Ramble Reacts: Bog roll Breach

0:00Immersing yourself in all things soccer ahead of this summer's World Cup? I'm Alex Avnos, senior sports editor from The Guardian. Whether you're a soccer beginner or you know the game inside and out, we've got you covered. From one of the fastest growing soccer newsrooms, The Guardian brings you in-depth World Cup coverage that gets into the winners and losers on and off the pitch. Read, watch and listen as our journalists connect the dots between the games, the cultures and this political moment. We'll have daily newsletters throughout the tournament, a global perspective, and a squad of Americans, including me, on the ground with the U.S.

0:32national team. Plus, if you want to test your soccer knowledge, try On The Ball. It's a game in the Guardian app, and it's really, really fun. And if you're into stuff like this...

0:40Marcus Speller: Well, I think the problem is, if you give footballers an inch, they will take a mile. Is it too much when it's this close? It's a bit much. It's a bit too real. Maybe you could just talk with a slight delay. Be sure to listen to our Football Weekly podcast for on-the-move expert analysis. The Guardian, bringing you the whole picture on soccer. Search Guardian Soccer for more.

1:24of ColoGuard Plus to your doctor. For more information in Spanish, visit ColoGuard.com to your doctor. Owning a home is full of surprises. Some wonderful, some... not so much. And when something breaks, it can feel like the whole day unravels. That's why HomeServe exists. For as little as $4.99 a month, you'll always have someone to call. A trusted professional ready to help, bringing peace of mind to four and a half million homeowners nationwide. For plans starting at just$4.99 a month, go to homeserve.com. That's homeserve.com. Not available everywhere. Most plans range between$4.99 to$11.99 a month your first year.

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3:33Hello everybody, welcome to the Football Ramble. Good to have you with us. Another Champions League semi-final first leg has been concluded and it ended Atletico Madrid 1, Arsenal 1 in the Metropolitano in Madrid. Not a classic, but there was drama. Vish, won all at finished. What did you make of the game?

3:56Marcus Speller: It wasn't as different a game to last night as I feared it would be. I feel like we spoke about it before we went live, about how there were actually quite a few incidents. Bit of chicanery, you're going to get that. yes I straight with the comparisons to last night yeah no no because I think like what so much what people enjoyed of last night was it felt like an antidote to basically this game that everyone fit this alien versus predator of a Champions League semi-final and it wasn't that though was it is this why they planned it so the second leg of PSV Bayern would be after this one yeah you know some people say like you know actually whenever I go to a restaurant I have dessert first that was dessert yeah okay yeah I see what you mean yeah I mean One all ultimately is not a bad result for Arsenal, considering at times, not all the time, but at times they were slightly second best, if you see what I mean.

4:51I don't think one team was particularly on top than the other. But if you think about it, Adam Oluwman alone had some chances, did he not, in the game? Arsenal obviously went 1-0 up with the Victor Djokovic penalty. I mean, that was the first sort of big incident of the game, I suppose. people asking already on the comments among some other questions including this from Wilnor Linson is Martin Keown's notepad big enough I mean I don't know but Martin Keown's notepad

5:21Marcus Speller: sounds like the name of a horse it does a little bit yeah that can jump quite hard just a bit higher than Rude Van Nistelrooy's horse also a horse yes exactly yeah see it all makes sense in the end a lot of people asking about the penalties though let's talk about the first one Victor Jokeres He was fouled by David Hanko. Yeah. That's not how they pronounce it. No, he was fouled by old Hanko Breadcrumbs. And I... The thing about Atletico and playing them at their place is the sense of you're not sure how much control they have over, A, the laws, but also the universe around them. True. And there was a point where Janko was arguing that, look, I only ran into the back of him.

6:06Marcus Speller: I thought that's fair you did only run into the back of him that's why it's not a penalty continue on your merry way and it was definitely a penalty wasn't it it was very clumsy you said definitely a penalty it was a little bit on the soft side it was only a little bit on the soft side because there was no real attempt to go there was no attempt to go for the ball there was no way in which he was trying to he wasn't trying to go around him and thus ended up clattering into a leg or a knee or whatever but he did run into the back of him. Yeah. I ultimately thought it was a penalty but when people say it was a bit soft well by definition you're trying to interpret whether something's a foul or not.

6:48Yeah. So it can be soft but it can still be a penalty.

6:51Marcus Speller: Yeah like getting bumped at a traffic light when it gets red it's not a crash but it is an accident. Fouls are like Brexit. They can be soft. Go on. They can be hard. Yes. I'd argue they should never be committed. No. You see? Was this an oven-ready penalty?

7:10That's what you're saying. I think I was. I think I, yeah. You've got to expect that from Atletico Madrid. Jokeres knew there was going to be contact. He went down.

7:17Marcus Speller: I don't think he did. Do you know what I think? I generally, the way he takes the ball, there is a real, in a very sweet way, there's a real like, I'm in front of a goal. I can be a hero. They might not hate me now. Nah, but he did get the goal ultimately. He did get the goal, yeah. It was all about the power on the penalty. Yeah. I don't know what Oblak was doing, but I think a lot of that is because, as you say, the power. It would have taken his head off. Yeah. But, yeah, because he essentially doesn't get his hands, well, in place. Well, he wasn't at full stretch. Well, no, because I think he was anticipating, it was almost like a cold spring.

7:50Marcus Speller: He was going to get into that position, but the penalty was so fast. True. It just wasn't quick enough. It was all about the power. It was. It nailed it. You guessed right. We were watching it live and you guessed which way he was going to go. Yes, I did. Five as well. So, you know, I played my part as well. Yeah. You scored it, really. Well, in a way, it is my first Champions League goal. But there was another penalty in the game as well. We have a comment here from Wilf Breadbin, who says... Oh, no, sorry, Wilf. I've jumped ahead there. Sorry. Is it bringing Wilf Breadbin? I've jumped ahead, Wilf.

8:24We'll get to your... Breadbin, we'll get to you in a minute. Sorry. We've had another number of people questioning the second penalty, the handball for me Vish like the one last night in Paris neither of those handballs should be penalties but you knew I said come on Vish that's not a penalty and you went it's not for me but you know these pen pushers down at UEFA Hall that's a penalty for them

8:49Marcus Speller: Seedy Europeans in their penalty boxes yeah it was so that's kind of why it's obviously not an athletic thing it might be a Champions League thing it was just a bit generally Generally, it's not the worst handball penalty decision I've seen given. I think Manchester United won at PSG, do you remember that? To win it. Or when Rashford scored. Yeah, yeah. With Dallow, basically. I can't remember the incident. It's kind of like... How have you managed to get Man United in here? Well, because it's the nonsense of it. Because his hand's so high that even if his hands weren't there, it would have cleared the stadium.

9:26Marcus Speller: Right. But because, yeah. But this is obviously slightly different. but yeah, I mean, they didn't show another replay of it after the penalty was, you know, given and scored. Yeah. But it hit his knee, yeah, into his, it hit Ben White's knee into his hand. Yeah, but I think what they're saying is it's ultimately an unnatural position. It was, and he was, yeah. I mean, the only sympathy I would have, if you sort of say, well, it hit a body part, if a defender did Peter Schmeichel-esque sort of spread, starfish spread eagle kind of vibe, and the ball hit up on the arm, you would go, well, hit me peck first.

10:00He'd be like, no, no, no.

10:01Marcus Speller: I also think White was bringing his arm, trying to bring his arm back into a natural position. Yeah. Gabriel had a marvellous block, didn't he, in the first half. He did, yeah. With Griezmann, who shot. And it hit his arm, I believe. But his arm is, I mean, he would have had to have an amputation for it not to hit his arm. It was really tucked around, so that's why that wasn't given. What if your arm, from your elbow down, was like, do you know Rob Green's finger? Well. What's that? You have to, I think you have to declare that before the game. Right, okay. You know, so the referees know it. They're going to go, oh, well, yeah, we cleared that.

10:38So the only is getting ideas.

10:39Marcus Speller: Right. If we break and reset the arms of several of these defenders. No, no, just to be honest, obviously Arteta's thinking that as well. Indeed, indeed. Back to the comments here. We've got one from Jack Foot Emoji. Hi, Marcus and Vish from New Zealand. Long time listener. Have never got in touch before though. Ha ha. yeah it's a nice message you wouldn't get that from an Aussie would you you wouldn't get it from an Aussie you certainly wouldn't get it from an Aussie right then Wilf Breadbin your question Eze foul or dive or not was what Breadbin I don't think it's a I mean I definitely don't think it's a dive well I thought it was a foul well so I was surprised this wasn't this was overturned however I'm going to have a bit of sympathy with the referee here.

11:28Because, again, I think nowadays, it's not like it used to be back in the good old days where you would see the footage and you would make your opinion on what you've seen. Now we're saying, oh, yeah, but I think the referee will give that. I don't think it's a penalty, but I've seen them give it. And that's how we kind of approach it. And actually, with that challenge on Eze, because there is contact and you can see it, I immediately thought, well, it's a penalty. That's a penalty. he's not going to overturn that and then when you see it again I thought I don't think that I actually don't think there was enough contact to maybe stop Eze and if that's the case which I suspect it is then I have to say it's very good refereeing it's a very bold refereeing I sympathise with Ali McCoy's point on co-combs if it happens down the other end I wonder if the referee you know dares overturn it

12:23Marcus Speller: objectively is you know I've sort of alluded to it at the start of the show and obviously like they have home advantage and the noise and stuff like that it's a hell of a thing to he didn't even intimate it he was like you know I know I shouldn't be saying this he basically tried to do it with a wink and a nod and just said it outright if that was at the other end they would have kept it and they all agreed with him Darren Fletcher on commentary said that Diego Simeone was edging closer to the monitor as the ref no wonder the ref he did it very quickly mercifully he made his decision pretty quickly what was he doing what do you think he was looking over and asked Diego Simeone does he still have Herman Burgos beside him no but he's still Simeone he is coming this way though do you know what he's a screwdriver I think everyone would be I don't think he's good with electronics I think that's for my neck I think both sides would be content with the bottle draw won't they so I I was surprised the referee overturned it but I can see why he did would be my answer to you Mr.

13:21Breadbin

13:22Marcus Speller: Yeah, yeah. You're not sure? No, I'm not, but... This is live-ish. Yeah, but I'm thinking in terms of like, he's got to put so much on Eze's reaction to it that he's basically, he doesn't... When he's re-referring it, he stops watching the foul and he starts watching the reaction, doesn't he? Interesting, interesting. Okay, Joe B says, Did Arteta get it right? considering the atmosphere, pressure, etc. Did he get it right? It's a one-all draw. It's not terrible by any means. It's not that inspiring. Whether we reference it with the previous semi-final first leg that happened in Paris last night or not, I feel that's just a little bit churlish at the moment.

14:10But enjoyable nonetheless. So feel free to keep on doing it. But in the context of just tonight and this semi-final, Arsenal have gone to a place which is tough to go. I know they beat Atleti handedly in the group phase, but lest we forget, Tottenham went through automatically in that group phase. So that's a big old liar. You know, that league table does lie. Okay, we finally found one that does. But it's a one-all draw. Arsenal go back to the Emirates. Again, I agree with some of the comments about the game and the dynamic will be similar at the Emirates than it was tonight. Not a terrible result.

14:44Wasn't that inspiring. but Arsenal finished slightly stronger of the two.

14:49Marcus Speller: Yeah. So did Arteta get it right? Yeah, I'd say so. I mean, was he going to try anything else, I suppose, would be a follow-up question. Look, they weren't really overrun at any point. I know there were opportunities when they were hit in transition, but that's going to happen. Yeah, there were a couple of openings through mistakes. I think also a lot of Arsenal's wastefulness in the ball in the first half was down to individual error, not necessarily Arteta, you know how Arteta set the team up or whatever Chokerez probably is best half for Arsenal certainly in a game of this size yeah I mean he didn't have the ball a whole lot but that's a point a wonderful run down the wing where he squared and Odegaard probably should well he should have hit it first time yeah Odegaard made the error there one of my pet hates in football you have a shooting chance you don't take it and then the shooting chance doesn't present itself again be grateful for the chance that's presented to you don't try and create something better I just want to know I want to know if he'd have scored or not and that's another one that goes and we'll never know yeah I suppose also it was on his right foot wasn't it so he tried to yeah he's only a professional footballer isn't he yeah idiot that's why I got taken off for our brave Eze but then on the on the other side I think I thought the the sub of Odegaard I mean it was early enough for Odegaard to be pissed off about it yeah he looks a bit annoyed I think he worked quite nicely again Eze made a few mistakes but he made a couple of lovely well he had a couple of lovely moments yeah that little turn that was a nice turn that little turn kind of inside his own silhouette and out through the middle Lolo75 I thought it said Cholo I thought it was Diego Simeone himself Lolo can you imagine if you logged onto this that would be brilliant I thought you were robbed actually you'll get him you'll get him in North London Diego Lolo75 eat coming if you want Lolo75 says easy dive also what a shit game thanks for that appreciate that brilliant he thought that was shit yeah here we are again from Wolf Bredbeard who's happier Arsenal or Leti Arsenal you've got to be Arsenal you've got to be Arsenal I think Arsenal can look at the Spurs game as Letico Madrid played there for the second leg and think well we can do that to them they were 5-2 up though yeah but still they didn't Spurs got at them that's what I'm saying yeah Leti have not traditionally amazing Do you think, regardless of what the score was, do you think Simeone would have accepted them?

17:16Marcus Speller: You know what, that's not right about this. It's only my reputation. Just have a little lie down if you want. Look, he's going to set up as he sets up. He's going to play the game as he plays the game. Fine. But all right, okay.

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18:54Immersing yourself in all things soccer ahead of this summer's World Cup? I'm Alex Abnos, Senior Sports Editor from The Guardian. Whether you're a soccer beginner or you know the game inside and out, we've got you covered. From one of the fastest-growing soccer newsrooms, The Guardian brings you in-depth World Cup coverage that gets into the winners and losers on and off the pitch. Read, watch, and listen as our journalists connect the dots between the games, the cultures, and this political moment. We'll have daily newsletters throughout the tournament, a global perspective, and a squad of Americans, including me, on the ground with the U.S.

19:26national team. Plus, if you want to test your soccer knowledge, try On the Ball. It's a game in the Guardian app, and it's really, really fun. And if you're into stuff like this...

19:34Marcus Speller: Well, I think the problem is if you give footballers an inch, they will take a mile. Is it too much when it's this close? It's a bit much. It's a bit too real. Maybe you could just talk with a slight delay. Be sure to listen to our Football Weekly Podcast for on-the-move expert analysis. The Guardian, bringing you the whole picture on soccer. Search Guardian Soccer for more. Happy birthday, Rafa! Sopla, sopla! When you're 45, you have to get to get a lot of lights and examine you against the colon cancer. Use the Cologard Plus test in your home's privacy and send it back to get your results. The Cologard products are indicated for detection in adults with 45 years or more with a high risk of colorectal cancer.

20:14Only with medical recital. Visit Cologard.com for more information. Ask the Cologard Plus test to your doctor. For more information in Spanish, visit Cologard.com. Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. with a message for everyone paying big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop. With Mint, you can get premium wireless for just$15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying, no judgments, but that's weird. Okay, one judgment. Anyway, give it a try at mintmobile.com slash switch. Upfront payment of$45 for three-month plan, equivalent to$15 per month required.

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20:59What about this from Cameron Ronald who says, what can Pearce and Bayern learn from this game so that they don't concede 10 goals each and disappoint Clarence Seedorf again in the second leg?

21:09Marcus Speller: So I didn't see this. Was Seedorf upset? Well, him and Rudy were having a go at the defending. As Seedorf said, you can set up differently at the back, of course. There's a number of ways of doing it, but you've got to be organised. And he was saying it just wasn't organised. two of the best attacking sides in the world well you've got to play to your strengths right yeah I mean if you think about it with Arsenal Jim's made the point on the pod and a number of people have made the observation as well that Martinelli Djokeres and Madueke doesn't really click as a front three that much but I don't think they were terrible tonight but I suppose importantly they weren't meant to click were they to a point Martinelli does a lot of defensive work very sharp it felt like they were basically playing 4-4-2 yeah And the two up top were Malawi here on one side and Jacare's on the other.

21:56Yeah. Yeah, true enough. Yeah, but I think... I mean, Red Dog has said same old Arsenal bottling again. I think that's harsh because, again, they drew. They now would be slight favourites for the time. They might not even be slight favourites. They might be firm favourites for the time.

22:16Marcus Speller: I think that's also just something people write in comments anyway. Do you think? Yeah. I think... I think you're doing the fine folk on the internet down with that comment. I forget the point I was going to make. With Arsenal, again, I don't know why I'm looking for any kind of real inspiration from any Premier League team this season, quite frankly. But you want to see a little bit more something from Arsenal. And here we are again saying that. This is quite clearly how it's going to go. It's going to be a grind at the Emirates. It'll be a war of attrition. Why do you think that it's going to be the same again at the Emirates?

22:54Marcus Speller: Because it's all square and it's basically a single game in isolation. Based on the abundance of evidence we've had on how... I've also been quite attacking in the Champions League. I appreciate it's not actually... Did you watch the games against Sporting? No, I didn't actually. I certainly can't remember them. There's probably a good reason for that. A solitary goal, which was a moment of quality. That's what I mean. When they play sporting at home, it's, you know, go and beat them. Show your superiority. Get this done early, and then you can take it easy. Yeah, the game at home, that was a disgrace, you're right.

23:27Marcus Speller: I do remember that, yeah. Disgrace. Yeah, that was actually a disgrace, because I had to sit through it. Well, I mean, our former colleague Jules Breach got a bit of jip, didn't she, from saying to Declan Rice, you know, was it a frustrating evening? And he was like, no, no, no, it was a great time. She got shit for that. Yeah, she did. Does anyone want her address? You can just send stuff to her. Apparently she found 20 yellow bags full of toilet rolls in the barrels of the stadium at halftime. She brought them in. Let them fly, boys. That's what I found. What do you think of that? Did you enjoy the toilet roll throwing tonight?

24:00Marcus Speller: It's teepeeing, isn't it? I think it was on the show that I corrected. I always thought teepeeing was, when you threw it, it made the shape of a teepee. As in a... Like a tent. Yes, yeah, yeah. Like a tall tent. Yes, right. But it's just the verb toilet papering I didn't know that until a few years ago It's quite fun isn't it I was going to say that's what it's for It's technically not what it's for Clues in the name Have you ever hurled a toilet roll? Have you ever overhead kicked a toilet roll? I've not done either of these things Where and why and what was the context? At home Because I wanted to It was lockdown wasn't it?

24:43Marcus Speller: no it wasn't even locked up was it not no it's just like because the effect of the streaming effect imagine if that's from your foot true no that'd kick yeah no you have captured my imagination the only reason why I asked it was from lockdown I remember doing trying to to juggle with a with a toilet roll that was a trend wasn't it yeah that was a trend yeah which I assumed I started but now you've burst my dirty little bubble you just thought you just thought give me something to kick up with yeah true clean pickle or relish any chance for either of these teams in the final? Eletti or Arsenal, obviously.

25:17Marcus Speller: Yeah, I suppose in the best way possible, you'd hope not. You'd rather an entertaining game. I feel like an entertaining game will be won by one of either Bayern Munich or PSG. So you would, I mean, but you would, are you in the name of football? I think if one of those teams wins the final, the game would have to go their way to such an extent that I don't think it'd be particularly entertaining. yes okay would you want PSG or Bayern to win it the competition now in the is that the football purist in you no I don't feel that strongly about them winning it I'm just saying as like a you know having just thought of the final but I suppose if I mean you know Arsenal are going to only approach it one way Atleti do at least have the quality of Alvarez well that's the thing I mean but that's why I think Arsenal are better off with Eze in the side yeah because there's that spark because they're not creating much so I was because Atleti created more than them I mean Lugman you know the chances that he had I mean I know Ryan made some good saves and all but that one particularly he's got the goal at his mercy you have to give the keeper credit but games like that where it's nip and tuck yeah yeah I totally agree I was quite surprised that he didn't start until I remembered that obviously he came off injured on the weekend yes but yeah it was brilliant when he came on the second half it's nice to see Saka as well again I think maybe defenders just think the idea of Saka there was a couple of moments where they were just a little bit more standoffish and then a couple of moments where it felt like the ball got stuck under his foot and cleared him out a bit yes yeah it was nice to see him I you don't want to turn this into an England show do you well sorry I feel like it's my job on this show to stop you from turning it into an England I haven't mentioned England but I can if you want I'll tell you what was nice that was something we could all get behind was seeing England flags in the Atleti end yeah it might just because the colours correspond they might have other reasons but still Well, I hope they're not using it for that.

27:09Marcus Speller: That flag belongs to us. If they're going to use it for those kind of purposes, because you like the colour scheme, use the Swiss one. Well, if one or two had Peru flags. Well, yeah, fine. Our flag is not decoration. Well, I mean, it can be. Yeah, well. It looks nice on a lamppost and stuff, doesn't it? Yeah. You're right, it does, actually, yeah. And I would say this to all Atleti fans. Tom, put me on the camera now. I say this to all you Atleti fans who've got England flags. if you love it that much stick them on the lamp post up in Madrid alright show your pride in the flag also do send them back because we need them for the summer Dr Tofna simply says marry me Marcus sorry pal I'm already taken but if you can find a country where they don't worry about such laws and what not then send me a plane ticket is what I would say to that

28:07defenestration simply says Jules toilet paper breach good

28:13Marcus Speller: that is that is good and that's a new nickname at least go with here comes old toilet here comes bogger old breach that's better isn't it that is good alliteration and the same person who commented that defenestration said saw a random Irish flag as well must be there to support Rice.

28:38Well played. Well played. Very good indeed. That's so good. That is very enjoyable. Some people still commented about the penalty. Knight of Universe said, as I dived, only deluded Arsenal fans will disagree.

28:55Marcus Speller: That's us. No, I... I'm not sure he made the most of it. Again, sympathy with the referee there. I think I was glad he actually didn't give the penalty the referee because you think okay maybe I want proper contact for a penalty but then he did give the one with a handball and you think ah come on yeah do you think if Arsenal had scored hadn't had a penalty earlier that he would have kept that again I mean it's a bit of speculation there yeah true enough Benjamin Benjamin Deutsch says thoughts on Griezmann receiving man of the match at his last home Champions League game I didn't think about that because he's he's off to to Major League Soccer old Gravesman he's 35 years old he's I mean still a magnificent player he is yeah he was a bit slack in the first half well certainly the first half of the first half but I like the idea that it's just you know it's almost like a lifetime achievement man of the match award do you think so yeah it was slim pickings I suppose you might say who do you think you would have I mean David Raya because I mean again you could give it to a goalkeeper in such circumstances.

30:01Marcus Speller: Yeah, a bit unbecoming, isn't it? Yeah. It's their job. It's what they're supposed to do. Right. You've got gloves, you can use your hands. Yeah, that would have been fine. Alvarez, do you think he was good by just conflating, like, from technical excellence with a better all-round game than he had? I feel like he had a couple of decent shots. Yeah, I think Gravesman was man of the match. I mean, the fact there was no real standout probably tells quite an accurate story of the game. Yes. Looking ahead to the second leg next week How do you feel that one will go? I think it'll be more open I think Arsenal might just edge it Yeah I see that Yeah, I think so Because Atleti, they're great at defending a lead as we know Yeah Going away from You were saying actually While we were watching it If they'd gone ahead at the end there I think if Letico had 1-2-1 I honestly think that would probably have been that I couldn't see Arsenal the best I think Arsenal could have hoped for would be maybe extra time penalties I couldn't see Arsenal winning by two goals or more but this At Leti they are we know how they set up we're used to it over the years I know this is a different team from you know like 10 years ago from Diego Simeone but the style is not that dissimilar they're not great at having to go and win a game when it's away from home.

31:29I'm sure someone will say, well actually, give me a load of examples. But you always think of them defending a lead. And therefore I think that if they have to go and do that, then surely Arsenal, it'll just give them a tiny bit more space. But with Arsenal at home and whatnot, I think Arsenal, the onus is on them. And I think if Saka with a few more minutes in those legs, maybe Ezzer into the side. I don't know what Havertz's injury situation is, whether they'll be back or not. I fancy Arsenal to edge it.

32:02Marcus Speller: Yeah, yeah. I don't disagree with that. I think they could start quickly in the first half an hour. They're not going to take too many risks. But ultimately, it might follow the same pattern as this game did in that when Arsenal got the ball, you know, in the small moments when they got the ball in the first half, they couldn't really do all that much with it, barring that Jacare's run. Yeah. flip that around and Athletic have players who can make you know devastating use of very little of the ball or with very little of the ball yeah that may end up being the difference so I'm probably just arguing against the point I agree with you but my gut says Arsenal will edge it okay but they've got to be they've basically got to put in close to a flawless defensive performance to do it you know because I do think they'll do the early attacking thing I just don't necessarily you know believe that they'll be able to sustain that side but they can defend solidly for 90 minutes.

32:54Yeah. Before the game Arsenal staff asked UEFA to measure the grass at the Metropolitano before the game. They believed it was beyond the legal limit only to be told it was perfectly fine. Surely there's some mind games to be had at the Emirates next week. Well they walk out

33:14Marcus Speller: and it just reads.

33:18I was more thinking that as the teams are about to come out like the half at Atletico are going to be warming up in. You've got the mowers just, oh, yeah, and they take their time to get off the pitch.

33:29Marcus Speller: I think if you're asking people to measure grass and they measure it and they're correct, everyone in the team gets a yellow card. You do look utterly ridiculous. Yeah. What in the hall monitor is that? That's just... Oh, dear. I think we're going to finish with this question from Pickle McDillionaire who says, quite fittingly, if the sandwich guy at the Metropolitano, we saw the sandwich guy, he was doing his sandwiches at halftime, you know. In a really sad way because they were 1-0 down, weren't they? If he was a gooner, what would he make before halftime? What sandwiches would he be making for Arsenal if it was I mean would he go I mean I suppose Atletico's colours are the same well there's a bit of blue in there but red and white I was thinking would he just be doing ketchup and mayonnaise just that just that yeah well there's that there's that big trend of you know North London types just like making sandwiches with crisps and sandwiches with crisps are terrible yeah I'm not a fan of that no so it might be that something like that whatever's trending Yeah.

34:51Marcus Speller: Whatever the youngsters, you know what, whatever the youngsters want. Surely there's a bit of avocado in there. Yeah, yeah, fair. Facon, not bacon, facon and avocado. That's what he's having. That's what he's having. No meat, will there? There won't be any meat. Yeah, no, absolutely not. Cowards. I'll go on then, James Manser. Time for one more. He's following on from that. Do you think the sandwich guy has extra sandwiches in case a ball flies into them? I only saw three which would only just be enough for dinner I like the idea that Arteta gets a bit like touchy and jumping around he ends up like slipping and doing himself a mischief on a salami and what I love about that James is that you think we might have more insight to that than you also if they weren't asleep in the afternoon he wouldn't be having his dinner so late eat before the game that's true that is absolutely true so was that not a little bit annoying in that I like it I think it's quite sweet you think it's performative Very performative.

35:49Yeah, very performative, yeah.

35:50Marcus Speller: Oh, I make my sandwiches at halftime. I make them before the game. Yeah. What a mess as well. Yeah. You know how unhygienic football stadiums are? I hope he is at the Emirates, and I hope they take it off him before the game. We'll be taking that away for thin ham. Thank you very much. I can't bring it in with you, but you're welcome to eat it all right now in front of us. Yes, indeed. Well, there we are. Keep old git. Well, there we are, everybody. It's late, and we need to go home. and sleep because that's what people do where we're from. Thank you for listening. Thank you for joining us. They're probably still up in space.

36:27They'll be off to bed about 2am, aren't they, partying all the time. Thank you for joining us. It's been an absolute pleasure. Thank you for all your comments. Sorry we couldn't get through every single comment. We did try though. And we love you all dearly. It's been a pleasure. What is today? Well, today's Wednesday. I'll be back on Friday. Vish, are you in on Friday? I won't be. Coward. Thank you for joining us. One all. The tie's poised nicely. See you next time.

37:04The Football Ramble is a Stack Production

37:07Marcus Speller: and part of the Acast Creator Network.

37:16Immersing yourself in all things soccer ahead of this summer's World Cup? I'm Alex Abnos, Senior Sports Editor from The Guardian. Whether you're a soccer beginner or you know the game inside and out, we've got you covered. From one of the fastest-growing soccer newsrooms, The Guardian brings you in-depth World Cup coverage that gets into the winners and losers on and off the pitch. Read, watch and listen as our journalists connect the dots between the games, the cultures and this political moment We'll have daily newsletters throughout the tournament, a global perspective and a squad of Americans, including me, on the ground with the US national team Plus, if you want to test your soccer knowledge, try On The Ball It's a game in the Guardian app and it's really, really fun And if you're into stuff like this

37:55Marcus Speller: Well I think the problem is if you give footballers an inch, they will take a mile Is it too much when it's this close? It's a bit much, it's a bit too real Maybe you could just talk with a slight delay Be sure to listen to our football weekly podcast for on the move expert analysis. The Guardian, bringing you the whole picture on soccer. Search Guardian Soccer for more.

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