Arsecast Extra Episode 699 - 15.06.2026

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1:29Hello and welcome to another Arscast Extra as always with James from Good On Blog. James, good morning to you. Good morning, Andrew. How are you today? I'm okay. I'm slowly on the mend. You know, still got the lingering effects of whatever this thing was that I came back from Budapest with. But I'm less bad. I'm coughing up less stuff than I was a week ago. So I guess that's progress. That's good.

1:56Andrew Allen: The graph is going in the right direction. Yes, it is. It is. I know that's a lovely image to start the podcast with. So I apologize to everybody for that. But, you know, I could have been more graphic about it. I wasn't. How are you, by the way? Happy birthday. Congratulations. A big milestone birthday for you. Yes, it's actually tomorrow. Yeah, I know. But you got the party, you know. Yeah, I had a little party on Saturday. The big birthday is tomorrow. I won't say how old I'm going to be, but I will tell you I'm 39 right now. So the mathematicians among you may make the leap. I actually feel alright about it I feel you know, all's right in my world Andrew, Arsenal won the Premier League you know, I sort of think it was beautifully timed for me to enter the next decade of my life, this is how I want to go into it.

2:54That seems perfectly a great way to look at things, you know, you can't do anything about the passing of time, I've got a friend whose birthday was this weekend as well and he gets a bit you know, antsy about the idea that he's getting older. I'm sort of like, well, there really isn't any solution to this, you know?

3:17Andrew Allen: Breaking news. You've been getting older since day one, to be honest. You know, there is a way that you don't get any older, but that's not a good solution to the problem that you're facing, you know? That's true. You've just got to embrace it, you know? It's a privilege. That's it. It's a privilege. That's what Mikel Arteta would say. The pressure of aging is a privilege. It's a beautiful thing. It's a beautiful opportunity we have in front of us to become old and decrepit. Yes. Well, there we go. Well, listen, you know, you're far from old and decrepit yet, but, you know, certainly getting on now has to be said.

3:55Andrew Allen: I am a man. I am a man. True. That much we can say. I'm also an American now, of course. Yeah. Still here. I did pop back this weekend, but I'm back now in Chicago. I like that. I just popped back like it's not a fucking eight-hour, nine-hour flight, you know. Yeah. Well, I mean, it's quicker going from America to this part of the world because it's – I don't know if you know this. It's downhill. Right. Whereas if you go from here to America, it takes a bit longer because it's uphill. The plane has to turn its wheels faster or flap its wings harder. Yeah, harder. More flappy. there's a lot more flapping going on.

4:37Andrew, what is your feeling on people talking to you on a plane journey? It sort of depends how long they go. And I have to say, you said this to me now, and I've just sort of been overcome with a wave of shame. Right.

5:03Andrew Allen: Because I remember... do that to you, Andrew. Yeah, thank you. I love to do that to you. I remember, you know, going back from New York to Dublin a few years ago, and the plane was delayed a little bit, I think. And, you know, you sit in a bar at JFK, and you, you know, you have a couple of drinks. And, you know, I can get a little bit talkative, loquacious, perhaps, after a few bourbons. And I was chatting to the man beside me on the flight and then at some point he just said i'm very sorry i'd like to go to sleep now and i realized that i'd just been sort of talking at him non-stop and i feel still feel kind of shame in my toes about that but he handled that beautifully he did and i was like oh actually fair yeah that's okay that's okay what what happened to you were you So did you meet someone like me?

5:59Andrew Allen: Yes, I met a potential podcaster in the making.

6:06Andrew Allen: Yeah, it's a nine hour flight. And as soon as I sat down, this very lovely, friendly gentleman started talking to me. And it was sort of delightful. I was like, how polite, how nice and asking me about my trip and where I was going and why. um four hours later i was like how do i possibly extract myself from this like you know i met him halfway i don't want to put all the blame on him and i did like the guy and we had the problem was we kept having areas of mutual interest he'd be like what do you do and i was like oh well i'm out here doing something about soccer about the world cup um he was american And so I was translating live and, um, he, he, he was into it.

6:53Andrew Allen: He liked it. And then he was, uh, you know, he said, Oh, what else to do? I was like, Oh, I'm an actor. And he loved film and he loved television and blah, blah, blah. So I kept, uh, by the end after four hours, I was like, I think this man might be my best friend. Um, like I haven't spoken to anyone for four hours. I haven't spoken to Camille for four hours. I think he knows me better than she does at this point in our marriage. So. Are you married to him as well at this point? Well, we thought we might as well. Is there a registrar on the plane? If a captain of a fucking boat can do it, then the captain of a plane should be able to marry you mid-flight.

7:27That's what I think.

7:28Andrew Allen: I agree. As long as the other guys fly in the plane at the same time. Mr. Assistant pilot, yeah. But the problem is I'm actually, I find sort of one-to-one conversation. Well, four hours is a long time, Andrew. we do an hour and a half on this and I'm tired after that. So I didn't need the loop, but I pretended that I did just to sort of take five, you know, just sort of, I don't know what he thought was happening in there, but I was just sort of thinking, texting people being like, how do I get out of this? Because the difference between me and the guy you were sat next to is I can't do it. I haven't got the front or the balls to be like, I've enjoyed this conversation, but it's now time for it to terminate.

8:16I think that's a perfectly reasonable thing to say though. If you can say, listen, it's been a pleasure to talk to you. I just want to put my headphones in and just listen to some music for a while and relax. I've got a busy day tomorrow, busy day when I get there, flights long. I think it would be the most unreasonable person in the world who, despite the connection that you made and obviously the long life that you're going to spend together from now on, I think it would be a very unreasonable person who would take umbrage at that. But Andrew, I am a coward.

8:52Andrew Allen: And so I know I did go back and I had work to do. That was the incredible thing. I mean, maybe on some level I was happy to put that off. But I eventually was like, I am going to have to do some work now. And he, but then what was tricky was I was working and all he did for the remaining five hours of the flight was just watch the map. And that made me feel like he's waiting for a time to come back in. If he put on, you know, one battle after another, which was available via the Inchair movie system, I would have been like, okay, I've got a couple of hours here. But when you're just watching a sort of 16-bit representation of a plane inching across the Atlantic, I felt like I've got to give them a bit more.

9:41Andrew Allen: So listen, I went back for more later. You're a good man. I did really like him. You know, I'm glad that we are wed. Sure. Yeah, it's just, it's one of those tricky things where it's like, I think if I had to choose some chat or no chat, I think I am a no chat man. That would be the best thing, because then you don't have to extricate yourself from a situation like that. But on the sort of, I mean, he's not an Arsenal fan. He's an Everton fan. So we spoke about Tim Howard and Brian McBride. But I, and Landon Donovan, actually. Was it Everton, wasn't he? I think he was. Yeah. They had a real run of Americans over that.

10:28Andrew Allen: I think that was probably one or two more that I'm not thinking of. But we, yes, I, yeah, I had lost my train of thought. He's not an Arsenal fan. So the chances of him listening and finding this are slim. So I feel free to talk about it. But to reiterate, I really did like this man and talked to him perhaps for longer than I've talked to any single person in my life before. So he should be flattered, not offended. You'll never forget him. You'll never forget him. There you go. No. I don't remember his name, obviously. No, of course. Yeah, that'd be mad to talk to somebody for nine hours and just not get their name.

11:05Andrew Allen: Well, after the third hour, I was like, I can't ask him now. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Once he had the ring on. Do you, bloke, take this bald man? Oh, listen, I know how it is. I've got neighbours. I know their dog's name, but I don't know their name. Mate, it's terrible. I'm in Chicago. I'm filming this show in the studio out here every day, and there's about, I don't know, 20 people working in the studio. I'm calling them all man or dude. You know what I mean? That's the way to do it. That's the way to do it. Yeah. Even when they're not men, to be honest. Has anyone got any advice for like a female equivalent for like man or dude?

11:48Andrew Allen: I feel like mate in the UK is more gender specific. Yeah, but it's still quite blokey, I think. It is, yeah. But I'm still chucking out mates everywhere. Good to see you again, mate. but I need something that works over here. Maybe mate, actually. Maybe people be charmed by that. Yeah, yeah. Just, you know, amp up the Britishness, you know. Yeah. Mate. Give it a bit. Me old maca. Yeah. Polish your shoes, governor. Yeah, all of that. All of that. Did I say last week that no one understands me out here? Did I say that? No, you didn't. I mean, you are, I mean, you are easy to understand for me and I think for many people listening.

12:31Thank you very much, Andrew. You know, I've never told you that before.

12:33Andrew Allen: Quite often I'll say something like, oh, should we get on the podcast then? Do you know what I mean? Like that. And people just sort of double take and sort of squint and look at me blankly and I have to really enunciate. I think as a people, I think we in Britain and perhaps Ireland too, I think we mumble a bit. Do you know what I mean? I don't think we're projecting much in our day-to-day life. and adding the accent. No one's got any clue what I'm talking about out here, to be honest. Well, yeah. I mean, listen, just be thankful you're not Scottish. That is true. You know? Could be worse. Where they have to sort of put subtitles on Trainspotting, whereas we can understand it all perfectly well, you know?

13:19Andrew Allen: I was thinking my colleague at Athletic, Jordan Campbell, is out here. Oh, right. Yeah, yeah. He used to do some Arsenal stuff, all right? Yeah, yeah. And I was like, maybe they'll, you know, we're getting all the different reporters on like video link. And someone was like, we might get Jordan. I was like, I think we'll need the subtitles and the signer if we have Jordan on. But anyway, so that's what's going on with me. Okay. How, I mean, you're obviously doing this show. How have been the, how have been, how have the World Cup things been? This is ridiculous. I mean, what have the impressions of the World Cup been for you so far?

14:00How's it World Cup-ing and stuff?

14:04Andrew Allen: Culturally, it's sort of difficult to determine how much anyone in North America is excited about the World Cup. I do think that the NBA finals have attracted a lot of attention in this kind of opening week or so. And congratulations to the Knicks. It is Mamdani's year, I guess. What a year to be a New Yorker and an Arsenal fan. Premier League title, yeah. Yeah, but I've been watching quite a fair bit off the football, though. But the good thing for me is I'm on the right time zone. So I can actually see most of the games. Unlike my Scottish brother-in-law, who sent me a photo of him celebrating in his living room.

14:55Andrew Allen: 2.30 a.m. on Sunday morning. Watching the scrappy John McGinn goal. Yeah, the times are weird because I have very fond memories of Mexico 86. Right. I'm watching the World Cup in Mexico and it was sort of, you know, staying up late and watching football. But I don't recall it being as late as this. maybe it's because there's just more more teams so there are more matches so they're going on like a little bit later I think for example the Sweden Tunisia game maybe it kicked off at 3 o 'clock in the morning or 4 o 'clock in the morning yeah I have memories of 2002 was it which was Japan and Korea and I was at school then and basically you would get up for school like a couple of hours early and get to squeeze in a game before you went off to school which was an incredibly exciting prospect yeah I mean that game, Sweden game was quite late out here I think it was like a 9 o 'clock kickoff or something like that so I'm sure many of our European Arsenal fans missed Victor Jokeres's goal in Sweden's Sweden's demolition of Tunisia.

16:20Yes, yes.

16:22Andrew Allen: And Omar Rakhik scoring, of course. Of course. The former Gunners were everywhere yesterday. I missed that out. But yeah, former young Gunner Omar Rakhik scoring the goal for Tunisia. I'm curious as to how you have found, like I watched the opening game, right? The opening game between Mexico and... South Africa? South Africa. well remembered. And I think, you know, one of the things that stood out for me was the fact that halfway through the first half, they had a hydration break, which they're calling a hydration break. But of course, it's not really that. It's an ad break by any other name, right?

17:07Andrew Allen: It's an end of a quarter. It is. Yeah, they have basically changed football into four quarters, right? And what was, I think, interesting about this, I mean, I think it's really bad. People were saying, well, you know, it's very hot. They need a hydration break. They need to have a drink of water, and that's good. And I think we should be cognizant of player welfare, but it was 21 degrees Celsius in Mexico City on Friday evening or Friday afternoon when that game was taking place. That is, like, perfect for a game of football, for professional players to be able to play 45 minutes. You don't need a hydration break when the temperature is like that.

17:50If you're playing in 30 degrees or 35 degrees, as may be the case for some of the games, there's a very, very good case to be made that it's necessary for the welfare of the players, right? Yeah. But on RTE, which is the national broadcaster here in Ireland, the very first game, the very first hydration break, they went and they snuck in a little 60 second 90 second ad break so the game stopped and then they went to an ad break and it came back and they restarted and they got to halftime and at halftime one of the pundits Richie Sadlier who's a player used to play for for Millwall and he's a pundit here on Irish television basically said they were saying well what do you think about the the first half there Richie and he said well before we talk about that I think we need to talk about just how bad it is that the game is being split into two quarters and that ad breaks are being shown halfway through a half of football that's bad and he's on a tv station which is obviously or which was at that point showing them i've been watching games since and i haven't seen them repeat that ad break thing so they're sticking with the coverage and the commentators are talking about it.

19:04What's your view of that as a, I don't want to say development, but as part of the way that this World Cup is being presented to us? Because I think there's another aspect which I want to touch on, unless it's something that you bring up when you answer the question.

19:22Andrew Allen: Let's see. Let's see. Yes, I think it's very, I think it's interesting and I think it's basically bad. You know, we've seen water breaks, water breaks or hydration breaks, whatever you want to call them, before we saw them in COVID, didn't we? When the Premier League restarted across summer and we've seen it occasionally in games or international tournaments, but it's always been relevant to the temperature. So basically a call would be made if temperatures reached a certain level that they would introduce them. They're just sort of unilaterally in this tournament. They're happening. There's no sort of discrepancy or decision to be made.

20:08Andrew Allen: And it's interesting, the adverts point, I believe we are getting adverts here in the US on Fox and elsewhere during those breaks. And I think there have been instances where we've come back from the adverts and the game is already underway. And then subsequently to that, there's almost been a sense of the players being ready to restart, but waiting for a signal from the television companies to come back because actually like it doesn't really take three and a half minutes for players to have a drink of water. Yeah, yeah. So it's clearly impacting kind of the televisual experience. I think in Britain they're not showing ads.

20:54Andrew Allen: I think I'm right in saying they're either like going to the studio or you're seeing pictures of the players talking to the coaches. Yeah, I mean, BBC won't, you know, can't and won't show out anyway. Well, yeah, that's true. It would be a hell of a departure for air. Yeah, imagine them just lashing in an air break. ITV, I've seen people say, did not go to ads. Yeah, shown some restraint there. In terms of its impact on the actual gains, and by the way, I believe in at least one stadium during the tournament, it was announced as the end of the first quarter, the hydration break. Get out of here, really?

21:28Andrew Allen: Yeah, I think so. Which may have been a confused stadium announcer or may have been a revelation of the secret intent. But Jürgen Klopp, I think, said on German television that he thinks these breaks are essentially determining the rhythm of the games and the shape of the games. That's what I was going to say to you. You know, I feel like we're sort of the objection that we have to these things in principle, right, which I think is absolutely right. We should absolutely 100 % object to these interruptions being made in 45 minutes of football when they don't have to be. because the more it becomes normalized, you know, the more they'll get away with and the more it'll be something they have to reckon with in the future.

22:20But I just thought like, you know, imagine you're halfway through the first half and you're a team that's on top and you've got the rhythm and you've got the flow of the game and you've got possession, you've got domination, you've got territory. You know, you're really on top and we know how, you know, it can take a lot to get into that position in a game. And then all of a sudden, for no good reason, the game is being stopped, which allows the opposition maybe time to reflect on what's happening. It certainly interrupts your own rhythm and momentum in the game. I think it's just really, really bad.

22:52Andrew Allen: Yeah, I think the Brazil-Morocco game was a great case study in it where in the first 20 minutes, Morocco went ahead and were doing really well. And the hydration break kind of came at the worst time for them. Now, obviously, in that period, Carlo Ancelotti made a few adjustments. as well and it sort of allowed Brazil to come back into the game and I think that if I think for a coach I'm sure the coaches are sort of by and large happy about this opportunity to have that level of intervention in the game but for me at the moment it principally feels like an interruption in the game and I'm sort of curious to see how it develops the other thing I've noticed is that basketball is a four-quarter sport.

23:41Andrew Allen: And I'm not a basketball guy, but I've been watching a bit of the NBA while I'm out here. And what's really interesting is that every quarter has an importance in the game. And that fourth quarter is obviously the most dramatic and where the match is typically decided. But I have seen a couple of games during the World Cup where, let's say, a team is sort of level going into the fourth quarter. Again, Brazil-Morocco is a great example. And because a draw in this format of the World Cup is actually a pretty decent result. I mean, a draw is a pretty big step towards qualification from your group because it's fundamentally quite difficult to go out.

24:17Andrew Allen: It almost feels like there's kind of a tactical pause in the game with about 20 minutes to go where everyone kind of says, we'll just take this, will we? And I sort of feel like that takes some of the drama and the jeopardy and the volatility out of those final 20 minutes. I sort of think the coaches, I don't think coaches having more control necessarily makes for more entertaining games. Sure. I actually think it's sort of the opposite. And like, you know, yeah, I kind of feel like the games run the risk of being micromanaged. and I also think that just fundamentally it just stops the kind of momentum and the, yeah, the momentum of the game and forces a pivot.

25:11Andrew Allen: I mean, we've spoken so many times on the podcast about how an injury or a protracted VAR review can sort of suck the energy and the life out of half of football and I feel like that's almost been deliberately inserted in this tournament. Yeah, I don't like it, I have to say. Do you worry that it's sort of here to stay? Yeah, a little bit. A little bit. But I don't know how you sell a hydration break to fans in Europe, in the Premier League or wherever. It's three degrees Celsius on Tuesday night. Well, the lads really need it. What do they need? A hot chocolate? A cup of Bovril? Is that what they need?

25:55They need a nice warming drink now? That'd be good. I do. Genuinely, I do worry that stuff that sort of gets introduced like this, and I was going to sort of say by stealth, but it's not even that stealthy, is it? We can all recognize it for what it is, that it tends to become normalized. and I don't think it would take too much to get the television companies on board with this as an idea, as a concept, if they could get away with it, you know? Whereas for fans, I think we're like, no, no, we don't need this.

26:34Andrew Allen: And cynically, I wonder for clubs, you know, would they think, well, that's six more minutes, people can be in the concourse buying something, you know it's all revenue opportunity um but it's interesting like pochettino for example i saw who has actually praised you know for his innovative use of the hydration break doing laptop demonstrations and stuff for the u.s team he said we don't need it like these games are not hot enough much of the time um it should be case by case rather than just a unilateral thing so So, yeah, I don't like it either, but I think it is very much part of the plot of this World Cup.

27:19Andrew Allen: And I suspect we may reflect on kind of which teams and which coaches are most able to maximise the opportunity it provides. I mean, it completely derailed Curacao yesterday. I don't know if you noticed that, you know. I was actually on a plane. Right. But listen, I followed the score. So I was very much aware of them being derailed. Yeah. I didn't know it was tied to the war. Listen, they went 1-0 down to Germany and then they came roaring back and they scored an equaliser and, God damn it, they were on the verge of just going on, taking a real grip of the game. It was on. It was on. It was on.

27:57The World Cup was on suddenly. They were going to rip the Germans apart and then there was a hydration break and it went the other way, you see? Yes. So, you know, it's hurting the small nations. I mean, that was a moment. I think that was the first big like, whoa, kind of moment of this World Cup was Curacao scoring against Germany. Obviously, the joy was short-lived, however palpable it was. It was quite short-lived and Germany went on to score another six sort of fluky goals that they wouldn't have got without the hydration break, of course. but that was a really nice kind of moment and I have to say I think we'll maybe talk about the Arsenal players some of the Arsenal players that have been involved in some of the games now but I do think maybe on the last pod we did and certainly on the pod I did on Thursday with Philippe there was a lot of scrutiny and some criticism of this World Cup and FIFA and how it's played out and some of the various aspects that we don't need to get into again But what I have enjoyed seeing is the way the fans come together at a World Cup and no amount of kind of bullshit behind the scenes and no amount of corruption is stopping people having a good time supporting their country and hanging out with fans from other countries as well.

29:23and, you know, singing and dancing and Korean fans drinking a bottle of tequila with the Mexican fans and all this kind of stuff. You know, those scenes, I think, are, when it comes down to it, the things that we really do remember from World Cups. And it's been amazing to see so many of those scenes. And obviously, you know, each nation that's involved, you're getting clips and stuff from there as they celebrate goals and wins and equalizers and all those kinds of things. And, yeah, I've been really pleased to see those things because that's kind of what it should be about, even if other people are trying to make it more about, you know, certain other things.

30:04Andrew Allen: Oh, mate, yeah, that is absolutely what it's about. And even outside of those countries, if you're in a city like Chicago or London or Dublin to an extent, you know, you'll see people in shirts of other nations, you know, where their heritage is from, wherever it might be. Mexico shirts, Japanese shirts, plenty of those. Loads of Brazil shirts around Dublin the other day. Oh, really? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Fantastic. And like, you know, it's great to see people getting behind their teams and their countries. And that was a big moment, Chris, getting that goal. Kai Havertz scoring twice as well for Germany.

30:43Andrew Allen: He is kind of one of the few players who I sort of feel comes into the World Cup in sort of appropriate physical condition, given the sort of stop, start and slow season he's had. It felt like it was kind of building towards the Champions League final and to an extent the World Cup for him. Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. For sure. I mean, look, he missed the first half of the season. So while he had fitness issues, I don't think there's fatigue on his part. And I think that was evident in the goal that he scored right towards the end of the game, you know, skipping through and dinghy it beyond the goalkeeper.

31:27By the way, I did want to mention this. There's a dude on Reddit, on the soccer Reddit, goes by the username of Hopscrotch. And what he's doing is putting together videos of all the goals, but with commentary from the native country, which is great. You know, he's done about three or four of them now, and they're just really worth checking out just from the point of view, the excitement, you know, when the home nation and the home commentators are celebrating the goals. So it's worth looking out for that if you can. So, yeah. But, yeah, a good start for Germany and a good start to the tournament for Kai Havertz.

32:09He's joint top scorer now, I think. With Flo Balagun. Flo Balagun, yeah. Obviously a big win for the US the other night against Paraguay. And he scored twice. Second goal in particular was very nice.

32:24Andrew Allen: Yeah. I mean, he's a good player, isn't he? I think we always saw him as a big talent. And I do think the way his career has been managed is quite interesting, really. I think they sort of clearly made a decision to get him out, to get him playing more club football. they chose to play for the US as well, which I think was strategically pretty smart. You know, they needed a number nine. There wasn't anyone else who was going to really fill that void for this World Cup. And he has grown into that role. And I've seen a lot of people saying it might be a big summer for him. You know, if he performs well at this tournament, there could be interest in him from the Premier League or elsewhere.

33:08So he might get a decent move this summer.

33:13Andrew Allen: But yeah, always, always a talented player. I mean, the amount of goals he scored in our academy, we always knew he was going to be a goal scorer. And yeah, the US looked good. I mean, I think it was probably their best, probably their best ever World Cup performance. Paraguay weren't great, to be honest with you. But yeah, they looked decent. And as I say, I watched Jokeres last night for Sweden, scored. He had a very Jokeres game, I thought. He was very busy, very hardworking, untidy at times, but always a threat and got his goal. He had another big chance, didn't he, as well? Yeah, yeah. He played in a proper front two with Izak, which I'm told they don't typically do.

34:00Andrew Allen: I think Izak's played off the left for them a lot. But yeah, they played as a real pair. And it was interesting seeing Jokeres in a front two. I sort of think it suited him, actually. And, yeah, it kind of played to his strengths a bit and masked some of his deficiencies. And obviously, like, they are, you know, as front twos go, they're right up there in this tournament. I mean, yeah, there's a sort of, they're not the same player, you know what I mean? Not at all. You know, so there is a sort of complementary element to the way that they perform. So, yeah, he had a decent start. We saw the celebration.

34:44Andrew Allen: And yeah, I'm trying to think. Japan, I think Tomi Asu came on. He did. That was great. I fucking love me some Tomi Asu, I have to say. A lot of people said that was kind of the game of the tournament so far. I went to bed at halftime because I was like, oh, God. First half, this is not great. So you can all thank me for the second half that followed. um yeah those hydration breaks really picked up the action yeah the end of the second quarter i decided to go to bed um yeah i keep winding up basketball fans here by saying you only need to watch the last two minutes of games and i i keep i keep comparing it to the british tv show bargain hunt which does force me to explain what bargain hunt is to people but yeah essentially i say it's like an antique show and i say you just skip to the auction you know you don't need to see the first 25 minutes of the show where they're like shall we buy this lamp or shall we buy this hideous porcelain doll just get to the auction and then you find out the profit and the loss and whether the red team or the blue team won um and that's basketball basically i'm sure that's going down very well yeah they love it actually they really really love it And when the Knicks made their big comeback win, I think in game four, I just sent all the Americans I know a picture of Tim Wanacott, the host of Bargain Hunt.

36:18Andrew Allen: As my kind of valedictory, I was right all along. See, I told you. I mean, what else has happened? Australia, great win over Turkey. Yes, I must say that my father-in-law, who is Turkish, said, do you want to get up at half past four to watch Turkey Australia with me? I was in the UK that night. And I said, no, no, I don't. And I think he probably regretted his decision. I was quite surprised by that result. I think I may have, a lot of people may have underestimated Australia. I thought that would be a Turkey win. Qatar got their draw against Switzerland but yeah I think that's sort of it really I think we've mainly covered it off I'm trying to think of any other Arsenal involvement that I've overlooked yeah Hincapié played for Ecuador in a defeat last minute goal from Ivory Coast some last quarter drama there

37:24Andrew Allen: yeah i think that's kind of it though what what we got today france senegal is tomorrow so today is spain get started they do it's capo verde um i saw a video of david riah it made me sad actually it was a training you know how we put out like the finishing drills um and it was the spain kind of finishing drill. Poor old David Raya was sort of the sub goalie, you know, being forced to like dive after shots from La Minha Mal for 20 minutes. They never make the number one do that basically because it hurts a lot and it's risky. It's mad he's not the number one for Spain. It really is. It is mad, yes.

38:13Like he's been the best goalkeeper in the Premier League for probably two seasons now. And obviously his first season with Arsenal was good, but maybe not as convincing as the other two. I think we've spoken about this before. It's obviously like manager preference. He prefers Unai Simon. Who is the manager of Spain? I don't know. I don't know.

38:35Andrew Allen: Aaron Ramsdale? If he's picking Unai Simon. I don't know. Luis De la Fuente. Right. Okay. I mean, they've just announced that line-up and it is Simon, as expected. but I can't get my head around that to be honest what I always say is he must be bloody good he must be he must be because I just think David Ryan yeah been one of the outstanding players in Europe really yeah Zubimendi on the bench as well Marino on the bench Marino on the bench yeah yeah could be a good good way to get some minutes into him though after you know a long period out if they get a few goals early on in this game, which is kicking off in about a little over an hour from now.

39:23Andrew Allen: A bit like Kai, it's sort of come at the right time for him. And I've got a feeling he'll make an impact. You know, we know he can be a good sub off the bench and a guy who's got a good nose for golf. So I think Mourinho will have his moment in this tournament. When do England play? It feels like never. Yeah, I'm thinking like, what's going on there? It's Wednesday. It's Wednesday and it's Croatia. At like nine o 'clock. Okay. Yeah. And the big, I suppose the big Arsenal interest is, will Bakayosaka be ready? Nani Maduweke obviously played in the last friendly and had, did you see his incredibly Nani Maduweke moment?

40:10Andrew Allen: I did, yeah. Yeah, went through on goal, rounded the goalkeeper and hit the post. Did everything right, basically. And then I took the shot on with his left foot rather than his right. And I think it just sort of made the angle more difficult than it needed to be. I mean, Tuchel has been talking about Saka and talking about how, you know, Arsenal, I'm paraphrasing here a little bit, but Arsenal kind of nursed him through the last part of the season. And he was, you know, he played against Atletico, played Champions League final, but wasn't really training between games. And they were sort of resting him a little bit.

40:47And I think kind of from what he's saying, whatever issue Saka has with the Achilles is still ongoing and is obviously impacting his ability to train to perhaps the level England might want him to train. Whether or not that means he's more cautious about using him or not, I don't know. I guess we'll wait and see. But it certainly sounds like this is an issue that Bukayo Saka is going to have to deal with after the World Cup, regardless of how far England go.

41:24Andrew Allen: Yes. I mean, Kanye, just to skip ahead slightly, I did ask a question on Blue Sky saying, how concerned are you about Saka's Achilles situation? Who asked that question? Kanye? Kanye? Not him. Not that guy. Okay. Not Kanye, no. Right, right. Well, we won't be answering a question from him. No, no. I just think it's him. He's got a picture and it suggests it's not him. Okay, that's good. How concerned am I? Quite concerned, I guess. I think, you know, he did get a rest and he did spend a little while out of the team and came back. and for it still to be going on. It's a bit like the Jury and Timber situation, isn't it?

42:13That whatever we asked of Jury and Timber, I remember we were talking, I don't think it was on air, but I think we were talking about Timber and the Champions League final, and you had said something to me about how they're hoping he can play a part in the Champions League final if he's needed, but it would be a big risk or a risk. anyway and then as it turns out whatever happened in the Champions League final I don't know if it exacerbated the injury or if it just made it clear that the injury was still so bad he couldn't play and he had to withdraw from the Netherlands squad for the World Cup so yeah it is a bit worrying

42:57Andrew Allen: isn't it for Saka and for Timber yeah I think so I don't I don't know if Timber's going to have some surgery it was sort of the feeling was in the final few weeks of the season that he might require it and it was a question of timing you know did he have it straight away and officially rule himself out of the final and the World Cup it's a real I mean he must be gutted to miss a World Cup you know missing the running is one thing but a World Cup is another and he's not had the best of luck has he with injuries in the last few years That would be three surgeries. Yeah. If he has surgery on the groin thing, he obviously had a surgery on the ACL, which, you know, you need to repair that injury.

43:45And then he had surgery on the ankle last year or last summer, wasn't it? During the off season. And, you know, he obviously came back and played most of the season. So it didn't impact him, you know, hugely in that sense. But yeah, it is a bit of a, it is a problem. Marse will have to try and figure out. It is, yeah, especially when your other player in that position

44:09Andrew Allen: is Ben White currently, and he's had his own issues as well. So I'm sure that's something Arsenal will be sort of examining this summer. A question on that, actually. Let's do this one question before we go into part two and do more questions. John Larkin on the Discord said, Timber was speaking on his injury during the week. It really doesn't sound good, considering he's going to be out for a while. Would you consider keeping Ben White now for this season as opposed to selling him and bringing in someone new who then needs to learn the ropes?

44:47Andrew Allen: It's an interesting question, isn't it? Because as I've just said, can you rely on Ben White to deputise Vajurian Timber? I feel like there's almost too much risk across the pair of them. I feel like probably one needs to be replaced with a player who's a little bit more physically reliable. And probably it would be Ben White of those two. Because of the age, yeah. Yeah, because of the age. And I just think, yeah, I think Timber's kind of the more the man for the future at this point in time. but it's an interesting question. I mean, they are both very experienced, very able, very good players.

45:31Andrew Allen: So I don't think you'd dispense with someone like Ben White casually. I think if you do that, it's because you really believe you've got a great alternative coming in. I don't think you'd necessarily want a situation where it's Timber plus some 20-year-old guy you've picked up. You know what I mean? who's sort of relatively untested. Like, I think with Timber's injury record, you have to think whoever is sharing that position with him is probably going to have to play quite a lot of minutes next season, especially if he's coming back from another surgery. Yeah, I mean, I think the thing about the Timber-White thing as a piece of footballing strategy, it was great, right?

46:17Oh, yeah, on paper. On paper, it was so good because he had this younger guy and Ben White was, you know, the best right back in the Premier League, I think, for a couple of seasons as well. But what's sort of happened and what's been unfortunate is that we've never had them, you know, available to share the burden. You know, when Timber got injured, Ben White had to play that whole season, basically, played 50-odd games, I think. And then that had an impact on him, and then he had an injury, and Timber had to play a lot, And then that had an impact on Timber, who had that ankle injury. And then Ben White got that injury at the start of last season.

46:56And Timber had to play a lot. And then, you know, we've never really had them both available consistently at the same time, which I think is just really unfortunate because they're two brilliant, brilliant players. And if we'd been able to sort of manage the minutes a little bit better and share the burden around, you know, we probably wouldn't be talking about any sort of change at right back now. But I do agree with you. I think it is, it's hard to sort of be able to sit here and say, as much as I love him and I do, like we can absolutely count on Ben White to be fit until such time as Timber is back, you know?

47:36You just, are we asking too much of him? If we do keep him, are we not just going down the same road again and again, just placing that burden on him? And then when Timber's back, Ben White's going to have to sit down because he's fucking knackered or injured or whatever.

47:51Andrew Allen: Yeah. And if Timber is your guy long term and he is going to be sort of managing or rehabilitating some of these issues, then, you know, you do need to have someone sort of solid who you can fall back on. And yeah, I love Ben White as much as any Arsenal fan, but I have worries about that. So I think that's a really interesting one that Mikael and Andrea Berta have to look at this summer. Yeah, I think they'll obviously have a plan in mind and then we'll see, you know, what happens. It might depend on, you know, what sort of treatment Timber needs. Yeah, and what sort of interest there is for someone like Ben White as well.

48:34Andrew Allen: You know, does Sabaya emerge? Is it at the level that makes it worthwhile for Arsenal? I think it's pretty early days on that one everything I've sort of heard and spoken to people about I don't think there are any dramatic or imminent developments on Ben's future Well there were a few little Arsenal transfer stories during the rounds over the weekend which we'll get into we have a couple of questions about those sort of things so why don't we take a little break and we will come back with your questions and more in part two right after this

49:17Welcome 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. on um did you get good chicago feedback from from last week i i did enjoy the fact that we talked about you know you were like i love doing things on my own and then there were all these messages going james i'll do stuff with you in chicago i really like that people are just so nice

49:53Andrew Allen: yeah i don't know i'm coming across some sort of hermit basically i don't want to see anyone i don't want to talk to her on a plane yeah um so what i've decided to do to bite the bullet actually um is that elliot uh has organized a live pod with paul posnan in my pants as well who is a chicago local fortunately i've managed to avoid him entirely that's far fortunately yeah he's trying to pin me down and i keep wriggling away um i just have to take a nine our plane ride, Paul. I'll see you next week. Yeah, exactly. I was free this weekend, so in my desperation to avoid it, I went all the way back to the UK, just to mean that we don't have to hang out.

50:39Andrew Allen: But he will be there, Elliot will be there, I'll be there on Sunday the 28th of June at the Home Away From Home bar in Chicago, and we're going to do a live pod at midday, then we're going to have a bit of a hang out and watch the World Cup game on the big screen. So you can get tickets at chicago.arsenalvisionpodcast.com. I think they are$5 and I think the proceeds are all going to a local charity or a charity chosen by local Arsenal fans. So yeah, it should be good fun and hopefully see a few of you there. Is that where the Chicago Gooners hang out? Is that like their bar? I don't know. I remember...

51:23Andrew Allen: No, I actually think it's... I think it's not. I think it's a different bar. So, yeah, I must go. I think there's a few places, but there's one place in particular where they will watch games. And I'm not sure exactly where that is, but I will get there and watch a World Cup game. I remember many years ago in Barcelona, we used to watch the Arsenal games in a bar called the Philharmonic. It was an English bar, which was also the football team I used to play for. It was on Calle Mallorca, number 204. Kai Mallorca. And I remember, I think, you know, it was that crazy North London derby. Remember the one we won 5-4 at White Hart Lane?

52:07Andrew Allen: Yeah, I love that game because it was sort of, it was mad. Yeah. And I remember meeting some of the Chicago Gooners there. Some of the guys. It's a big group. I think it's like, I want to say it's sort of the second or third biggest kind of Arsenal sports club in the country here. They watch games at the Globe Pub. So if you want to go and watch, if you happen to be passing through Chicago and you want to go watch, you know, an England game with people who will be rooting for Bukai Saka to not get injured, that is the place to do it. All right. Well, they were good guys. I think one of them was called Gary.

52:45I could be wrong, but it was a long time ago. It's 20 odd years ago now at this point. And they did extend an invitation to watch a game with them in Chicago, but I've never been to Chicago. So I haven't yet been able to take them up in it, but hopefully one day.

52:58Andrew Allen: What are you doing on Sunday, June 28th, Andrew?

53:03Hang on, let me check my diary. Yeah.

53:06Andrew Allen: Okay, cool, cool, cool. I'll let you know. I'll come back to you on that one. I'll come back to you on that one. For just$5 and a very expensive flight, you too witness me finally consent. to me, Paul. We had a couple of questions because there was a big transfer link at the weekend. There was a story involving Leandro Trossard and Besiktas. And, you know... There is every summer, Andrew. It would not be a transfer window without a story about Leandro Trossard moving to Turkey. Well, listen, the lads in Turkey, they love a fucking transfer rumour. They really do. As much as we love them in this part of the world, it's next level there.

53:43Which does mean you have to sort of add a slightly bigger pinch of salt to some of the stories. But I saw that story about Trossard and Besiktas, and then David Ornstein dropped a little bit of a bomb about Arsenal being interested in Club Rouge, Greek left-winger Christos Solis.

54:06Andrew Allen: Is that how it's pronounced? I'm not sure. It's what I'm going with, certainly. We can take Solis in Solis. Who we faced in December. Yeah, I don't remember him one bit at all. No. Ex-Norwich man. Of course. I mean, the career trajectory is certainly something. But we had a couple of questions about that. Maybe you might know a little bit more about the interest. But Sunoon, you're going to believe us, says, with David Ornstein reporting of has been interested in solace, do you think the club is more focused on investing in depth across the whole squad again this summer like last year? while Master Johnbury said, we've long said the club should take more punts on younger players with potential in the transfer market.

54:50For every Odegaard and Martinelli, there's also a Fabio Vieira, Loconga and Tavares, players who didn't quite make the grade. And he said, that's okay to some degree because it's the nature of gambles, but it's also a lot of resource spent with no return. So his question is, what do you think is the right price range for these kinds of speculative signings? 35 million for Vieira feels like a lot for that kind of signing. And it seems worth a conversation with news that we're going to do something similar in terms of price anyway. That's the price that was thrown around when it comes to Solis.

55:23Andrew Allen: Yes, Arsenal seeking Solis. That would be the headline, I guess. I missed my vocation at a tabloid newspaper. I think, I'm not sure if you can quite put Solis in that sort of Le Conga Vieira bracket because he's 24. and he'll be 25 in January. So it's not like he was 24. It's not like he and I share a birthday. You know what I mean? He's a January baby. And he's been around the block a little bit. He's been at Panathinaikos. He's been at Norwich City, Twente, Fortuna Dusseldorf. That's where his career really took off. Had a very good loan spell with them. And then subsequently Club Bruges, two years there.

56:09Andrew Allen: I had a very productive season with them. Price-wise, from what I understand, Bruges are looking for a club record, I think it might be a league record, sort of in the region of€40 million. I'm not sure how much that is anymore, really. I mean, to the question of how much is appropriate to spend on these kind of punts. I think 40 million is probably a bit heavy to put him in that category. And like I say, I think the age is a bit high to put him in that category. He had 22 goals and 29 assists in all competitions for Club Rouge last year. But it's not the strongest league. No, I mean, that is the other side of it, that you have to recognise the sort of the level of the league and what a difference it is.

57:07Andrew Allen: I do think there probably is an association between Arsenal's interest in Solis and the possibility of Trossard going out. I mean, Trossard's contract, you will remember last summer, it was adjusted, he got a pay rise, but he didn't get an extension. It's due currently to expire in 12 months' time. Trossard is how old now 31 you know it's it is probably the right time to sell Leandro Trossard if that opportunity is there and Solis is a left-sided forward he's a bit different stylistically he's a little bit quicker and more goes on the outside more but a scorer and maker of goals with Bruges, like you say.

58:00Andrew Allen: So yeah, and Arsenal have watched him and know him well. And Michel Arteta knows him well as well. So I think it's definitely a possibility. I mean, you know, David, he doesn't really report things unless there's some substance to it. So I mean, can I just ask you this one as well? Because it is sort of an interesting aspect of it, because I think what David had said when he reported it was that this was a player that Arsenal had been offered.

58:30And mmitzlers.bsky.social, I don't know, he's lost all his vowels. But he said, what are your thoughts on the number of deals the club have pursued after being offered a player? I'm thinking of Matueke, and that was the reporting around the Matueke thing, that it was more like, here's the chance to sign Matueke, rather than Arsenal actively or strongly pursuing the player. And it was a decision that they came to. Obviously not just because someone said, here, you want to sign them? And we're like, okay. They do their due diligence. He also mentions Eze, who basically offered himself and now reports around solace.

59:06He says, does this point to an opportunistic approach or a lack of planning? And how commonplace is it that a club will be offered a player and then take a look and think, Actually, that's kind of the profile that we're looking for. It might give us a chance to do this. Like, you know,$40 million is quite high, it seems to me, for a 24-year-old, rather, from the Belgian League. But do they look at it, let's say, if they get$20 million for Leandro Trossard, do they then look at that and say, well, actually, this deal is actually only costing us$20 million and probably saving us some money on wages as well?

59:51Andrew Allen: Yeah, and also potentially kind of replacing a squad player like for like-ish in a way that has more longevity. You know, if Solis works out, you've got five, six years of him, potentially. The point about being offered to players is really interesting. I think, you know, on Arsenal, we're blessed with very thorough reporting. And it means that the machinations of almost every transfer becomes public in some way, shape or form, ultimately. So I think we, probably other clubs are, you know, pursuing deals that they've been offered or that have been brought to the table all the time. But maybe we're just not as across or aware of it.

1:00:38I think it's, you know, there are exceptions.

1:00:42Andrew Allen: I mean, I think there are players like Declan Rice where Arsenal very specifically targeted him nearly a full year before they signed him and Martins of Emendy and others like that, where it is a really long pursuit. David Raj or Ian Timber. And then there are others that are more opportunistic. Kai Havertz was kind of more opportunistic. You remember Chelsea were in some regulation difficulties financially and somebody had to go and Arsenal, Havertz was sort of an opportunity. Madueke, similarly, it's not like Arsenal sat down in January before the window and thought, how do we prize Madueke out of Chelsea?

1:01:27Andrew Allen: It was more a conversation where they were looking at the options in the market within their price range and felt he was the best value within that. So Solis, I think, yeah, would definitely be a signing like that where it's sort of, this is a spot we might need to fill. Maybe the Trossard thing has come in and they're like, well, that requires a response. And of the options available, we think this is the right one. We know the way Berta works is that he looks down a lot of avenues. He explores a lot of different targets and players and financial packages. And another aspect of David's reporting that I think is important to emphasise is that he said that this signing is kind of independent of Arsenal's introspection.

1:02:16Andrew Allen: in a player like Morgan Rogers. So it's, you know, part of the calculation on a solace might be, well, this is a deal that means we still have money left over to bring in our kind of tier one talent. Sure, sure, sure, sure. So, yeah, I don't think it's the sort of signing that's going to get anyone. I don't think we'll be congregating in the streets around the Emirates Stadium like we did when we won the title. Do you know what I mean? But then what I would remind us of is, nor were we when we signed Leandro Trossard. And what a brilliant acquisition he turned out to be. Well, that's true. That's true.

1:03:00I mean, you know, there is that idea that, you know, maybe he's not the guy who moves the needle in quite the same way that people would have liked. But then I think, I'm just having a look now, 2019 is when Brighton signed Trossard from the Belgian League.

1:03:23Andrew Allen: How much did they pay? And he was 24 years old. How much did they pay? They paid, they're Brighton, they're clever. They paid about 15 million quid. Right. See, there's a bit of a difference there. but you know maybe the market is maybe the market is inflated a bit as well i think in the market and that's 15 million pounds you know flip it to euros i don't think it's sort of insane level of increase but uh that does slightly allay the fear of like what's this guy doing he's 24 he's still in belgium you know does that mean he doesn't have pedigree i think we can learn not necessarily and it's a league that

1:04:02Andrew Allen: certainly Albert Steubenberg knows very well from time working there and spent there so yeah I'm curious to see how this one plays out I don't think it's kind of a marquee arrival although I know there are a lot of Greek Arsenal fans who will be very excited about it no doubt but But I think it's one that might make sense in the kind of evolution of the squad. And, you know, that left-hand side, I think last summer, a lot of people felt it needed refreshing. And I think this summer, this perhaps indicates that it will be refreshed. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Club Doctor, I had a question about the Club Doctor.

1:04:47Andrew Allen: Oh, yeah. Bunge1976 on Blue Sky says, Do you believe the firing of Arsenal's head of sports medicine is a direct consequence of our injury problems or just a broader reshuffling of backroom staff? There is a great question. I mean, I don't actually know what the answer to this one is. I mean, maybe it is. Maybe it's a bit like trying to keep things fresh and keep new ideas. They've got some Portuguese guy coming in, right? Yes, from Aston Villa. Yes, yeah. And I don't know what the perception of the work that he did at Aston Villa is, but maybe it is just a way of keeping things fresh in the way that, you know, he tried to freshen things up, you know, when Carlos Cuesta left, he brought in Gabriel Ainsa, and people have often talked about that, the idea that, you know, you should keep things fresh behind the scenes.

1:05:46I don't know. I mean, I think Arsenal have to look at every possible thing they can do when it comes to injury, when it comes to having a better injury record. I just think also, you know, the schedule that we have and the intensity of the games that we play. But, I mean, how, to your knowledge, how directly connected to like the, you know, when a player gets injured, how directly connected is that the doctor guy? Because it was Dr. – what was his name? Raph? Gary Driscoll? No. Oh, sorry. Zafar Iqbal? Yeah. Dr. Zafar.

1:06:24Andrew Allen: Yeah, that's the guy who's gone. And I should say he, I remember Sam Wallace in his original story said Zafar Iqbal sacked. Other reporters have used more neutral wording, you know, to leave the club. And Dr Iqbal did put out a statement, which he has, I think, subsequently deleted on his LinkedIn profile. where he basically said, while there has been speculation around the reason for my departure, the simple truth is that after a successful season, both sides move on in a new direction. I mean, that's kind of what you would expect. Part of the course. Yeah, exactly. You know, everyone kind of covers their arses in that way.

1:07:14But I mean, you know, when a player does get injured, obviously, what was he, head of medical services or the club doctor or whatever?

1:07:22Andrew Allen: It's the same job, basically. Same job. So they have a really important role. I mean, you've got Tom Allen, who is sort of the, I think he's the head of sports science. He's the guy who's kind of more adjacent to Mikel, I would say, in terms of kind of the preparation of training and periodization and performance, as far as I understand it, you know, working with the physios. But the club doctor is the head of medicine at the club. So he's kind of overseeing everything. You know, in Gary O'Driscoll's time, there would be a weekly meeting between the football leadership. So that would be like Arteta and Edu and, you know, the representative of the board or the executive.

1:08:11Andrew Allen: And the club doctor would come in and basically brief them on every player's health or injury concerns. and it would be discussed in a kind of weekly bulletin. Obviously, there's contact day today, but that was kind of the formalised aspect of it. And I believe that continued once Zafar came in, Dr. Rick Bounds, his proper title. And my understanding is that this season, sort of reported on this, that there had been like some tension around player fitness and player availability. and sort of the manager, as we know, is incredibly demanding publicly and privately about wanting players out on the pitch as much as possible.

1:08:58And I think naturally, the guy who is the sort of,

1:09:04Andrew Allen: who's more medically minded and who's, I suppose, is health and welfare, I think inevitably there can be some friction or tension in those conversations because managers, what they want, and sometimes what they're hearing from medical isn't good news or the news they want to hear. Yeah. So I think and also bear in mind, Arsenal have had historically over the past couple of seasons, undeniably, a lot of injury issues. And I think there's been a kind of internal process which has sort of examined that and reviewed that. And I don't I think it's really unfair to say and I knew people would interpret this news like this and be like, wow, well, it was all the doctor's fault.

1:09:58Andrew Allen: you know get rid of the doctor and suddenly we won't have injuries anymore i think that would be grossly uh unfair but i think that it it seems the club have decided to renew and change and bring in new personnel new approaches it's not just um the guy coming in as doctor from villa but you know there are a couple of new physios joining and, you know, I think there's quite a lot of turnover in that medical department. Well, I mean, not making it specific to Mikel Arteta, but what does a manager want in that scenario from those people within his club? Does he want pure medical honesty? And listen, this guy, you know, he's not 100 % fit.

1:10:53Maybe you could get 20 minutes, 30 minutes out of him. Or does a manager want to be told, see old fucking limpy over there? Just play him if you really want. Because there is that thing where a manager is obviously concerned for the welfare of the players, right? Has to be. You can't not be. But at the same time, your job is dependent on having as many of those guys fit and available and ready as possible. So when they're not, is the inclination to sort of put pressure on the medical staff or to put pressure on the player themselves to return as, as quickly as possible? You know, every player wants to play, I think, as we know.

1:11:40So it's not maybe a case of that, but, you know, you know, is there, are there scenarios, let's say where the medical staff are, a bit more aligned with the manager rather than, let's say, a more holistic view of the player's fitness or health?

1:12:00Andrew Allen: That's a good question. And I suppose the answer ought to be no, because if you are a doctor, the sort of training you have had and the oaths you have taken or whatever it might be, determine that the sort of medical perspective and evaluation is sacred and paramount. The old Hippocratic. Exactly. But of course, and again, I won't make this specific to Mikel. I think if we were talking in general terms about managers, they want players available, particularly in situations where you're under extreme pressure, be that a title race or a relegation battle or a Champions League final or any of these things.

1:12:48Andrew Allen: The managers are under such intense pressure to deliver. They just want the players back as soon as humanly possible. And of course, sometimes following their kind of medical credo, that places a doctor or head of medicine in a position of conflict. Now, why have Arsenal pivoted? Why have they gone for a guy, for this new guy? Is it because their references and their research leads them to believe his methodology is more efficient and better and can get players fitter quicker? Is it because they think he's someone who might be more flexible and amenable to the manager's specifications and demands?

1:13:36We don't know, but I don't think that's an unfair assumption.

1:13:40Andrew Allen: and you know if you look at the way the complexion of the medical department is changing it is looking a bit more european it is looking a bit more mediterranean and i think people will draw connections and conclusions there maybe um there was a piece in the telegraph about a month ago about uh a sort of long time associate of michael arteta's coming in to conduct a sort of review of that department um and i think maybe what we're seeing now is some of the outcomes of that review so i think that's interesting and i but one thing i would say as well is that you're certainly and you will have been privy to or have heard conversations a rap from people around the club over the past few years that have also said talked about the intensity of training or the intensity of playing style and the demands that that puts on the players bodies and that's something that's kind of more in the hands of of Mikel Arteta so sort of one of my questions would be like it's very well to review the medical and performance departments but you know are we also looking at the coaching demands and are there adjustments that can be made on that side too to kind of ensure our players are as fit as much as possible.

1:15:12Andrew Allen: Because it needs to be holistic. Well, that's it. Yeah, there's no point just saying, right, well, we'll get a new doctor and that'll fix everything when whatever issues that Arsenal or any football club have are unlikely to, there's unlikely to be a single point of failure. It is going to be a whole host of factors that play into why some guys are injured and some guys are not, you know? That's it. And that's why I mean, like, you know, obviously our listeners would never react in this way, but I did see online on social media a bit of kind of an almost witch hunt attitude of like, ah, we got the doctor out, no more injuries.

1:15:50Andrew Allen: You know what I mean? I think actually like it's going to be a much more holistic, hopefully holistic, thorough, protracted process to kind of really change that injury record. at Arsenal. And I think, I think, yeah, I think everyone needs to be subject to that, that level of scrutiny. But I also think there's a degree to which, I think you nailed it at the start. We were like, Arsenal have won. They need to find ways to refresh, bring new ideas, new impetus behind the scenes. And this is one of the ways they can and have chosen to do that. What about this? because there's been quite a lot of talk about this young man, Buadi, Ayu Buadi, who had a very, very impressive game.

1:16:44I didn't see it live at the time, but I did watch, you know, one of the compilation highlights that was doing the rounds. And he is a player who has apparently been linked with Arsenal among other clubs this summer. He's very, very highly rated. He's 18 years of age. I think he currently plays for Lille. My name is Gio, says, Goodly afternoon. Are the rumours regarding Buadi something to be excited about? Or should we be looking for more established, experienced talent?

1:17:16Andrew Allen: Yeah, I mean, he looks to be a really good player. I thought he was outstanding in that first game against Brazil. Morocco, good side, by the way. I think, you know, I think they'll have a decent tournament. He's very sort of elegant on the ball, good footwork. He's got that eye-catching sort of Gendouzi mane as well. He's definitely a player Arsenal have discussed and looked at and followed for quite a long time now. I think a complication is that he signed a new long-term contract with Lille in December. And that's why the prices you're seeing associated with him now are significantly chunkier than they might have been.

1:18:04Andrew Allen: I've seen 70 million euros floated at an asking price potentially from Lille. And that I think raises questions of sort of like, is that, I guess Arsenal have to weigh that level of investment for a player of that relative inexperience. We just had that conversation about Zollis, right? And what is an appropriate fee for sort of a punt on a young talent. does 70 million euros take you outside of that with that kind of money are you getting closer to what you'd pay for someone who is plug and play ready to go sure in the Premier League but I do really like him and I think he's he's clearly a talent and one of the sort of potential breakout stars from this tournament I mean that's another added complication as well isn't it is of this window if there's a player you like and he's at the World Cup and he has three good games he probably doubles in value.

1:19:04Yeah, that's it. That is it. And listen, that was a standout performance the other night against Brazil, no less, as well. This wasn't, you know, against one of the so-called lesser teams in this tournament. So yeah, I think that will push his price up significantly. He looks a very exciting player.

1:19:27Andrew Allen: He does, he does. He's got some great qualities. I mean, again, I think the midfield is actually a really interesting conversation because I think if you'd asked Arsenal what they were going to do in March, they might have had a better idea than they did by the end of May, simply because of what happened with Myles Lewis-Skelly. Well, we had a question about Miles as well. Thornley29 on the Discord. Do you think there's the danger of the same thing happening to Miles again, where he comes in, plays brilliantly, but Arteta signs someone new and knocks him down the pecking order? Like, how comfortable is everybody with Miles as the midfield addition, right?

1:20:11Does everybody want a brand new signing? Do they want a Buati or do they want some other guy to come in? Do we need a different profile of player? Probably Christian Norgard is going to leave. So do we need somebody else to come in? Do we need that to happen in the transfer market? Or are we okay with Myles? Do we think Myles is the guy? It's going to be a real big decision, isn't it?

1:20:34Andrew Allen: It is. And it's a big decision for Myles. I know he loves Arsenal and I'm sure he wants to stay. but I'm sure there were also points during the last year where he thought his time might be up. And now he's just been picked to start a Champions League final. I mean, it doesn't really get much better than that. But I agree with you, a signing in this area could have ramifications or implications for him. And also, I would not be writing Martin Zubemendi off at this point in time. No, absolutely not. You know, his days as a starter are done. I think there's every chance he has a good pre-season and he's back on that team sheet in August.

1:21:18Andrew Allen: So it is a really, really complex and layered one. And when we're talking about Buadi, part of me was thinking, is that kind of Miles' spot really in the squad? You know, 19-year-old midfield player who sort of you're looking at to really develop over the next two, three years. I mean, you wouldn't say no to having two of them, but maybe if Norgaard were to go out, they'd be looking at someone with a little bit more experience in that position. We know Mikhail Oteo loves experience, right?

1:21:57And as I say, I think Miles' positional switch and his success at it has probably just changed or shifted the thinking a little bit there.

1:22:10Andrew Allen: And I would be lying if I said I knew exactly where they've landed on that. so I think yeah that's one of the more fascinating areas for this window for sure I think it's your question if you have one yeah okay

1:22:33Andrew Allen: this question I picked was are you worried about Zubemendi's position in the team long term but I think you just answered that one I've just answered that

1:22:44Andrew Allen: Zachary Achilles what about this then Luke, who is your pick for surprise player sale of the summer? The majority of players we have earmarked to leave are unlikely to do so at significant price.

1:23:02Andrew Allen: Is there anyone who you look at as a potential surprise departure? Yeah. There's so few surprises these days because we talk about every bloody presentation. Yeah, that's it. That's it. I mean, listen, if Trossard goes, I would be surprised if Martinelli also went. But at the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if Arsenal were open to selling Gabriel Martinelli. Yeah. So I don't know. I mean, one area we've talked about.

1:23:36I mean, I think we absolutely need to keep Martin Odegaard because we need more players of that profile. There's just something in the back of my mind about Martin Odegaard this summer. And I haven't heard anything. And I want Martin Odegaard to stay. And, you know, I think his big problem over the last 18 months has been fitness. And if he can overcome the fitness issues, I think the player, the quality of the player is still there. But I wouldn't fall over backwards if that happened. That would be the only one I can think of.

1:24:13Andrew Allen: I agree with you, actually. I've not reported that he's on the way out or anything like it, but if the right bid came in, I think you'd have to think about it for sure.

1:24:30Andrew Allen: Skimming through the squad now, looking for another name. I don't know if you would call this as a surprise, but I do think Kepa is one that could go. Not a surprise. Not a surprise? No. What's the opposite of surprise? That's what that does. What is the opposite of surprise? An expected thing. He's got the release clause, five million quid. I just think, will he get an offer to be a number one somewhere? I think very, very possibly. So that would be one. But other than that, I really do think we've kind of talked about it. I mean, I don't think you could say Ethan would be a surprise. No. given what's happened there.

1:25:15Andrew Allen: I think Myles will stay, but there's maybe 2 % of me that thinks if Arsenal bought in a really big midfield player, that could be a problem for him and his development. And that would be a surprise given the way he finished the season. But I think most of the names you know jesus nor guard martinelli we've been talking about for a couple of years as possibility trossard uh i mean jesus yeah did you mention jesus i think it's just califuri we had a question about califuri from shirt squad yeah and and they say with the poodle moving to real madrid are we confident that ricky will be staying put well i yeah i made some inquiries around this because obviously they've just bought a left back for rather a lot of money.

1:26:14Andrew Allen: Chelsea's bailed out again somehow in Cucurella. And I'm told, I mean, Mourinho has bought about three defenders already at Madrid. And I'm told he's still in the market for another. So I don't fully rule out the Califuri thing, but you have to think it's a bit less likely having signed Cucurella. Yeah, I hope so. but yeah, I guess you could file him under a potential surprising departure for sure. But you know, as discussed last week, I kind of hope not kind of, kind of hope he can just stay fit. That's really what I would like. Yeah.

1:26:59Let's see.

1:26:59Andrew Allen: I don't know what else we've got. Just enjoyed this from Matt Factor who said, gents more of a comment than a question really, but did you know that we are the Premier League champions? Just wanted to make sure everyone knows that as it may have slipped under the radar. Yeah, I do know that. Yeah, yeah. Fairly well aware. Still enjoying it. Still enjoying it. Why not? Why not? Let me see. Was there anything else? There was questions about Kruppi and Rodgers, but we've kind of talked about them as potential targets. Yeah. I mean, how much do you think the World Cup, just before we go, how much do you think the World Cup is going to play a part in deals that get done?

1:27:45Like this one comes from Eagle Acer Cobra on Blue Sky. How much stock are you putting in the rumors concerning players at the World Cup like Barcala and Rodgers? At past tournaments, deals have been done after teams have been knocked out, but things seem a bit different this year. for example Cucurea you know he's obviously part of the Spain squad

1:28:06Andrew Allen: that won't be tied up I don't think until July I think it's what was reported yeah it's definitely going to slow the market there's no doubt about that and it's in the interest of selling clubs isn't it I mean again take a case like Buadi why would Lille possibly accept a fee at this point in time when he might be worth 20 million more in a month. So I think that is going to have an impact and a knock-on for sure. I'm just Googling actually. So yeah, Greece, for example, are not in the World Cup. Does that mean a deal like Solis is more achievable at this early point in the window? And you can kind of tick that one off and have it done.

1:28:55Andrew Allen: I think quite possibly. And that might be a reason that that's where the noise is at this particular point in time. Yeah. Wouldn't make sense, wouldn't it? Wouldn't make sense. Get the ones that you can, done, done. And then, God, there can't be much of a gap between the end of the World Cup and start of the new season. What is the... Well, July 19th is the final. That much I know.

1:29:24Andrew Allen: And, yeah, I mean, we're doing a pre-season friendly in Dublin within 10 days, like, what is it? Two weeks of that, basically. Yeah, we are doing a pre-season friendly. We're also going to be doing a live little pod thing here in Dublin as well. We'll give you some details of that over the next couple of weeks. That'll be the night before, right? Yeah, August, yeah, the night before. I think the game is on the Wednesday the 4th, so it'll be Tuesday the whateverth. It's Tuesday the 4th, the game's on Wednesday the 5th, yeah. All right, okay, there you go then. There you go. So, yeah, we'll do that.

1:29:57Premier League season kicks off on Saturday, August 22nd. So a month. And then you've got to give...

1:30:05Andrew Allen: Yeah, they pushed it back a wee bit, didn't they? You've got to give players some time if they've gone the distance, you know. You've got to give them some holidays and give them a chance to relax. Well, it's always a tricky one for managers to deal with, isn't it? It's something we had to deal with a lot in the Arsene Wenger years, I remember. And again, that's why signing like Solis, that's one of the little upsides, isn't it? It's like he'll be back for pre-season. He'll be available in the first weekend of games. Yeah. If England, for example, you know, reach a semi-final, I find it very hard to see a player like Declan Rice or Bakara Saka being ready to go from kick-off in time for that first Premier League fix.

1:30:58Andrew Allen: No, no, no, no. Do you remember like the World Cup ended and it was really close and everyone went, you've got to give Alexis Sanchez some time off. And then he posted a picture of himself like running up a volcano and played the first game or something. It was crazy. That guy was fucking nuts. He was mad. Yeah. He was a bit. Okay, listen, we'll leave it there for today. I'll let you go about your business and obviously you've got a TV show to present today. Is that right? That's right, yeah. It's called The Daily Cup and it's available on Amazon Fire, which I think you need a fire stick for. And then it's also available as a podcast.

1:31:38Isn't that like, wasn't the fire sticks how you do like the dodgy stuff? So are you pirating an Amazon stick through Amazon? Yeah, basically. Not that you're, you're not advocating that, of course. No, no, no.

1:31:53Andrew Allen: I love Jeff. I absolutely love Jeff. But yeah, I had an Amazon Fire Stick when I was living in sort of like an old house that didn't have a TV aerial and it was the only way I could get television. If that's you, then you can tune in every morning to the Daily Cup. There you go. I did have a Fire Stick, but I don't know where it is. And I'm not inclined to look for it. It's too much stuff around here. Anyway, listen, I hope it all goes swimmingly and have a great week and enjoy all the delights of Chicago and all the delights of the World Cup happening in the time zone that you're actually in.

1:32:36To everybody, go on. Yes, I will.

1:32:38Andrew Allen: I'm assured this will be the week for the deep dish pizza. So I will report back after my birthday pizza. Okay, we look forward to your culinary Stanley Tucci-esque updates on the next RScast. Extra to everyone else, thank you so much indeed, as always, for being with us and for downloading, for listening, for subscribing. We'll have something for you a little bit later in the week. You can also keep up with the World Cup over on Patreon. Phil Costa is doing a really excellent and fun World Cup diary for us. So a sort of written post for you on top of everything else that we do on R-Spog. That's patreon.com forward slash R-Spog if you want to get involved with that.

1:33:20For now, though, folks, take it easy and we will catch you on the next one.

1:33:24Andrew Allen: Bye-bye.

1:33:53Andrew Allen: We'll be right back. one place. Growth comes easy. Experience one place for all your HCM needs. Start now at paylocity.com slash one.