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Panic at the Disco · Football is Life

0:02
Hey folks, welcome to our latest episode of Football
0:05
is Life. We're back. Sorry, our different location.
0:08
Mike's like that. He's got the slow fingers going.
0:14
Panic at the disco. Why is that, eh? So listen,
0:17
I think where we start is obvious. We had a massive...
0:21
heavyweight clash at the Etihad on Sunday. Yes,
0:25
I had a... I think, Mike, you Americans, my sister
0:29
-in -law is heavily pregnant, about to give birth
0:31
soon, and we had a baby shower, which, you know,
0:34
obviously... It was lovely because it was an
0:36
excuse to get the family together. Yeah, so I
0:39
was barbecuing for everyone. It was lovely. And
0:41
then it just all finished just before the game,
0:43
timed it to perfection, sat down at 4 .30pm UK
0:46
time. to watch the game. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
0:50
It was a compelling watch. It was. It didn't
0:53
suck. It wasn't turgid. It was a good match.
0:56
Well, let's start with that, Mike. So in terms
0:58
of the approach, so let's start with the approach.
1:01
We'll come to the result. I think it's an obvious
1:03
place to start with the result, but I want to
1:05
start with the approach. What did you make of
1:08
the approach and the overall performance of your
1:11
team in that game? As I said in our group chat
1:14
afterwards, if that effort had shown up over
1:17
the last month this game would have been irrelevant
1:19
because they they they pressed they played well
1:24
i mean pep had a lovely comment yesterday i think
1:28
was like yeah arsenal hit the post twice and
1:30
so did we right so like there were bounces both
1:33
ways that went one way or another and so it could
1:37
have just as easily been a draw it could have
1:39
just as easily been an arsenal win if one of
1:41
those bounces goes a different way so i i didn't
1:44
hate the the approach and it was frustrating
1:47
because i know that they have that in their locker
1:49
and they where has that been for the last month
1:52
you don't you know the wolves result is different
1:54
the bournemouth result is like all of these things
1:57
happen and suddenly those drop points make this
1:59
match irrelevant and yet here we are and yet
2:02
here we are so um okay Wazza, what did you make
2:07
on the other side? So Man City's performance,
2:08
what did you think about your team's performance
2:10
and how they showed up in that game? And maybe
2:11
Arsenal's approach and performance as well. Do
2:13
you think that's fair that it was pretty evening?
2:15
Maybe it could have gone either way. Maybe a
2:17
draw would have been fair. What do you think?
2:21
So... He's going to put out the ball. He's got
2:25
the baby ball, doesn't he? It's weird because
2:28
the thing is that upon reflection, yes, it was
2:31
a very even game. Arsenal finally played a decent
2:33
game of football on the eye. Like, it wasn't
2:36
hideous this time around. It wasn't like a good
2:39
from far, far from good kind of thing. It was
2:41
better than average, which for Arsenal, which
2:43
is huge. I will say one thing, though. If Donnarumma
2:47
didn't absolutely, completely, completely fumble
2:52
the bag, I can't help but think that it would
2:57
have been one -way traffic for most of it. I
3:00
agree. Absolutely. Like, that could have been
3:03
a cricket score. In the sense that the more Arsenal
3:07
progress into the game, the more they open up.
3:09
And you saw what we were doing the second they
3:11
started to open up. We were pouncing on that
3:13
immediately. Ryan Churky and Semenya absolutely
3:14
demolished Mosquera and Hinkapie. I think that
3:18
if, I mean, I never thought I'd say this in my
3:21
life, but God bless Kai Havertz for making the
3:24
game close. Because if he didn't do what he did,
3:26
and if Donnarumma didn't do what he did, I genuinely
3:30
think that Arsenal will lose that game 3 -0.
3:33
Listen, mate, do you know what's funny? That's
3:36
my, see the Don Roman mistake. I mean, David
3:40
Raya, I think it was a terrible time. He almost
3:42
did the same thing in the first 60 seconds of
3:44
the game, which was like, you're like, guys,
3:46
like, what are you doing? The Don, I mean, the
3:49
decision, I think, was it Kuzinov? Whoever threw
3:52
it back, it was a poor decision to throw it back
3:55
to him. So, but. I agree. Do you know what it
3:59
did? Do you know what it's like? Your team's
4:01
score, obviously the crowd goal and Cherokee's
4:02
goal was utterly filthy. Like, I'm sorry. Like,
4:05
it was absolutely ridiculous. Just making Arsenal
4:07
defenders like statues. But what that does, because
4:11
of that immediate mistake, it sapped that momentum
4:14
and energy out of the stadium immediately, which
4:16
is like, so that's actually what gave Arsenal
4:18
a foothold in the game. Not that they didn't
4:21
start, like, you know, apart from that Ryan mistake,
4:23
they didn't start, but I mean, you know. City
4:25
hit the point when Gabriel was a borderline handball,
4:28
by the way. I'm telling you, I'd like to see
4:30
where that hit in his arm. It's one of those
4:32
ones where it was close enough to a shot where
4:34
it was probably hard to overturn because it was
4:37
not definitive, but it was one of those, he's
4:39
leaned into it. Good defending if it hits his
4:42
shoulder. Obviously, if it hits his arm, it's
4:44
smart. But yeah, I do think that gave Arsenal
4:48
a foothold in the game, which I thought was interesting.
4:52
But yeah, I do think... The thing I want to ask
4:55
you, people are talking about this a lot, a lot
4:57
of chat about this good performance, and I agree
4:58
with you. Look, if they had even 70 % of that
5:03
type of performance in these other games, the
5:04
league would be done by now. It's the dropping
5:10
points against 2 -0 up against Wolves. These
5:12
are the games that will have lost to the league,
5:15
not losing at the Etihad. Let's be real. Let's
5:17
have it right. Let's have it right. But when
5:20
I go through the Arsenal team, a few things occurred
5:22
to me. Matt Awakey, how did he play? Pretty crap.
5:28
I thought he was pretty crap. I don't know what
5:31
kind of injury stuff he's still carrying because
5:33
he's been very attacking and solid in other performances.
5:37
I'm kind of pieced together this Arsenal performance.
5:41
I don't know actually how good the Arsenal performance
5:44
was. Just hear me out on this. I thought Matt
5:47
Awakey was poor. The fullbacks. Who was it? Mosquera.
5:53
Absolutely. I actually thought Hincapia did well
5:56
against Semenya was quiet. But so I think he
5:59
was, but I think that the center half did okay.
6:01
Like Gabrielle, obviously for the, I mean, you
6:03
know, he's, he's fighting with Holland all day.
6:05
Lucky not to be sent off by the way. And fair
6:08
play to Holland for having a bit of integrity
6:10
and not going down on a heap. But yeah, he probably
6:12
should have been sent off. I mean, I don't think
6:14
that is a graph, but I think the bar, it's like
6:17
everything for consistency. If you're, you know,
6:20
If Lissandra Martinez gets sent off for a little
6:22
hair pull, I'm sorry, guys, that's a red card.
6:23
But it is what it is, right? But then I go through
6:26
a team and go, right, Declan Rice, didn't think
6:29
he had a great game. Martin Odegaard, didn't
6:32
think he played particularly well. Eze, apart
6:34
from hitting the, by the way, what a shot that
6:36
was. Apart from that, I can't remember him doing
6:40
anything compelling in the game. Kai Havertz
6:43
had a good game. He was the MVP for that. He
6:46
was the absolute best player on that pitch for
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Arsenal. Absolutely. And Zubimendi, Billy's favourite
6:51
Zubimendi. Anonymous. So I'm kind of looking
6:55
going, actually, you look at people, you go players
6:57
that stood out. Like Kai Havertz, Bernardo Silva,
7:01
I thought a fantastic name. Nico O 'Reilly. O
7:05
'Reilly, Chirky. So I'm going through going,
7:07
I thought City defended pretty well. Like Kustanov
7:10
had a gay, he was really good as well. So I do
7:13
look at the Arsenal performance and go, as much
7:15
as we go... you're right, Mike. I think it was
7:17
like, it was front footed, which is good. They
7:19
didn't, they didn't shy away from the fight.
7:21
They didn't park the bus. No, but they did. I
7:24
think they did get outplayed. I do think they
7:27
got outplayed because I, and I think mid to front,
7:29
they really got up and Arsenal's defense and
7:30
goalie that were, I mean, apart from Muscara
7:32
had an absolute nightmare, right? And Doku was
7:35
just, I mean, you just, I was like, he's one
7:37
-on -one. He's just got his pants pulled out.
7:39
The pace is, yeah. And he's a center half, I
7:42
think, Mosquito, right? He's not right back.
7:44
This is the thing, right? Ben White can't get
7:48
a game, though. Please don't. I was thrilled
7:52
to see him not in the starting 11. We really
7:54
missed Timber, for sure. That has impacted a
7:58
lot in terms of the wingback situation. And so,
8:02
you know, injuries are part of the match, but
8:05
it's clear. what a different back line it is
8:08
without him because you've got people playing
8:10
out of position to cover for him. And just think
8:14
like Ben White looks lost every time he stands
8:18
on the pit. He's just, and, and he wasn't that
8:22
way two years ago. I think part of that's, you're
8:24
not getting the play. You're not getting the
8:26
repetitions. You like it, but he lost his spot
8:29
rightfully so to timber. Who's been playing great.
8:33
But it's a very different back line without him.
8:37
I think the interesting thing that I'd love to
8:40
get your thoughts on here, Mike, is do you generally
8:44
think that the Arsenal players feel optimistic
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after that performance? Do you really think that
8:49
they're going to go on some massive run thinking,
8:51
you know what, we really actually gave it to
8:53
City. We took them right to the very end. We're
8:55
now going to go and demolish the next six games.
8:58
So if Billy's right. from last week and that
9:01
the team actually did vote Declan Rice to be
9:04
captain. I think there's a possibility of that.
9:07
Yeah. Well, you saw Declan after the game. That's
9:09
right. It's not over. And the thing that pissed
9:12
me off about that was who was he saying it to?
9:15
Martin Odegaard. Frigging captain of the club.
9:18
Well, can I make another? Sorry, why did I jump?
9:21
But I did notice this. So there's analysis done
9:24
in there. You know, I think Roy Keane made a
9:26
good point about. You've got to be self -critical,
9:29
right? They lost the game in both boxes. They
9:32
weren't clinical enough when they had their chances.
9:34
Like, Hammers had two huge chances. I know City
9:37
had chances, but they took two of their chances.
9:39
Arsenal took one. And then defensively, when
9:42
you look at all the goals that were scored, obviously,
9:45
Donnarumma, it's a shocker, right? Individual
9:48
error. But you look for the, you know, the Cherokee
9:51
goal. There's four Arsenal players. I mean, some
9:53
of their best defensive players don't even...
9:55
I mean, I know he's in the box, but... I think
9:57
it was poor from Gabriel, kind of just sticking
9:58
a leg out. But the one that stood out was that
10:01
Martinelli got a lot of heat. I just thought
10:03
Martinelli did the best out of the substitutes,
10:06
in my opinion. When he came on, he actually made
10:09
the tackle in Gehi that caused the problem, that
10:12
led to the chance. He almost scored in the follow
10:15
-up. There was then the quick throw -out. I mean,
10:17
it was a Zubamendi ball, just a hoof, like, terrible
10:20
quality. He was terrible, I thought. He was anonymous
10:23
in the game. I know Martinelli went to press
10:26
and it allowed Donnarumma to throw to O 'Reilly.
10:29
He should have looked behind him. But Odegaard
10:31
was trying to sell. He saw it, Mike. Odegaard
10:33
was pointing to Martinelli to not, to drop back.
10:36
He saw the danger. And as soon as Martinelli
10:39
gambled, obviously he made a mistake, right?
10:41
I mean, you know, it is a mistake, right? He
10:42
went to gamble or to go and press, anticipating
10:45
he'd throw it short. But Odegaard's reaction
10:49
was the... didn't not sprint back to try and
10:53
help you know like yeah if you're martin ellie
10:55
didn't sprint back either by the way and if they
10:57
had they may have been able to to stop that that
11:00
you know all right because o'reilly takes the
11:02
ball plays it while he gets it back and there
11:04
was enough time i watched it back not what you
11:07
expect to see from a captain and i think it's
11:09
crazy that he's the captain of that club crazy
11:11
i mean i've been saying it all year I mean, Gabrielle's
11:15
more of a captain than him. I mean, Declan Rice
11:16
should be the captain, but Gabrielle is awful.
11:18
Declan Rice should have been the captain the
11:20
second he walked into that club. Completely agree.
11:22
Completely agree. Completely agree. But Declan's
11:26
performance wasn't... That's rare. Come on, that's...
11:30
No, no, I love Declan, but he's not. But honestly,
11:32
recently, Wazza, like, recently, I'm not seeing
11:35
him... Like, do you know my thing is, Mike, now,
11:38
with, like, what, you know, it's obviously, like,
11:39
you know... The question now, Billy, is like,
11:41
it's over now. People feel like, it's not over,
11:43
right? And I love that from Declan Rice after
11:45
saying it's not over, because that shows character,
11:47
strength of character, belief. But do you know
11:50
the thing is, I actually think in a way, you
11:53
might just find out who the best team is now
11:55
and deserves this, because it kind of makes Arsenal's
11:58
mind up for them. But the tactics to a point
12:01
now is like... It's out the window. Attack. Well,
12:04
you'd think the reason for that is because the
12:06
goal difference factor, right? If it was just
12:07
winning the games, it wouldn't change now. And
12:10
I think the interesting thing is City play tomorrow
12:13
night. If City... I think Rodri's out. But if
12:15
they... You would expect them to win at Burnley,
12:19
right? And you would expect it to be a crooked
12:22
number. Well, you expect at least two or three.
12:24
You expect a couple, two or three. Enough to
12:25
go top, right? So enough to put them in. At least
12:28
tied. It's a two goal difference right now, right?
12:31
Yeah, they'll be at least tied. So you'd expect
12:34
that. Arsenal have two home games against Newcastle
12:37
and Fulham. Sides that aren't easy to play against.
12:41
And Newcastle have been problematic because of
12:44
their physicality for Arsenal a little bit. And
12:46
they are. I mean, now the European places are
12:48
wide open all of a sudden with Fulham, even Newcastle.
12:52
And I think that's just going to be, we're going
12:55
to know in the next, you know, if City take care
12:58
of business tomorrow, obviously they slip up,
13:00
then you're, and again, I'm not, I'm not super
13:02
confident. I don't go City will definitely win
13:04
all their, I don't think they will win all their
13:05
games. I think City have a slip up, whether a
13:07
way to Everton, a way to Bournemouth. I think
13:09
there's a draw, maybe a defeat there. But I think
13:13
Arsenal, the next two games, like you'll know,
13:15
like you'll find out, we're going to know. And
13:17
if Arsenal don't win those two games, and have
13:21
a similar sort of tentative nervous approach
13:23
cagey approach to those games then I think I
13:26
think we'll know early what's going to happen
13:28
um I think this this is what I was saying to
13:31
you guys in the voice note in the chat that I
13:33
don't think that I don't think it's a case of
13:37
will City win the title I think it's a case of
13:40
will Arsenal lose the title and that's still
13:42
the case right of Are Arsenal going to lose a
13:45
game? Are they going to drop points? Because
13:47
that is the way that City will win. Because we
13:48
will drop points. We're going up against an Everton
13:51
which gave Liverpool a run for their money. They're
13:54
chasing Europe. Rathwaite's out for the season
13:58
now. But we are also playing away at Goodison,
14:01
not Goodison Park, the new stadium. So it's going
14:05
to be a different game. If we can beat them,
14:08
I think you might be alright. Don't get me wrong.
14:11
I know what you mean. They're big game players,
14:13
though, in the sense of when they come up against
14:14
a big team, they will take it up a notch. That
14:17
just fundamentally will happen. Let's not forget
14:21
the final game of the season. The thing is that
14:23
if we do not have any kind of a point lead before
14:27
the final game of the season where we're playing
14:29
Villa, what happened last time we played Villa
14:31
at home on the final day of the season when it
14:33
was so close in the title race? We just barely
14:36
won it, and that was through some De Bruyne ridiculousness.
14:39
To be honest with you, at that point, if Chelsea
14:43
play Brighton now, they're playing just now,
14:45
I don't know what the score is, but if Chelsea
14:48
don't win tonight and Liverpool, Villa win it
14:50
the week, Villa will have nothing to play for.
14:53
By that point, I expect Villa to have nothing
14:56
to play because Chelsea look like they've shat
14:58
the bed and it looks like the top five. I think
15:01
it's one result away now, one game week swing
15:04
away from honestly being done because I think
15:06
it's seven points now. Liverpool to Chelsea.
15:09
So that goes to nine or ten with four games to
15:11
go, whatever. It's done. So Villa will have Champions
15:16
League football. They'll have one eye on Europe.
15:18
Honestly, if they get to it, you expect them
15:21
to get to that European final. I'm not saying
15:24
it's a gimme, but you expect them to with Unai
15:27
Emery. Honestly, you're a player. You don't care.
15:31
You're not going to get injured. I look at the
15:33
pictures again. You go Villa on paper. If Villa
15:35
had to get fifth, I'd feel very differently about
15:38
it. I think, look, Everton and Bournemouth away
15:40
because the fight for European places are the
15:43
two with Jeopardy and you're away from home.
15:44
City will win all their home games, in my opinion.
15:48
I think... I don't know. I just... I think the
15:52
difference is Pep will take more risks. I think
15:55
that's the thing, right? We'll gamble in terms
15:57
of going to go and win those games. in a way
16:01
to be like, you know, like they're better than
16:03
Everton. They will, if City play the way they
16:05
played on Sunday, they beat Everton nine times
16:07
out of 10. Like they will. Everton, Moyes has
16:08
done a great job. Same as Bournemouth, you know?
16:11
So yes, we will see. But it's honestly, I do,
16:16
weirdly enough, it's the next two Arsenal home
16:17
games. I think, I think then it was, they go
16:19
to West Ham and Palace. And then I think they've
16:21
got a home game against, it's another London
16:23
club, isn't it? Everything's in London to close
16:26
the year. Yeah. So who is it? It's Palace away,
16:28
West Ham away. And there's something. No, Fulham's
16:32
next. But the last three games, Mike's going
16:35
to tell me. Yeah, I'm looking. Yeah, so they've
16:39
got Newcastle home, Fulham home. I think it's
16:41
then a wait on West Ham. Burnley, yeah, yeah,
16:43
yeah. Burnley at home. Yeah. And then, yeah,
16:47
so, I mean, they're going to win. Now, the Palace,
16:50
again, Palace should be distracted by other matters,
16:53
you would think, maybe. West Ham. If they won
16:58
last night, they probably won't be safe. So that
17:00
does become a bit of a banana skin because away
17:02
at West Ham, Nuno, we know what he's going to
17:03
do. But I just think Arsenal, I do think the
17:07
next two home, even though they're home games,
17:10
because the pressure... Yeah, Newcastle's no
17:11
walk, so... But it's the pressure. And Fulham
17:15
are a good team. The pressure that comes playing
17:17
first. If City go top, that to me will be...
17:20
If they win those two home games... I would probably
17:24
rather be going first. I know. I'd rather be
17:28
going first. Like you not having to respond to
17:31
whatever happened, set the tone. Like, I think
17:33
that's important in this, the fact that city's
17:36
got a blank and, and we play Newcastle. That's
17:40
important. I agree. Champions league though.
17:43
Champions league. And you are going to like,
17:45
no matter how, no matter how. fluidly you will
17:49
play, there is going to be an injury within the
17:52
course of one of those two legs. There's no doubt.
17:54
It's Atletico Madrid. They're going to shit house
17:56
like no tomorrow. Shorts of Diego Simeone running
17:59
on the pitch and headbutting Declan Rice, someone's
18:01
getting injured. You should hope that it's one
18:04
of your players that you don't really care about.
18:07
I don't know. I think that is going to be a big
18:10
factor because when it's the semi -final... When
18:13
it is that close. And that'll be a horrible game.
18:16
They will claw their way. So look, I don't know
18:19
when those European games land and what fixtures
18:22
they sandwich in between. Mike's going to look
18:26
at it now for me. But I do think that, I agree,
18:28
Mike, I think going first better. What I mean,
18:30
though, is the first time they'll be in behind,
18:31
if City win tomorrow night, it would just be
18:34
really interesting to see how they deal with
18:39
that sort of pressure. Because that really becomes
18:42
squeaky bum time. That's like, you know, if you
18:45
lose a home game or drop points in a home game
18:48
in this run -in, I think you're going to be bang
18:50
in trouble. Because City have two away games.
18:52
You have two away games, right? And you have
18:56
to win your home games. You have to win them.
18:58
It is what it is. And the other question I want
19:00
to ask, Mike, on the Arsenal side of things,
19:02
is how damning is it on Victor Guiocarez that
19:07
Kai Havert starts that game? Yeah, I mean, I
19:13
don't think anyone's saying that he's Holland.
19:16
But it's pretty damning, right? So hear me out
19:19
on this, right? And I know, I'll remind you of
19:21
things you said. I think it was what they wanted.
19:24
It was as much the style of play and the tactics
19:30
that they had as it was anything else. And he
19:33
didn't fit what Arteta was trying to do in that
19:36
moment. a goal scorer against bottom half clubs
19:44
so like is he not is he not just like a shite
19:47
olivia jeru i think the problem that i think
19:51
the problem is let's not forget but also let's
19:58
remember that like i think the bigger problem
20:02
is that they bought yokoros but he doesn't suit
20:05
the style of play that arteta has which is chuck
20:08
it up to the big guy who's going to then flip
20:10
it out to the wings. He's also just a bit shy,
20:13
is he not? He is a poacher. He's a fox in the
20:17
box, but he's not a poacher. He's not a poacher.
20:20
That's literally most of his goals. It's like
20:22
not tap -ins, but like, oh, there's a fumble.
20:24
I'm going to go knock it. And that's literally
20:26
it. He doesn't do hold -up play. He doesn't like
20:29
sort of... That's right. He is not... He doesn't
20:31
do that. Yeah. And that is exactly the type of
20:34
play that... Do you have a question I want to
20:37
ask Mike? Because Mike has said, I remember Mike
20:39
being smug earlier in the season on this in the
20:41
podcast. What dawned on me on Sunday is that
20:45
if Arsenal don't win this league and the post
20:50
-mortem is done, one of them, everyone's talking
20:52
about Arteta and stuff like that, recruitment,
20:54
that's where I'd be looking. Because we've talked
20:57
about and been, Arsenal fans have been, oh, look,
20:59
it's a match, look, all these defenders. I said
21:03
this, I've said this for years. I said, if you
21:05
swap Martin Odegaard and Bruno Fernandes, you
21:08
have at least two titles, right? Ryan Cherky,
21:11
like that type of player is like, and that is,
21:14
and you look at recruitment, Madaweke, not good
21:16
enough. Gyokurez, not good enough, right? Eze,
21:19
I think he's brilliant, but has been woeful,
21:23
let's be honest. You know, take the Spurs game
21:25
aside, he's done pretty much nothing, right,
21:28
this season. And you look at like, again, I just
21:32
think Semenyo, Cherky, I think that's the difference
21:34
in the managers, right? I know they got Gehi,
21:36
but... That was almost like out of necessity
21:38
because of their injuries. But you're going,
21:40
I just don't understand. And then, you know,
21:43
the caliber of player. And you're seeing now,
21:46
look, the Kai Osaka, I'm very critical of him.
21:49
I think he's wonderful, but he's just woefully
21:50
underperformed to his potential. But what you're
21:53
seeing now is how much better he is than all
21:55
these other guys. Like genuinely, like he is
21:58
in terms of like a level above. You know, I think
22:01
Trossard, I don't know what's happened with him.
22:03
I do like him. I think he's... falling off i
22:04
don't know what's happened to his form he actually
22:06
was too many players in that position and you
22:10
need nobody gets a run of form because you're
22:12
rotating and that's a problem we have too many
22:15
left wings yeah but you don't think you're missing
22:18
like there is that like somebody that can create
22:20
like you know it's like verts like somebody like
22:22
that something that has that like churky you
22:24
need somebody that's got a little bit because
22:26
odegaard is yeah well and that's the thing is
22:29
that that should be as a playing in the middle
22:33
But it's not. But it's not. And so he's stuck
22:37
in this rotation on the left with Martinelli
22:40
and Trossard. Yeah, it's bizarre to me. Because
22:44
like you say, I think, I mean, Odegaard is a
22:46
good footballer. He's a good player. He's not
22:47
a bad player. He's great in setting the tone
22:49
for your press. But he's just so safe with his
22:52
leg. He doesn't shoot. Everything is sideways
22:54
or backwards. Yeah, and he doesn't shoot. He
22:56
doesn't shoot. You know, like, Declan Rice, well,
22:58
if he sees sight of goal, like, saw his legs.
23:01
He's swinging the leg. He'll hit it, right? And
23:03
it gives them... It means they've got to throw
23:05
blocks. And it creates space. So that was, to
23:08
me, occurred to me. I was like, you have over
23:11
-rotated in your recruitment to the wrong end
23:13
of the field here. And actually, you've got some
23:14
of your recruitment wrong. Like, Jokeres, to
23:16
me, is a mid -table Premier League striker. I
23:19
do believe that. Like, I really believe he's
23:21
not that good. Like, honestly. Like, he's okay.
23:26
And again, mid -table. I would put him... That's
23:30
where I put his level. And Kai Havertz, I'm not
23:34
a big fan. He played well, but he's also not
23:36
the answer, which is why you spend all that money
23:38
and grow up. You spend a lot of money. He can't
23:39
be a guy that you don't, to not play him in that
23:41
game and to spend that money on him. You believe
23:44
he's been bought for these games and you're wrong
23:47
because he's not good enough. I think that the
23:51
biggest issue still is Arteta. I'm not saying
23:55
that he is horrendous, right? Is it because of
23:57
his Lego hair? It's his Lego hair. No, it's because
24:00
he sets fires to pitches. But it's also a case
24:03
of like, can you look at a game and point to
24:08
it and go, oh yeah, Arteta changed the tactics
24:11
partway through the game. That made a hell of
24:14
a difference. Rather than it being, Arsene got
24:17
a corner right at the end of the game or a set
24:21
piece right at the end of the game, knocked it
24:22
in. Not particularly. Those are two very different
24:24
things. I don't know. I can't remember one. Leveraging
24:29
free kicks and corners is a very different thing,
24:32
right? So, like, I'm just sort of thinking, like,
24:35
it's becoming, I'm starting to think that it's
24:38
less and less of a mentality thing. It's more,
24:40
it feels like more of a case that do the Arsenal
24:42
players really know what to do or get the instructions
24:47
when it goes south? I'm not entirely sure. Like,
24:53
I don't think that, like, if you really look
24:55
at the game from the other day, they played the
24:58
same game throughout. I don't think that they
25:00
changed the tactics at all throughout the entire
25:02
game. Yeah. And they pretty much, and like, in
25:06
that sort of a situation, when you get to like
25:08
70 minutes, you change things up. You change
25:10
the way that you're playing, or at least react
25:11
to City. Like City had a 4 -2 -4 formation, right?
25:15
Surely they should be like stacking it so then
25:17
they can actually break the first four quite
25:19
comfortably. They didn't do that at all once
25:22
the entire game. Surely, like, if City is sticking
25:24
with that, that's because Arteta's not changing
25:26
their tactics. Well, do you know what it is,
25:28
Mouaz, as well? I don't know if you noticed in
25:29
the game, like, the thing that drives me, why
25:31
I think Arsenal are such a crap watch, and even
25:32
in that game, I don't think they were, I don't
25:34
think they played that well. I thought they at
25:36
least, they set out to press and stop City playing
25:38
out, but I think what I learn is, it's like,
25:42
I feel like Arsenal players are almost programmed
25:44
to just, like, the amount of times they go back
25:46
to Raya when you don't need to. I'm like, what
25:49
are you doing? Like, you've got space in front
25:50
of you. Like, you don't, you're just, you're
25:53
encouraging, you're getting, you're allowing
25:55
them to come up the pitch. And there's almost
25:57
this like negative, it's the opposite of what
26:00
it should be, right? Try and pass forward if
26:02
you can, right? I'm not saying, you don't hit
26:04
hopeful balls up front to Kai Havertz on his
26:06
own, but break, yeah, they just, they're so happy
26:10
to go back. Almost like, it's almost like they're
26:12
just like, everything's got to start from the,
26:14
do you know what I mean? It's like, and it's
26:16
frustrating because you're kind of like, what
26:17
are you doing? It's almost like wait till the
26:20
guy comes to you, then give Raya the ball. It's
26:22
okay to do that if you draw a guy out of position
26:24
to create space to open. But there just seems
26:28
like, I don't know if you think that, Mike, but
26:30
it just drives me wild watching them. Yeah, I
26:32
mean, for sure. There's a lot of backwards play,
26:36
and I think that that's also down to some of
26:38
the, like we talked about with Odegaard. His
26:40
mindset feels like either square or back. So,
26:47
yeah, I think it is programmed into them. And
26:50
it's also, like Billy talked about last week,
26:52
like we spend so much time trying to take the
26:56
risky play in our defensive third instead of
26:59
just playing it forward. I can't argue with any
27:04
of it. Yeah. Well, let's see here. So I want
27:08
to get your perspective. We'll close this segment.
27:10
We have other things. We're going to talk about
27:11
Chelsea and their manager, and we'll talk a bit
27:13
about the relegation battle and the race for
27:14
Europe briefly. I want to start with you. How
27:19
are you both feeling in terms of the run? It's
27:23
neck and neck, right? I think Opta said Arsenal
27:26
have a 73 % chance to win the league, which is
27:28
interesting. Probably, again, based on fixtures.
27:33
Burnley's probably 80 % of that 70%. Yeah, I
27:36
think Arsenal definitely have the easier... They
27:40
do have the easier... Fulham is the match that's
27:43
sandwiched between the Real Madrid matches, by
27:45
the way. Okay, so it's Atletico Madrid, leg one,
27:49
Fulham, Atletico. That is a problem. I was almost
27:53
like, I wonder if they'd get those two games
27:55
out of the way, it would have been better. But
27:56
anyway, so Waza, Mike, how are you feeling in
28:00
terms of how bullish do you feel? So I guess,
28:04
Mike, for you, do you still believe and how much
28:05
do you actually believe? And then Waza, same
28:08
with you. Like, because again, the belief has
28:10
been sapped from City. It's been, we've been
28:12
close before and then they've just had some shocking
28:14
results. So where are you both at in the belief
28:16
scale? Like genuine belief, like not like trying
28:19
to believe in your team because you love them
28:20
and you will obviously support them the whole
28:23
way in, but genuine belief. Like what level are
28:25
you at? It's 50 -50. Okay. So you're 50 -50.
28:32
Okay. You're not Billy yet. That's good. Okay.
28:33
You're not a zero. That's good. Are you feeling
28:37
the same, Waz? I'm absolutely astounded that
28:40
no Arsenal... I'm so surprised that Arsenal...
28:43
I'm very much team Pep in the sense of they're
28:46
at the top of the league. They have an easier
28:48
run -in. What is happening? Why are they so pessimistic?
28:52
Have you watched the last three seasons? The
28:55
thing is, I am not optimistic that we'll win
29:00
the league. I'm not disappointed because I think
29:02
it's what we deserve. I am happy with how we're
29:06
finishing the season. Okay. We are finishing
29:08
it on a high. We have pulled it back a lot. I
29:11
don't think that we're going to win the league,
29:12
though. Okay. Can I just share? I just saved
29:16
a screenshot of this. I thought it was interesting.
29:19
Why you might... I understand what you're saying,
29:21
Waza. You are always glass half empty, though,
29:23
with your own team. Did you see the stat of McLarty?
29:27
McLarty has been in charge for, is it, six years
29:29
now? This is season six. This is his sixth season.
29:32
Is this his win rate by month? April. Yeah, 40
29:36
-something percent. Mate, it's awful. Like, 2021,
29:39
Drew won, lost two. 2022, lost three. 2023, Drew
29:45
three, lost one. 2024, Drew two, lost one. 2025,
29:49
lost three, Drew one. Now, 2026, they beat Sporting,
29:53
right? They got beat by Southampton. They got
29:57
beat by Bournemouth. They now beat by City. in
29:59
April. So you're going and April, this is squeaky
30:03
bum time. This is the when it matters, right?
30:05
If you're in, even if it's top four, it doesn't
30:07
matter what race you're in. This is when it matters.
30:11
The thing is, the difference is I'm not looking
30:13
at Arsenal. I'm not looking at Arsenal's performances.
30:16
I'm not looking at their fixtures. I'm looking
30:17
at City's performances and fixtures. Do I think
30:20
that our backline is solid enough to prevent
30:23
like banana skins from happening? Absolutely
30:26
not. Donnarumma literally showed that the other
30:28
day. But you're not capable of a fuck -up at
30:31
any point. Listen, I feel that there's a softness
30:35
to City. I think, like, Rodri Bernardo Silva,
30:38
I think, give you, like, I think they're the
30:41
thing that I would say gives you the solidity,
30:43
right, in terms of, like, the experience they
30:45
have and the quality. But it is a matter of,
30:48
like, it might feel, I think somebody said this,
30:50
like, this team, like, Guardiola didn't expect
30:52
them to be, to have, like, guys like Cherokee
30:55
is really kicked on, right? Doku is kicked into
30:58
a bit of good form. Haaland has been, it's not
31:01
been a very, I think he's been pretty average
31:02
this season, but he does have that, he's got
31:04
that fire in his belly, right? Bernardo Silva's
31:06
playing as well as he's, I mean, he's just ridiculous.
31:09
Nico O 'Reilly form was like, Mark Gahey has
31:11
obviously settled in really quickly and played
31:13
well. Kusunov has come in. Yeah, he's actually
31:17
dipped off. He was good, but he's dipped off.
31:19
I think he was terrible against Arsenal, by the
31:21
way. He didn't take his man on once. But you
31:23
know what I mean, Wazza? There's an element of
31:24
like, I just said to Mike, all of the Arsenal
31:26
players, how many Arsenal players you see right
31:28
now, Mike, David Raya, bang in form. But outside
31:31
of that, how many Arsenal players you go, yes,
31:33
they're in really good form. Saliba's been consistent.
31:38
Gabriel's been consistent. But I think Hinkapi
31:41
has done pretty well. pretty well. I think he's
31:43
pretty good. But outside of that, you start to
31:46
struggle, whereas City, you kind of go, yeah,
31:47
there's a lot of guys that are on the upward
31:49
tick. So does that not give you more belief,
31:51
Waza? That's what I would be if I was a City
31:53
fan going, do you know what? We might have just,
31:55
at this critical moment, be hitting form at the
31:59
right time, just clicking at the right time.
32:01
No? So, I will only have a bit more optimism
32:05
depending on how we play and dispatch Burnley,
32:08
if we dispatch Burnley, because this... feels
32:11
like prime for us to go to burnley and get a
32:15
draw like if we can actually overcome that and
32:18
maintain that form and actually do a really good
32:21
job at burnley that is the real test because
32:23
but surely you're not going to meet i mean burning
32:25
up there is no surely this this entire season
32:28
is an entire season based on not being able to
32:31
say like are you having this from him not the
32:34
burnley match no like for example if you even
32:37
if even if our store going to burn out tomorrow
32:38
night mike you're going We're going to find a
32:40
way to win that game, right? You have to believe
32:42
that. Bournemouth is more of a banana skin than
32:46
Burnley. If you don't believe that, if that's
32:49
your belief, you've lost the league. That's crazy.
32:52
After that result, they're going to go to Burnley
32:54
and lay an egg. No way. It's the other games,
32:57
like you say. To me, there's no... Burnley are
33:00
relegated. Confirmed. They're down. Dropping
33:03
points against... at home that we shouldn't have
33:06
dropped points against, that is debilitating.
33:09
But the team is different now, isn't it? It's
33:11
playing at a different level now. It's not been
33:13
that long since Forrest. Yes, of course. No,
33:16
don't get me wrong. The team is hitting for them.
33:18
But the difference is Forrest are a team that
33:20
are on the up. They're actually into... Whereas
33:22
Burnley, they were 1 -0 up against. They got
33:24
smashed 4 -1 and got booed off the park, right?
33:26
So it's like... And look, it's one of those things
33:28
I say that professional sports... Burnley are
33:31
not... You don't get an injury. Your edge is
33:34
not going to be there because you know you're
33:35
down. You know you're down. It's done now, right?
33:38
So it's almost like... I mean, the only thing
33:41
is that you've seen it before. For teams that
33:42
are done, there is no more pressure. You play
33:45
freely and you suddenly see stuff and you're
33:49
like, where was this for the last 36 games? And
33:53
so for the teams that are... So far, Wolves is
33:56
the only one that's confirmed. Burnley's down
33:58
too. What's that? Are Burnley not confirmed yet?
34:01
No. The only one that's mathematically eliminated
34:03
is Wolves. Okay. Okay. So Burnley still technically
34:06
have something to play for. And Burnley, the
34:08
players, like the players in those positions,
34:10
they're going to want to see like how many Premier
34:12
League teams are going to pick them up. Yeah.
34:13
Yeah. They're all auditioning for a job to stay
34:16
up while the team goes down. Listen, if they
34:18
play free, they'll get smoked. They'll get smoked.
34:22
Good. Play free and they will smoke. Like City
34:25
will smoke you. Yes. There's going to be no playing.
34:28
Scott Parker will not have them play free. No,
34:30
no, no. But no, look, again, I just don't see,
34:33
in terms of what the, after that win on Sunday,
34:36
just there's going to be that fire. I know Rodri's
34:39
not going to be available, but I just feel like,
34:42
you know, when you've got, what's his name, Reinder,
34:44
I think he's a great player. He's in the bench.
34:46
You look at the bench. Yeah, he started off on
34:48
fire and we haven't heard his name, right? Yeah,
34:50
I think they've got plenty in the tights. So
34:53
look, City win tomorrow. There's no doubt. It's
34:55
what happens after that. It's Arsenal's next
34:58
two games and City's following two games. That
35:00
defines the outcome. I think then the games maybe
35:04
get a little bit easier towards the end of the
35:07
year, but we'll see. What a time to be alive.
35:10
What about Chelsea boys? Liam Roussigneau, David
35:12
Brent of the league. I mean, you know, just talking
35:16
about like, I heard him say that Man Utd came,
35:20
we played better than them. They scored with
35:23
their only shot on target. That should be impossible.
35:25
It's like, well, yeah, it's not impossible. If
35:26
you have a shot and goal, there's a chance it
35:29
goes in, you moron. Like, Caicedo's form, talk
35:34
about a player that's gone off a cliff for the
35:35
past two months. Enzo Fernandez is one of the
35:38
best midfielders in the league, by the way. Again,
35:41
I don't care what he says. The way that you're
35:43
playing right now... If he could only keep his
35:45
mouth shut, he'd be just fine. I mean, I still
35:47
think, like, I don't think he's in anything wild
35:49
either. I'm like, look, did you have a word with
35:51
him internally and say just, you know, has he
35:53
ever let the team down on the pitch? Not that
35:55
I've seen. Like, you know, whereas Caicedo has
35:58
been absolutely shit for two months. Cole Palmer
36:01
has been crap all season. The João Pedro injury
36:04
is huge, I think. That's a massive, because the
36:08
lap's just not the guy I knew when they signed
36:09
him. I said to my brother, he's just not the
36:10
guy at that level. He's not. He's a battering
36:12
ram. He's like, again, he's similar to Gyokrez
36:14
for me. He's just like a big lump. So, yeah,
36:18
I mean, Chelsea now looks like 7 -0. Thankfully,
36:20
Liverpool, I never thought I'd say this, was
36:22
quite happy to see Man United win. Obviously,
36:24
we get the late Virgil winner against Everton,
36:27
which then puts the 7 -point gap now, which looks
36:29
like, you know, again, I don't want to say it
36:31
because like you, Waza, I've been burnt too many
36:33
times this year. But, you know, we're playing
36:35
Palace at home. We win that the weekend. I don't
36:38
know what the Chelsea score is right now. I hope
36:39
they're getting humped by Brighton. 1 -0 to Brighton.
36:45
Yeah. Listen, by the way, I know you love him
36:49
as well. I heard that you fancy him. I'd love
36:51
to see Brighton get European. I think they've
36:52
been a great watch all year and he's done a good
36:55
job there, but that's fantastic news because
36:57
if Chelsea lose tonight or don't win and we win
37:00
at the weekend and it goes to nine or 10 points
37:02
with what... Four games to go Then it is done,
37:07
the top five is secured Champions League football,
37:09
the pressure's off and we can go and enjoy Then
37:10
it becomes about, we play Villa and United So
37:12
it becomes about who wins those games As in the
37:15
order of things So yes, that would be Like a
37:18
relief for me Just so I don't have the stress
37:20
of considering that the season could fall even
37:25
more off a cliff than it has. Although Brighton,
37:27
Brighton up to 50 points though. So they're only
37:29
five behind us. So we do need to win that game
37:31
in a hand. That'd be eight. It's too much with
37:33
four games to go, only 12 points to play for.
37:35
So yes, but yeah, Chelsea are just like London
37:40
clubs, like them and Spurs, just a joke. And
37:42
look, Spurs managed to get a point. In the most
37:45
Spurs -y way possible. Of course, you love to
37:48
see it. That's celebrating that they won the
37:49
game too early. And then, obviously, West Ham
37:52
felt like a massive missed opportunity last night.
37:54
A Palace team that have got their eye on other
37:55
things. I know they might see it as an extra
37:57
point, but it felt like if they won that game,
37:59
it would be really hard for Spurs. Now it's opened
38:01
the door. Spurs play Wolves next. And you think
38:05
if they can win that game, it could spark something
38:07
here. So it is going to be an interesting run.
38:09
Leeds look like they're just like... one point
38:12
or maybe two points away from safety now. Nottingham
38:15
Forest, I think they're going to be fine. They're
38:18
playing really well. So it does look like West
38:20
Ham or London. West Ham and Spurs. It's a battle
38:23
for a London club. Could you imagine this? You've
38:25
got that shit show at the bottom of the table
38:27
with Spurs. You've got Chelsea being the absolute...
38:29
Imagine they fall out of European places altogether,
38:31
which could happen the way they're going. And
38:33
then Arsenal bottle the title. It's like, what
38:35
a time to be a Northerner, Waza, right? It's
38:38
just in our blood. It's just who we are, mate.
38:40
It's just who we are. It's who we are. That's
38:42
it. Yeah, that's it. Yeah. It means Ange might
38:44
get a job next year. I'd love to see it. You
38:46
know what I find fascinating? I just don't...
38:49
Like, how many manager rotations have actually
38:52
worked this season? I think the only one has
38:54
been the latest one from... Man United. From
38:58
Forest. Yeah. Oh, yeah. And United. Chelsea have
39:02
completely just not done well. Spurs have completely
39:06
fumbled it. Wolves, it made no difference. They're
39:11
still shit. It's still terrible, right? I look
39:15
at Leeds. Leeds stuck with their man. They're
39:17
in a semi -final against Chelsea, I believe.
39:21
And they can win that. Absolutely, they should
39:24
win it in on -coming form. Absolutely. What a
39:27
time to get Chelsea. Leeds have hit them. They're
39:30
bang in form now. Stuck by their man. And this
39:33
is why I was talking to a guy at the gym today.
39:34
My neighbour is a Liverpool fan. And a lot of
39:37
Liverpool fans are done with slot. And I'm like,
39:39
look, mate, the only reason I would want rhythm
39:41
is I've not enjoyed watching the team for months.
39:44
It's not about the fact we didn't win the league
39:45
this year. Look, you have these peaks and you
39:47
can't be that way inclined, right? You won the
39:49
league last year, so whatever, right? But I said,
39:52
look, I actually am somewhat glad we got, because
39:54
I felt we didn't get Champions League football
39:56
they might have been forced to. So I'm kind of
39:58
a bit relieved because I said, look at Man United
40:00
for all those years. I just don't ever see, I
40:02
know Chelsea have done it and had sporadic success.
40:06
I just feel it's the same with Arteta, Arsenal.
40:08
I don't have a problem sticking with it because
40:09
I do think that, generally speaking, will play
40:15
out better than going the other extreme of, right,
40:18
do you know what? You know what I mean? The way
40:20
that Chelsea have done it, for example, or Spurs
40:22
or Man United. And I'm just like, if we were
40:24
going to transition now with some of these all
40:26
-time greats leaving, like Man United went through
40:28
that and they just went into the doldrums for
40:30
so many years. And you just think, imagine they
40:32
stuck with David Moyes for five years. we all
40:35
know they'd be in a better spot. Like, they would
40:37
not have gone through so much shit, right? So
40:40
I am somewhat relieved to say, look, if you thought
40:43
Slott was the guy, give him three years. And
40:46
after three years, yeah, look, if he's not able
40:48
to cut it with the big boys, then you maybe make
40:51
a change. And I said, the only caveat to that
40:54
is, if you, let's say, Jurgen Klopp, I'm coming
40:56
back, or somebody you go, this guy's available,
40:58
and he's, like, you know, Guardiola wants a change,
41:01
or, you know, there's not many of these guys,
41:03
by the way. I know you're laughing, but I can't
41:06
think of many other managers that I would say
41:08
fit that mold. You'd be like, you would just
41:12
be forced to take, you'd be like, sorry, Arna,
41:13
we need to take this decision because somebody
41:17
just elite is available. I think that's fine.
41:20
So I'm kind of a little bit relieved that it
41:22
seems somewhat settled and then it becomes about
41:24
focusing on next season for us. I've got to jump,
41:27
but I want to leave Arsenal fans with one last
41:30
message, which is just cheer up. We're in a Champions
41:36
League semi -final. You're in a Champions League
41:38
semi -final. You are top of the table in April.
41:41
What is wrong with you? Stop it. Grow up. Right,
41:44
okay. Thanks, Waza. There you go. That message
41:49
was for Billy Blanchett. Yes, who we had on the
41:54
podcast in our last episode. So, yes. Well, Mike,
41:57
this is it. I think we don't need to cover fantasy
41:59
this week because we're already... we're still
42:01
in flight um so yes hopefully you made some good
42:03
decisions i did although just back to chelsea
42:07
joe pedro like is injured and nobody tells us
42:11
these things and then no palmer today so i got
42:14
a whopping two points out of my bench boost from
42:16
those two but i'm still on a significant rank
42:19
having a narrow because of thank you brighton
42:22
So Pascal Gross is the differential that's paying
42:25
major dividends. You have Van Hecke as well,
42:27
right? I have Van Hecke as well, yeah. So I've
42:29
got a boatload of assists. You'll take it, mate.
42:33
You'll take them to the bank, mate. Absolutely.
42:35
That's it. Absolutely. I'll finish where Arteta
42:37
couldn't. Yes. Are you going to be watching the
42:40
Man City game tomorrow? Yeah, of course. I've
42:43
got three players in fantasy. Yeah, just praying
42:45
for a miracle, right? That is not the game where
42:49
the miracle happens. It's like, no. Yeah, the
42:52
Newcastle game is Saturday. That's a 12 .30.
42:55
It's a 12 .30 for you. You'll be at 5 .30 p .m.
42:58
here. So Eastern time, you'll be 12 .30. That's
43:00
a huge game. I think that's going to be fun.
43:04
Sets the tone. Sets the tone for the running.
43:06
Yeah. So let's see. One way or the other. It
43:09
sets the tone. I think you think about the next
43:12
week and a half, it's going to be like two league
43:14
games and two Champions League games. And I think
43:17
you'll know everything at the end of that. Yeah.
43:20
By May 5th, we'll have a really good sense of
43:22
where things are. You sure will. Okay. Well,
43:25
listen, good to chat. Nice to do this new time
43:28
slot. I think it works better. So yeah. Yeah.
43:30
But yes. But yeah, thanks again for everyone
43:33
that listens all of our five listeners. We appreciate
43:34
it. Yes. Like and subscribe. Exactly. Yes. Especially
43:38
with Mike up leveling all the, all the social
43:40
stuff. So yeah, more of that to come. But yes,
43:43
thanks everyone for listening and we'll see you
43:45
next time.