Arsecast Extra Episode 674 - 05.01.2026

0:03Balón para la aparición de Timber. Timber que se apoya en Nodegar, se desmarca, Abukayo saca para él, va la pelota, línea de fondo, la pone atrás para Raez.

0:19Declan, doblete Raez. Para delirio de los desplazados del Arsenal en el Vitality Stadium. Doblete de Declan Raez.

0:58¡Suscríbete al canal! This is Arsecast Extra. Hello and welcome to another Arsecast Extra, as always, with James from Gunner Blog. A very chilly, goodly morning to you, James. Goodly morning, Andrew. Goodly morning. It's definitely one of those, especially after the weekend that we've had. Yeah. Yeah. It's cold where you are too, I take it. Oh, it's cold, but my heart is warm. It's thawing my body. What a weekend it's been. Holy crap. There's a lot going on in the Premier League, isn't there? Well, there is, as we're about to start recording. I mean, the one blight on this wonderful weekend, Ruben Amarim, has been dismissed moments ago.

1:44Sad to see him go, really, Andrew. I think we had a good thing going there. I would say I'm not entirely convinced it's all his fault, you know. I do think you need to ask questions. cuando un Sir Jimmy es running tu club no hay que no good que no come de eso ¿qué te hace unidad ahora? ahora ahora ahora I'm not sure ¿qué lo que te hace ahora ¿qué es el end de la season ¿es que we are Darren Fletcher apparently Darren Fletcher bueno you know it's going to happen now I only learned last week that he's got like two kids on the bench for Manchester United there's two Fletcher boys y son sus ¿y sus hijos?

2:25no sé no no pero they'll both be starting they'll be starting there's no end to the corruption in the world is there dad's going to pick his boys I suppose he learnt from the best in Sir Alex Ferguson he wasn't shy about giving a job to a family member so so sorry to see you go Rubén, honestly. I know it's not all his fault, but the kind of persistence with the back three, despite it not working, that was a sort of running gag that I really enjoyed. I began to worry recently when he had that game where he switched to a back four. And it worked. But then I realised that was just a sort of amusing foying with the United fans emotions before going back to the back three.

3:16Where do you stand on that, really? I mean, we'll talk about this a bit more later on over on Patreon when we do the 30 con Phil, round up all the weekend's Premier League action, but this idea that this was his system, this was the way Manchester United knew he played and they did nothing to facilitate that. Was it down to Amorim to adapt and just use the players that he had in a better way or was it the fault of the club, knowing full well that this was the tactic that he liked to employ, they hired him should they not have given him the players? No, no, no, no, no.

4:21Entonces ,를 me destiné a tanto dinero. Y yo siempre creo que Miklarteta. Yo siempre creo que, ya, he había probablemente un idea de la fútbol que quería. Pero en esos primeros años de Arsenal, he había de adaptarse. He había de play un diferente sistema. En su caso, era un back three a lot de la hora. Pero he había de play un estilo de fútbol que es realmente quite a far cryo de lo que vemos en este momento. Y creo, bueno, para que Roy Keane, that es su job. That es su job. I suppose the one thing I should just make clear Before we move on to talk about our win over Bournemouth Is that when it comes to Ruben Amirim or Manchester I don't really give a fuck, you know And I was just sort of throwing that out there For the sake of discussion Like if it goes wrong for Amirim, I don't care Once it goes wrong for Manchester United And I hope it goes wrong for Darren Fletcher And whichever hapless bastard comes after him I hope it goes wrong for them for all eternity Just wanted to get that out on the table In case anybody thought there was sort of A measure of sympathy from my end Towards any of the characters involved in this Because there isn't and never will be There's huge sympathy from me towards Amarim I think it's a disgrace that he's been sacked I think he should have been given You know a 10 year deal Five more years Listen I was thoroughly enjoying it But all I can say about Manchester United Is I've thoroughly enjoyed The last few managers there y they've all provided entertainment in their own way Are they now in the Tottenham zone?

6:16The zone in which, right? When you look at an appointment you go actually you know what that could be the guy for Manchester United. You know I was when Ameran was appointed and having seen the job that he did in Portugal he could be just the kind of guy they want. Young manager, good ideas has a successful team, track record of winning. He could be that guy Es como con Tottenham, ¿no? No te preocupes. Si te ve un like Antonio Conte, ¿no? Pues, bueno, he tiene un gran gran track record de ganar cosas como manager, pero el Tottenham DNA no va a permitir que suceda. Eso es justo, ¿no? ¿Qué es lo que se son?

6:56¿Está en un momento en la zona donde se ve un appointment y se ve un hombre, pero deep down, ¿no? Es un poco fundamental, ¿no? No, no, no. Bueno, primero, First of all, Andrew, if this season has taught us anything, it's that you can't trust someone's record in Portugal. I would have thought that would have been clear by now. Second of all, yes, I think United are a sort of basket case at this point in time, aren't they? I think so. And actually, I think they're at the point where, surely if you're a top manager, if you're the top bracket of manager, you're going to have real reservations and concerns about taking that job.

7:38Fair enough, and listen, I think we all appreciated your little dig at Darwin Nunez there as well. So let's move it on and let's talk about Arsenal's 3-2 win away to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. When the team came out, I will admit I was a little bit surprised to see Declan Rice in there because in the press conference, Mikel Arteta was like, well, his knee is still swollen. We'll wait and see what the story is with him. I felt with Liverpool coming up, it might be the kind of game where they exercised a no-risk strategy with Declan Rice. I'm glad they did. I'm glad that either the knee was fine or they deemed a risk worth taking because of how it all played out.

8:26Beyond that, not a great deal of surprise in the team. Beyond the fact that he did rotate in the front three. Nani Matueke coming in for Bacayo Saka y Gabriel Martinelli por Leandro Trossard Yeah, and actually I still think that's significant I haven't trawled through the games personally and maybe you'll know better than me, but I can't think of too many occasions when Bukai Saka has truly been wrested from the start of a Premier League game I just don't think we've had that luxury on many occasions before so even this season There have been long periods where we've kind of had one of Madueke or Saka available.

9:11So I felt that was significant. And yeah, I think inevitable to freshen the team off a bit. I was with you in that I kind of thought maybe sit Declan rise for this one as well. If there's absolutely any risk whatsoever. Well, presumably they just felt, you know, he was ready. And boy, were they right about that. They were right about that. Anyway, listen, it started relatively evenly and then there's this incredible sort of inexplicable mistake from Gabriel to hand Bournemouth the lead. I will say I've watched this back numerous times and I still can't really figure out what it is beyond just a complete lapse in concentration from Gabriel playing a ball across the box straight to Evan Nielsen.

10:01Evan Nielsen, there was like a half a second where he was like, what the fuck? When you notice it, he's like, what? Oh, fuck, I better score here. And so he goes on and scores. It's, you know, in football there are things a manager can do to prepare his team, prepare his players. You know, in all aspects of the game, maybe you can apply it, let's say, to what happened to Liverpool yesterday, right? Where Harrison Reid smacks one top corner in the 97th minute. I don't think you can really legislate for that as a manager in the same way you can't legislate for Gabriel doing what he did in that moment.

10:41Do you have any theory beyond it being a lapse in concentration? Was he expecting maybe David Raya to be standing wherever Nielsen was? Well, first of all, I would say, I think both of the Bournemouth goals in this game are kind of goals you can only legislate against to a certain degree. I mean, one is a freak defensive error. que estamos hablando ahora. Y uno es un muy buen strike de la range. Y yo vi Arnestol lamentando la natureza de los goles que Liverpool concedieron en su 2-0 con Fulham. Y el simple es que se acercó, es que se escóra 3. Chalcel, of course, se acercó. Pero yo tengo un pequeño pequeño theory sobre lo que Gabriel es attempting a hacer aquí.

11:28Para lo que es worth. I think he's trying to find Jurian Timber who is kind of in that sort of number six area ahead of him and is unmarked. And I think he's trying to sweep the ball out like into Timber. Yeah, maybe so. With the sort of top of his instep and actually the ball comes off his heel and it's just a bad contact that sends it straight to Evan Nilsson. It's a bit of a risky pass from Gabriel pero es un pass que he haim en su locker a ellos lees y hasta queults no estoy ni yapando aんな matام Abstin ambassador pero cuando hemos periodo si recuerda o un siglodam demandado concedieron bastante algo de ese conteriesdes o pull possono Byض sleeves un tit above Y a un No o everybody no sí to e疲 onto Y

12:22se to e 疲 onto Y y se dice que si se juega un año todo el año probablemente se va a ser una vez o dos y la realidad es que ha become tan bueno ahora que básicamente nunca pasa este es probable el 1 para el año y es un poco de un momento y creo que es un aceptado de la risa de la manera que juega pero es definitivamente un error de Gabriel que absolutamente knew lo que es lo que es lo que es lo que es lo que lo que es lo que es que ha εκado de atoneryzarse cuando pasa en aquelva費. Sí, él había estado before. ¿Era fue against Fulham donde se dio el gol trace o no fue a culpa por el gol Seaíd Runner ?

12:59Creo que un wel Instituto 3-1 en el final. Y él Anyone traducido a este lado y logrando a este lado algo máximo pronto. Mecursamente confedido por el equipo de laarningcción de la camicia. capacity de la estatal que se conviene projecticarna rapporte de chocolate de chocolate y Nani Madueke, por el cual, que creo que probablemente se hacía el target con una gran chance earlier on, fue involved en el Equalizador. Hay un buen trabajo que se ha ido en su suerte. Es un free kick, creo, que fue cleared. Se ha ido a Madueke. Se ha ido a un par de un par de un par de un par de un par de un par de un par de un par de un par de un par de un par de un par de un par de un par de un par de un par de Gabriel.

13:42Y, en realidad, no creo que es tan fácil de un par de un par de un par de Particularly, con todo due respect a mis compañeros central defenders, particularly for a central defender. Bueno, I almost don't know si podemos decir que de Gabriel porque es muy bueno en el box. Bueno, usually con su cabeza, pero, a ser honesto. Usually con su cabeza, pero he ha sido uno o dos con su cabeza y ha sido generalmente taken them bien. I agree, creo que es un buen fin. He ha sido, you know, Martinelli ha sido un poco de aire y su tentación es decent. I think he actually puts a bit of direction on it but there's three or four Bournemouth players on the line and one of them gets a block to it.

14:21Gabriel manages to steer it into that near post first time. I think it's a really good finish. And I liked, particularly in the early part of this game, Madueke's directness. I think he fancied winning that duel against the Bournemouth left back, whose name escapes me currently. It's not Kirkez anymore. No, Trufair. Yeah, Trufair, exactly. He's had a decent start there, but I think Madueke saw something there he could get at. And, you know, he had that chance early on that you mentioned. And here, I really liked, he went past Semenyo far too easily. But the way he got past Truffair, I think it was after that, showed particular skill.

15:02And Hincapia, I think, might have had a shout for a penalty if the ball hadn't ended up in the net. I think he was kind of cleaned out as he went to hit it. Yeah, he did hit the ball. And they were, you know, they were saying, oh, they're checking for a foul on Evan Nielsen, who I think did the thing where you make a foul and then go down to make it look like you've been fouled yourself. Yeah, I thought it was much more a foul on him, to be honest. So I think we, well, I was going to say, I think we would have had a pen here, but you never really know with PGMOL. I think we should have had a pen here, is what I'd say, if we hadn't scored.

15:31But yeah, Gabriel gets there and it's a remarkable knack he has of, like I say, making up for these errors and 20 Premier League goals for him now. He's having a look at the Premier League standings for defensive goal scorers, by the way. He is now two off Laurent Koscielny as Arsenal's highest Premier League goal scoring defender. I'm going to go out on a limb here. Yeah. And suggest that he will surpass Koscielny. Do you think so? Yeah. This season? Or is it going to be like the Bakayi Sakhar assists thing? Oh no, don't. No, no, no, no.

16:40Y si ve lo que hay que hacer para el tiempo de aimer, por el tiempo el balón viene a él, es un buen finito, un gran resultado. Así que, un gran respuesta. Just cinco minutos después de gifting Bormouth el gol, él scores para que se haga un tráque, un nivel de nivel. Y creo que cuando se hace un error, en un juego, hay dos formas que se puede responder. Uno es, bueno, no, hay más que una manera, pero, you know, you often see, o we've seen players en el pasado que se han ido a suerte un poco porque de su mistake. Y Gabriel es el total opposite de eso en cuanto a su character y la manera que él respondió.

17:20Sí, totalmente agree. Y él ha sido tan importante ya que ha llegado a la vuelta. Él ha barely visto a beat. I know, obviamente, he made el mistake aquí, pero... ...maid up for it. Y, you know, I think... When Bournemouth went 1-0 up, There was another moment where they went close-ish. Klaiver had a shot from about 25 yards that I think was pretty close to the top corner. Oh, the kind of swervy one, yeah. Yeah, if that goes in, I think, who knows? You know, 2-0 down is a very different thing. But I was really impressed by the resolve Arsenal showed and how quickly they got things level. I mean, I can say now with the comfort of a win y tres puntos de nuestro brazo, que yo estaba impresionando con Bormut en esa primera half en particular.

18:14Sí, muy bien. Están muy bien. Y la manera que se provocan a hacer un problema de mistakes, la cantidad de presencia, la cantidad de presencia en la TV a un punto, ¿no? La cantidad de presencia que se convirtió a. Porque es un gran riesgo, gran riesgo de la estrategia. Porque si se te quedó played through o si se breaks down, se cometió so many men, hay loads de espacio en behind. . .'

19:06y flicte a header sobre la barra. Entonces, hay un danger de Bournemouth y real intento con la manera que ellos played a casa. Y nos of a veces face teams que these days, de manera, tend a err a la side de caution cuando se trata de Arsenal. Pero Bournemouth were realmente, realmente front-footed en este juego. Y creo que, por el tiempo halftime came around, I was relativamente pleased a ir a 1-1. Yeah, Sí, creo que no.

20:04Yvert swung in and Raya claimed it and he threw it to Odegaard so, so, so quickly. Because I think Arsenal were just desperate to try and get beyond that press. So they were just really trying to accelerate the way they played out from the back to try and circumnavigate the way Bournemouth were pressing. Because they were getting turnovers and they were getting opportunities from them. But I suppose at halftime, one thing I did think was, no sé si Bormouth puede sustain que nivel de performance de 90 minutos como lo que no se ha no necesariamente la lead que necesitan de lo que que hicieron en los primeros 45 minutos Maybe that's true y también Arsenal en recent times han sido muy good en la segunda half y muy early en la segunda half que fue una otra stat que kept putting up fue how many goals Arsenal scored en la first 15 minutes de la segunda half y that turned out to be the case here I think this is quite an interesting goal, by the way, because Bournemouth had had a chance just before that.

21:04If you remember, they took a quick free kick. My instinct was he was very slightly offside, but given some of the offside decisions I've seen over the course of this weekend, I wouldn't put my house on that one. I think it was Brooks who went through and put it wide from a tight angle. I don't think it was ever really that dangerous. But we played the ball forward. It came to Jury and Timber. he then played it forward I think maybe Martinelli and Jocheres didn't have the greatest games generally speaking but I think they both play an interesting part in this goal Martinelli wins a header against a central defender that I'd be furious if one of our central defenders lost that it's a really good leap and he flicks it on and I'm not necessarily a subscriber to the occupy defenders theory around Victor Jokerez but I don't think you can argue that in this case he absolutely did.

22:00There are about four of them around him and he occupies them to the point where they can't really get a good clearance on the ball falls to Martin Odegaard Odegaard lays it off to Declan Rice who's there to sweep it home to make it 2-1 so one of those where winning the ball high up the pitch or winning a duel if you like in that first header with Martinelli leads to danger and then ultimately leads to an Arsenal goal. Yeah. Y despite my little joke at the start of the show, I did think Jokeres had a better game at Bournemouth, I thought. There were a couple of moments in the first half where his hold-up play, I thought, was more of the kind of calibre that we're looking for.

22:39There was one really nice flip, perhaps, to playing Martinelli, who ran in behind. I think here his movement is good. The gravitational pull of Jokeres draws several defenders away. y creo que Arsenal capitalizó en eso brilliantly big credit to Martinelli que creo que es un gran leap y un buen líder que es lo que te expect de un centro-forwards aunque sé que aunque sé que es mejor en el aire de los que muchos de anticipar de su brief tiempo de ser centro-forwards y creo Odegaard ¿de Declan Rush después de la semana que le daba Odegaard un shout en ese momento? I mean you can sort of see that happen porque he doesn't even look at it he just lays it off into his path y hablamos de Gabriel que es un buen finito que es un buen finito y en realidad y en realidad fue Don Goodman en el comentario para Sky cuando Madueke kind de thrashed a esa chance en la primera half he hablado de needing a pasión de la bola into la net pero no couldn't find a better example than this he just cushioned it beautifully into the court I know he annoyed a lot of people with his co-commentary and I kind of understand why but I do absolutely take his point there Particularly with that Maduweke chance Where he'd done the hard work You know That was not easy to do To shape To make that chance for himself And he sort of blasted it over I guess he's looking to put it top corner So maybe a lesson there But yeah, you're absolutely right It's just a really, really good finish From Rice Who I think, you know When you see him in those positions There's a sort of security Or you kind of You would back him to do what he did there You know, he is a smart first time finisher you know I know he's not scoring millions and millions of goals for Arsola but I can think of him hitting the ball first time at least three other goals there's the one against Chelsea if you remember where he scored from distance when the keeper had put the ball made a bit of a mistake giving the ball away and he hit it first time there was his goal against West Ham wasn't there the one where he hit it from range but again it was a first time hit el balón de la bola.

24:51El balón de la bola. Hay otro otro que no se recuerda. Arguablemente, el free kick contra Real Madrid son los dos. Bueno, sí, true. Pero, you know, un buen play, creo. Un dead ball as opposed a un moving ball. No, I completely agree. Pero creo que lo sabemos de su set-piece delivery cómo bien su balón de la bola de la bola. Y cómo consistente él es able de deliver que. Así que, yo creo que es un gran gozo. Pero, you know, he's been talked about occasionally this season as sort of a potential Patrick Vieira successor. And there were shades of Vieira for me here when Rice followed his goal by celebrating with the knee slide off the back of a knee injury.

25:33And I felt briefly like throwing up out of sheer anxiety. Fortunately, all was well. All right. Well, look, that gave Arsenal the advantage. The game remained, I think, relatively even. y luego el mejor indicador de Arsenal de su fuerza en la edad de suerte de suerte con el triple change que Arsenal pudieron hacer en el 67 minutos Jokerez, Matuweke y Martínez comienzo Oncombe Saka, Gabriel Jesus y Leandro Trossard No es que no es tan bad at all es que realmente es un increíble para poder cambiar a game o que maybe shift el momentum de la game pero también en el año de febrero, cuando hemos tenido mucho tiempo de jugar y muchas horas de minutos de hande a la hora, es un poco sensible también, ¿no?

26:24Es decir, que es un descanso en el depth que tienes, especialmente en esos posiciones. Y, listen, creo que puedes hacer que eso sea más impresionante cuando te adder Ebeze a la mesa, un usado, Kai Havertz, no en el equipo, Ethan Ranieri, no en el equipo. Es un extraordinario de la depth que Arsenal tienen en los attacking areas. Así que, es un gran impresión, un gran help también en la final stage de la game para poder introducir esa fresca, esa level de threat. Hay un aspecto de eso también, ¿no? Si tú eres el full-back y estás looking at que hay un un tiempo contra Maduweke, un tiempo contra Martinelli el lado, aunque creo que el el lado de la izquierda, es muy rápido que el equipo de Jiménez, así que he sort de había la measure de Martínez pero en el físico, lo que sea, lo que sea, lo que sea, lo que sea, lo que sea, lo que sea, lo que se puede ponerse a la izquierda y luego de repente, como un defender, te voy a decir, fuck, yo tengo Bacayo Saka ahora para 25 minutos y Trossard para 25 minutos y Gabriel Jesus para 25 minutos, y no es como ellos todos los que se han hecho brillante o algo así, pero creo que también, como un impacto en la ¿Qué es lo que te da la gente psicóloga cuando te da la gente que está en la gente?

27:46Psychologicamente, físicamente, tactically, es grande. Es una gran diferencia.

27:55Es interesante, yo estaba en el weekend con un fans de otros clubes. Believe it or not, yo tengo amigos que son fans de otros clubes. Yo tolero. Sí, de acuerdo. Y chatting to them about the Premier League and Arsenal's aspirations, that was the point that they emphasised again and again. They were like, the squad is so big. I think fans of other clubs, they look at our starting XI, they look at our substitutes bench, they look at the players not even on that substitutes bench and they regard it with envy. And sometimes other supporters can tell you about what you are and what you've got going for you better than you can sometimes see.

28:33y que fue el punto de la que hicieron y y y y y y y y y creo que fue un sort de statement para el segundo sí sí sí el tercer el tercero Andoni Arayola no es feliz porque no no es un no es un free kick on Jury y Timber de ahí we play the ball down the right hand side Saka to Odegaard the pass from Odegaard to Saka is just perfection isn't it you know the movement is brilliant from Saka the pass from Odegaard a encontrar el fondo de la fullback es muy, muy bueno. We've talked a bit about Odegaard de la ley y cómo se ve como he's coming back hacia su best. Y creo que vimos que la otra vez la semana, o en la tarde, Saka pulls it back y ahí está en el final de la Rice para pasar el ball into el fondo de la neta.

29:21Sí, sí. Es fácil, ¿no? Cuando llegan a la hora de la hora y la hora de la hora de la hora y cuando la service es tan buena. I really liked la weight de Odegaard's pass, el hecho de que se fue perfectamente en Saka. Yo también creo que Saka se desera un poco de credit para delaying a moment. Creo que hay un split second donde él podría jugar earlier, pero él just holds off a fraction más, que draws el golekeeper y le leaves el net unguarded. Y luego es el simple para Declan Rice para terminar. Es un gran gole, porque hemos hablado mucho sobre el gole margins. y lo y y behold, Bournemouth did get that second goal, right?

30:03So this ultimately proved the difference and a huge, huge, huge performance from Declan Rice. And maybe there is a world where he could have played against Aston Villa, he could have been risked, he could have been, you know, jabbed with painkillers and strapped up and God knows what else. But, you know, would it have been worth it? Would it have been worth it? As it turns out, probably not. y, como se ha hecho, nos hicimos el trabajo sin el trabajo muy bien contra Aston Villa, que creo que es un interesante en su propio lugar. Cuando hay estos importantes importantes sabrosos que si pick up a small knock o si se están suspended, you can still win games y big games against good opposition without them.

30:52I think that's an interesting thing for a team to have in its locker a bit as well. Do you remember ¿Y qué es lo que yo voy a decir? Creo que es un League Cup game Arsene Wenger Picked a starting XI Without André Charvin Who was kind of the talisman Of the team at the time ¿Es that what you thought I was going to say? That's exactly what I thought You were going to say And he said afterwards I thought it was important For them to learn They could win without him And as I recall They did not y yo creo que que ha dado un poco de un poco de un poco de un poco de un poco de un poco de un poco de un poco de un poco de un poco suddenly all those fears kind of realised we are dependent dependent absolutely y creo que para el equipo que ha logrado que result without Rice internally y externamente as well en términos de la percepción I think we may come to regard que es un momento muy grande.

31:56Y luego le threw el gobo en el cámara, de acuerdo, también. De acuerdo. Y espero que tú, como me, metes con... Todos los pies. ...con los pies en frente de su televisión y licking it ferociously. Sí, exactamente. That fue, ¿qué? ¿70? ¿73? ¿74? ¿72? ¿Qué es lo que? ¿Qué es lo que? 72 y luego en TV se va a ser muy comfortable ahora para Arsenal etc etc y se ha un buen y un buen y y y admit I sort de said to you right after it went in keeper but I have to say on repeated viewings I don't think you can ask or put any kind of blame on David Raya for this maybe if you're looking at a way to stop it we could close him down a bit el lado de Martín Odegaard un poco.

32:55Así que uno, dos. Zubimendi parece que se involucra con otro player, así que no se puede bloquear el shot. Creo que sometimes hay que aclarar un muy, muy, muy, muy strike. Este fue un helo de hit. Es una de esas que se desvaneó a la mesa. I saw, por ejemplo, que hay un... ¿Maybe I'm dreaming de esto? No sé. Did Michael Cox write a piece about the ball for The Athletic this weekend? No, he did. He did. I haven't read it yet. I saw the headline. I saw him post about it on Blue Sky. I haven't read about it yet. But it does strike me that this is a ball that it's a bit wibbly wobbly. Going into the technical aspects of ball movement, wibbly wobbly is how I would describe this ball at times.

33:48Yes. I am inclined to agree Actually

33:55Michael Cox Did not speak to me about that article Beforehand, why would he? But had he done so I would have said that I'd heard From quite a few people that this ball moves A lot more And I remember having conversations last season with people Where they said we're going to see more long range goals In the Premier League next season Because of the ball I think it's the ball certainly the manufacturers that was maybe used in La Liga and yeah I know that in training sessions last season they had a chance to work with it here and there and there was an immediate feeling of this is going to I think be exciting to be honest because it's going to we're going to see more goals what's weird about this one is there's a double movement on the ball but the movement is in the same direction and you can see Raya almost expectas the ball to swerve towards him a little bit and then it swerves away from him.

34:52It doesn't swerve, it just keeps going on that trajectory away from him. So, yeah, I don't blame the goalkeeper for that. I think it is a really, really good hit from Junior Kruppi, who's an exciting looking player. I think he's a really good finisher. And in terms of sort of the positioning leading up to it, I saw something online sort of saying, oh, Hazard Zubomendi made a rare positional error here. You've got to remember it's the second phase of a set piece so we're all defending the edge of the box right in a line and that's what actually affords Kruppi the space to receive the ball and take that shot on and of course at that point in time we're all thinking here we go again another unnecessarily nervy finish.

35:38Yeah yeah a one goal lead it feels like we're kind of addicted to those I found this last part of the game quite interesting I'm not going to say with a one goal lead I'm ever completely comfortable but I didn't feel as nervous as I have done in some of the other games and I do wonder if there's something to be said or something to be taken from the fact that this is a scenario we have faced a lot like ideally you want to be two goals ahead or three goals ahead right but if you're one goal ahead y se ha un game y se ha un otro game y se ha un otro game y se ha un otro game ¿no? ¿Dónde que te da la confianza en un scenario, en el mismo que se ha un scenario, que se ha un nuevo, básicamente porque lo Bormouth did we had periods de possession, by the way en los últimos 15 minutos en injury time, excuse me pero cuando Bormouth did have it, they sort of went against type, en que They just launched the ball forward.

36:41There was a lot of long ball stuff from them, which isn't really how they play. And I think Arsenal dealt with it all pretty comfortably. Yeah, absolutely. I think, to be fair to Michael Arteta, he kind of spoke about these narrow leads in these terms. I think it was after the Brighton game, when he spoke about, here it is, no quiero perder lo que hay que hay que hacer para continuar a la compuesta y que habilidad uh i can't find it specifically es el uno donde se ha preguntado como si vio es sustainable y dice que es de mi lado es lo que se ha dicho y lo que se ha preguntado y básicamente se ha preguntado la compuesta y la organización y el calmismo que Arsenal ha sido en esa situación y él ha sido tomado como un modelo de un momento y creo que se puede ver en la acción porque creo que Arsenal managed esa situación superbamente Boromón no tenía una shot una blocka de shot no tenía ninguna de los momentos de course, siempre en la edad con esa un gol lead We had 5 shots in the last 15 minutes after Bournemouth scored.

38:08We had 55 % possession to their 45. So it wasn't a case that we just said, right, you know, come on, we'll just sit in and let you have all the ball and deal with whatever you have. I think part of the way that we dealt with those last 15 odd minutes was to have a lot of the ball in their half as well. That said, Andrew, we did have to contend with something that I've never seen before. de Amin Adli. Already on a yellow card, by the way. Already on a yellow card? Is this the first ever Premier League use of the kamikaze striker? I mean, it was... He charged into Gabriel's elbow, Andrew. I don't know any other way to say it.

38:56There is no other way to say it. He sort of stooped down into Gabriel's elbow and then went down as if he had been elbowed. I suppose on the one hand you have to kind of applaud the endeavor but ingenuity the on the other hand it's like dude come on relax here relax on the touch line when he's coming on they're like and if you and if you get the chance i mean if you even catch sight of one of those defenders elbows just you know what you must do run head first into it while you know leaning down risking concussion o worse putting his body on the line desperate times call for desperate measures I understand this was maybe one of the most desperate measures I've ever seen me too we've been watching football a long time both of us and I don't think I can ever remember anyone doing anything quite like that certainly not in the Premier League it was bizarre bizarre but look ¿Es there any fear in your mind that a referee might fall for it?

40:03Well, yeah, of course. This is the PGMOL, you know. Howard Webb on his phone, just immediately calling up the VAR, going, yeah, better give a penalty for that. Look to Penn to me. There's definitely contact. Yeah. I mean, I suppose that told you a bit about how desperate Bournemouth were at that point. In seriously, should he trip and turn it off for that? I think you could make a good case que ese tipo de gamesmanship es worthy de la yellow card. Pero, ¿no? ¿Dónde care de una manera o la otra en este punto? No, no realmente. Si es un poco más rápido en la game, yo me voy a preguntar un problema más de una pregunta sobre eso.

40:43Pero, ¿no? Hay momentos en este juego donde creo, ¿no? Certamente, Bormouth, en el final, no era feliz con la forma de la final whistle de la bola. They had a long throw. They had a long throw. El balló came back out to Semenyo. I will say it is unusual for a referee to blow the whistle on the second phase of an attacking play. Yeah. So I do kind of get it. But at the same time, we just talked about this dude trying to headbutt Gabriel's elbow. And like two minutes earlier, up the other end of the pitch, there was a rugby tackle on Gabriel Jesus, which went completely and utterly unpunished. y치는 só pindling que no overseas es un golpeенноеHello que estaba llegando como video es una peleamail Jacqu dum style permitiando hacerle da y pronto es una de una desde de la archaeological gobernación al final a trabajo en un creo esa sí todocrowd sí todo crowd bushes piezas, maybe a throw-in and a goal kick.

41:54So I could understand them adding a bit more on it. It was a little unusual but it's the referee's discretion. If it's full-time it's full-time. Had it happened at the other end and we were chasing an equaliser I would have been absolutely furious. I would have stormed out of the press box onto the pitch and throttled the guy but fortunately it didn't. Okay, well listen, you've set down the marker here for what's to happen at some point in the future. So we'll keep you to that. The listeners keep the receipts, James, as well you know. So, you know, if this goes south on us at some point later in the season, we expect you to step up and, you know, hold true to your word.

42:33But look, I mean, seriously though, it's a really important win, a really big win. It's a tricky place to go. We lost there last season, albeit in slightly contentious fashion because of the red card that was handed to William Saliba, que hace que la vida muy difícil para ti pero este es otro juego este año donde estamos en el correspondiente resulta de la última de la última sí y se ha hecho y se ha hecho y se ha hecho por el Manchester City resulta que sandwiched un que es 2 en el rono Arsenal han played twice City y won by the way Arsenal han played twice y won y City han drawn their games I no think it es entirely down to el hecho de que nos pusieron presión de ellos.

43:19Pero yo creo que si los roles se rechazó en ese sentido, habría un gran debate de cómo Arsenal se descanse a la presión de la presión de la title challenge de Manchester City. ¡Vamos a la vida! ¡Es up a nosotros para cambiar la narrativa de finalmente ganar la liga! ¡Vamos a cambiar cómo se trata de hablar de ustedes y cómo se vean en una título de la tienda o en la contention de la tienda. pero si hubiera sido lo que City ha hecho habría de crack cannes todo el mundo ¿no? Sí, absolutamente y creo no creo que a punto Sunderland era necesariamente un desastre para City lest we forget que a punto Sunderland ourselves y I seem to remember cuando hablamos de la tarde we said que otros good teams drop points es un lugar de ir a suerte y un buen outfit pero creo que a home a managerless Chelsea having drawn Miss Sunderland ellos realmente ought to have won that one y especialmente having been in front going into the dying moments holding on to a one goal lead isn't for everyone well listen we've become good at it for the most part and hopefully that can continue in those tight scenarios but hopefully too cuando you look across the last couple of games it's four goals against Villa three goals against a Bournemouth side who've only lost once previously at home until the other day their home record no, no, their home record versus their away record this season as we talked about on the preview podcast you know, is chalk and cheese so this is a big win and like you say, I think if you're going to be on the other end of a big mistake, as you say, a freak defensive error and a really, really good piece of play, a really good goal that you can't really do a whole lot about, scoring three, well, that's how you do it.

45:24That's how you win the games. And that's a big part of how you go on and win titles. And I think sort of days like yesterday, with like all due respect to Bournemouth, and I mean that, I think they're sort of looked at en el en el cuando things play out y si play out en tu favor people look at those games as sort of like well they're the bread and butter of a title winning season those are the games that you have to go and win and it doesn't mean that you're entitled to it or that you absolutely are going to do it just because Bournemouth are a smaller club whatever whatever but these are the games and

46:08porque son tough games, tough opponents, y, you know, they build the points tally, but they also build confidence and belief and momentum and I think Saturday was a really good example of that for me. I couldn't agree more. I mean, I actually was thinking last night, if Arsenal do go on to win this Premier League, I wonder how important this little period over the last few weeks will come to be considered within that. Although it's been torturous watching at times these narrow leads, these narrow advantages and having to hold out in the final moments. When you look at the games in the league after losing at Villa Park, the 2-1 win over Wolves, the 1-0 at Everton the 2-1 at home to Brighton I think Arsenal against Villa is kind of a bit of an exception in that we absolutely smashed them 4-1 but then the 3-2 at Bournemouth for so many of those games as well we were without Key defenders Y having to patch together Different back lines And having got over the line And achieved maximum points in that situation I actually don't think It's beyond the realms of possibility That we look back And see that as the period in which The title was won If you look at the fact that City have dropped points Across that period as well And those are games where In many instances we dropped points Last season y frankly I think in previous seasons would have drop points in those situations with those injuries you know trying to hold those leads the fact that we've managed that period so maturely and achieve results you know maximum results in spite of some of the obstacles we've come across is just so important and I think it may come to be seen as more important than games where we've necessarily been free flowing and winning you know 2-3-0 y comfortable.

48:07Grinding these results out might be the difference. Yeah, I couldn't help but think of the 23-24 season where in December we had a couple of games that you could look back on as critical in that title race. You know, the home game to West Ham where we had 500 shots and ended up losing 2-0. The game against Fulham on New Year's donde se venía pero los 2-1 y lo que se veía y lo que se veía y decir bueno, lo que se puede ser que resulta que se veía que se veía que se veía que se veía que se veía que se veía que se veía que se veía y no eran tan many de esos en el curso en el curso de ese año 23-24 season y me acuerdo de esta lista y pensando hay un poco de slight banana skins en el caso cuando se veía de la fixtura sobre december Brighton a muy buen team Villa a buen team Villa as well at home, having to respond to being beaten by Villa in the way that we lost to that Villa, or the way we lost that Villa game, by the way, I think is another thing that doesn't quite go or get as much coverage as it should, because that's a kick in the balls, like a proper run-up kick in the balls to lose that game against Aston Villa, and if you've ever been kicked in the balls, you know it takes you a little bit of time to get going again.

49:29It happened to me. My two-year-old did it to me the other day. Es más de un stampo que un kick, realmente. Oh, right. Pero es un reminder de lo que... Bueno, ahí te vas. Tú te vas a sentir esa pain. Tú te vas a sentir esa. Metaphoricamente y físicamente. Y el Arsenal team te vas a sentir. Y luego, nos ven 7 games en un año. Una de ellos con la penalidad, de acuerdo. Tú sabes, es un gran respuesta, creo. Y creo que dice un gran sobre el personaje de la team y la determinación de la team y también el calidad de la team que tenemos disponible. Yeah, I agree And I think determination Has been a huge part of it I think that's my sort of overriding feeling When I watch this team at the moment I just feel like there is such a Steely focus on The task at hand And it's enabling us To kind of maintain This level of competition across All fronts Which is obviously really, really exciting Yeah, okay, well listen We've got loads of questions as well sort of following on from the Bournemouth game and also about certain individuals so what we'll do is we'll take a little break here and we'll come back with your questions and more in part two right after this

50:52Welcome 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 y a arseblog.com también también en el arseblog Discord chat server que tú puedes acceder a si eres un arseblog member de Patreon ¿Vale? James, I will say there have been millions of questions, well not millions but lots of questions about Ethan Wennery ¿Y eso? ¿Qué? ¿Quién es? Ethan I can't remember last time I saw the boy Ethan Wennery ¿Ok? You remember him. So he wasn't in the squad. He wasn't in the squad. And there's a bit of angst about that.

51:37And there's also maybe a bit of angst about Eberachie Eze not playing much of late as well. But AB Gooner on the Discord says, Goodly morning lads. Am I the only one not worried about Ethan or Eze's minutes? I believe both will eventually play a lot, even if not this season, though I think Eze will. pero ambos podrían ser campeones que no creo que se debe desestimar como un objetivo de los que se debe de las carreras y algo que se debe de mantener a trabajar y trabajar en la vida rather than ser desgruntado y disengaged I really do think there's two ways of looking at this I mean, as I said in part one it is kind of an illustration of the depth and quality at Arsenal's disposal and you know, a situation which we've just spoken about el número de leads Arsenal han sido protecting y ¿Era de los players necesariamente los que se quiera elegir para proteger a narrow lead?

52:36Creo que no.

52:42En Ethan specifically, creo que lo ha dicho un poco de weeks ago, I am un advocate for a loan for Ethan. I think Loaning Ethan Is actually the best thing For Arsenal Football Club And I think that because I believe we have the depth To cope without him And I think What it could do for his Development Over the next few months Is massive I think it could see him Really really step up A level or two And return to Arsenal As a player who Mikel Arteta considers like a serious contender for a first team place. Because I think we've got a huge talent on our hands there. And I'm sure he's working hard in training and I'm sure he's learning lots in training.

53:34But kind of the history of football kind of dictates that what really matters is time on the pitch, minutes on the pitch, opportunity to play first team football, senior football. And I think he would benefit. I think it would be a smart move from Arsenal and I think we should be looking to facilitate it. Yeah, but I don't disagree with that. You know, I think others have pointed out and Lewis has pointed out that when Arias, you know, played more minutes for Arsenal at 18 years of age than Bakayo Saka did, has played more for Arsenal than Phil Foden did for Manchester City at the same age. You know, I genuinely, as much as I think there's a player of real potential in there and there absolutely is, y es así que es interesante para ver no creo que es que es que es normal que es no involucrado en el equipo cuando tenemos como muchos players fitas como lo que como lo que no creo que es algo de la orden para un 18 año no para hacer el equipo ahead de a Brasilian internacional en Gabriel Jesus a Spanish internacional en Miguel Marino a England internacional en la shape de Ebera Echeza cuando se cuando se havertz la alguien el otro es que to have to miss out you know so I don't think it's out of the ordinary I don't think he's being treated badly I think he is just a victim of the squad depth that we talked about in the first half of the show and that everyone is on board with right we want that squad depth we want to be able to cope with injuries we want to be able to be change games etc etc and there are always going to be some players who are peripheral when you have a squad that big and ultimately he is only 18 and he is still learning his trade and they're not viewing him as a right winger as they did last season they didn't really have any choice obviously because bakayo saka was out and when you look at the players that he's competing with whether it's um odegaard eza marino could be havertz at times you know i don't think this is unusual for him to be out of the team i don't necessarily think it's anything to be particularly worried about but i I do think, and I agree with you, that we're at a point where he would really benefit from minutes.

55:52So let me just follow that up with a question from Angard Away, who says, is Ethan Ranieri going out on loan? If so, what kind of team would you like him to join? A strong team in an allegedly weaker league in order to improve his confidence and attacking instincts, or a middling team in the Premier League to improve his defensive, physical, and tactical skills? Yeah, that's an interesting question. I mean, I sort of feel like those attributes of teams are not necessarily mutually exclusive. You know. I don't know the answer. I mean, I could see him going to, I think I mentioned the Bundesliga before, somewhere where a lot of young English talents have really thrived and flourished.

56:38But I suppose, what do we want? We want him to come back a player that Arteta is prepared to use, right? We want him to come back a player who's ready for what Mikel is going to demand of him. So I suppose within the Premier League, you'd be looking at teams that you feel have a kind of tactical model that shares some parallels. Does it really matter? You know, does it really matter if he gets Premier League minutes or Liga minutes or Bundesliga minutes? I mean, even Jack Wilshere. Jack Wilshere went to Bolton, right? At 18, yeah. I mean, it wasn't Sam Allardyce's Bolton. I believe it was Owen Coyles Bolton at the time, who were slightly more kind of expansive in their football ideology.

57:26Less Bolton than you would imagine. Yeah. Yeah. But I actually think what will benefit him most is just the minutes. I mean, I always remember Alex Song went to Charlton and came back a totally different player. And it's not because Charlton are kind of the Barcelona of South London or anything like it. It was just that sort of playing week in, week out changed him. It made him a man, to use some sort of old-fashioned terminology. And he returned a totally different player. And I sort of think we can debate kind of the tactical model, the position he plays, but I actually don't think anything will do Ethan as much good as being on the team sheet every week.

58:14Yeah. I just think being in that first team environment, playing every week, the pressure of having to win, having to perform, having to keep his place, riding those challenges, you know, 90 minutes, week in, week out, I just think would do him the world of good. There was some chat about Bournemouth, wasn't there, actually being interested? Well, Bournemouth would be a fit. I mean, when you're talking about teams who have tactical models that, I'm not saying they're the same as Arsenal, but they share certain sort of principles or ideas. Bournemouth would be on there. You know, Brighton could well be on there.

58:56And I think Arsenal, again, it's not really how it works. When you've got a first team player like this, typically if they go out on loan, it's because somebody wants them, but can't buy them, can't afford the fee. I think Arsenal could be a bit proactive here. I think they could look at the league and say, who are the right teams? What are the right places? Is there a benefit to him staying in London? Is there a benefit to him leaving London and going and playing his football somewhere different? And having to kind of be independent and step outside of that, I'm not saying comfort zone, but what he's known since he was a young boy.

59:35All these things are on the table. and I think a lot of clubs would jump at the chance to have an Ethan Ranieri for six months sure I mean do you think that this debate this scrutiny this attention that's paid to Ethan's situation is sort of a consequence of maybe like an unrealistic degree of expectation given how much he played last season like I know there are all those stats about oh he's played a lot for an 18 year old but how much is that skewed by the fact that we had a massive injury crisis and probably not enough depth the season before absolutely i think that's that's exactly it they were both lewis skelly and ethan winery i think were pressed into action ahead of schedule or certainly ahead of where you know typically a young player starts to to make a breakthrough because we needed them we needed lewis skelly at left back and we needed ethan winery when bakai osaka got injured and to be fair he stepped up nearly got himself into double figures for goals.

1:00:37I think that's part of it as well. People saw that he can hit a ball maybe in a way that nobody else in this Arsenal team does, really. And that's a quality you want to have in your team or around your team. But yeah, I don't know if it's unrealistic, but they were there, they played. There's a lot of hope and optimism. There's the fact that we're looking at them to follow in the footsteps of Bakayo Saka, you know, players who've come through the Hayland Academy. I think that adds an aspect to it as well, you know, where there's a romantic element to a kid, and two kids, by the way, you know, who grew up at Arsenal side by side.

1:01:18You know, we've all seen the pictures, et cetera, et cetera, and making their breakthrough in the same season. But when you look at it realistically, one of them is 18, one of them is 19, and look at the players that they're competing with. So on the, you know, Do you want Arsenal to be the best it can possibly be and the most competitive team it can be? If that's yes, then you're going to compete with an Italian international. You're going to compete with an Ecuadorian international. When Eri is going to have to compete with all the players that I mentioned previously. You don't just sort of, oh, look, these kids have come through.

1:01:53Let's just make room for them now because it's a nice idea. That's not how the professional game works. There is an element of sink or swim when it comes to professional football. You know, timing and luck and opportunity and all those things play a part. But I think ultimately you have to go and earn your place, you know. And I'm not being in any way dismissive of Weneri or indeed Miles Lewis-Skelly. But I think what we're seeing for two players of their age is pretty normal when you have a squad like the squad Arsenal have at their disposal. Yeah. And I think because of certain exceptional individuals, it's sort of easy to think that the development of a footballer is always a linear progress, a linear journey.

1:02:42You know, I made 25 appearances last season, so I'll make 35 this season. But it doesn't necessarily follow that route. It can be a bit more circuitous than that to get to the destination. And I think as well, when you talk about the players, they're competing with, Luis Skelly and Ranieri, you have to look at the ages of the players they're competing with. Yes, prime age players. Prime age. And you have to look at the signings Arsenal made this summer. Predominantly prime age, right? And Joachim is 27, Eze 27, you know? We've had teams populated with 18 and 19-year-olds before, and they haven't won too many titles, to be frank with you.

1:03:29And I think it's very evident to me from the transfer strategy in the summer that a decision was made about Arsenal requiring maturity at this point to get them over the line. And that has had a knock-on effect for Warneri and Lewis Kelly. I must say, listening to Arteta the other day talking about Warneri, he didn't sound like a man about to let him go. You know, he kind of said this is a challenge for him and something he needs to overcome. I do think there will be a reluctance to let anybody go, especially at a time now, arguably, and I think this may relate to Eze when we come on to talk about him, we're at a point where there's some games coming up that you'd think some of these players who haven't had opportunities may well get them in.

1:04:22I'm thinking of, obviously there's two legs of a Carabao semifinal. There's the Cairo Almaty game in the Champions League. There's the Portsmouth game in the FA Cup in just a few days time. So do you think it's likely that say on an area, a decision won't be made until those games have come and gone and we've seen his involvement in those? Yeah, maybe so. Maybe so, you know, and I think as well, I would imagine there is a, you got to find that balance, don't you, between, you know, challenging a player and then doing what's best for their development. I do think given the way we've been hit with injuries, not just this season, but previously, I wonder if Arteta will look at, you know, keeping his squad as big as possible.

1:05:12And if the consequence of that is we win the title, but there's some guys who haven't played very much, I think he will be more than willing to deal with a few disgruntled knocks on his door in that scenario. Yeah. And the question alluded to, I think, an interesting consideration in this, which is like, yes, players want to play, but how much do players want to be part of a title-winning campaign as well? Like, you know, is it a worthwhile sacrifice for someone like, Ethan Ranieri to accept I'm not really going to get a great many opportunities in the Premier League unless there's an injury crisis.

1:05:49But I am going to pick up a Premier League medal in Arsenal's first title in more than 20 years. So it's not straightforward. I feel like the question touched on, Eze did it as well. I feel like that's almost a separate one, right? Because I think he's in such a different situation and such a different point in his career. so what do you make of his ongoing omission I don't know Tim wrote a really good piece for the blog last week about Eza and I'll put a link to that in the show notes I I think it's a bit strange that he hasn't played very much in the last three or four games Arteta was talking about well look how many minutes he's played so far this season etc etc which I get as well I think certain game states might play a part in that but then you know you look at the Villa game could he have come on in the Villa game when we're 4-0 up you know maybe that's a game where I didn't fully buy that from Mikael I have to say no me neither me neither yeah I get it and he has played he had a lot of kind of three games weeks when Odegaard was out um so it's not baseless but I was it yeah I also didn't I just didn't fully go I I can't help but think back to the Villa game and just that moment where he switched off against Matty Cash.

1:07:17Listen, I don't know for sure. I don't have any information on this. I just wonder if this is a little bit of a man management. Is that the right way to put it? Like he started the next game against Wolves, by the way, in fairness. It wasn't a great performance from the team that night and he came off around the hour mark. but since then, is it just a little reminder from Mikel Arteta to an experienced player that, listen, the stakes are so high this season that we need you and everybody else. It's not a personal thing, but we need you to be switched on 100 % at all times. You know, Mikel Arteta was very, very, very happy with Eberaceza when he scored a hat-trick against Spurs.

1:08:07you know so i don't think it's a case that like he's now well fuck that guy but i do think there might be an element of listen if you make a small error like that and it costs us a goal and maybe that costs us three points on the day or certainly a point on the day let's say in a title race this tight you know that could be the difference between winning it and losing it next time you play you know you're really going to have to be a hundred percent in terms of concentration that kind of stuff I think game states in a certain sense have had an impact but like I said the game against Villa when it's 4-0 can he come on there?

1:08:45I think he definitely can you know yeah I think and like Ethan I think there are games coming up that he could well play are they the games he'd pick for himself? perhaps not I mean I think it will all work out, to borrow a lyric from Eze's unveiling video. But I remember when Arsenal were first linked with Eze, or when I would sort of speculate or optimistically hope that he might well come to Arsenal, I did always think I wouldn't necessarily describe him as a Mikel Arteta player. I did always think that there would have to be a kind of a meeting of minds and a sort of compromising between those two individuals because they sort of, in broad terms, I think they represent quite different sort of footballing philosophies.

1:09:45and I think what we're seeing probably is that process happening you know where it's not going to work for Eze to just be the free spirit that he was at Palace that's not that's probably not going to work for Mikel Arteta and equally it's not going to work for for him to turn into some sort of, you know, dogged, defensive-minded, second fullback out on the wing. There's going to have to be a way in which these two kind of come to terms with each other's ideas and find a way to work together. And I think we're just sort of in that sticky bit. And I'm sort of fascinated to see how they come through it.

1:10:37and what we get out the other side. I suspect we'll see Eze play on Sunday against Portsmouth. We might well see him again in the Carabao game on Wednesday. So, yeah, I'm very curious to see what version of Eberich Eze we see and how he and Arteta mesh because they're going to need to. Isn't it basically the same thing as him saying about Ethan Ranieri, he's got to rise to the challenge. It's the same thing now for Eze. He's got to respond to this period, you know, in his short Arsenal career so far where he's been out of the team for three or four games. And that's it. That's it. It's not the end of the world.

1:11:18I'm not overly worried, I have to say, but it is a challenge for him. And like you, I'm really, really curious to see how it plays out. And I think from what we understand of Eber Echeza and the character that he has and the self-belief that he has and the determination that he has to make it, you know, as a footballer, first and foremost, but to, you know, to come full circle to Arsenal, does anyone think he's going to just sort of sit in his hands now and say, well, you know, I don't think so. I don't think so. So, you know, I don't worry too much. And if it's part of some Arteta master plan to light a fire under Eberache that bears fruit in the second half of the season, then, you know, it's a little piece of managerial genius, I guess.

1:12:07I don't know. But we'll see how it plays out. We will indeed. I think it's your question. I suppose there are other questions and other things we could talk about. What about this from Fido Mido on the Discord? And they say, barring a disaster, do you see any reason to spend in the transfer window? I know Mikael Arteta has suggested that Arsenal are actively looking, but with key players coming back from injury and squad harmony being a delicate thing, there's surely no way the Kroenkees can be convinced, given Arsenal's strong position in both the league and the Champions League. No? I think that's right.

1:12:45I would not be interested in Arsenal signing anyone. in January, to be honest. I don't think we need to. I think, you know, we've built a really strong squad. Look where we are in the league. Look where we are in the Champions League. I just don't see the need. I don't, you know, I think you can always look at a squad and say, well, can we improve there? Can we improve there? If a huge improvement comes on the market and there's an opportunity, I think every football club, well, certainly every manager in public is going to say, well, if the, you know, if the opportunity is there, We've got to be active because we're a big club, et cetera, et cetera, right?

1:13:23But that's kind of what they're all going to say. They're not going to give anything away publicly with regards to transfers. I don't see anything on the market right now in January that would make me go, you know what, let's bring that guy in and cast that guy aside. You know, I think there is an element of squad harmony. I think Arsenal have been quite cognizant of maintaining a level of harmony within the squad, not just with how they built it, but I think the, you know, the Trossard situation, right, where he was given a pay rise in the summer. He wasn't given an extension, but he was given a pay rise, which I think was a response to, you know, where he was when we signed him, what he's done for the club since, and maybe where the sort of the bar has been raised below him, right, when it comes to certain salaries and, you know, contracts that have been given out to players.

1:14:15I think that was a really deliberate way to ensure that you avoid disharmony within the squad by giving Trossard a pay rise. And I think Trossard, by the way, has 100 % delivered on that pay rise. I think he delivered to get that pay rise and he's delivered since then as well. So I think there's no real call for any arrival in January, as the question said, barring a disaster. And I, you know, clearly and very obviously hope that that isn't the case because we just don't need that. Yeah, I'm inclined to agree. I don't, you know, there used to be this idea talked about kind of the Esprit effect.

1:15:04You remember, of course. well explain it for you know maybe some people who uh weren't around yeah exactly or newcastle i think it was in uh let's get my years right certainly the mid-90s i'm trying to figure out if it was 96 or 97 uh he signed for newcastle in february 1996 so this was in the days before the transfer window was in operation in the Premier League. So you could sign anyone at any time up until about six weeks before the end of the season, at which point there was a transfer deadline.

1:15:44And Newcastle signed Espria in February of 1996, a time when they are sort of flying high at the top of the Premier League table. 12 points clear, is that right? At that point? They had been 12 points clear. I think by the time he actually joined, that had been narrowed a little bit. Anyway, Wallace Breer was an incredibly exciting player. I mean, he was a big arrival for the Premier League. He came from Parma, where he'd been part of a brilliant team featuring Gianfranco Zola and I think maybe Thomas Broly and one or two others. He was a proper star, star signing that sort of elevated Newcastle further still.

1:16:21And yet, I think he came at a time when they had a very established attack based around Les Ferdinand and I think Alan Shearer at that point in time. And it basically unsettled them, really. The integration of Esprija was cited as one of the issues that led to them not winning the Premier League that season, ultimately. so that was kind of you know when people talk about the Espria effect I guess that's what they are referring to the idea that even an exciting signing at a midpoint in the season can have a kind of destabilising effect now I think even the most ambitious Arsenal fan would not necessarily come into January looking for that kind of marquee arrival I think everyone recognises that our spending was done in the summer and Arsenal went above and beyond really expectations to deliver Mikel Arteta a squad capable of winning a Premier League and withstanding the various challenges that come within that.

1:17:28So, yeah, maybe people would be looking at, oh, like, you know, could we bring in a backup somewhere? I just don't see the need right now. Obviously, injuries can change that and fingers crossed they don't. But I think Arsenal have more than enough cover. And they've shown that by the way they've withstood various injuries already this season. I also think we've got to talk about it from a financial perspective too and recognise that a vast amount of money was spent in the summer. And it's not just about ambition and what the owners are prepared to back and put in and support. Arsenal have to operate within financial parameters dictated by rules, by competitions, by the Premier League, by UEFA.

1:18:21And they want to as well be in a position in the summer to be ambitious again, right? To go again and do exciting things. And even if Arsenal ultimately win the Premier League, in some respects, people can say that's the most important time to take strides forward and not sit on your laurels. and, you know, use that advantage to kind of improve the squad further. And I think to do that might require us to be a little bit more conservative in January. So at this point in time, I'm not expecting any significant first team arrivals in this month at all. I'm sure there'll be other work that goes on, you know, in terms of building out the academy.

1:19:09sides and future prospects and things like that. And I'm sure that I'm sure that there is already work going on regarding the summer because, you know, the need to improve never stops. Just having a little moment of silence here for the transfer gurus, the aggregators. Hey, listen, look, I've been wrong before many times and, and circumstances can change things. You know, maybe a couple of players do agitate to go out. And then, you know, does that change things? Do you get a few injuries? But it's just my kind of objective view. I can't see a pressing need. No, me neither. Okay, here's a question from Bellsgoal.

1:19:53bellsgoal.bsky.social. And they ask, when we bought Declan Rice, did you think he would have the impact and be as important as he is? And did you think the improvement in his game would be as good as it has been?

1:20:12I don't want to just be a wanker, but I sort of think yes. I kind of think it was such, he was such a sure thing.

1:20:28I keep coming back to it, but he would have been, in my view, a brilliant signing wherever he went. And that was why I was so determined that Pep didn't get hold of him and City didn't get hold of him, because I knew what he would take there. I knew what he would bring. I think maybe on the improvement, like did I anticipate him becoming a sort of David Beckham-esque dead ball deliverer? No, I did not. I did not see those corners being part of his game. Did you see him playing where he's playing? Because I agree with you. I think, you know, you look at every transfer and you go, that's a good signing.

1:21:10But I can't ever remember thinking a player is going to fit and bring just exactly what we need to a team in the way that Declan Rice has. well you know but it was it was more about the six though it was like oh he's going to be a defensive midfield he's going to anchor that midfield you know this is what he does we're going to play with a freedom and he's going to allow others to do this that and the other and then hang on he's sort of playing as a an eight now a more all-round midfielder he's a more all-round midfielder than i thought he was going to be despite the fact i thought there was like no chance whatsoever that this would be a bad deal or that we in any way overpaid for him, you know, even though it was over a hundred million quid.

1:21:55Yeah. I think we have to remember that as much as he looked a sure thing and has proven himself to be a sure thing, this summer's transfer window demonstrates that there aren't really any sure things in football. I mean, Alexander Izak, signing of Alexander Azak looked like an obvious one right and many Arsenal fans were convinced that he would make a tremendous impact wherever he went and it hasn't come to pass for a variety of different factors not all of which are in his hands but I think that shows you that nothing is certain in football when it comes to transfers there is this kind of curious alchemy and actually I think as much as Declan Rice deserves enormous credit for what he has produced and Arteta spoke on Saturday night about the way in which he continually adds things to his game um you know like a computer game character sort of climbing a skill tree um he's just adding more and more attributes I think Arsenal deserve credit too because they have proven to be a great environment for him and I think he came into a club which has stability which had a coach who really understood and believed in him who was prepared to be flexible in his ideas about how he used him I mean Declan Rice was absolutely bought to be the number six in this system Kai Havertz you know none of these things are ever set in stone no one you know writes it down on like a kind of 10 commandments, it is going to be like this.

1:23:45But, you know, there was a whiteboard somewhere that had Declan Rice at number six and Kai Havertz as a left eight in front of him. And Mikel Arteta, as much as we talk about him as a kind of a stubborn man, a man very sort of fixed on his ideas, he was prepared to recognise a few months into that season that that wasn't the way it was going. That actually the best thing for the team was for Kai Havertz to be a centre forward and for Declan Rice to be this kind of irrepressible box-to-box midfielder. And in fact, you know, he ultimately followed it up with the signing of Martin Zubimendi, which sort of cemented that decision.

1:24:27I think the one thing you can say is that was absolutely the right call. Like Declan Rice can be a number six, but it just feels like such a shame to lose that, the full extent of the dynamism that he brings in midfield. And he does, I kind of knew it would be a good signing. I thought it would be a great signing, but he still does surprise me with, you know, some of what he brings. And I just, overall, I feel very lucky that we have him And I feel very pleased and proud that Arsenal took the plunge because, you know, we're not a club with a great history of going out and spending£100 million on footballers.

1:25:15And he was kind of, I think we forget now because we've seen massive expenditure since he came in as well. but it was a bit of a departure for us to go and do that and go and take another Premier League player who was already so established an England international to beat Manchester City of all clubs to his signature I think that was a huge moment in the recent history of this football club and again if we do win the Premier League I think it's another key key sort of milestone along the way that we'll look back to I mean I think you're absolutely right because you know He's an amazing player, but I think the cocktail, if you like, of him being an amazing player, coming in in his prime years, coming into an environment which suits him, a coach that suits him, you know, all of that has helped get the very best out of Declan Rice.

1:26:09And I think what we're seeing is, you know, a player of the season candidate in front of our eyes. And I don't just mean the Arsenal player of the season. I mean the Premier League player of the season. He's been that good and that consistent. And I'm, you know, while you were talking there, I was thinking about that summer where we were all like 99 % sure that he was going to sign for Arsenal because that was the talk for so many weeks and months before that. But this Manchester City thing would not go away. And it was like, well, why do Manchester City need him? They've already got Rodri. Why do they need another one?

1:26:44And then you sort of think about what Manchester City might have been like with Rodri at the six and Declan Rice at the eight. and it's like, well, we might as well all just have gone home at that point, you know? So I think it's massive for Arsenal. I think what we're seeing as well, we talked about this with regards to Leandro Trossard a couple of weeks ago, maybe last week or the week before, about how he's at a point where, you know, he knows he hasn't got too many more chances to win the Premier League and that's part of what's driving his form this season. You mentioned the ages of some of the players that we have.

1:27:15Declan Rice 27 Ezzett 27 Zubimendi's 26 Martin Odegaard is what 27 now you know these guys are at a point where they've got to win they've got to win something you know and I think that's really apparent in the way that Declan Rice is playing this season the way he's grown on the pitch and maybe off the pitch but certainly in terms of his leadership and the way that he is imposing himself on this Arsenal team. And I mean that in the really most positive way that you can mean it, right? Talked in the Wolves game, didn't we, about how he was really not happy with players around him at certain points in that game.

1:27:58And he's not afraid to let those people know about it. And I think that the leadership, the sort of ferocity with which he plays every single game is part of the drive for the title this season. And listen, we've got a long way to go. We really do. And we're in a great position, but a lot can happen between now and May. But I'm thinking about that kind of attitude within the squad, that we have got to get it over the line for our own sakes. Individually and collectively, I feel like there is such a desire. It's kind of what's underpinning my belief in this team. You know, a part of it anyway. There are other aspects to it, but I think that, you know, from the likes of Rice and from Odegaard and from Eze and from Trossard and from these guys, you know, who want to make up for these close calls that they've had, I think it is a real key driver for this team.

1:28:58Definitely. We spoke about determination. I just feel with Declan Rice that he's playing like somebody who will not be denied. And when he's in that mood, I don't think there's anyone who can sort of live with him, go stride for stride with him. I think he will win the Player of the Year this year. I think he will be the Footballer of the Year in the Premier League. And if he is, it will mean Arsenal have had a great season. So fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Is it me or you? I think it's me. I was just sort of so lost in my reverie for Declan Rice that I forgot about having to do the podcast.

1:29:42Were you kissing your TV, even though Declan Rice is not on the other end of it? Kissing my computer screen, actually. Yeah. I actually had a load of sort of Ranieri and Eze questions that I think we've really covered. So, yeah, that was kind of my lot. And I also had the Declan Rice one. What about this one then? Before we go, we might as well do one more. And I've got a couple of quick ones to see us out. Just W. Bennett on the Discord. Curious to hear your thoughts on Incapier so far. He's played 14 times, almost equally between centre-back and left-back. Undoubtedly been an important player, but I can't help feeling he's a weak link defensively.

1:30:22He seems to get involved in a lot, but then switch off at crucial moments. See Kruppi, Watkins running off him, or become too focused on wrestling to focus on the ball. Am I the arsehole, or is he just learning? Are our standards too high because of Gabriel Saliba and Timber? I'm not sure yet, to be honest with you, is how I feel about Nkapri. I'm sorry that's such a boring answer, but I'm not wholly convinced one way or the other. I feel like I'm still learning about him. At centre-half, he's had good games. I feel like he can be a bit impetuous and a bit rash. I think he's quite emotional, which feels like a characteristic that many of this team have sort of left behind them.

1:31:08a little bit. Gabriel, for example, was similar, wasn't he, at a similar age when he came in at 22. He was a very, very, I mean, he's still an emotional guy, but it's about how you channel that. Yeah, exactly. As a fullback, I find him a little bit one-dimensional as compared to Ricardo Calafiore, for example, but then aren't we all as compared to Ricardo Calafiore? But, you know, there were times against Bournemouth where it was kind of push and run overlap play. And I was sort of like, there is a time for this and there is a value in it, but I don't think it can compete with the kind of flexibility of threat that someone like Califuri offers.

1:31:52But then that's an incredibly high bar to me. Based on this season and Califuri's form this season. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. So I basically feel, I think he sort of looks kind of what he is right now, which is, I think he looks like a very competent, pretty reliable deputy for our first choices in those positions. I've not yet seen enough to suggest... When he arrived, I thought there was quite a good chance he could become the first choice, maybe at left-back. But if Calafuri continues at the level that he's shown for the majority of the season and can stay fit, I think Hien Capier will find that very difficult to displace.

1:32:39But there'll be lots of games for everybody. I'd be interested, what's your view so far? Again, I sort of feel like it's a bit too soon. Like the sample size is too small to really make a definitive judgment one way or the other. It's across two positions, which makes it hard. Yeah, of course. And like, you know, he's coming in from the Bundesliga. you know, we've seen more high profile players come in from the Bundesliga and struggle to make an impact in the Premier League this season. I think as a defender, you're always under the spotlight as well. You can miss a chance and you miss a chance.

1:33:14You make a mistake at the back and it sort of reflects badly on you as an individual. I think what I would say is when he signed, I looked at him and thought, right, this sort of fits a bit more with the physical profile of defender that I connect with Mikel Arteta more than Miles Lewis Skelly, which isn't to criticize Lewis Skelly, right? But if you look across the back line, fullbacks like Ben White, like Jury and Timber, you know, six foot guys, basically, who can play at center half as well. Calafuri, he can play center half. Incappier can play center half. Myles Lewis-Galley can't play center half.

1:33:58He is a more traditional sized left back, right? So that was where my mind went. I think he's only 14 games into a career at a new club, so needs a bit of time. And I think, you know, probably benefits from the fact that he was a late signing and he wasn't a signing, let's say, that everybody absolutely said we needed. Therefore, he's not under the same kind of spotlight as Victor Jokeres, for example, who's only the same number of games into his Arsenal career as in Capier. But he's far more in the spotlight because of the nature of his signing and the nature of his role. Yeah, I think that's a good point.

1:34:42I mean, two further things. One is that when he signed, one thing that I heard was that the deal was done partly kind of on the premise or the expectation that Eze would be playing quite a lot on the left-hand side. So it was seen that there might be a kind of relationship between those two things. And ultimately, that hasn't really come to pass, to be honest. So, yeah, that's just one thing to note. And the other thing is to say that as we enter the second half of the season, he is one of the very few players in this Arsenal squad who has won a league title, having done so by Leverkusen. So that experience, who knows, could be really, really valuable in a group where there isn't a ton of that.

1:35:42Yeah, Jockerais is one as well. Jocheres Gabriel Jesus presumably yes of course of course but I think I'm somewhat doubtless come up with all the examples where I'm wrong but I think that may that may be it certainly in terms of a major sure title sure Timber did he win one of the Timber may well have done with Ajax and you know I don't know about Norgard's early career for example but But yeah, there we go. Okay, listen, I think we better leave it there because I've got to get this podcast out to everybody. Also got to do a bit of catching up on Match of the Day and highlights before we talk about all the weekend's Premier League action in the 30 over on Patreon.

1:36:29You can join us there, patreon.com forward slash arseblog. Just checking. Nobody else has been sacked since we started recording this. So that's good. That's good. Thomas Frank's still in place. For now. For now. All right. We'll leave it there as ever. Thank you so much as always for being with us, folks. Really appreciate you being here, subscribing, downloading, and all the rest. And we will catch you on the next one. Bye-bye.