Arsenal Women Arsecast 130: Arsenal rule Europe (again) and summer mailbag

0:28Hi, I'm Nick, co-host of The Best One Yet. Liquid IV hydration that goes wherever life takes you.

0:47hello and welcome to the arsene women arse cast on arseblog.com with me your host tim stillman slightly smug sounding well smugger than usual anyway because um i was gonna say england england are the European champions again, but really I think Arsenal are the European champions again. That's right. Arsenal won Euro 2025. In my opinion, Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, you guys like, yeah, well done. You played your part, but Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead, Lesley Russo, Michel Ajamang, Lotta Wubhamoy, you guys, I've missed someone there. Leo Williamson, just the captain. Yeah, congratulations to all of those guys.

1:30And, you know, I think if you're a fan of the WSL, I appreciate we have a lot of listeners who are not English and cannot and will not really share in that success, which is absolutely fine. But I think for the WSL, hopefully it's really, really good news as well. And we see a continuation of this kind of explosion of popularity. But we'll talk a little bit generally about the Euros and do a little bit of Arsenal chat. And to do that, delighted to welcome back after a month's slog in Switzerland covering the Euros, Jamie Spanger. Jamie, got back less than 12 hours ago and we've got you on the mic here.

2:09How are you doing? Tim, I'm excited to be back doing what I love most. Honestly, was looking forward to this. It's been a long month, an exciting month. I am so sleep deprived. But talking about Arsenal is my bread and butter. I'm very excited to be back. Well, we'll do that, obviously, later. And we've got some questions. As usual, we'll make this a bit of a mailbag episode. But, Jamie, just in terms of, I guess, like your experience, both of the Euros in general and your kind of takeaways from it, but also your experience covering it. You know, you were out there with haters doing all the match.

2:47That's Hater TV, by the way, not like the haters, the organisation. but you know doing all the match day minus one stuff all the post-match stuff all the press conference stuff lots and lots of games what was it like covering the tournament it was it was incredible tim honestly it was a month of non-stop action like i the glamour of a major tournament i think everyone gets very excited about it covering my first ever major tournament i was very excited and it lived up to the expectation but it is long i am very sleep deprived my body is shutting down and I'm ill. But yeah, it's basically getting up at 7.30am.

3:25We were doing a live show every day. So prepping for that, setting up and then doing all our content, going to the England Media Center, whether it be England Media or whether it be match day minus one, post-match training, and then going to a game at night. So I think I covered 15 games in the end, basically getting home at 3, 3, 4am every morning for 28 days. So I'm exhausted. However, it was incredible. Switzerland was incredible. If you're planning on going to Zurich, make sure that you've got enough money in your bank account because I've never ever been to a city or a country more expensive than Switzerland but the tournament was amazing it was so incredible to be there I'm so glad I got to go when Switzerland were hosting as well them making it to the knockouts their first ever knockout uh achievement at Euro at a Euros was incredible the fans the host fans were incredible the way that Switzerland set up a tournament for a country that doesn't really have the facilities to support a tournament of that size was just remarkable Like it was remarkable being there when they made the knockouts, I think was a highlight for me.

4:21But the tournament and being able to watch every world-class team in the world, like it was incredible. I got to see basically every team in the end. I think the only teams I didn't get to see were Wales. I was actually at Netherlands, France instead of England, Wales, covering that because we thought that was going to be maybe be a bit more on the line. But it was incredible being able to watch Spain, Germany, Italy. My grandparents are Italian, so being able to watch Italy in a semifinal was also incredible, albeit the result. but it was Michelle Adjumay and Chloe Kelly, so I won't be complaining too much about it.

4:49But yeah, Tim, it was amazing. However, I need eight hours of sleep, more than anything in the world. Yeah, because I've never really covered a tournament before. When the Euros were in England in 2022, I went to nine games, but I went as a fan to all of them. All of the work I've done and do around tournaments is all kind of remote research work, a bit of podcast work here and there. But I've never really done the months-long slog. But, Jamie, the next tournament is in Brazil. and listen I've never really fished for that kind of work at tournaments because like I write about Arsenal primarily so I've never really had to but someone's got to hire me for Brazil in 2027 uh come on guys um but um but yeah absolutely like and and and I think it is worth um kind of reflecting on the hosts as well because I admit I was one of those people that was slightly dubious about it like is this ambitious enough you know but actually I mean I was quite I say shocked surprised like that Switzerland broke the attendance record like before the final it's kind of an interesting model because all of the get like they didn't have like a Wembley final like we had last time but they had a lot of like good sized venues for pretty much every game and they pretty much filled them all by the looks of it which I think is a better look for a tournament like I was watching that Switzerland Spain game and the atmosphere was absolutely incredible I really hope there's a legacy there for for kind of Swiss women's football as well and you know like that that kind of having those like quite in men's terms mid-sized stadiums but having them full all the time whereas in England you know we used like Manchester City Stadium which is really really good facility but only holds 7 ,000 people and obviously like Switzerland is quite an easy country to get around on rail travel so I mean it has to be said for the hosts a real success and they've got the bones of a team there that I think you know some of those players are going to be playing for them in 10 years easily.

6:57Yeah honestly I think Switzerland They need to pat themselves on the back as a host nation, not just the squad. I agree, Tim. I think this tournament was the perfect stepping stone for women's football because we didn't try to go too big with the scale of it. 30K stadiums basically on average across the entire country. They were all sold out except for two games, which is remarkable. And those two games that weren't sold out were pretty much sold out anyway. So it's the perfect stepping stone to say, OK, we go bigger the next time. Whoever wins that bid. But Switzerland were amazing, considering, again, the facilities they have are great, but they're not world class.

7:27They made them world-class for the tournament. For media, it was so excellent. And yeah, the travel was just lush. Those Swiss trains. Oh my gosh. I could live on a Swiss train. Honestly, double-decker, air-conditioned, massive seats for second class. It was remarkable. But I'm with you, Tim. The Swiss team, a very, very young and exciting team coming up that have some really promising talent. Obviously, a lot of them are making big moves. They've got a player that's just signed for Man City. Geraldine Reusler is now being looked at from Lyon and PSG. And she had a remarkable tournament. And then, of course, Leah Valti made me emotional.

7:58I was covering the Switzerland-Norway game, the opener. And that was actually probably my favourite game of the tournament to cover. And I was just watching her, Captain O 'Nation, I actually got so emotional. And then obviously, Frieda Mornan was there as well. So, yeah, good on Switzerland. It was an amazing tournament. They did such a great job. And speaking of stepping stones and amazing tournaments, I mean, Michel Ajamang is the name on everyone's lips, I think. was a bit of a surprise inclusion, even when she was included in the kind of warm-ups. I wasn't sure I was expecting her to make the final squad.

8:31I do think Millie Bright's unavailability maybe lent into that, because we know Serena likes to throw Millie Bright up front when things got a bit hectic, and Ajimang took on that role. And just absolutely incredible that she's played five games for England now and six games for Arsenal. you know just an absolutely exceptional tournament she wins young player of the tournament I think deservedly so I can't remember whether we have a question on this in the for the second half or not but I'm going to ask you what what would and this is a I think a hot topic around Arsenal fans and I've kind of had my say on it what would you do with Michelle Ajamang next season if you were Arsenal?

9:10Well I think that had you asked me two weeks ago even after maybe the Sweden equaliser I would have had a different opinion than I do now. I think, look, Tim, I still think she could value a lot from a season on loan. I really do think there's a lot of merit in her being sent out to another club because now she's shown that she's a starter for most clubs in the WSL. I truly believe they're outside the top four. And it's really, really valuable for her right now with Alessia Russo and Stena Black-Sinius to be getting those playing minutes because we can see what she can already do. It's just about learning.

9:40It's like the first touch and a couple of things that she kind of needs to grow into. because she's got the foundations to be the best striker in the world. And I'm not even exaggerating with that. However, I think there's also a point to be made about the fact that Arsenal just need to be a bit hungrier. And I think we've seen over the last five, six years, they've been a little bit complacent in terms of, OK, how are we going to contend for winning everything and winning the WSL, winning the league? You look at Chelsea, their depth is just absolutely monstrous. And they've got players that are happy to play their role off the bench.

10:10You've got Kat Macario, Sam Kerr is going to be back soon. It'll be interesting what happens there. Agui Bivre-Jones, Mario Mieres, they all play similar positions. They're all playing in the nine and they're winning the domestic treble unbeaten in England. So I think for Arsenal right now, you need to be hungry. There is a spot in the squad right now to have Adjumang, Blaxtinius and Russo. I think they are all completely different strikers as well. They offer something else to Arsenal that, you know, Russo doesn't offer what Adjumang does and Adjumang doesn't offer what Blaxtinius does. They're all very different calibres of strikers.

10:41And Arsenal are going into this campaign as champions of Europe. They need to be contending for the WSL. This is the year where it's basically, I think, theirs to win. I think Chelsea have a lot of squad turnover. They've got some ageing players as well. I think right now I want to be really, really greedy and just say there is room for all three of them in this squad, especially with the future of Stena Blackstinius. I don't think it's as long term, it's safe to say, as Russo and Adjumang at Arsenal. So is there room to maybe just say we're just going to see what we can do for a year and play all three of them?

11:08But I think that's just me being a greedy fan because I can also see the perspective of the loan signing. Yeah, and I don't think you're alone in that perspective at all. And if that were to happen, I wouldn't be complaining or disappointed about it whatsoever. Another thing we haven't touched on yet, like the podcast has, but we haven't got your opinion yet on, well, I don't think so, on the signing of Olivia Smith. I think maybe the last podcast you were on, I talked a bit about the interest in Olivia Smith. And I felt at that time it was going to be really dragged out. I knew Chelsea were interested.

11:48There was stuff in the French press about PSG making bids and Lyon. And I thought, well, there's a lot of competition here. And my information from the absolute get-go was that Liverpool, if you don't offer them£1 million, you're wasting your time because that's all they're going to take but Arsenal slapped the money down and they did it and they did it quite early in the window whereas their other kind of big world record bids have all been slightly panicked deadline day kind of deals what's what's your take on Olivia Smith coming to Arsenal and being the first one million pound women's footballer I'm buzzing Tim I'm so excited not just for the caliber of player I'll get on to that but just the intent and the hunger in the market is something we've not seen from Arsenal, like you mentioned, over the last few years.

12:34We've often seen them slap a big bid on late in the window, or maybe even for Alessia Russo when United weren't realistically going to sell her in a title charge, and then a late bid to Barcelona for Kira Walsh. This is a record-breaking signing for a young player with a high ceiling rather than a ready-made player that's going to provide a quick fix. And I think that's what I'm most excited about with the implementation of Livia Smith, is that there's already wingers in those positions. We needed a world-class winger, because yes, Chloe Kelly is now signed on a permanent. Caitlin Ford is there.

13:01She's going going to be at the Asia Cup next year in March for a whole month, hopefully a whole month at least. Sorry, Arsenal fans. And then obviously Beth Need as well. Like we've seen that there needs to be an extra body in that line. Lena Hertig is obviously no longer with the club. So to sign a young player like Olivia Smith and Arsenal going into this market and saying, we are the champions of Europe. We have the intent to be able to build this club for the future. We don't just want to kind of band-aid the squad as far as we can go. We want to lift the ceiling. And Olivia Smith for Liverpool last season was sensational.

13:31Obviously, she got six goals in the WSL. Zero assists. However, I think that there needs to be a case to be said that her expected assist was actually a lot higher than her output because there's no world-class striker on the end of those balls. Her shot creation is actually quite good. So you've put in someone like Alessia Russo, Stina Black-Stinney, so you've got Chloe Kelly in there, Freda Mornham in the 10. That's a player that can serve some of the best players in the WSL. So I'm so excited for this signing. She's so, so technical and aggressive on the ball and I think that's exactly what Arsenal need they need a ceiling raiser in terms of her pace but she's not just a quick winger with and with no end product she's very very good technically so Olivia Smith for such a young age such a big name player already you get her in early you really really nurture her talent knowing that she has someone like Bethany, Chloe Kelly or Caitlin Ford to kind of learn from who've been around the game it's just about Arsenal saying no Chelsea no Liverpool like we want this player we're getting this player and I'm just so pleased that that is the attitude that has finally been adopted yeah absolutely she's got I think you're right in how direct she is and Arsenal have needed that profile for a while she's got that Beth Mead thing for me though of like just making her own shots yeah and you know that that first thing in her mind being what can I do for a shot to happen whether it's from me or someone else what do I do to make a shot happen at the end of this and I I think that's really, really exciting.

14:57And I also think it's going to be quite interesting because there's four wingers there who can play on both sides. And I think they will. And I think we've seen Chloe on the left for Arsenal a bit, but I think in the Euros we've seen quite a lot of her on the left to really, really strong effect. And I wouldn't mind betting we see a little bit more of that next season. I think that's going to be really interesting how those four wingers are kind of used and which sides they're used on the most. But a player who is going to go, well, at least temporarily, Rosa Kofadji going on loan to Brighton.

15:35I think it was reasonably obvious for most of the second half of last season that she wasn't going to be at Arsenal this season, one way or another. I believe it's really the club that have said, we won't entertain a sale, but we'll definitely entertain a loan. That's in line with what she wants. She wanted to go and play. Going to Brighton on loan, obviously, Michelle Ajimang went there last season. Dario Videsic, Australian coach, he's Australian, you're Australian. I used to live in southwest London. You guys all know each other, obviously. What do you make of Brighton for Rosa Kofadji? And particularly, I'm thinking about her learning from someone like Fran Kirby, who I think she's quite similar to.

16:16Yeah, Dario Videsic, good mate. Good mate. Everyone in Australia knows each other. No, I'm really excited about this. I think that Brighton is a great loan destination purely because Vitisic has known in his past managerial tenures to really do well with breeding young talent. And you look, when he was at Melbourne City, he won the league. He won the A-League at Melbourne City before he came to the WSL. And that was a team where people were really, really doubtful about the talent that they had because they had a lot of aging top-level talent. And then they had a lot of young blood that wasn't really proven in a top league.

16:50So he, rather than playing the players that had got the most caps, he played the 19, 20, 21-year-olds and they won the season. He said, this is how we're going to go forward. This is the style of football we're going to play using these young players. So that's the way. And then they won the league with it. And then he's gone to Brighton and he's had the luxury of Brighton being very ambitious. This is a club that are starting to really take their women's team seriously. They're backing in. They've gone and signed Frank Kirby. They had Nikita Paris, who's obviously no longer there. But he had those experienced heads to kind of play the young talents.

17:18And I think we saw it with Michelle Adjumang, right, when she went to Brighton. A lot towards the start of the season, she was played on the wing, so she wasn't just not played at all. He said, okay, we're just going to find a way around it to get you in the squad. And she had some really bright games. I mentioned the game. I was at the Amex when they played Manchester United. She came on at the left wing and was sensational for Brighton. She really, really knew what her job was. And I think that's what Vitisic is so good for. So if you look at Rosa Kafagi going into this team, I think you're going into a team with a manager that has previously backed young talent and will continue to do so.

17:49And I think it's the perfect, perfect environment for Rosa Khafagi to be in because maybe she's not going to be starting every game. You mentioned someone like Fran Kirby, who's one of the best players of all time, playing in that high 10 role. But then you've got a manager as well and you've got a team as well that aren't going to be contesting for massive titles all the time. So they've got more room to kind of make experiments. And that's what we saw a lot of with Brighton. They changed up their frontline. They also like to change formation very often. He doesn't really have a game plan and stick to it.

18:16So for Rosa Kofagi, it's going to an environment that's going to help nurture her talent. I think it's a perfect decision from Arsenal to allocate her to Brighton. I think that's a very, very clever mood because it's not just, oh, she needs playing time. She needs a manager that's going to play her and teach her. And she's also going to need to work for a spot at Brighton, which is important. I think if she's going to a club where she's going to walk into the starting lineup straight away, it's not as beneficial, but she'll get a lot more playing time than she would at Arsenal. So, yeah, I'm really, really happy with this.

18:42I think it's a smart move from all parties. Yeah, yeah, definitely. And also I think like Fran, probably not a 90-minute player anymore. So I think there's potentially lots of minutes. So even if Rosa doesn't start, she'd be coming on quite a lot. Personally, I'd love for Michel Ajamang to go back there. I'm not sure, particularly when Nikita Paris is gone. I think Paulina Bremer left as well. So potentially got a bit more of a gap. I don't know how open to that they'd be. I know like Everton, for example, are kind of brief. because Everton had done this before. They'd taken Jess Park and Agui Biba-Jones and Gio as well and taking kind of players on loan.

19:22But they're very much briefing that they, understandably, I think they don't really want to do that anymore, that they've got their own money and they don't want to be developing players for other clubs. So I don't know if Brighton would feel the same about taking another player on loan, but I'm with you. I think it's a really good place to go. And like you say, I think Dario Videsic's kind of tactical diversity as well makes this a good move. And clearly, Arsenal must be pleased with the work done with Michel Ajumang as well. So, yeah, I think that's one really to keep an eye on, but I think that was one that was basically always going to happen.

19:58We will take a break there, and we will come back in part two with your questions, which were submitted from Blue Sky. We will be back right after this.

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21:48Okay, welcome back to part two of this summer mailbag episode with your questions submitted from Blue Sky. And Jamie, I'm going to ask the first one, which is from at Economy Dave, but economy with an I. Maybe I've mispronounced that. I don't know. Sorry, Dave. It says, Arsenal men always seem to struggle after major tournament summers. Do you feel the fact that England and Mariana went so deep in the tournament will affect the players mentally and physically next season? Or do you think we have enough quality and depth to cope with this now? So what do you think about the potential impact of the Euros on the beginning of the season?

22:26Yeah, that's a really good question because Arsenal men certainly, but Arsenal women after the World Cup came back in 2023 and lost the opening game against Liverpool, fell out of the Champions League. So it's kind of just a club thing, but it's just a football thing. I think when you have world-class teams, they often kind of have a bit of a mulling over period because so many of those world-class players are playing for world-class international teams. So there's always a worry about overload. But I think there's a new layer to it this season, Tim. I don't think it's just like, oh, these players are going to be really tired and they're going to come back on heavy legs.

22:58Arsenal have a different point to prove this season. They're coming off the back of a really, really successful 2024-25 campaign. If anyone didn't remember, I'm pretty sure they won the Champions League. So that gives them a little bit more hunger. And I think - We do have to mention that on every single episode and we will do that. In case people forgot, like you never know. Sometimes I remind people I live with all the time. Yeah, so I think it just, it brings a different kind of dimension to the return of the season because often players come back from major successes and start season's very strong.

23:30And I also think Arsenal are entering a period now where they've got a nice diversity in terms of international players, where there's a lot of fresh players. Like you look at someone like Norway, Friedem Ornem, they got knocked out in the quarterfinals. She's had some time off, comes back into preseason. Then you've got the Australians who haven't played a major tournament. Whereas at the World Cup, it was basically everyone. Olivia Smith comes in fresh. She gets a proper preseason. And I think such an issue heading off the back of the 2023 Women's World Cup was there were so many new players that had no time to implement themselves in the squad.

24:02Like you had Alessia Russo, who came off the back of making the final with England straight into Arsenal, straight into the Champions League knockouts. They don't have that little mini tournament now. So it saves a lot of grief. You had Amanda Illizek, Chloe Lacasse. These are players that were all at the major tournament, whereas now it's a lot of fresh blood that can come in and have their time. Olivia Smith has had her time. Katie McCabe has had her time. So I'm less concerned about it this time around. I think, yes, there is a bit of strife for the England players, but there's enough depth there that I don't think it's going to be that much of an issue.

24:32The season does start in just over a month, which is a bit crazy. But Arsenal don't have to worry about that mini tournament. It actually just makes things so much better. It makes things so much less stressful. So I understand the point. However, I think it's going to be a lot. It's a more comfy position than it usually is in this time around. Yeah, of course, Arsenal started with Manchester City last season. And like you say, and they had all those Champions League qualifiers. They don't have any of that. I don't think LCL will be an easy game by any means. However, you know, they've got that before then.

25:01They've got after that things really pick up with kind of Manchester United away, West Ham away. You've got Man City and quite early as well. But I think there is like a bit of a cushion for that first game. And I do think Arsenal have really got the depth to deal with that. I think the kind of weird thing, though, is we've got three left backs. None of them played in the Euros. So I really like to use that depth there. Do you have a question for me? I do. I do. I've just actually lost it. I've lost it. But the question was along the lines of we've had a bit of an issue with technicality and now my blue sky has just absolutely gone off.

25:36I'll start with a more general one and then I'll find my detailed one later. This one is from Biased Arsenal Chicago. What are your thoughts on the plan to make noon on Sundays the new default time for WSL games? Yeah and Rose CH91 had a very similar question How do you feel about the new WSL scheduling plans And how it will affect the further growth of attendances in the WSL for Arsenal While there may be a positive effect after the Euros I feel like it might be mitigated by the early kick-offs I agree I don't like it I think the thing is that's tricky about all of this Is that it is literally impossible to find a time that suits TV audiences and match-going fans because they are diametrically opposed.

26:23What suits people watching on TV is the fact that they're not out. So that means kind of unsocial hours, like evenings or earlier in the day. Obviously Sky as well clearly want to keep a distance from their Premier League coverage. I'm not so sure about that. I kind of think that maybe we're at the stage where we just, I don't know, they'll have a better handle on how it affects numbers. I know Tom Gary reported they want more of a kind of round the grounds feel and for the games to feel a bit more connected. And I guess I think they're kind of aping the format that the Champions League has really taken in the men's game, where on the final day of the group format, there is this kind of around the grounds type feel and there's this, all of the results are meaningful and they're all interconnected and people hop between them.

27:19And that's really for TV audiences. I think for the stadiums, I think it's bad. I think we saw, for example, the Lyon Champions League semifinal, that being at midday, really hit the attendance. I think quite typically as well, the people who come to Arsenal and WSL games, they have children that play themselves. And it's harder. If they're playing like Sunday mornings, it's going to be harder to get, I mean, even to the Emirates. And we've got to take into account that lots of these WSL grounds are not as accessible as the Emirates, like getting to Meadow Park at midday would be tough, getting to Crawley for midday, for Brighton.

28:01You know, if Villa are playing at Walsall, although I can't remember whether they've committed to play all their games at Villa Park but a lot of these grounds, can you imagine trying to get to Lee Sports Village at like midday on a Sunday? I think you'd have to live in the hotel opposite it for that to work really so I think not just an impact on the atmosphere of these games I do think it's going to have an impact on the attendances but in terms of like the TV numbers I don't have as much sight of that And I do believe that the TV numbers away from Arsenal, Chelsea, haven't been great, frankly.

28:42And so clearly they're trying to create something with this. Let's have all the games kind of going simultaneously and make it feel a bit more like an event and maybe people hopping between the games rather than Brighton versus Villa kicks off at 2pm. So clearly there's got to be a little bit of trial and error. I think from a match going perspective it's bad from a TV perspective I just don't know it might well work but I think we've got to get used to maybe a little bit of trial and error particularly while there are more games on now when Sky try these things out with the insight they have that I just don't quite frankly let's kind of stay well no no let's not stay on that But this one's from Elle at Mariana AWFC.

29:36What was your favourite moment of the Euros? Arsenal related, of course, though it'd be fairly impossible to pick anything else anyway. So what was your one favourite moment of the tournament? Michelle Adjumang scoring against Sweden. That was definitely my highlight. I would say her equaliser against Italy, but as I mentioned earlier, it was a bit bruising that Italy lost that semi-final. I moved on very quickly. If it was the Matildas, like if you knew me at the 2023 World Cup after that semifinal, I didn't speak to anyone for at least seven days. But the Michelle Adjeman goal against Sweden, I think she was so deserving of that goal because I thought in England's opening game against France, the Lionesses were pretty woeful, to be honest.

30:18It was a really poor performance. But when Grace Clinton and Michelle Adjeman came on, they woke up and they played some really good football. The intensity really lifted. I think France were kind of begging to bottle the game at that stage. And it felt like Adjumang was deserving of her moment because she had already proved that she could change things in the England squad. And for her to get that moment and just kind of say, here I am, I'm on the world stage. This is who I am. The Arsenal fans know me, but the English fans don't know me yet. And this is my ceiling was really, really exciting.

30:44I just think her getting her flowers in terms of the whole tournament. My highlight is just Michelle Adjumang, not even just the goal against Sweden, but she deserves it. And I got to sit down and do an interview with her as well earlier on in the tournament before she actually played and made her major tournament debut. And she is honestly the most lovely kid. Like she is absolutely lovely. So humble. We were just speaking about how she's grateful to be in the camp training with these world class players and said she every day she gets excited that she gets to train alongside Alessia Russo. And now suddenly she's scoring goals in semifinals of the European Championships.

31:16So, yeah, Michelle Adjimeng's goal against Sweden, but her in general. Yeah, definitely. And I think, you know, I don't know whether it's my place to say this or not, because I don't want to tie this to individuals because it's not Michelle Ajamain's job. But I think, you know, there have been a lot of conversations and rightly so about, you know, women's football and a lack of representation and England women and a lack of representation and Arsenal women and a lack of representation. So it feels, you know, it feels having like an English player of Ghanaian descent come from Arsenal's academy, you know, come into the England team and, you know, do this.

31:55And particularly when, again, during this tournament, unfortunately, we've had, you know, issues where players have had to deal with racist abuse in the England team. And it's not those players' jobs to solve that. They've gone to the tournament, they've played, they're professionals, they've bloody won it. They've done their job. They don't need to solve all of these problems as well. But I do think it's really important that those players... I think also we have to mention Jess Carter's performance in the final, which given that she came out of the team for the semi-final and everything that she went through during that and dropped an absolute 10 out of 10 performance, I thought that was incredible and a big moment of the tournament.

32:40but I'm going to say my moment of the tournament, I'll separate it from England a little bit because obviously there's lots of food for English Arsenal fans in this tournament. But for me, I think Lea Valti, you referenced it earlier, Lea Valti kind of having a bit of a tear during the national anthem in the Switzerland-Norway game. I know how hard she worked to be fit for this tournament and it was by no means was it a given that she was going to be fit for this tournament. She barely trained before that first game properly. She didn't take part in any of the warm-up games. You know, she's had pain in her knees, but I knew she'd play because I knew it would just be like, this is like absolute, you know, won the Champions League, doing this.

33:25Like, if I have to sacrifice my whole career to play these games, that's what I'll do, type thing. And, you know, she played, and I think she played brilliantly as well. So I think for me, Lea Valti getting out for that first game, I was so anxious about that. I was thinking, God, like she can't miss this. That would be so unfair. So for me, I think Lea Valti captaining Switzerland and, you know, on top of like, you know, being like a literal ambassador for the country, for the tournament and everything. And, you know, I'm going to miss her other Instagram account. So helpful, by the way. Yeah.

34:05Yeah, with a lot of practical information as well as nice shots of lakes and mountains. So yeah, that's a really, really good one for me. How about this one? Yeah, this one from Arielle AWFC. You've mentioned the need for a six in midfield. coming off the Leo Valti thing there, which we've had for years now. Given there are so few out there of the level that we need, why do you think the sport has a difficult time cultivating both sixes and left-footed defenders? And I would say Chelsea have had this issue as well. Before they went for Kira Walsh, they were looking at Grace Gioro and like, can we repurpose her?

34:56they repurposed Erin Cuthbert, they've never been able to find a left-footed centre-back. What is it about those positions that kind of women's football seems to be struggling to create elite versions of those positions, do you think? Yeah, I think there's a few things about this. I don't know if there's a direct diagnosis, like you'd need to look into a bit further, but when we talk about investment in facilities in the women's game in the past, it's not always been to a top standard. I think we're setting the path now in 2025 for the next generation of top female footballers to have the facilities and the means to be able to play in any position.

35:31I just think it comes to the point where the players that are playing now have grown up in an environment where most of them were playing for boys teams. They didn't have elite level academies to be playing under. And it comes in an environment where not everyone is going to want to play those positions. I really do believe it is just like a lack of, it's a lack of facility the Dina lack of investment, they've not had the quality. So I remember when Steph Catley was coming up through the A-League when she was young and she was the only left footer really in the A-League. And that's why she was just picked for everything.

35:58Like she was picked for the state level team when she was really, really young. Then she was picked for the Matildas. And a lot of that at the start came from the fact that she was left footed because she started her career on the wing and now she's a left bat. And she was always going to be the mainstay in the Matilda squad because there's just such a lack of left footed players. And that goes into the current game now. but I do think we're seeing a bit of an advancement in that. I think when you look at the younger players coming up through the ranks, there is going to be more players in those positions purely because there's more access to women playing football.

36:27So you've got more players training. You've got more players that are left-footed playing. I think it is going to improve. I don't really have the answer of why there's not enough sixes because when you look at the elite-level game, there's not. Like Man City have Yui Hasegawa. You look at Man United, they really don't have an out-and-out six. They've been playing Dominic Jansen there, who's kind of a hybrid centre-back, defensive midfielder. The best teams in the world don't really have a six. You look at Barcelona, they have Paceri, but even against the best six in the world, but she can play up in the eight as well.

36:55So it's a worldwide issue. It really is. I don't think it's something that is maybe just as a younger player. A younger player doesn't want to be a left-back. I don't really know what the answer is, but I'm not concerned for the future. However, if we're talking present for Arsenal, there is a lack of sixes in the market. There is a few out there that I think are world-class. They're gettable with aggression in the market. However, yeah, it's definitely, it's a bit of an epidemic. There's no left-footed defenders in the world. And I really do hope that that improves as time goes on. Yeah, I'm fascinated by the six because you look at, I mean, Leon have got Damaris, who's probably like one of the real few.

37:33Patri was repurposed. Yui Hasegawa was repurposed by Man City. and yeah I think that does happen a bit in men's football like players as they get older drop back so Pirlo for example he dropped back Alonso dropped back Mikel Arteta dropped back over time so we've seen that with Kim Little as well really she's dropped back I think even in men's football it's a position usually for slightly more experienced players again in the men's squad last season Both of their options in that position were over 30. And the men's team bought a 31-year-old this year. So I do think it's a position more for kind of experienced players.

38:16But I think, you know, I don't really know beyond that. I think it might be a question of like repurposing someone, either in the existing squad or buying someone and repurposing them. But I think what we can say is that we won the lottery with Leo Valti when we bought her in seven years ago, because she's one of the few and she stayed with the club. You know, it'd be eight years by the time her contract ends. So we really won the lottery on that one and we might have to go and try and win it again. So I think that's a really, really interesting question. As for left-butters, yeah, I don't really know the answer to that.

38:56Maybe it's just a kind of lack of specialised coaching. I had a nibble on that one, so I'm going to ask you this one as well. You know, bring up the Rio Ferdinand meme, please. I'm generally looking at the Ballon d 'Or situation, and it's basically a mess this year. Barca had an outstanding club season, bar the Champions League, because obviously, as people remember, if you don't remember, they lost the Champions League final to Arsenal, who won the Champions League. Arsenal are European champions. Yes, thanks for bringing that up again, but nothing domestic. And Chelsea had the treble and unbeaten league record.

39:34I was hoping Mariana would have a great women's Euros, but who wins? And that's from Seri X Me. I mean, Michael Cox wrote a really good piece in The Athletic today about how, and I think he wrote one after the last World Cup, kind of saying, actually, you're seeing women's football like it's less about individuals now. It's less about Marta going and winning things all on her own or someone like that or someone like Megan Rapinoe or like you're getting fewer stars and more systems. What do you make of the Ballon d 'Or situation? Because this is going to be a year where like an Arsenal player is going to podium at minimum, I think.

40:15It's just a question of who. I am really excited because I think it's the first time with the women's Ballon d 'Or, maybe 2022 as well, where we weren't convinced that we already knew who it was. Like last season, it was boring. When Matti won, we all knew. The season before that was boring. So I think it's the one year where maybe it's a little bit of a question. I think it's a three-horse race, and I think there's two Arsenal players involved, and I really do believe that. I think Alexia Pateas, 27 goals for Barcelona. I think it was 21 assists, which is remarkable. That's across all competitions, and obviously won the domestics with Barcelona.

40:49But the Champions League final, she was poor. And then the Euro, she was incredible during the group stages. Three goals and four assists for a tournament is remarkable. But she was nowhere in the knockout. She really had a poor knockout tournament. And then you've got someone like Balmati that I don't know how she won player of the tournament. I really don't understand that at all. She had a good game against Switzerland and a good game against Germany. So that was a bit baffling to me. I don't think she should be in the running. But again, you've won player of the tournament. I think the other two players have to be Mariona and Alessio Russo.

41:18Mariona, in terms of goals and assists, not as much as Pateas, but she's won the Champions League. Again, I was relying on the Euros. I thought if she had a good Euros campaign, I think that she had the Ballon d 'Or in her cabinet already. but she wasn't great until the final. She really did struggle. I think she was played out on the right wing by Tome and that didn't suit her. She was almost like beaten for pace and obviously we've seen how good she is in the central areas. And in the final, she was inverting almost to kind of overload the English midfield. So it allowed her to play with more freedom.

41:44And then when Pateas came off, she went centrally and that was when she played her best football. If Spain had won that game and she'd scored, I again think Mariona Caldante deserves a Ballon d 'Or. But then you've got the question of Lesse Arruso and I personally don't believe that a player that scores just 12 goals in a league season should win the Ballon d 'Or. But 19 goals for Arsenal in the season. I think, how many assists was it? 11 assists. European champion for both England and Arsenal. And she scored the goal to equalise in the Euros final. So I definitely think Russo's a shout. I think Caldente deserves it because to basically lead a team to the Champions League the way she did Arsenal is absolutely remarkable.

42:20And we talk about the lack of stars. She was the star for Arsenal during that Champions League campaign. and her final wasn't her best work, but the Champions League campaign was absolutely remarkable. I've never seen a player do that before. Like she took the underdogs to the title. So Mariona, I think, deserves it. But then you look at 2022 and it's like, clearly does international success matter that much because Alexia Pateas won the Ballon d 'Or that year when Beth Mead was phenomenal at the Euros and she obviously came second. So I think I'm being biased when I think Mariona deserves it, but I don't know.

42:50I think it could be any of the three. I don't predict it to be anyone outside the three. Chelsea didn't have an outstanding player. I thought they were all just very, very exceptional as a whole. And their Champions League campaign was a bit of a mess in the end. They had a bit of an easy road to the semi-final and then blew it. So I don't think they have anyone up for the chance there, Tim. But who do you think? Yeah, I think there are going to be like four or five Arsenal players in the top 10. I think Chloe Kelly will get in the top 10. I think Leah Williamson will. And I think she has to come into the conversation.

43:21captaining England I think she had a superb tournament brilliant in the Champions League final I think of the Arsenal players Russo might have the best chance just because I think she was second top scorer in the Champions League but she was voted into the Champions League and the Euros team at the tournament which I think gives her a chance I mean talking about like a lack of maybe individual stars Chloe Kelly got in the team at the tournament she didn't start a game Michelle Ajemang won young player at the tournament and she didn't start a game you know so I think it's getting harder and harder actually to kind of pin down to an individual I suspect that Russo's got the best chance if I was going to put money on it I reckon maybe Bon Matty or Alexi will get it and then we'll have like Russo second and Mariana third and maybe like Chloe Kelly in fourth and Leo Williamson in sixth like do you know what I mean I've just got a feeling we'll have a number of high placed players but maybe i don't know i don't know like russo could win it um and so good tim it would annoy a lot of people on the internet as well so many people honestly just i would be like doom scrolling on social media for hours and hours and hours just manchester united fans just please inject it into my veins um do you have a question for me maybe we'll do one more each i have one from mdmw this is we touched on this very earlier about the wingers but But who do you think plays the most minutes on the left wing next season out of Chloe Kelly, Olivia Smith, Beth Mead?

44:56And adding Ford into the equation, do you anticipate Rene's usage of the four wingers to be fairly even, at least for the first half of the season, or expect a preferred big-name pairing to emerge? Yeah, I think that's really interesting. I think we'll see fairly even usage of all four of them. Rene certainly settled on Chloe Kelly and Caitlin Ford, towards the end of last season but I mean you can see Beth Mead's impact I think Beth Mead made a big impact in some of the games she came on in in the Euros particularly against Sweden like if you kind of freeze frame Aja Mang's goals in the Euros Beth Mead is there creating a bit of a nuisance of herself winning the penalty against Italy like she gave England more box presence and so I would not rule her out one bit.

45:49I think at the start, definitely Caitlin, because she hasn't been to the Euros as well. So I think Olivia Smith might be introduced reasonably slowly, but I mean, she'll still... Basically, I think all four of them, when they're fit, will play in every game. It's just a case of who starts. But I am quite interested by the Chloe Kelly on the left thing, because I think Olivia Smith played much better on the right for Liverpool last season. but maybe that's just something about the way Liverpool are set up rather than Olivia Smith herself. I wouldn't mind betting that Chloe Kelly plays quite a bit on the left wing next season, and we'll see lots of switching in games.

46:30I'm really excited by it, actually, because I just think for so long we haven't had this, and I think we've overplayed players like Caitlin and Beth in the past as well, and I think that's led to some injuries for them. I mean, really, Beth's only had that one injury, that ACL. I think it's incredible that she's had nothing since then, touch wood, and Caitlin's had the odd hamstring injury. But we've been quite blessed with the general durability of those players, but I don't think you can take that for granted forever. I am going to ask you this one about another tournament Arsenal are in in January next year.

47:10And this is from Howe at Howes517. I believe you previously commented on how seriously Arsenal would take the Champions Cup tournament with Gotham in January. Now looks like it's going to be sandwiched between Chelsea and City League games. Does that alter your perspective on how Arsenal might approach this competition? I have to say, I'm slightly annoyed that that's happened. I think that that was probably avoidable. However, I do think the WSL were trying to get those games away from Champions League group stages. So maybe there's January, there's just a limit on what they could do. But yeah, how do you feel with Chelsea and City kind of either side of that tournament?

47:58And I still don't think we know exactly where it's going to be as well. Do you think that impacts Arsenal's approach to it? Yeah, I think it does. I think Arsenal are in a position this season where they want to be, like I said, they want to be challenging for the WSL. There's every way that they should and can win it, given the fact that Chelsea's reign surely has to end soon. Like, I'm getting sick and tired of watching it now. We're getting Farmers League allegations over here, guys. It's time to step in. So, yeah, those are two massive games. I think Man City will definitely get a bit of a kick this season because they need to rewrite the wrongs of last campaign.

48:31Obviously, they had some awful injuries and some really bad luck there. but they've got a new manager. They need a point to prove. They've gotten some good players in this window already with like Sidney Lohman example. So yeah, I think those are two games where it will probably be the top three. I think United's time is maybe they're going to push on, but I don't see it. So these are the games, right? And yes, you've got this new competition. I think we said a bit earlier, they'll take it as seriously as they can, but I think it's just situation dependent going into this game. How many players are fit?

49:00Who's available? What's the depth looking like at that time? But then again, I think we're in a better position this season than we were last season in order to challenge with the squad depth across all those competitions. Because, Tim, you mentioned it. We were very lucky with injuries last season with that Champions League campaign. Like, all of our key players were fit and ready to play. We might not have that again. Football works in many different ways. You might not have everyone available. So I think it's situational. It'll be assessed heading into it. I don't see Arsenal going into that and saying, oh, we don't want to win.

49:28We don't care. I think that they can win without putting the best possible starting XI in there as well. Gotham are a great team, but Arsenal's depth is getting more and more impressive. So it's situational. I don't see them putting everything on the line for it, given the fact that Chelsea and City are massive games. However, I still think that they're going to show up with some real hunger. And why wouldn't you want to win it? It's not many games to play. It's a trophy. So, yeah, we'll see. Do you have a question for me to finish? Yeah, I do, actually. I have a bit of a finish off one. Give me one second.

49:58Okay, final question, Tim. This one's from Liam Underwood. he asks thoughts on the Arsenal players going up a level at the women's Euros I guess Tim what have you thought about the fact of like this turnover of this squad we've always seen Arsenal being a team that like fields world-class players but it feels like at the Euros essentially as you said at the start of the episode Arsenal won the Euros it felt like there's been a dramatic shift Tim yeah this this is something I'm really enthused about I think there is a positive cycle in terms I think England winning the Euros in 2022 probably helped Arsenal a bit in the Champions League this time.

50:37I think Arsenal winning the Champions League helped England a bit in the Euros. I'm not saying it's a main factor, but I think it was a factor. And I think, you know, ultimately we've got five players who won the Champions League and the Euros two months apart. First of all, the hunger that that gives you, like the hunger those players had when it would have been, I think reasonably easy to go I won the Champions League done the Euros before but to go and do it again I think seriously impressive to play essentially Barcelona again in the final more or less and I think that says something you know potentially very exciting about repeatability but also I think just having that experience of winning which you know and listen we've done a I know, you know, it's not the biggest trophy on the line, but we've done like a couple of Conte Cup finals.

51:30Essentially, these players, a lot of them, you know, the English players, they've won their last four finals now in the space of two years. And I think that says something. Obviously, the league is a different beast compared to like a cup competition. I'm really excited about it. I think the fact we don't have European qualifiers is massive. I think that's been a real drag in some summers. And particularly two years ago, I think it was just like a total nightmare scenario to have to play those games and then lose them. I think it destroyed that season completely and utterly. And then last season, you know, we make a bad start and, you know, have to change manager.

52:15I think we're in really good shape and we've got signings done pretty early. you know I kind of think the women might be in a similar place to the men that they they might do one more but not necessarily in like a massive massive rush but like they've got their main signing in Olivia Smith that was their big target of the summer and they got it done quite early I think we're in such a strong position to go and attack this season and with all of that confidence flowing around I think the amount of rest the players will have is kind of fine as well it's five weeks to the first game, I think we should have pretty much a full squad to start with.

52:54So for me, as long as we don't have what we had a couple of years ago, where we had four ACLs in one season, I just think we're in such a strong position. And I really think some of those players coming back, some of those players are coming back and their most recent experiences are winning a Champions League final and winning a Euros final. And I think that's just going to be massive. I really do. And I expect Arsenal to challenge every year, but I really expect it this year. And I think that the fan base is really hungry for it. I think the club's hungry for it as well. I think they realised that it's about bloody time, quite frankly.

53:34So yeah, I'm really excited about this season. And I think the manager's in a really strong position as well. I think that really helps. That wasn't the case last season. quite frankly. So yeah, what do you reckon? I think it's exactly that. I think that these are players and I want to point out Chloe Kelly again because we've spoken, we've almost highlighted every player and we've spoken a bit about her, but her journey over the last six months that I think really does epitomise the upwards trajectory that Arsenal Football Club are on because six months ago, she spoke about the fact that she wanted to quit football.

54:09She didn't want to play the game anymore. She was hating her job and she was in a dark place and then she kind of gets thrown this lifeline from Arsenal. She arrives on deadline day and she gets dropped from the England squad. And I think something that really summed up Chloe Kelly and sums up this club right now is when she ran over to Serena Vigman after the full-time whistle and was just absolutely elated, tears in her eyes. And she said, like, this is a manager. I want to thank her for giving me a chance. And we see so often in football when a player gets dropped from the squad, there's not always the hunger that Chloe Kelly's shown.

54:37And she has shown everyone that she has it in her. and she's proved so many people wrong because she just wants to love football. And when she's loving football, that is when she plays her best game. And that is exactly what's happening at Arsenal right now. These players are back to enjoying the game again. And those foundations of the club that are backing in their women's team, there's obviously more aggression in the market with investment. And Olivia Smith is a prime example of that. But the players right now are playing like they love football and they're showcasing that on the world's biggest stage.

55:05And the players that performed at the Euros, not just the England players, you mentioned Leo Valti, Frida Mornham had a good tournament with Norway. as well in the end towards the latter stages, the group stages at least. Like these are footballers. Stina Bakstinius was exceptional for Sweden. They're showcasing what they can do on the biggest stage in Europe. They're coming in to the domestic season with a love for football, but also the form to be in good form heading into the season. I think this is a team right now that are going to be firing on all cylinders. They're going to be hungry because they've proven to themselves, not just everyone else, that they can do it.

55:35They've done it. They've won the Champions League. They've got that backing. They've got Rene Slagers right now, who's clearly working magic. on the pitch, off the pitch. So yeah, I'm very excited for the season ahead. I think this is the best place this club has been in, in a while. So yeah, let it happen. Yeah. Arsenal owned this Euros, like name me a club who came close, who came close to having the sort of, and obviously Arsenal don't win anything for that. They've got to go out together and put that together. But yeah, I think it's hugely exciting. And yeah, Chloe Kelly's kind of thanks for writing me off.

56:09I'm grateful. Great mic drop. I mean, when she said thanks, I think she said thanks to the people that wrote. I kind of think that was for an audience of one. And of course, Arsenal finished the season at Anfield, away at Liverpool, where, you know, Gareth Taylor might be manager. So, you know, maybe she'd get to lift the trophy there. That would be very nice. But anyway, we'll talk about that in May 2026 when that happens. but for now Jamie thanks so much. Tim it's great to be back let's get started again. Yeah absolutely and I well it's great to be back I'm about to go away for a couple of weeks and I'm going to sit by the pool and do very very little so obviously I'm not taking any microphones or laptops with me so there'll be no podcast in the intervening couple of weeks but we'll come back probably around mid-August with something we'll have probably signed another four players by then won another european trophy somehow somewhere so we'll talk about all of that presently but thanks so much for joining us and we'll talk to you in a couple of weeks

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