen: In the content tab. There's an inspiration. Oh, I see that. I've got that on mine. Yeah. Suggested titles, Cronky's Wallet versus Arteta's Wishlist, Transfer Window Wrap Battle. So that's number one. What else have they suggested? Everything else is quite, what's weird is like everything else is quite normal. Like number two is Arsenal's Unsung Heroes. uh number three is deep dive arteta's tactical fullback pairings explained wow but nothing to top i mean my worry is now do i have to deliver arsenal summer transfer window

1:01:48James McNicholas: rap battle someone's gonna have to do it now that it's out there or someone else is just gonna steal

1:01:54Andrew Allen: the idea surely we're only months away from a button existing on youtube where i just press it

1:01:59James McNicholas: and yeah it it sort of samples everything yeah you know of you your face your voice

1:02:06Andrew Allen: yeah i just thought i just thought listeners would be interested how mad is that i mean i had no idea this feature existed um josh that is indeed what you want do let me know

1:02:17James McNicholas: josh kranke versus arteta versus andrea burta versus edu in a Arsenal transfer window wrapper. £20, the remix.

1:02:31James McNicholas: Wow. Okay, should we do some questions? Yeah, let's do some questions.

1:02:36Andrew Allen: Okay, let's... What about this? I thought this was interesting from Errol B. He said, watching the game today, I loved all the short, quick passing. That's not what the question is about. He wanted to say that. All right, good. I thought when we gel, we are going to be unbeatable. But then how do you get a squad this big to gel? As far as I know, all the most successful squads have been high quality, but smaller. Pep claims he prefers a smaller squad. What do you think? Will we ultimately concentrate on a smaller, higher quality squad?

1:03:17James McNicholas: I mean, I think, yes, you know, the way football goes, ultimately, your best players are going to play most of the games most of the time. That's just kind of how it goes, right? But I think our problem has been that our best players have had to play games we didn't want them to play or need them to play. And that then in the sort of final part of seasons has come back to bite us. or at least the perception is that if we had a bit more depth, we would have been better capable or better able to go the distance in a couple of seasons, you know. It's very deliberate. It is very deliberate. There's no two ways about it, you know.

1:04:00James McNicholas: The way the squad has been built has been to provide huge redundancy in all areas, and that's not an accident. You don't spend£250,£260 million by accident. and I think ultimately there'll be some casualties along the way. There'll be some players who don't play as much and then you have decisions to make about, you know, what happens with them in the summer or they might say, listen, this is not for me. I don't want to hang around and just not make the bench or occasionally make the bench or just play EFL Cup games. But, you know, in the meantime, we just have to look at today as an example of how beneficial it can be for this Arsenal team because list the players that we didn't have on the pitch today, as we did at the start, and think, could we have won that game last season or the season before?

1:04:51James McNicholas: I don't think so. And today we won the game. I'm not going to say easily. We had to work hard. We did work hard. Mikel Moreno, by the way, he didn't get a shout in part one, but I think he deserves a shout because of the way he played. I thought he was really, really good. Some really great footwork from him. you know a great example of how if you want to arrest Declan Rice and not like tear the fucking physical arse out of Declan Rice ahead of a game against Man City next week you've got Mikel Moreno who can come in and do a job like that today so I think we

1:05:28Andrew Allen: physical arse as well as the spiritual arse

1:05:32James McNicholas: yes you know let's not tear either he needs both his arses that's the thing you know that's his secret That is exactly, how can Declan Rice run like that for 90 minutes? Two arses. That's how it is. But that's what I mean. It's like, you know, we could be sitting here, hopefully we're sitting here, well, not next Saturday, but, you know, when we do the next Arse Cast Extra after the game against Man City and we're saying, wow, that Rice performance, could he have done that if he'd had to play 90 minutes against Forrest, 90 minutes against Bilbao, and then 90 minutes against Man City? I don't think so.

1:06:10James McNicholas: So I think we're sort of not in danger, and I understand why people are interested in this and want to talk about it, but I think we just have to let it play out and just be happy that we have what we have and then worry about the rest of it later.

1:06:24Andrew Allen: Yeah, and I think there will be a time to not worry about it, but I think there will be a kind of reckoning of some kind in that one of my thoughts watching the game today, and you know I was bowled over by the degree of depth and you've got people like Christian Norgard who I think is back in training but wasn't actually in the matchday squad today you know Saliba probably could have been there if required wasn't I don't think well actually I'll say something else first in terms of the question of like do you know do we who was it who asked the question his name is Errol yeah like I said oh I remember previous squads that have won things being smaller we touched on this in part one but squads are getting bigger that's just a fact right so it might you know that's that may be kind of a bit of a moot point because I think squads are just getting better bigger by necessity at the same time I did also look at this degree of depth and look at the players getting off the bench and looking at the players not getting off the bench or not involved in the matchday squad and think, I'm not wholly convinced this is sustainable for multiple years.

1:07:42Andrew Allen: Like, we had a question last week about, why do people think it needs to be this year? Why do we need to win this year? And we came up with sort of different answers for that. But another reason that I think this year does feel like a particularly good chance is I'm not sure we'll be able to have as big, as deep a squad next season. I would be shocked if we got to June, you know, and there weren't a few who were saying, I need to be playing more than I am.

1:08:14James McNicholas: But is that not also kind of the situation that we, with, you know, all due respect to the 20 pounds,

1:08:24Andrew Allen: 20 pounds, 20 pounds, where we need to be,

1:08:27James McNicholas: where players are sort of a little bit uncomfortable or we're a little bit uncomfortable with some of those players leaving, but the reality is if they go, they might actually generate some money. Yeah.

1:08:39Andrew Allen: And look, maybe I'll be wrong and maybe the way the game's going, this is just how big squads have to be and every player who leaves next summer will be replaced. I don't know. But my feeling is that like, yeah, potentially there are one or two that we would have sold from this group that we wouldn't have carried through the whole season if we'd had a really, really good offer. And yeah, I think next summer we will see departures. And I actually think next season we might be one or two lighter. But I don't think we're ever going to go back to like 15, 16 players. I just don't think the schedule permits us to do that.

1:09:27James McNicholas: No, like the general football schedule, along with the Premier League and the competitions we're involved in and pre-season and international tournaments. I do think it is maybe a little bit of, you know, there's potentially a tipping point, isn't there, where the big clubs can really afford to build out their squads in a way that some of the other clubs can't, you know, In terms of stockpiling quality, you can have numbers, but maybe not as much quality, which I do think is going to be a very interesting thing to see how it plays out over the next few years. Arteta was talking, wasn't he, about how do you keep squads fit?

1:10:07James McNicholas: And he talked about, well, you're going to have to make them bigger beyond the 25. Yeah, that feels like the direction,

1:10:16Andrew Allen: but whether it gets there quick enough for us to kind of maintain this group at this size, I don't know. The other question is like, what if you start winning? Like if you start winning trophies and all these guys are getting medals, how does that affect how they feel about being maybe bit part players is, is, is, is kind of, you know, it's too strong, but like supporting roles within the squad, you know, do you become a more attractive proposition if it's like, well, I might only play 15 games, but I might end the season with two medals. There's plenty of people who've been happy to do that at Man City over the years.

1:10:56Andrew Allen: For sure.

1:10:57James McNicholas: There's an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor or Actress, isn't there?

1:11:01Andrew Allen: Yeah. The PFA Award for Best Supporting Player is what we need introduced. Yeah, yeah.

1:11:06James McNicholas: PFA Young Player of the Year, PFA Supporting Young Player of the Year. I mean, look, it sounds kind of absurd, but maybe that's where it's going. So what about this question from Freddie LJ on the Discord? He says, what percentage of his goals do you think Jokeres will score at home? I think it might be 80 % plus. Wow. I mean, it's currently 100.

1:11:35Andrew Allen: I don't expect that to remain the case. That's the Lacazette approach, of course.

1:11:47Andrew Allen: I don't know actually because I don't know what standard I have to confess I don't know what the average Premier League what would you venture I don't know

1:11:59James McNicholas: I mean it feels like you should score more goals at home like if you're a 20 goal a season player you probably score 60 % of them at home I would say but I don't know we need like the opta guys to tell us yeah

1:12:21Andrew Allen: I suppose the question is suggesting that they think there's something fundamental fundamental about the way we play or he plays that lends itself to scoring goals at home I'm not sure I quite see that like if I think about Old Trafford for example I mean we've only played two away games am I right in saying that?

1:12:46James McNicholas: Yes but they were

1:12:47Andrew Allen: One was the hardest away game in the league

1:12:49James McNicholas: and another was a very hard away game regardless of what a clusterfuck Manchester United are

1:12:56Andrew Allen: and he played an hour and I don't think he was anywhere close to fully fit

1:13:00James McNicholas: yeah

1:13:01Andrew Allen: so I think it would be dangerous to extrapolate too much from that. I think he'll probably score most of his goals at home, but I think 80 % sounds high to me. What are you going for? I expect to be more, like between, you know, maybe closer to 60, I would say.

1:13:18James McNicholas: Okay.

1:13:19Andrew Allen: What do you think?

1:13:20James McNicholas: Yeah, I think probably more at home than away, but I'm going to say like 55, 57.3 to 8%. Yeah.

1:13:31Andrew Allen: I mean, we may be way out on this. Like, you know, maybe strikers always do this. Here's an article about Salah last season. What is it saying? This is good radio. Yeah.

1:13:49James McNicholas: Saturday night. Don't worry. You can fill in the gaps with some sexy funk music if you'd like. 13 away games 6 months come

1:14:01Andrew Allen: alright we don't know we don't know fuck it ask fucking Opta Joe or something alright we do the 20 pound stuff you wouldn't go to Opta Joe and ask him for a novelty song you know what I mean

1:14:14James McNicholas: yeah yeah yeah exactly Orbinio you're not getting no fucking Bella Ciao from Orbinio I can tell you that's for sure

1:14:21Andrew Allen: exactly I think 60 I'll say 65 63 % at home

1:14:27James McNicholas: right

1:14:27Andrew Allen: We'll check it at the end of the season, will we? No.

1:14:34Andrew Allen: We won't. We've had a drink, all right? Had one drink. Here's a good question.

1:14:40James McNicholas: Okay.

1:14:43Andrew Allen: That was a good question too. I didn't mean to make that sound like it wasn't. That guy's sitting at home now going, fuck.

1:14:49James McNicholas: The one time I got a question on and they're saying this is a good question.

1:14:53Andrew Allen: It is a good question. But the thing is, I think there's stuff about Jokeres that should be as suited to playing away from home. Like, if we can really get that transitional game, direct game, play him into space, then he can score what I'll call the sporting goals, you know. So I think he'll score goals on the road. Yeah. Okay. I do. Crimson 505. do you think madueke gives us something different compared to saka rather than just being a saka backup and then he says i have a feeling we may play him in place of saka for different opponents

1:15:34James McNicholas: or game states quite a lot of questions like this where people were saying like could we get Let me see. Lay Human on Blue Sky says, would you entertain the thoughts of occasionally repositioning Saka to get both him, Maduweke and Eze in the team? And if so, what configuration?

1:15:57Andrew Allen: I mean, we have seen a configuration of Saka and Maduweke on the pitch at the same time with Maduweke over on the left. and I don't think it's crazy to suggest that you could play you know whether we'd start a game like this I don't know yeah I could see that we might with Saka on the right Maduweke on the left and Eze in a more central position

1:16:23James McNicholas: definitely not impossible it's sort of hard to envisage Mikel Arteta doing it but maybe he's got to break the mold a little bit this season you know yeah so and what do you

1:16:34Andrew Allen: think about that first question of like how maduweke what does he offer that's different to

1:16:41James McNicholas: saka i think he's less efficient than saka yeah it's not like mascara where as you said it was an

1:16:47Andrew Allen: immaculate saliba impersonation he is different to saka maduweke he is but i mean you know you

1:16:52James McNicholas: could see that from you know when he was at chelsea and when you look at the numbers and when you look at what he does that there is a willingness to do things or try things in the final third where maybe, and this is not criticism of Bakayo Saka because who the fuck am I to criticize Bakayo Saka and the way that he's performed and produced for Arsenal. But I think maybe if there's a high risk, not high risk, but like, it feels like Matawaki would be more inclined to try something, whereas Saka might have a bit more inherent patience in his game. Does that make sense? Where he might like see the opportunity and go, you know what we can recycle we'll keep the ball we'll see what else we can do and it might come back to me and i might just spank it in the top corner but maduaki looks like he just really wants to take people on all the time like just all he's like he looks at the fullback and goes i'm having you i'm gonna have it you know i'm gonna have a go and there were moments today where it didn't work for him you know quite a few of those moments where it didn't work for him particularly when, what's his name, Nico Williams, fake Nico Williams moved over to the left-hand side.

1:18:05James McNicholas: I think he found it a bit more challenging against him than the other guy, Morata. Yeah, I think Athletic, by the way,

1:18:12Andrew Allen: likely to be without the real Nico Williams. That's right.

1:18:16James McNicholas: That's good. That's good.

1:18:19Andrew Allen: Yeah, I mean, these are broad brushstrokes, but I guess it feels like Saka, it feels like Saka plays more with kind of the end result in mind. Like he plays with thinking of the goal and the assist. And I feel like Maduweke thinks of the duel. I think he thinks of, I'm going to be this guy. Like he feels like a cage player. You know what I mean? Like a guy who at five a side is just like, I'm going to have this guy. one-on-one. And I don't think he's as clean or as efficient as Saka with his execution when he gets there. But he does have maybe more of that kind of slightly maverick spirit. You know, he's a guy who works.

1:19:20Andrew Allen: And to be fair, I don't know. I don't know what Saka's doing outside of training, But Madueke literally has a one-on-one skills coach that he works with, you know, independently.

1:19:31James McNicholas: Wow.

1:19:33Andrew Allen: He thinks about, yeah, he's all about beating his man.

1:19:40James McNicholas: Maybe this is the balance then, you know. It's like you can do what he did today on a number of occasions and get the ball to the byline and cut it back. and Forrest defended quite well. And he put in a couple of good crosses on another day. Maybe an Arsenal player gets on the end of those.

1:19:59Andrew Allen: Yeah. With both feet, by the way, as well. Sure. Yeah, I think they are different. And I think it would be sort of, it'd be kind of lazy to compare them. I think we're still discovering the ways in which they are different. Can I envisage a situation where Madueke is picked ahead of Saka? I have to be honest and say, not right now. I can't.

1:20:24James McNicholas: Not for a big game.

1:20:26Andrew Allen: No. No, not, you know. And I almost find it difficult, you know, if we're playing Liverpool and it's 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium and there's 20 minutes to go and Saka comes off for Madueke. Yeah, I mean, listen, it could happen, but I think it would raise eyebrows still because Saka is Saka. like he's he's the man really at Arsenal yeah

1:20:58James McNicholas: but also the reality is we're sitting here talking about Bakayo Saka and Nani Matuweke at a point when Bakayo Saka's out with an injury you know and he's going to be out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury so listen let's just be grateful we have Matuweke and I think the job Arteta has to do is sort of get him to not read rejig his mindset. It's about like your job isn't done when you get to the byline. If you just get the ball across, your job is to make that final pass impossible to defend as much as possible. Not always, of course, you know, but that relentlessness that he has and that ability to, to sort of go at the defender again and again and again, at some point you've got to turn that into end product, you know, which is where I think when I talk about Saka and the efficiency is that, that that's what he's got and has had for such a long time.

1:21:55Yeah.

1:21:57Andrew Allen: Efficient is absolutely the word for Saka. Like there's nothing unnecessarily flash about anything that he does. And Maduake, I think to be honest, plays with like slightly more flair at times. but has not proven to be as consistent in delivering end product. But a very cool kind of dimension to this is that these guys are such great friends and have a friendship that goes way back before Arsenal, before even the senior England set up where they kind of came up playing in academy sides together and Madueke at Tottenham at one stage. Against each other. Yeah, against each other. And their parents sort of got to know each other.

1:22:53Andrew Allen: That's right.

1:22:54James McNicholas: I saw that. He did the golf cart thingy with Frimmy, didn't he? Yes, he did. It was quite interesting to hear that aspect of it. Yeah.

1:23:03Andrew Allen: So they're this very close set of friends. And I think he even spoke when Madueke was potentially coming over. That's unusual, isn't it? It's kind of an interesting dynamic, isn't it? Yeah.

1:23:14James McNicholas: It's unusual when a club is about to sign a player in your position. Yeah. That you would, you know.

1:23:21Andrew Allen: In theory, they're in direct competition.

1:23:26Andrew Allen: And I think Bakaya Saka is a big fan of Madueke's talent. I think when Mikel Arteta was speaking to people about Madueke and doing the sort of checks on him and his personality. I think the testimony of people like Bikara Saka and Declan Rice weighed very heavy. So, yeah, it's just fascinating. Like these two guys who are they in – is it competition? Is it a collaboration? Is it both of those things? I mean, we saw Saka, didn't we, in the tunnel?

1:24:04James McNicholas: Well, I have a question, actually. Oh, go on. From questions. So many questions. And he says it's a great day, not only for our new signings, but our so-called deputies. At some point on TNT, they cut to a very cool, calm and collected William Saliba standing next to a decidedly more sincere Bakayo Saka. This moment, invariably cherry-picked by the director, did get me thinking about the mentality of the injured star set for a spell on the sidelines and what it must feel like when you see your understudy shine. I'm loving the strength and depth, but there must be a touch of ambivalence for the players in question.

1:24:40James McNicholas: Are they going to love it too?

1:24:46James McNicholas: It's a great question based on what we've just been talking about. That's not to say the other guys, but the other people who ask questions, your questions were very very good too very good don't feel bad all the questions are good james is you know cast outs but honestly versions have been cast about some of the questions

1:25:05Andrew Allen: listen i think most people aren't around most people are out on saturday night do you know what i mean they ain't asking us questions yeah that's true we're picking from a smaller pool but they were all winners. High quality. Efficient. I mean, I don't think Pukano Saka can possibly be insecure about his place in the Arsenal team. I mean, listen, Maduike was great today. He's been really good. I think any suggestion that like he's coming for Saka's place, I think really, how can I put it? I just think that undervalues what Saka's done for us over the last few years and how important he is. And I would imagine that, albeit at quite an early stage, as I understand it, the contract negotiations that are going on between Arsenal and Makai Saka will reinforce his sense of importance and value to the club.

1:26:09Is it a bit weird for him to see others taking the applause

1:26:16Andrew Allen: and the plaudits and shining? Perhaps, but that's what being at a top club is like. And I think the issue has been that too often it's been Saka in that limelight on his own. Or if not quite on his own, then it's certainly part of a much smaller group. Sure. I think he has to see it as people who are easing the burden that he's had to carry.

1:26:47James McNicholas: And also giving the team a better chance to win things. Yeah. Like I think if you asked William Saliba or Bakayo Saka right now, would you rather play 38 Premier League games and finish second or play, you know, 35 but 26 starts and, you know. Yeah, but you get a medal at the end. But you get a winner's medal at the end of it. I'm pretty sure I know what they're going to answer. Yeah. You know, after finishing second three years in a row.

1:27:23Andrew Allen: Absolutely no doubt.

1:27:24James McNicholas: Yeah.

1:27:24Andrew Allen: Absolutely no doubt. And that's why I say, like, any grievances, any concerns, a clear way to assuage those and banish them would be to win that would make everything every sacrifice that every player is making worthwhile but yeah it's it's it's also quite new for us like I talk about this squad as being unprecedented in terms of the degree of depth it offers I don't think we as fans really have ever had to discuss and analyze and rationalize some of these selection decisions that we're going to see or we're going to face. It's new for Mikel as well. So it's going to be a big narrative across the season because we've never had anything quite like this before.

1:28:16James McNicholas: No, I agree. Okay, what about this one to get us out of here, given it is a Saturday night.

1:28:21Andrew Allen: We've got to get out into the clubs, mate. We've got to, exactly. Just shouting into a DJ's ear, play£20!

1:28:30James McNicholas: Paul Oakenfold remix of£20. Feet, Edu Gaspar.

1:28:39Andrew Allen: I know he's not at Arsenal anymore. Just play the track. He was at Arsenal today, actually. He was.

1:28:44James McNicholas: He was there. He was there in the director's box. Yeah, I'm sure that was a fun reunion. No doubt.

1:28:52Andrew Allen: Yeah, I'm sure.

1:28:53James McNicholas: I'm sure. Anyway, subordinate Clause on the Discord said, why are broadcasters trying to make their coverage even worse by having fucking ref cam? Yeah. What is the story with it? Like you can get a, like a, you could go to Curry's tomorrow or whatever your local electronic shop is and get a camera that you could sell a tape to your forehead that would have better resolution than the ref cam that they showed on the screen today. what was that like i i don't like the idea of it in the first place i think it's just pointless it doesn't really add anything but the fact that they're trying to broadcast through what looks like an old nokia phone does not really do it for me i have to say

1:29:45Andrew Allen: yeah it would be better if it wasn't just a 3210 you know dangling from a referee's neck or yeah i mean actually i thought the one the best use of it i've seen actually i think was the Liverpool game, I thought the angle of Zobosly's free kick it provided was... I didn't watch that.

1:30:03James McNicholas: What do you think I am?

1:30:04Andrew Allen: Yeah, don't watch it. It's painful. But it was quite illuminating to see a free kick from someone who's at pitch level height. It just underlined how remarkable a goal it was. But yeah, are they there? Do you think part of the idea is that they're a bit of a deterrent in terms of dissent?

1:30:27James McNicholas: Oh, I hadn't thought about that. Like a police, you know,

1:30:29Andrew Allen: like how policemen wear cameras on their vests or whatever.

1:30:34James McNicholas: And then they delete all the footage after they beat up people. And is that what you mean?

1:30:40Andrew Allen: Yeah. That kind of stuff. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. Like I wondered, like, is it FPGML been like, I'll tell you. Cause it, you know, no player wants to be the guy in kind of peep show style, you know, talking into the camera.

1:30:58James McNicholas: Do you remember? I mean, you can find it on YouTube, but there was a game years and years and years ago where Arsenal could have been against Wimbledon. I can't remember.

1:31:15Andrew Allen: They're using the same camera now.

1:31:16James McNicholas: Yeah, exactly. Exact same camera. But anyway, they miked up David Ellery. Someone said, by the way, palmstree.bsky.social said it's like motion sickness cam rather than ref cam, which I think is a really good way of describing it. Anyway, there was this game and David Ellery, I don't know if you remember David Ellery, the referee. He was like a housemaster at one of the posh schools.

1:31:40Andrew Allen: He actually was that, right.

1:31:42James McNicholas: Yeah, yeah. He was. Not comparing him to one. That's what he was. That's literally what he was. But Arsenal thought they'd scored a goal. and Tony Adams, he's like screaming at David Ellery going, it's over the line. Let's more go. It's over the line. And his voice honestly is as high pitched as I've heard any man's voice ever be, apart from Jimmy Somerville from the Common Arts.

1:32:08Andrew Allen: If you put David Ellery, Tony Adams into YouTube, you will find it.

1:32:12James McNicholas: You will find it.

1:32:13Andrew Allen: He calls David Ellery a cheat, I believe.

1:32:17James McNicholas: Yeah, I think he gets booked for that. But anyway, the point was they didn't know. Arsenal forgot to tell the players that day that the referee had a mic on him. But now, of course, I think they're probably well aware of the referee being mic'd up and camera'd up and, you know, fucking Johnny.

1:32:38Andrew Allen: Because that's the TV jackpot. Like, it's all very well then being like, and here's what Zubimendi's goal looked like to the referee. but the dream for Sky surely is like, here's Paolo Di Canio running up to you and, you know, nutting you from a first person perspective. That's what they're after, right?

1:32:59James McNicholas: Yeah. I mean, I don't really know what it's for other than to sort of make the referees more a part of this than they need to be, you know, that the idea of like a good ref is a ref you don't notice. That seems to be gone now. It's over.

1:33:14Andrew Allen: I hear you I think there is some merit in we watch football and play FIFA from a camera angle whether we're in the telly or whether we're in the ground that is not actually representative of what it's like to be on that pitch and I do think there is a value in showing you a sort of pitch level perspective. Arsenal have this bit of kit at London Colony, don't they? Where they can take a game and convert it into virtual reality. So they can put an academy player in a VR set and like give them the perspective of William Saliba in any given Premier League game.

1:34:05James McNicholas: That's pretty cool.

1:34:06Andrew Allen: Yeah, that is really cool. Like, so, you know, they can be like, this is what it looked like from the viewpoint of Declan Rice to play Man City, and they can use that as a kind of educational tool. I think there's something to be said for that. It's just a bit lame that it's the ref.

1:34:25James McNicholas: Yeah, that's it. That's it. No one wants to see what the ref sees, really. Yeah. Or if you're going to show it to us, at least let us see it. It was just all jiggling around on who's the ref today, Darren England.

1:34:40Andrew Allen: also i tell you what would be bloody good and this is actually the most important point we get ref cam of like a zobber's live free kick or a zubamendi wonder goal are we getting ref cam of contentious decisions there's a good question yeah like are they going to show us ref cam of you know a penalty award where a guy goes over someone's leg and it's crowded and are we going to see whether or not they could even see it? That would be interesting. I guess it would be. But that makes me suspect the answer to that question is no. No.

1:35:19James McNicholas: Nothing that makes the referees look bad will be allowed by Howard Webb, I don't think. Right. Okay. I just saw Chelsea score a goal to go ahead, so I'm quite sad now. They're ahead.

1:35:33Andrew Allen: They're ahead now. 85 minutes, Kaisado, Thunderbolt into the top corner. Yeah. Was it a good goal?

1:35:40James McNicholas: It was a decent hit, but like crap defending from Brentford.

1:35:44Andrew Allen: We won't know until we see it from Ref Cam, of course.

1:35:47James McNicholas: Yeah. Ref Cam, the equivalent of which is watching it going like... That's how you can... That's how you know what Ref Cam is. All right, we better leave it there. Listen, enjoy Bilbao. I will do my very best. I feel like there might be some ham to be eaten over there. Sure. win, lose or draw? Either way, either way. I've got to, I've got to, you know, have sustenance over the course of a few days in Bilbao. So yeah, I'm looking forward to it. And if you're out there, do say hi. And yeah, hopefully we can have a nice Champions League win as well to kick off our European campaign. I'm not quite sure what the pods situation will be next week, whether we'll do one on Wednesday from Bilbao or not.

1:36:33James McNicholas: I'll decide that. In the meantime, we will have an episode of The 30 for you on Monday, though. Looking back at all the weekend's Premier League action, as we always do on Patreon, patreon.com forward slash arseblog. For now, though, enjoy your Saturday night or Sunday morning or whenever it is that you're listening to this, and we will catch you on the next one. Bye-bye.

1:36:59James McNicholas: Is your cost of home insurance increasing? Get a quote online today with Arizona Home Insurance Company at ArizonaHomeInsurance.com. Arizona Home Insurance Company is a direct, local home insurance company, is A-rated by AM Best, and has an over 90 % customer satisfaction reported. We are Arizona-based since 1990 and part of the Regional Western Mutual Insurance Group, which has been insuring homes for over 80 years. That's ArizonaHomeInsurance.com. Direct. Reliable. Affordable.