PSG shrug off Bayern Munich and Arsenal survive Atlético Madrid: Big Match Breakdown: 05/06/26

25:58And to be honest, Rog, it's amazing that Arsenal have got to the final, but it feels like it has been trending that way. And I know that feels strange over the last six weeks where it feels like Arsenal have hit rock bottom and then found belief again. But, I mean, this time last year, we were here and we were talking about the progress that they'd shown. They'd gone from a quarterfinal one year, semifinal the following year, and now they're in the final. It does feel like if you're into kind of progress as a slow burn, kind of arsenal your team. And, yeah, it did get a little bit loose towards the end of last night's game.

26:43Yeah, it was scrappy.

26:44Rog:Scrappy. Atleti tried to assert themselves. Arsenal snapped on the counter. Incappier flashed down, freed by Erdogan. Slapped it into the danger zone. Kenny Loggins started. And it was Jokeres tried to deliver the kin of blade. This is what you were talking about. Decided to slap it over the ball. I think Man can only finish with his left testicle right now. It was a chance that reminded me of Havertz, you know, away at City. But obviously, you know, this time around, Arsenal still won the game. But I do think this is the contrast with PSG. I mean, you spoke about Dembele's goal and you talked about precision, mercilessness.

27:25Solov. Yeah.

27:27Rog:Is that what you're getting? The Solov whiff for the goal that is mercy. Yeah, well, yeah. I mean, poor Solov. I was reading some of the Spanish papers this morning and you know they were talking about how Atleti have only got two and a half strikers you know sort of Griezmann Julian Alvarez oh and then Solov some of these Scandi strikers and look it is boom time for Scandi strikers with Harlan, Solov Isaac, Jokerez but I mean they can't catch a break from the very sniffy press that I am a member of I want to go back to the fans to close and then we'll take a couple of questions the noise in the Emirates I mean that is a place this season has been a place of anguish, of agony of fret and doubt of booing I found it really moving last night to watch it sincerely and hear it rock and I know we've all been told the neutrals hate the Arsenal we've been told Arsenal fans are annoying, the truth is I do believe all football fans who don't support the team you support are annoying.

28:38Rog:I find the team, the journey, the failure, the failure, the failure and the tenacity of Arsenal Football Club to be so bloody impressive, man, over the past four years, but also over the past four months, James. I mean, they are almost like in our chaotic age. They found their resilience really inspiring. Yeah, my mood has changed towards them over the last four days. purely because, you know, I think it's always great, regardless of any tribalism, to see a group of people overcome adversity. It feels like they've had the weight of the world on their shoulders and that what should be a really joyful experience has actually been joyless for them.

29:26And to see them against Fulham kind of rediscover some of that joy and then as we mentioned, the City-Everton game and then to actually reach a Champions League final, which in and of itself, to do that for the first time in 20 years, ensures that people will talk about this team for a long time, regardless of what the result is. Because ultimately, the last Champions League game that Arsenal fans got to see in their stadium is a game that's taken them to a Champions League final. And so, you know, I think, yeah, to see Mikel Arteta afterwards, Mikel, you know, he transmits a lot of tension, I think, but it felt like a lot of that tension just slid off him last night and he was able to relax and enjoy the moment.

30:29And I think, you know, afterwards, yeah, the Emirates did feel like a nightclub.

30:39Rog:It did, didn't it? It really did. It was seeing Saka storm the field. But anyway, with respect to Arsenal, ended with magnificent shit. How was Rui Martinelli throwing the ball into the crowd because Kepa then booting it back onto the field? You know, Simeone trying to rumble with Arsenal sporting direct Andrea Berta. Atleti being shithoused, you can't kid a kidder, but you can shithouse a shithouse. It was really fascinating to watch. That final whistle, you were there, Saka still in the field, Miles Lewis Skelly dancing with his mother and his grandma, the team winning. By the way, with its English core, we need to acknowledge that.

31:15Rog:Edbert G as a Saka, Miles Lewis Skelly, Ben White, Declan Rice. Arteta saying, this is an incredible feeling. And the Arsenal faithful staying, singing in full voice. James, I was watching, I thought, you know, football can make you think you're down and out. That loss to Manchester City, it felt like the darkest day. It felt like doom. It felt like broken backs. And then it kind of lifted to this place of transcendence, joy. Like last night, the you experience. This is what it does to you. And I'm trying to project, because I don't know what happiness is like. Even in our greatest day, our 3-3 draw with Manchester City, we effed it up, didn't we, and lost through the lead away at the lasso.

31:56Rog:We can't have nice things. I'm looking at Arsenal fans living out both the darkness and the light to the extremes in the last two weeks or more. I think it's amazing. Yeah. I mean, you say we can't have nice things. It's such a common sentiment among fans. And so when one of these nice things does come along, it makes it all the more important. and it was, you know, just to be surrounded by people turning around and hugging people that were next to them, regardless of whether they were family or friends or not, just again reminds you of the power of football and how quickly things can change. I mean, you mentioned the City game at the Etihad where the camera just kind of panned onto Declan Rice and stayed on him.

32:55And he looked empty. And then he kind of collapsed onto his knees and he said, this is not done. This is not done. And everyone thought it was done. Everyone was talking then.

33:09Rog:More than that, there were commentators who were like, analysts who were like, that's just empty. It's pathetic. It's a weak man. And, you know, what's the word? Posturing, fronting. Yeah. I mean, people weren't just like, no, it's done. People mocked that moment. Just as much as people lauded the fan with the bottle doing a, you know, amazing. Everton's TikTok admin is not being paid enough to find that man with just a face and a smacked arse face and the silhouette of a bottle in his pocket, which is not brought out. It's like that old Hemingway six-word story. What was it? Baby shoes never, a pair of baby shoes never worn or whatever it was.

33:52Rog:Arsenal bottle gag never pulled out of pocket. That is the story of the season. But go on. No, I mean, that's it, Rog. So to see Declan Rice in particular with a smile from ear to ear, just a really poignant reminder of how quickly things can change and how you can turn things around, no matter how bad things feel. So, yeah. And by the way, they will change again. I want to be clear. This is so ridiculous. I want to get to your questions, GFOPs, because you've got a bunch coming in in person with Tony. Also some incredible questions in the chat I want to get to. It will change again. If you remember, this title, we awarded the Premier League title to Liverpool after five games.

34:43Rog:and then we awarded it to Arsenal and then Manchester City came back in and had that run. We said, oh, they've won the title now. Then we gave it back to Arsenal for a long time. Manchester City again. And now we've given it. I mean, we are football teachers. Ultimately, we all know nothing. And I do believe there's going to be another twist before the end of this thing in the most remarkable way. To your questions, remind you of how this works here on YouTube Live. Scan the QR code top left of your screen or click the pinned comment in the chat, bring you into a Zoom with our beautiful producer, one of the sweetest human beings in the world, Tony Chow, who can tell you everything you need to know.

35:19Rog:Don't worry, you won't be on screen. I want to get to a couple of these. We've also got some cracking shyer human beings who've written some questions in the chat, one or two of which are quite unbelievable. But let's start and unmute, please. The Mighty Rich, tell us where you are and what's your question for the Mighty Hammers? Hey, guys. I'm in Chicago, and my question for you guys is, are Arsenal the best-placed team to play this PSG team? And I ask because not only have we faced them three times last year, but our styles of play defensively are similar. so I personally I think we are the best place I'm an Arsenal fan but I do think PSG hold a slight advantage Rich where are you because where are you in Chicago baby I am in Lincoln Park hey oh god I can almost locate you when you say when you say are they the best place team to face PSG?

36:28Rog:Do you mean from an Arsenal perspective? Is it the best opponent to face PSG of all the opponents? Or are you saying, are they the best prey for PSG? I'm guessing it's the former, right? You're right. It's the former. James, take it away, baby. Are you believing? I love this. Chris blowing smoke up his own team here. Are they the style they play? Are they probably the best team in New York to face up to the PSG challenge? I think Arsenal have ability to control games that perhaps some of the other best teams in Europe don't have. Although, you know, it was surprising to me again last night, the last 10 or 15 minutes were quite loose.

37:11And given they were only 1-0 up, you simultaneously never thought Atleti were going to score, but also were worried for Arsenal all the same. so yeah my concern I suppose with Arsenal beyond the kind of slight stylistic differences is that Arsenal aside from when they play Fulham recently they haven't really scored been able to score a lot of goals on teams and as I mentioned earlier in the show you know PSG have scored seven five against lots of different teams in the Champions League this season. And I'm not sure Arsenal have come up against a team that has the ability to control things in midfield the way that PSG has.

38:03I thought that was super impressive about them tonight against Bayern. Their midfield was just so much better than Bayern's with the little Portuguese lads there and the ambipedal Fabian Ruiz. Yeah, just the 1v1s.

38:20Rog:Well, that and the words I've never used. But yeah, the 1v1s. I mean, Kavara at the moment looks inspired. My worry is, again, like Arsenal in the midst of this title race in the Premier League. Rog predicts there might be more twists and turns. for PSG there aren't any twists and turns really for them I think they can even though they drew with Lorient at the weekend and fielded 10 different new players they can sort of relax into the Champions League final Arsenal can't they've had yesterday which they could enjoy and now it's kind of on to the next one and you know I imagine the tension will be building right up again so I think it's it's more psychological and about freshness that will decide this rather than maybe styles.

39:15Rog:I mean, it's fascinating. There's certainly going to be underdogs against PSG, which is amazing. They're the Premier League, you know, first place team right now. And undefeated in the Champions League. It's crazy. And they are going to be, by some distance, underdogs. But they will. What's changed is that they will arrive with a, a belief, a confidence. Nobody's beaten them, as you say, so far in the tournament this season. Their back line is truly amazing. But I'm old enough to remember this time last year, and we said the same about Inter before they took on PSG in the final. We know how that one ended up in a 5-0 beatdown, James.

39:57And that's another one of my... I'm sorry, I'm saying this is another worry. This is a concern I have. I've got this tick of last answer. But yes, that is a worrying echo, Rog, because Inter lost the title on the final day in Serie A and then went into the Champions League final. And I think the closer they got to it, they kind of appreciate, wow, like we could go empty handed here or, you know, will we ever get this opportunity again? and these are all things that go through your mind which PSG, none of that will go through their mind they've already won it they've had that experience I think they'll be better for winning it and as I said their runway to the final will be easier than Arsenal's but who are we to know, Rog?

40:54Rog:I know, who are we to know? Three words, Myles, Lewis, Skelly

41:00Rog:I'm going to take two more questions and there's a couple of beautiful, beautiful comments that I want to throw at you, James, before we get out of here. It's the mighty Nadika, who I believe is a return caller. Tell us where you're from, Nadika, and what is your question for James Horncastle? I'm from North Dakota, an Arsenal fan. And first of all, I want to say I'm hoping that Arsenal will beat the most entertaining team in recent years off like a deflection of Gabriel's buttocks off a corner just like Arteta Gladys. Dream big dreams, Nadika. Don't let the haters win. Speaking of the Scandi strikers that James was talking about, I was thinking about how I don't think people remember that Sweden used to be a football powerhouse.

41:51Rog:in the 50s. I was wondering whether people in Italy, particularly in Milan, remember that Sweden team that faced Berlin in the World Cup final? Yeah, absolutely, Nadika. The Grenoley front line at AC Milan with Gunnar Gren, Nordahl and Nils Lidholm. I used to work with Gunnar Nordahl. For those of you who don't know, Gunnar Nordahl was the all-time top scorer of AC Milan before a certain Andrew Shevchenko showed up in the late 90s and 2000s. I used to work with Gunnar Nordahl's granddaughter. She's like a Swedish journalist who would cover Italian football. So yeah, no, absolutely. There is something in the herring up there that every generation does produce a lot of very good goal scorers.

42:50Rog:Have you ever put the herring in the duck press? Now that's the future. Nadeeko, I do love your dream now of the Arsenal goal being deflected in off the buttocks of the mighty Gabriel. I can just imagine the statue outside the Emirates, just an enormous pair of butt cheeks. And it will be, oh, the butt cheeks of glory. It will be utterly magnificent. Enjoy your team. Enjoy your giant suite. He is gorgeous. It's Angel. Where are you from, Angel? Unmute and come and ask a question for the mighty double H. Yeah, I'm from the beautiful Orlando, Florida. The beautiful Orlando, Florida. You sound like you work for the tourist board with that level of enthusiasm.

43:38I was there for the Club World Cup. I had an amazing Filipino meal. I think it was sensational.

43:45Rog:yeah we're home we're home to a lot of international cuisines out here beautiful beautiful area um i went to red lobster when i was there it's fantastic i don't know about red lobster but i'm happy you enjoyed it though my question for you for you two is um you know putting yourself in the shoes of an arsenal fan if they could only win once he's a professor the trophy which one would you rather win the Premier League or the Champions League? What a Sophie's choice of a question. Are you an Arsenal fan, Anhel? A little bit. Still going to be used to the Premier League this season. You are? But, yeah.

44:27Rog:And by the way, Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuits, they are cuisine at its finest. I just want to be clear. Before we answer, what would you rather have? The Premier League or the Champions League, Anhel? I would go with Premier League to be honest just because i feel like you know you're at a position where the gap was big and if you lose that position to man city you're never going to lose that bottle afc title whereas the champions league maybe you weren't expected to reach this far and if you lose to psg it's psg last year's winners um that's just my take on it oh how much what do you think man i mean like it's what do you prefer do you want to live with heart or do you want to live with soul it's almost an impossible question to answer i do have a gut sense but what's your feeling well i mean to go back to what uh nidika was saying about the the statue of giocarez and maybe his sort of bum being sort of outside uh there that everyone could touch i mean my experience of in italy is if you go into the galleria in milan there is a um there is like a a bull um ceramic on the floor which um if you stand on the bulls testicles and turn 360 it's good luck so i i would like it if you know at the emirates on the back of gilker as his ass sort of securing the premier league or the champions league you know they make this kind of ceramic which you know arsenal fans can walk on before they go into the stadium do a little turn it's good luck what are you saying there should be anatomically correct downblows on the other side of the buttocks is that what you're demanding by the way that would happen in italy they'd be scored with the bum but we also added a special flourish um go back to annel's question and staying in milan this is why i'm going to answer it because i remember as a very young reporter and sort of 20 years ago um ac milan won the Champions League.

46:27Inter won the league in 2007. And I always remember ACM landed an open top bus parade. And one of their players held up a banner and it said, you can, you can shove the league title up your ass. Because the Champions League is recognized as meaning more. You become a very, you become part of a very select club. You know, I know Arsenal haven't won the Premier League since 2004, but there are very few, yeah, they've won the Premier League, they've won English Championships, they've never won the Champions League, and the Champions League elevates you to a very special place, and I think it puts a group of players, it makes a group of players appreciated by more people.

47:15I think as big as the global reach...

47:18Rog:Is that Natalya, is that a Serie A head speaking, or is that really... Yeah, perhaps. Within the context, I do want to remind you, Hamas, I don't know if you've forgotten, but just to catch up on the past three football seasons, second place, again, ole, ole. You know, that is haunting. Those words are haunting. We had to wear T-shirts that say first place again, ole, ole. It's just, I mean, it's healing. This is like saying Captain Ahab is going to give up on the White Whale because he wants to win the Champions League. It's become an obsession, hasn't it, the Premier League? It has. I think obsessions can be unhealthy.

48:00I mean, Jose Mourinho used to love saying, no, no, no, it's not an obsession. It's a dream.

48:08Rog:My dad, who used to bore the hell out of me about cycling, he said, it's not an obsession, it's a passion. I don't know there's a very thin line between action and obsession but go on to come back to your question and Angel's question I think let's long play this I know we've been long playing this for our centre for a while but Pep Guardiola is expected to leave Man City in the summer and so you know if Mikel stays, you know, and they don't win the Premier League this season, they'll probably have a very good chance of winning it next season. Dynastically. Yeah. Give out this one for the dynastic number that happened on the other side when Pep says, OK, this is my legacy.

49:01Rog:I won again. I'm now going to get on my chariot and go to the heavens to Valhalla. And Mikel will be, all right, don't let the... they'll bum you on the way out, old man. Yeah, or they could say, yeah, Arsenal could win both. I mean, this is the other thing. It doesn't have to be an either-or here. They could win the league and the Champions League. Yeah, I just got to say on this one, I want to read a couple of comments out before we close tonight. It's been a joy being with you all. I've loved these questions. Some of these comments are quite funny. Only two teams have retained the modern champions.

49:32Rog:PSG, though, have no apparent weaknesses. They ripple strength. Their only weakness is that goalkeeper who looks eerily to me like Gareth from the English office. Is it Mackenzie Cooks? Every time I see him, I'm like, oh, it's Ukrainian McKenzie Crooks. And I'll just say this, Ben White facing up to Kavar at Skellyup is going to be, I mean, two of the most singular offbeat individuals in world football at the elite level. It's going to be performance help. Well, yeah, and Kavar is not going to the World Cup. So this is it for Kavar. Like, you know, he's, I'll take my bonus, I'll take my trophy, and then I'll go on holiday for the next six weeks whilst you all sweat in the heat and humidity of the World Cup.

50:13Rog:He's amazing, Cavari. He does look like he's just smoked an entire pack of 20 at halftime, yet he also looks ecstatic every time the ball is in. The ball changes him. His posture, his being, his essence, his menace, his threat. It's remarkable. Possibly my favourite footballer. It's because of that human transformation. he's very also like very 1920s sort of you know emigre after the russian revolution you know sort of just i see him more like yeah stonewashed acid jeans trying to ask you if you want a cab when you arrive at jfk you know he's just buffing away he's been like don't get it uber i get you a good price he's an amazing human being to watch and that transformation in the presence of the ball is utterly ecstatic i promised a couple of comments i want to read them out.

51:05Rog:The great at T Cook 317. You make me laugh at T Cook. You are in our Discord channel a lot and you are a brilliant human being. Super smart, super funny. The chat says, Horn Cossel saying Arsenal fans can allow themselves to feel optimism. It's like telling your dog he can allow himself to drive home from the park. It's just not how he's built no matter what we wish. James? I mean, I love dogs there's nothing i've seen lots of reels of dogs driving um so you know maybe you know maybe i'm yeah maybe i'm very optimistic about what dogs can achieve so you know yeah it's like my favorite um slow horses quote it's like trying to explain denmark to a dog um i think it's point taken although there is that you were there last night you did see belief you did see optimism you saw it you lived it you heard it your ears are probably still ringing though i saw euphoria yeah and um it was yeah it was so nice i mean there were there were people that journey man from booing from angst to tyler adams coming on our show hamez and saying we bulma fed off that agony the fans kind of fed us our energy to what you saw last night that fan journey has been i think one of the stories of the season.

52:27Also, I mean, there were people around me pacing. They'd get up from their desks. I'm talking colleagues. Get up from their desks and just pace up and down the stairwells and around like they were like sort of in a hospital ward whilst their sort of wife was sort of giving birth. In the 1950s. Yeah, very much. And then the final whistle went and they were like, you know, they were told, yeah, it's a Champions League final. And then they were all cheered. So it was quite an extraordinary experience to be a part of. But I just feel the last five days are not just big for Arsenal's season, but maybe for Arsenal's history as well.

53:11And I think if they can carry this very ephemeral enthusiasm with them, or at least keep it alive, yeah then they maybe do have a chance maybe not just big for arsenal this season not just big

53:27Rog:for arsenal history but big for human civilization want to give huge thanks to bank of america official bank of u.s soccer and the fifa world cup 2026 for supporting the men in blazers media network discover what's possible in sports and in life what would you like the power today Canac Craze Amnesty 8135 says, do you think the Premier League teams will win all three European tournaments this season, James? So I thought it was actually a good thing that Palace got demoted into the Conference League. I predicted they would win it and they would just then get to call it a European trophy. Which they will.

54:04So yeah, I think Palace will... I hope so. I think we'll have an English winner of the Europa League again. so I think we'll win tier two, tier three UEFA competitions but I do think PSG will retain the Champions League

54:19Rog:That's a dark note to end on so let me finish with that Christina Stotts 5915 he says Rory Smith and James Horncastle have to have a Men in Blazers football food podcast we kind of do we kind of do in a way we kind of do to gout that is it for tonight that's what it'll be called tonight quickly before we turn off I just want to call out something that I'm really excited for tomorrow right here on our YouTube we're airing an interview with a real life magician an expressionist painter Manchester City's artist really Mr. Ryan Cherky such a thoughtful and soulful man our conversation helped me understand how he approaches the game mentally in a way how he does what he does that leaves our mouths agape I can't wait for you to see it lastly to any of all our dear friends in Philadelphia who will be attending our special live show at the Franklin Music Hall next week, May 12th.

55:16Rog:I can't wait to be with you. It's going to be the guests are quite magical. If you've not got your ticket, we've got a couple left. Link is in the notes below. These nights are ones, I think, of positivity, warmth, excitement for this World Cup that is coming. Let's not take a second of watching football together for granted. James, I love being with you, man. You fill my heart with joy. Always a pleasure. Looking forward to seeing you all in the States very soon, not long now. Can't wait to be with him. I loved your line tonight, something in the herring up there was one of the classics. Yeah.

55:53Rog:Ciao, ciao. Ciao, ciao. Big love. Big love.