A Perfect Day For Arsenal Against Fulham

26:01Elliot:And then now he looks pain-free. I don't think anyone's talking about where's his burst gone. Suddenly that conversation is like stopped like immediately. And I just thought he was brilliant. And when you have a good player, other players bounce around him. Ben White looked better and better and better as the game went on. Ben White is still, I still think he's the one that passes to him really, really well and gets him going in a different way to Timber who's really, they're like twins, like two wingers, two fullbacks when they play together, you know, really aggressive on that side. So yeah, I thought he was fantastic and the way him and Eze are developing a partnership as well, you know, but more importantly in this game, I thought Rice was a little bit more right-sided dominant so him and Rice are now playing together so now you've got Rice, Eze, Saka, in the same area.

26:52Elliot:These aren't problems, are they? The only problem we have, we haven't seen it for long enough. And that's the biggest issue I have. Yeah, I mean, I thought Ezzo was brilliant in this game too. And not everything he tries is right. I mean, he loses the ball. He makes mistakes because of his intention to play. But I just think in this team, that's what we need is the intention to play. And you worry about losing the ball. you know let Saliba and Gabby and all the guys we got around them and Declan worry about it if he loses the ball he just keeps doing what he does and it makes a big difference and I like how Eze plays Elliot I like what he does I like how the ball bounces off him and goes through him so if he needs to carry he makes the right decision I thought he could have gone right to one time to second one occasion but he knows when to break so when he's running he's running away from people.

27:44Elliot:His touches are lovely. They're cute, a different level. I actually thought he looked a bit fatigued in the game. I don't think he was his best game for me. He had to cut back that Calvin Bassie saved from going in. Leno was off to the shops the other side. And if Bassie hadn't have blocked, it's just a goal. And that's what he offers. I think he had three or four shots in the game again. A couple were blocked. And that threat on the goal is really important. A three ball pre-assist. So even when he's on a six, seven, six and a half out of ten, I can still remember all the moments. And that's the difference.

28:17Elliot:We're trying to win football matches by scoring goals. And he helps with that for sure. Yeah. I mean, the other thing that makes life easier for Saka, it makes life easier for everyone, is when you have a left-hand side. And what do you know? We had a left-hand side again. First of all, let's give credit where it's due. Leo was excellent. He had some shots that weren't out of the top door for a player who could shoot well. He scuffed a few. Six of six on dribbles. I mean, we don't dribble. That's just not who we are. He was 6 of 6 on dribbles, which is really phenomenal. 35 of 38, 92 % passing.

28:50He had four shots. He has the assist for Jokras, which is a beautiful move. He was 8 of 8 on his ground duels. He won every single one of his duels. He had five recoveries defensively. I mean, this was Leo as we know him, tigerish, active, showing the boss that he wants to be picked and really doing something with his opportunity. He was excellent in this game in a way we haven't seen since the first half of the season. That assist reminded me of first half of the season, Leo. Twisting his man, turning his man, finding a bit of room, and then a really clever, deft chip for Jokers to head in. I thought he and Califuri were excellent, and that balance of having a left-hand side, I think just makes us that much harder to know how to keep out because you can't just focus everything on shutting down Saka.

29:34Elliot:Yeah, and it goes to show we're selecting teams in our mind again, but you've got Califuri and Truss Harv, It's probably been maybe our most used left-hand side over the season, potentially. A little bit injury-prone recently, so you haven't seen it for a while. Then you have the Hincapie-Eze left-hand side, which is something different again. You have the Hincapie-Martinelli left-hand side, which is something different again. And I just think there's going to be games for all of them. But I must admit, I enjoy the Calafiore-Trossard link-up. I really do. Particularly for home games, I really enjoy it.

30:10Elliot:I'm not sure what to do against Madrid, but, mate, they just understand each other. The intelligence between them, it's just on the wavelength. And yeah, Trossard lost him for the whole year. I thought he was a massive, massive plus in this game. Massive plus. In this system, the way we played it, massive plus. And it makes you wonder, we lost a bit of format. It went flat around the League Cup area. and I hate that league cup by the way I think it's such a damaging tournament for us it takes our energy away I don't care what people say I know it's a trophy but it takes our energy away there's nothing in it for a club like us just trying to win the league and trying to win the Champions League there's 120 million in the Champions League 100 plus million for winning the league it's just we can't be doing this I know it's not all about money I know it's not all about money and when Kai went around the keeper against Chelsea I was jumping out of my boots so it's about memories as well but that that tournament is so draining to the team and it affects us so much right and since that game we lost the form we lost our confidence we got flat that Wembley performance and we lost so many players that got rediscovered in this game and we lost him and we got him back he's like okay we're okay again now you know until he breaks down again soon but we're okay again it's just in time and that's all i'll say just in time but he was absolutely superb in every aspect his focus off the ball was just unreal it's like he'd had a rocket and he said i've had enough i better start playing you know he's like right back to play in the month immediately it's a really good really good it is the case that there's just so much analysis of football and it's gotten so technical and data-driven and there's tacticals and this kind of counter-press and this out-of-position shape and standing in the cover shadow and all of this language we use and half spaces and overlaps and underlaps and inverted this and inverted that and like sometimes it's just the good players played.

32:17And I know that that is reductive. But you look at this performance and you say look at Cal Fiore and Leo and Saka and Ezza and Miles and Rice and it all starts to look easier when the quality on the pitch is better. I mean, let's not forget, Leo had the left-footed cross to Calafiore for the offside headed goal. Picture perfect. He also had the through ball to Jokras, where Jokras had his shot saved well by Leno, where he's in behind. It was pretty funny, actually. It was after a sequence of multiple fouls that didn't get called, where Leo, I think he pushes Harry Wilson in the back with two arms.

32:51He's like, oh, well, you can foul me. Yeah, yeah. And he's like, oh, I guess I'll just play a perfect through ball here. But it's beautiful to see. Again, because there's so much attention on Miles' wonderful performance and Saka being back and Yokoress, who is going to get a section of his own, I promise, don't worry. But I think because of all of that, it would be easy to overlook what Califiori adds. I said this on the instant reaction. I'm willing to stand behind it, Clive. I think he is as talented as anybody at the football club. I don't believe there's a part of the pitch where he can't be one of the best players.

33:21I've seen him score goals in the final third, the best forward score. I've seen him run into pockets of space in midfield and play as a midfielder and I've seen him be a fantastic left back sometimes when players are injury prone I think we do this thing where we downgrade them in our mind as players because we're so frustrated they're not on the pitch and fair enough because if you can't get on the pitch what does it matter how good you are you're theoretical right we did that with Abdiabi for years and again through no fault of his own Dan Smith did that you know we did it with Santi Cazorla again no fault of their own but it is the case but his talent is extraordinary.

33:55I thought he was absolutely sensational in this game and I think having him back gives us ways of causing problems for the opposition that as much as I love in Capia and I think he's been really good, he does not cause the problems tactically that a player who is that good in all three-thirds as Cal Fiore is can cause.

34:14Elliot:Yeah, he causes different problems. They're different, right? So Cal Fiore is a little bit more like Nico O 'Reilly. He arrives in places, sent a forward, blah, blah. But that's a nightmare for the opposition, isn't it, Clive? I mean, because you have to figure out where this player is going to pop up. You have to. So there's a game for that. That's not every game, though. There's a game for that. I think if we talk about, say, Hinkapi, Mahles, and Califiorian, just talk about them together. Forget their positions. And there's two things that Mahles and Hinkapi have. and they have, or they share, the mentality.

34:53Elliot:They have massive hearts. They're really bold. They're really fiery. Their mentality to not be dominated is like unbelievable. Hincapie is just a beast and Miles, when he's on, good luck trying to get near him. I mean, he'd just throw you to the ground, just throw you over his shoulder. He's just incredibly dominant and that mentality to want to play, to want to be robust, to want to be out there, to train well, that fits our manager. Now, Califuri now is probably the most talented of all. But sometimes I have to ask myself the question about his mentality to be out on the pitch. And I know this is a terrible thing to say about footballers, but sometimes there's a pressure to play when you may not be 100%.

35:42Elliot:Just ask Ben White. Yeah, and there's a pressure to play. And it's sport, it's life, it's a job. You know? And I know managers would say, players like Kavriot got a heart of a P. It's just a phrase, right? And a heart size of a P, sorry. And have you got the heart for it? Have you got it? Do you want to be out there? Because when you're out there, you're like brilliant. You're brilliant. But I need you out there more. Are we taking care, right? And I'm just surmising here, and I'm speculating. But I know that Hinkabri probably represents a manager and his mentality more than any other player we have by the way he plays.

36:20Elliot:He is relentless. I know that Miles, despite knockbacks, can turn up 19 years away, stand in the middle of a pitch, and just deliver game one. California, if you're that good, I need more from you. I need to see you more often. It's as simple as that. And I'll say this, because I really fundamentally think there are players who put their body on the line in ways that other players won't. And I want to be careful about this. I don't think that's commitment. I just think human beings are different in so many interesting ways. Pain tolerance, psychological differences. There's lots of differences about...

36:57Respect Lane here. Respect Lane. But I'm going to say this. Ricardo Calafiore suffered a devastating injury at a very young age. The kind of injury that should have and could have ended his career that they assumed might end his career. The kind of injury that you wake up in the middle of the night screaming because you've been having dreams about it. I mean, I wouldn't say go look it up, but it's a terrible injury.

37:17Elliot:Yeah, I've seen it. And I think when you have spent years recovering and years having subsequent injuries that relate to the recovery from that injury and a nightmarish injury memory, I can kind of get it if a player is worried about their body because you had to take years to trust your body versus a player who's just never had that, who's always been able to get out there, run around, never seen that. You know, when you see your bones exit your body, you're changed forever. They're not supposed to do that. So it is what it is, but to me, on the footballing front, there is absolutely no question about the level that player can achieve.

37:52Elliot:On the talent front, he's a talent. And he could be, I use the phrase, he's a real mature talent. That's how talented I think he is. Yeah, I agree. I actually would change his role. If he could be in the club next season, I would change his role. I'd make him a utility player. I'd make him play center back. I'd make him play left back on occasions. and also use him in midfield. But I want to do that. But I don't know how often he's going to be fit to be able to take that role in the squad. So when I talk about him this way, I'm not talking about him from a fan perspective because I'm pretending I'm his manager.

38:26Elliot:I'm pretending. I've got this player that I bought for 40 plus million who's absolutely brilliant. And he's not on the pitch enough for me. You know, and sometimes I'm fortunate and sometimes I need him to push through because I know he's got scar tissue. I need him to push through and trust himself. Trust his body. Trust himself. And that's part of it. How do I get more from an individual? Because when you see him play, why wouldn't you want to get more from him? I mean, he transforms us. Literally transforms how we build up, how we play. I mean, it's no coincidence. The Everton game he played, he was unbelievable that day.

39:06Elliot:That might be the last time I saw him play live. I'm not sure. and then we come to he came on in the League Cup final unbelievable that day you know and again seeing him in this game just incredible the levels there, my frustration is I just want to see more of him right so we can plan around him you know I think there's more to get It is the case that this is the constant battle in football because managers don't get to keep their job when they say oh but I didn't have my best players available they still get exact you know what i mean arna slott's gonna be fighting for his job you don't think he's gonna be out there going well if i had izak and if i had ekatike and if i had this player and i had that player and like managers lose their job when players aren't out there or they didn't win trophies because of it so i get it i mean but on the flip side i got a painful eye infection i'm not sure i can podcast today you know what i mean so like who the hell am i to sit here and say anything look we we have to talk victor yokores because i think it's his best performance of the season.

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42:20I've been dealing with anxiety the last couple of weeks. Pretty bad. Sometimes affecting my sleep. Sometimes affecting my relationships. Say why? What's causing it? Honestly, struggling to get to the bottom of it myself. So should I just suffer through it? Just man up? No, I need help. So, you know, I've used therapy before and it's worked for me. And I've been thinking again that it's maybe a journey I want to go back on because I want to get at the core of what's this anxiety. And maybe it's the pressure. Maybe it's wanting the fundraiser to be a success. You know, wanting to make sure people like the podcast, reading the comments, it can weigh on you.

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43:18That's betterhelp, H-E-L-P dot com slash vision. Do it now and remember, wherever you are, whatever you're going through, you're not alone. People care about you. Get help. Whether that's through something that we recommend on the show or in any other way, you can get access to it. Great to have a month to focus on our mental health. Relating back to football, there's a month that's going to impact our mental health. Probably very timely. Clive, is that enough of that? Indeed. Okay, a little more serious than I intended it to be. But you know what? Sometimes serious isn't the end of the world when it is a serious subject.

43:48Another serious subject is Victor Jokras, a very serious subject, because this is a very serious player. Clive, I have struggled sometimes to connect to this player. And I think one of the things, it's funny, the biggest fights in football, in digital spaces and in communities, is when I rate player X differently than you rate player X. It is the most fundamental cause of arguments in football. but I think it is partly because we all see football differently. Some people like the tigerish aggressive players. Some people like the twinkle toe technical players. Some people like the, the range monsters, the one who carry the ball to the midfield.

44:21They like Morgan Rogers. Some people like Adam Wharton, you know, you can hear which ones, which ones I like. But so I, I have to admit that Victor Yokers at times from an eye test standpoint, from a fit standpoint has been hard for me to see, but you put them next to sack him with as a behind him and you cradle him with the technical quality of Leo around him. and suddenly just that hard running, the intelligent delivery, the partnerships, it made sense. He had a fantastic, fantastic game, Clive, and I'm thrilled for him. And if he can get a couple more of these performances under his belt, that'd be great.

44:53And I'll just add one thing to this. If you look at his goal log, I don't think he has a goal this season against a top-half team in the Premier League. But this is the thing. There are different challenges you have to solve in a season. And for a team that has sometimes been goal-shy, It's the goals we didn't get against bottom half teams that have cost us in the past. If all this guy does is beat up on the bottom half, well, guess who we play the next three games? West Ham, Burnley, Palace. You get a brace in each of those games, Victor, you may be holding another league trophy at the end of the season.

45:22So Clive, I'm very happy to be sitting here saying that I was incredibly impressed by his performance.

45:28Elliot:Yeah, he was good. I think it comes back to why was he good? right so it's quite clear to me that he has clear strengths and clear weaknesses and i think sometimes we play to his weaknesses and we don't defer or prepare to continually play to his strengths because that means we have to change how we play and i actually think this team needed to change how it plays so when it's slow in build-up we see low block games we watched low block games all of last season. Along with City, we had the slowest build-up in the league. And that allows teams to set into shape and then we have to do little clips of the back post or play for set pieces or things like that.

46:12Elliot:It's very difficult to go through a compact event. And so we've got to send a floor that likes early service. I don't just mean service, I mean early service, but perfectly down the sides. I think you've got to use him that way. And if you're not prepared to use him that way, then why did you buy him? All right, so that comes back to our intelligence again. Our intelligence has been lacking. I don't think he's had the right. When I say this, these are not excuses because some of his deficiencies are clear to see. They really are. But when you look at a player and he's our player and you can't sell him, we are top of the league in the same files of the Champions League.

46:49Elliot:I feel that we're duty-bound to look at ways where he can improve or look at ways where we can play to his strength so he can give us a better outcome. I think it's so easy to say player X is just not very good what are you going to do he's not very good so what value does that have we should look at that player and think he's actually scored a few goals why did he score a few goals who is he playing with what are the combinations what is the style of playing what what how is he receiving the ball where's where is his strength because you know we're here to win right we're here to win and we need this guy to win we really too and so my perspective on him has always been yeah i he may not be the type of forward i would choose but he's here and by the way i've listened to everyone talk about for years i also need a center forward when we get one suddenly we don't want to center forward anymore we want to play the false nine we want to get trossard back in jesus could play we want havertz back in and there are certain games and havertz should definitely play but not all the time you know this is something we get this player and then we decide we don't want this player we want to just play false nine football with no fours and score no goals and i'm thinking no we need a change we need a change how we play i've got evidence over the last few years that what we've done previously has not been quite good enough right so we bring in somebody else different and i think he can maybe get us through some of the games where previously we've drawn with fulham you know and And so there are times when I think he's been overplayed, but I thought in this game, I thought his running was really good.

48:25Elliot:So he was getting the ball on first movement. I did, because I sit behind David Rea, I can see David Rea was going to one side of the box and clearing it on the angle to him. And so he wasn't coming straight. And I think that's a smart use of a player that struggles with straight balls that Kai doesn't struggle with. and I think he can then, he's encouraged by the ball coming on the angle because I think he can no touch turn, roll people and do things like that. I think he looked better. I think he can see his layoffs easier when the ball's on the angle and that's what he should do and I think referees, when they see you're the favourite of the ball on the angle, then you're more likely to get the foul.

49:03Elliot:So again, a subtle change in what we did. I thought Eze reads him beautifully, Saka and him looked good together. You know, how many times you've seen Saka cross the ball, cross the face of the area and there's nobody there. there's somebody there. Like I said to you before, I'm not saying he's the best centre forward in the world, but his numbers say, in the last three years, he scored maybe 120 goals. They may not have always been against the best teams in the world, but I'm sorry, 120 goals means the guy knows what he's doing around the box, and I think he deserves a little bit more respect.

49:39Elliot:And if he stays on the arsehole, I'm going to be behind him. And if we decide, actually we need to go again to maybe a higher level, then that's fine too. But while he's here, I do think some of the disrespect has been a bit big. But it's a free world, right? It's a free world. I'm not always right about a player. It's a free world, but we're so close to this right now. I thought, and Tim said something the other day actually, he was really good, because he goes from home and away. And he said, I've not heard a single murmur in the crowd, particularly away from home against Jokeres. And I thought, yeah, man.

50:16Elliot:Because people can see the work, they can see the effort, they can see what he's trying to do. It doesn't always work, but they can see a player giving it everything. And what I sensed in this game, Elliot, was that his teammates really seemed to like him. He and Saka had a nice moment after the goal was scored. I think it was actually Saka's goal maybe was scored, where he provided the ball to him. Beautiful assist, yeah, beautiful assist. And there was like a nice moment where they were kind of like just hugging on to each other. And, you know, there's been, I think, mostly social media nonsense around.

50:51Saka doesn't want to pass to Yoko Rast, all this kind of dumb stuff that doesn't make any logical sense because they all are out there to win. But it was nice to see them kind of embraced that way. Football, you know, football players love it

51:03Elliot:when they've got a center forward that leads the line that makes all their bad passes look good. They love that. And then they go and press people for you because then they're going to get the ball in midfield because you're going to put pressure on the exit path. They love a player like that, a hard-working player. I said something to the IR, I said, he runs the channels like Mikel Antonio used to run the channels. Just hard-working, getting him behind it. And I thought, yeah, and West Ham fans love Mikel Antonio because he led the team over the top. And he wasn't always beautiful on the ball, but he was a line leader.

51:38Elliot:and that means the players behind him, they get space to play, they get bits and pieces to play off of. It's all part of football, right? It's just a different style of football. Mate, I'll take you and Alvarez tomorrow. I love him. Absolutely different player, different quality of player. But this is the guy we got and he scored 21 goals. Three more games to go. Let's see how we go. He did the two things I want my striker to do. He had the most touches in the opposition box and he took the joint most shots in the game. If you get shots, you get touches in the box, you're affecting the opposition defensively.

52:13He runs hard. He stays fit. He doesn't give up. He doesn't want to come off. Yeah. You know, he seems indefatigable, even if he's not always a 10 out of 10. He's always a 10 out of 10 from a running and an effort standpoint. He was winning some long balls and causing problems. I thought he was a little unlucky with some of the decisions against him too in terms of 50-50s, but that's always been the case with him because they see a big, muscly guy and assume, well, you don't need my help, mate. But yeah, I loved this performance. And I do think it is the case, though, that you notice a player's deficiencies more when the qualities they don't have are not replaced by the players around them.

52:54So when you play Nani Maduike and Martinelli, and you don't have Ezza, and you have Hincapié, who I love, but again, different kind of player from Cal Fiore, it's much easier to notice the looseness of touch from a Yokorest or the few passes, the less touches, the less combination because you don't have other players out there doing it. When you've got Saka and Leo in this form and Eza in this form and Calafiore popping up in that form, suddenly it's a lot easier to platform Yokorest to do the things he's good at. And so, yeah, teams are about combinations, right, Clive? It's funny. We talk about it defensively a lot, right?

53:31Center-back pairings. but we don't tend to talk about it as much in attack and I think it's just as important.

53:37Elliot:Well, you know, that's something I have been speaking about. You know, I like my 9-10 combination, the pairs. I don't want to go down here again, but I believe Jokeres needs somebody close to him, somebody with a forwards mentality near him. And when he has that, I think he's better. In this game, if anything, he's partnering with Saka a little bit more as well as Eze. That crazy little triangle for him there. And Leo. Leo had that ball to play him in, yeah. Yeah, and Leo has always looked for him. Outside of the right foot pass, in behind. And Jokeres knows it's coming. And in the early phase of the season, I don't think we knew what to do with Jokeres.

54:13Elliot:Leo was the first one to say, I know what you want, so flick it around the corner. Ben White has played with him. He'd flick it around the corner. I could sense that other players were taking, didn't realise maybe how to use him. And I always think back to the days when Gareth Bale was struggling at Real Madrid and the only player that would pass him properly was Modric. because the other players weren't having him. You know what I mean? And I saw that with Leo in the early phase of the season. I just think if you have a player like that, you have to change what you do. It's as simple as that.

54:44Elliot:I think I totally understand why people are not having him. I do. But my view is slightly different. I think we can do a lot worse than play against unsettled defenses and running at them hard. you know and again it's a challenge isn't it we got nonny madweke i gotta give a minute on him earlier that player is a coaching challenge that should be easy to overcome because he has super strengths much like your quiz he has super strengths just got to play to them nonny just needs to be told what to do he just needs to say mate when you're going on the outside he's got go on the outside do it early and he's got a lovely feather cross on the right foot don't step back don't chop back and then go right again and kick it out to the ball boy do it in one when you come inside clip to the back post that's move two because you can't be stopped you're long-legged when you chop inside clip it if you do hold it again you better get a shot off because your pass has gone and to get your shot off slow down before you get your shot this is easy coaching stuff because he has superpowers that are really difficult to stop and every now and again mate if you see people running towards you don't stand and look at them spinning behind and separate because you're the fastest player on the pitch these players are such exciting players because not what they do and doing consistently is what they can do with the right level of instruction and coaching because you cannot teach that acceleration you you just can't he hasn't you know i'm talking about you follow american sports you got people that have been drafted that barely played the game because they're physical freaks you know and and so when you have somebody with talents like that you you better get it out of him you better you better you better take away the things that he doesn't have and that's and that's it for me and same with your careers he has strengths they may not even be super strengths but they're really team leading strengths line leading strengths and i think we're learning just in time how to use it i think there are times though where you realize football isn't just an athlete's game um nani maduike is an explosive athlete who before we signed him all the data people saw it elite carrier right can beat a man elite carrier where's the output why isn't the output better well turns out the output isn't better because the technical level isn't that good he does not make the right decision with the final ball he does not always execute that the last touch is out for a goal kick the the cutback is not where it needs is not placed where it needs to be and like i find him very frustrating because i think these players that flatter to deceive can lead you to think there's more in there than there is adama traori was a great example doku's another example can beat seven guys and you're like now what mate you know when it works you're you're tantalized by their physical talent.

57:45It just works so much less than you think it should. You know what I mean?

57:49Elliot:Yeah. But this is why I think the technical level is, how can I say, it's 50-50, right? It's inconsistent at technical level. Maybe it's decision-making, not technical level, because you can see him score a goal like he did against Bruges. You can see him, his corners, his corner delivery is excellent. So the technical level is there. It's the decision-making. So that's exactly it. I was out with a few people after the game last night, And I said, for a laugh, I said, I know one thing for sure, that Nonny didn't go to Oxford University, right? That's for sure, right? He needs to study with Saka.

58:23That's the key when you were in school, right? Find a smart student, pair up with them.

58:27Elliot:And Saka's like the professor, isn't he? He's jogging through games and getting nine out of tens, right? So he's worked it out, right? He's cracked the game, right? So Nonny has got all the abilities, but that last bit isn't quite there. but that's the exciting thing because you can coach that right you can coach that you know my own son when he was younger he was a right back and he was really really fast but he couldn't always hold the ball you know what they coached into him right he got three passes got one to your right winger you got a clip over to the top to your centre forward and you got one where you roll inside Coyfe turned you got one to your centre mid he did that for a season was one of the best players in the club simple coaching they took away his weaknesses by giving him three options every single time he got the ball and everyone knew it.

59:11Elliot:It's the same with Nonny. You've got options. What are you going to do? What are you going to do when you get it? I'll tell you what you do. You rip your man on the outside. Don't think about it. Just get into running quickly. Don't think. Lead that to Saka. He can think it through. You run him. Run him hard. You know, so this is something that can happen. I have the same frustrations, but I also have frustrations that need to get to him and coach him up a little bit more. Yeah. It is the case that these things just annoy you less when you have a three goal halftime lead and it's a beautiful day and everybody's happy.

59:43We can talk about it now because we've won, right? It's easy. Yeah, because there were missed chances in the second half. I think Gabriel Jesus showed again that maybe he just does not have it at this level and that's a shame, but it is what it is. Mascara finally came in for Ben White, who I think was okay, but he had some moments where you watch him. There's this one moment where he kind of just got beat a little too easy down the outside. He just lost his footing, he got twisted up and he's struggling to keep up with the pace of the game right

1:00:12Elliot:I'll give you some in-ground insight actually because he had a couple of bad moments. He had one, he's facing his own goal near the halfway line. He had a bad touch. He went back and then they sort of ran away and he said, oh man, I looked at Arteta and he sort of winced away to the side and you could see that he was on his edge. But I will say to you, I'm in North Bank corner and the crowd started singing his name. they sang a song yeah I heard it right after he made an error yeah he got by he ended the game really strongly I loved it and I thought that's a moment that's what it's all about that's what a supporter is all about you know same with Jokic what Tim said the other day he's not heard a murmur in the way end and we could all look at the pitch and we can see that Ben was just on the edge of having a bad game and by singing his name he turned it all the way around you know and Saka got near him and his teammates got near him I loved that I really loved that moment I forgot about that area in the IR but yeah it was really significant well so let's talk about the the support just for a minute that cheer at a halftime whistle is about the loudest I've heard the Emirates in a long time I think it was the first moment that people are like oh we we can still do this we can do this um this was a raucous supportive atmosphere and it just just shows you how the the game state and situation matters your ability to shrug off a missed opportunity or a mistake when you're three goals up but we put city six points behind us with this result now they could win on monday and yeah i mean they could win all their games we win our games and we win it on goal difference i'm fine with that honestly but um it was a raucous loud emirates at halftime and i wonder do you think this moment this half with our players back and this great performance and this three goal lead at halftime just swelled the Emirates back up with a bit of confidence themselves to push through this after what's been a pretty rocky period.

1:02:13And you think that will probably carry also into the atmosphere for Tuesday night on the back of a really reassuring performance at the weekend.

1:02:21Elliot:Yeah, so full disclosure, at halftime, about a minute to go, I sort of always go in and try to get my head on for the recording that we have to do, my dedication to the podcast, you know, and get my red wines. You are nothing if not dedicated. get a red wine so as i was walking back in i heard the goal going i thought damn it i missed the third goal and then i didn't really get the half time sound until my boy said it afterwards and i thought i missed that i saw it on telly and it was just amazing so i missed that moment so podcast people that's my dedication but i will say the whole day i thought the crowd was really good i thought i i the only time i was a bit concerned about the crowd probably walls and manchester united I thought there was real angst in those two games.

1:03:03Elliot:The rest has been polite angst, shall we say. You know, polite. But now it's like, we're close. We've got to help them. You know? Yeah. I wasn't there, but Bournemouth seemed edgy, but I wasn't there, so I can't. It wasn't as bad. It was more edgy, but it was edgy for football reasons. Right. For Bournemouth, we're good. Right? And they were doing good things. Their fullbacks were pushing on, and they were good. It wasn't like we were bad. We were bad, but they were good as well. Well, let me ask you this. Everybody gets touchy about a question like this, and I get it because you don't want anyone raining on your parade, but I think it's worth asking because we're going to come away from this feeling really buoyed, buoyed, whatever, by it, going into a major game.

1:03:47As a manager, you have to be able to tell the difference between what your team did well and when the opposition is shit. Now, we've played worse opposition than Fulham, for God's sakes. We played Wolves twice. We haven't looked good against them either time, okay? So, you know, Forest, we didn't look good. There's a lot of games you can play where you're supposed to win and you don't look good. It's still the Premier League, you still have to show up. How much of this would you assign to Fulham's weakness and should Mikel be aware of in thinking about Atleti and then even West Ham in terms of, I mean, Harrison Reid, I think that was his first start in midfield in two years.

1:04:26so this isn't the best of what Fulham can be. We still had to do the job in front of us and we did some things that I thought were sensational. I don't want people to take this as me undercutting the quality of our performance but I think it is always important to be able to contextualize the caliber of the opposition so you can decide how much it means before you make decisions for the next game.

1:04:45Elliot:Yeah, I take your point and I sort of agree with it but I wasn't thinking that before the game. I think it's going to be a hard game. They've had a rest and we've had a big, we're in between a semi-final and my last can i read you something just just you know uh from james ollie when we played in the middle when we played a premier league game in the middle of a champions league basically since returning to the champions league in 2020 23 24 we've won one game sandwiched by a two-leg knockout tie one it was everton last season this now makes two so i just wanted to enlarge your point by saying in general we found these fixtures very difficult yeah and so i was worried about the game until I got to the ground actually and I could just get a feeling that we were going to do well.

1:05:28Elliot:So I don't want to underplay them. There's a couple of players out and you're right about the centre midfielder but Swift Road played in the 10 and he's not going to try too hard so that was that. I just think we were good on the day and our intention was strong and we were very attack minded and I think we took the game away from them. The worst period was after we scored the VAR goal Califuri scored and then and that that lifted them and then for five minutes we didn't really touch the ball and I'm thinking oh good here comes Bournemouth again do you know what I mean and then we get the second goal and everything gets better and then get the third goal and I think at that moment the crowd realised that we've won the game and we were going to go six points clear because everyone said they could go six points clear we never do that do we we never quite take advantage of an opportunity and I think we just everyone sensed that we were and so yeah I think it was a really, really happy day.

1:06:24Elliot:I can't express that enough, Elliot. It's a happy day for some people all around me saying, that's our best half of football all season. You know, and at a time when the pressure was really on. You know, so maybe we left one goal out there for me, potentially for a perfect day, but I'll take that. Save your legs for the game coming up. And personally, I feel that these three games, the teams that have been selected ages ago. You know, how we set the team for Athletico fed into this game, getting people off the pitch, all planned substitutions if we're in this scenario, leaving a lot of freshers and less minutes and legs for Tuesday night because Athletico went outside and got some program sellers to play for their team at the weekend.

1:07:11Elliot:They made a full 11 changes and they signed on. I don't know who they played in their team. So they're going to be completely fresh from last week. So we can only do what we can do, right? So I think we've got more freshness to come. I imagine we might see a change on the left wing. We'll see Saka start. I'm not sure what we'll do at centre forward. Kai could be back. I think Zubmendi and Rice will play in midfield. And I think Mosquera will play at right back. And I think Nkappi may come back at left back. Just to add the energy. But we'll see, right? Because we'll see if some people have played their way in because the performance was that good at the weekend.

1:07:47yeah I want to stay on the athletic game for a minute but just before we do that obviously a huge benefit for Mikel to be able to get some players off he also suggested that Odegaard and Kai might both be available for Tuesday so he's going to have a compliment to choose from and look I'm going to just keep saying this because I really believe it and I find that people like it when I repeat myself that tends to be well received content the good players are good Arsenal have good players and when we have our good players we're good I have not seen Arsenal be anything short of title level in the league and Champions League winner level in Europe when we've been able to put our good players on the pitch and with Saka and Jokeres and Kai and Eza and Odegaard and Rice and Zuby and Miles and Kala and Incappier and Leo you start to list them out if Timber could ever get fit that'd be helpful but that's a team that can win everything but when you have no Saka no Odegaard, no Eza no Kai, no Kala no i mean no timber what do you expect you know yeah i completely forgot michael marino which is terrible because first of all we did a great interview with him which was lovely of him nice guy isn't he really nice guy and second of all because he's he he was playing when we were at our best my point is simply you can get all tactico and and we we try at times but there's nothing like talent to make you feel like your tactics are better you'll always look like a better manager when you have Lionel Messi, right Pep?

1:09:15You always look like a better manager when you have Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland or Kun Aguero. I mean, and that is fundamentally the case. I mean, are there trash managers out there? There are, but the best managers look best when they have the best talent. So, we're getting our talent back. It is the case really quickly that it's not even a thing anymore when Max gets on the pitch. We're just used to it, but Max did get on the pitch. I think that's another luxury for Mikel to get him more minutes. It wasn't the perfect cameo for Max. There were good bits. There were things where I thought he could have released the ball sooner, but really wanted his big moment.

1:09:48There was one really eye-catching drive right through the middle of the pitch where he could have played it out to either winger who was available to him. And he said, no, no, no, this is all me. And he shot just wide. But I mean, Clive, this 16-year-old, he's coming. He's coming for someone's job. And when he's on the pitch, he just looks completely at home.

1:10:06Elliot:Yeah, he's a good size now as well, by the way. He looks like a first-team player. mate if you're driving for the pitch and you've got Jesus who's standing offside and you've got Nonny on the other side mate have a shot he's 3-0 do you know what I mean have a shot what's the worst thing that could happen I don't worry about that at all really I think feeling into the weekend I think what I think I think Tuesday could be the best atmosphere in the history of the Emirates I just got a feeling that it's going to be something special so back in the day I think it was 2009 when we had played Man United I think they call it the six minute semi-final when we all had our flags out and Kieran Gibbs slipped yeah and they scored and that was the end of that the air went out of the balloon to be fair we had no business being in that we got shellacked at Old Trafford and got away with it we were lucky to be in that for a home semi-final second legger that's the only one I've ever seen right so and so this might be the next one and Tim's not on here to correct me so I'm going with it, right?

1:11:14Elliot:And so we got home second leg semi-file of the Champions League. We're playing a team which I feel we're better now. Doesn't mean we're going to win it but I think we're better now. We've got some of our talent back but not only our talent back but our talent showing form. You know, that's the key. Trossard showing form, Califioi form, Saka, Eze, they're in form. The centre forward that everyone said played in jeans is in form. And he has been for 2026. Centre backs, goodness gracious me, they're just incredible, right? Goalkeepers, you know. But we're still, even though we can talk about these players, and we do with all our hearts and we really appreciate them, I don't think the outside world appreciates these players as individuals.

1:12:01Elliot:I think they appreciate the team and its work ethic and how it goes about football, how it plays how it understands all different phases of the game including set plays as well as you know open play I think we have all of this respect and it's more like a tactical respect maybe a coaching respect but we don't have I don't think we have enough player respect from an individualism point of view even Saka people say he's overrated right so and his numbers are down you know and we get chipped away at and I think this is where I'm correcting my head, good performances like that increase the respect level of individuals and the collective.

1:12:44Elliot:And this is what I want to see happen this week. I want to see us go there and deal with them properly. Deal with them properly. Get to the final. Have that in our locker, in our calendar. And then go to West Ham as the team at top of the league and in a Champions League final. And I don't care what they got. We should not be concerned by it because we have as much to play for as they do. And that would be a really good game. Some things to feel really good about. Not just the eye test, the data test. This was back to the arsenal we used to be when we were really good. This was a shellacking. This was a paddling.

1:13:21This was 3.22 expected goals to 0.37. This was six big chances. We had 18 shots. How about this? 14 shots inside the box. 36 touches in the opposition box to their 12 we just absolutely paddled them we got to get our players off we got to get some players on we got to start to think about Tuesday and so as sort of a final point here on on the league and I just want to have another quick comment about the athletic game but this was big also because it does create a six-point gap it does open up a bit of a goal difference gap and it starts to create a little bit of doubt and concern in City's mind with what they need to do.

1:14:03Do we have to go out and try to score? We got to first focus on winning. I mean, they could have beaten Burnley by more. Let's be clear. There were chances there, but Burnley had chances too. That was a 1-0 that on an unlucky day is a 1-1. On a luckier day, it's a 2 or 3. I get it. But this was exactly what we needed to do is have City going, how the heck are we six points back again? And now we're going away to Everton on Monday night under the lights with them having European aspirations. Sets up a really big opportunity there.

1:14:30Elliot:Yeah, it does. I think if you're City, you're looking at this Fulham game thinking, yeah, Fulham are not bad. If Arsenal go drop points, it's going to be between the European game. And we didn't. And I do think, as I said earlier, I think our team selections last week were definitely geared towards this game against Fulham. But then after this, Elliot, I think we get decent gaps. And I think we can focus a little bit more on the league games without worrying about Europe. If we want to get past them Tuesday night, and we've got Tuesday to Sunday so it's a decent gap. So yeah, it's on us and so City now are thinking, okay, we're behind.

1:15:07Elliot:But last time I felt like this, it was after Sunderland at home. We won 3-0 and City were paying Liverpool away the next day. And a minute 70-ish, Liverpool went one up, stop a side free kick and I'm thinking, here we go. And that would have been a true gap with the same sort of games and they came back and won. They never win at Anfield. They came back and won 2-1. so I'm not getting excited, right, that their goals are clear, our goals are clear, what you need to achieve, I think the games I'm looking at really are, the one I'm looking at the most is probably Bournemouth, and sneaky Brentford, I watched Brentford play against Manchester United the other day, they lost a game, but they were superb mate, and how many United won that game, I just don't know, and I think they're going to cause a problem, they've got a lot of professional respect, I think they'll cause a problem for City and I think Bournemouth are going to cause a problem because Bournemouth are now sitting sixth potentially if Villa win the Europa League I believe, I may be wrong Elliot the Champions League could go down into that level maybe even down to sixth I'm not sure if I'm correct it will well definitely the top five but maybe sixth as well Villa would need to win the Europa League for Champions League to go to sixth yeah so if you're sitting there at Bournemouth you're thinking oh my god that's life changing right that is strategy changing they're already good enough for your crew we give them more money we'll all be in trouble you know so we'll get a couple of their players out of there into our team they're really that good you know so yeah Bournemouth have got a lot to play for Everton will always play because it's Nicola Teter and his asshole and he's one of their sons so I'm hopeful in that one but City have had a lot of rest and they're keyed up for it and they know what they're doing.

1:16:57Elliot:But Bournemouth and Brentford where my eyes are for them to drop points. There is a scenario, a pretty funny one, where we get to the last day of the season level on points with City. And City are playing home to a Villa team that is either hung over from winning the Europa League or has already qualified for Champions League and has nothing to play for and Unai has a chance to stick two fingers up at Arsenal. So they got to go rip some past them. And we're playing potentially a Palace team that three days later has a European Cup final. We would literally be playing children at Palace. And it could be a final day level on points against two Premier League sides that aren't trying at all.

1:17:40And we're just out there trying to one-up each other. It could be really weird. So let's not think about that just yet because it gives me heart palpitations. I feel sick. I feel sick. But yeah, I mean, look, the big one obviously is West Ham away. That's no easy fixture. They're going to be fighting for their lives, especially now that they are a point behind Spurs. And they played before Spurs. Spurs played on the Monday against Leeds. So West Ham will be there knowing they can put Spurs back in the relegation zone if they can get something against Arsenal. So we cannot let that happen as much as we'd like Spurs to be in that zone.

1:18:08We do not want it to be because we've screwed up. So Atleti rested everybody, Clive. I mean, 11 changes, basically. Nobody played. It is the luxury of their position. Now, granted, they'd rather be contesting their league also, but they're not. we made some changes. Mikel now has a really tricky decision. Do I play the players who raised their hand and said, pick me, look how well I played? Or do I play the players who were sat by me relaxing because they're going to be fresh? Do you think any Villa or Fulham performances changed his mind? Because if you're looking at Leo, he played 90 minutes.

1:18:46Do you really want to play Leo 90 minutes, two days rest? Or do you want to go Martinelli? But look how well Leo played. He's got tough calls. Calafiore played a lot of football for a guy who hasn't played a lot of football, but he was really good. Look at Ezza, but Odegaard was sat there next to the manager, you know, with his legs up. I think he's got big calls to make. If Kai Havertz is fit, we know the manager trusts him. Jokras just ran his bottom off for a good chunk of that game. So are you picking freshness or are you picking form?

1:19:17Elliot:The only one I'm not sure about, although I'm pretty sure, is Califuri and maybe Trossard you know but I think they'll both play anyway so it doesn't bother me so much I think Martinelli in Europe is just a different player I don't know I think he must have some sort of deal he must have one sort of champion goal bonus or something so he's a different player in that competition and he seems to understand it really well and he works really hard I sort of I sort of trust him I don't trust him all the time I trust him in his competition he's barely had a bad game you know and it's really strange was he good in Madrid?

1:19:56Elliot:he was alright yeah he was alright I thought he was alright I think I think he's been good I really liked his performance in Bill Balfour when he came on he did well some of the home games have been really good like I said I think his rotation has been planned for the week Jodegaard is the one that's interesting because I think he's injured and he's sat near again and that doesn't get better in a few days you know and I just don't think he's gonna and he looked like he was carrying that anyway for that to get a reoccurrence so I did think Eze looked a bit tired in this game so let's see what happens I can see you know I can see Eze's playing obviously but I can see a situation where Kai may come on in that game in that role and play some part of the game as another midfielder but a second striker I don't think Kai will start but I think he's gonna be available.

1:20:50Elliot:I think Mosquera should play. I just thought when he came on he looked really bright. Again it's not because Ben White didn't do anything I just think physically it's just been a lot and he just played a fresher guy and so I think there's many who came on did fine in this game. Miles was brilliant but you're playing a Spanish team European games are different Elliot as you well know. He's a referee differently. You don't want any silliness, don't need any red cards, anything like that, you've got to be really circumspect. It's a different game, game managed by moments. Atletico are here because they're going to play Barcelona.

1:21:26Elliot:Barcelona had I think a red card in each tie. And that's what happens. You can lose it in a moment like that and I think Barcelona are the better team. So yeah, that's what I think he'll do and I think it's been decided from pre the first leg. Let's see what happens. Yeah, I'm inclined to think that there won't be a lot of surprises. I think Zubimendi and Rice will start in midfield. I think Odegaard will start if he's fit. Otherwise, Eza, I think it'll be Martinelli, Yokores, and Saka. I think it'll be Muscara, Saliba, Gabriele, and Incappier. I don't know if I think that's right or not. Ask me at full-time.

1:22:02But I think the nice thing is there's going to be a lot of talent on the bench that can influence games in different ways. I think if Eza's on the bench, he can come in and make a difference, obviously. Califiori can come in and make a difference. Leo, if he's in better form, if he needs to come on for Martinelli, there's a lot of players there. Kai Havertz can come on if he's fit to come on.

1:22:22Elliot:Eze will start. We'll see. He'll start 10 or he'll start tucked in left. He will not be benched for a home game in the semifinal, mate. No chance. He's got too many goals in him. So he'll be playing. It depends on the Odegaard situation where he'll play. My instinct is, this isn't just me, I think it's a straight one-for-one Odegaard or Eza for starting. I don't want that to be the case. I'd like Eza to start, but I think Martinelli will start if Odegaard... I think Martinelli will start regardless, and I think it'll probably be Eza and Odegaard to be on the bench, is my instinct, depending on what's available.

1:22:57It's a big call. Big call. The interesting thing, Ruggeri is a good player. Good player. Going forward. But he's a good player. I mean, he caused some trouble for Laminimo. Laminimo didn't have it all his way. So that Saka Ruggieri matchup could be really, really big. But I look at the other side. Are they going to play Llorente at fullback? Are they going to have to move him around? I mean, he plays everywhere. That's the vulnerable side, I would think. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that's the vulnerable side. And so if you can put Ezza over there, I think that's really interesting. And he can combine.

1:23:37We'll just have to see. Fundamentally, though, this is it. This feels like the season. You've got to come out of the gate fast. Put goals past them. Don't let this thing go on. I mean, obviously, any way you get through, you get through. But if you can avoid 120 minutes in penalties…

1:23:55Elliot:Yeah, I don't want penalties, mate. I can't deal with that. I can't deal with that. And it's going to be awful if that happens. I'm just looking forward to it. They've got that thing out of it where they're going to be greeting the bus as it comes in. Yeah. And so that's going to be different and exciting. And then TIFO, that's supposed to be spectacular. It's going to be great. It's going to be good. Mate, this is one to get there sharp. Get your pre-match mailing. Get there sharp and get ready. My guess is Alvarez will be fine. Alvarez and Griezmann were fantastic in Spain. We're a bit lucky that they didn't come away with more than they did.

1:24:25They're going to give us trouble. I don't think we can play this game to be a 1-0 to the Arsenal, even though I know we're capable of it. I think you've got to go out and try to blitz them early while the crowd is up for it. Really go play this game like you did the Fulham game. Go out early and try to push them back and get them to fold. We've beaten them at the Emirates 4-0 this season. I would take another 4-0, candidly. I would probably take that. But let's just get behind them and see what we can do. Absolutely. I'm so, so nervous for the next two games because I think if the next two games go well, it's all on.

1:24:59Because I don't see us... I'm sure we said that two games ago. But Clive, Clive, I don't see us slipping up at home to Burnley. You don't? No. And I don't see us slipping up away to a Palace team that will almost certainly be playing kids. And so come on, can you just give me these next two? Can you just give me? Oh, I want them so bad. All right. We'll have an instant reaction full-time, obviously. We have some special stuff throughout the week this week. So if you want to join us over on Patreon, sleep at 50s, the code. If you just want to stay here, wherever you are, wherever you're listening, we're just thrilled to have you and we love you and we appreciate you.

1:25:30And we hope that you are riding these emotional highs and lows and ups and downs with equanimity, that you're feeling good. And leave the nerve-wracking anxiety to me. I got you covered Clive love you thanks man thank you very much thanks everybody for listening big big week big week come on make our dreams come true is that too much to ask we love you and we'll talk to you after Arsenal 10 that's letting you know

1:26:09Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm.