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One Match from History: Arsenal Chase the Double! · Football is Life

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From North London lights to the mercy rain To
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sky blue nights when the champions reign Three
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voices arise when the whistle blows Same beautiful
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game, different colors we chose Our football
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is life We're losing on you all night From the
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terrace to the mic Football is life Hey folks,
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welcome to our latest episode of Footballer's
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Life. As you can tell, we've upgraded there.
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We've got the fingers out, here we go. As you
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can see, there's a couple of gooders that are
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ready for the game. We've got, what, just under
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three hours to kick off. Yes, but we're not going
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to start with a game. Once again, on an Arsenal
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match day, another club steals it with manager
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news. Yes, so we're going to have to spend maybe
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five minutes talking about Arne Slott's departure
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from Liverpool. Again, not massively shocking
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in terms of like what, you know, but yeah, there's
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some things to pick out. My phone's been lighting
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up and I think we just hit the main talking point.
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So I'm going to obviously from a Liverpool perspective,
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give my view. Would love to get Billy and Mike's
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views on this as well. I've been quite consistent,
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I think, in terms of I think we've... I felt
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like we should probably stick with him. I don't
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want to get into this medical round. I think
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he won the league last year. I don't enjoy the
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football that he's bringing, but yes, that was
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what I felt we were going to do. That's what
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I felt we should do. It seems like the fact that
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he's lost the fan base and I had this feeling
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that he maybe started to lose some of the dressing
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room with maybe the departures or the way that
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those senior players, Roberts and Salah, have
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been. have been treated and maybe some of the
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decisions. I know I heard Sabozlai wasn't happy
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playing out of position a lot and felt that was
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unnecessary. So anyway, look, it's all culminated
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in Arnes Lot leaving Liverpool. It didn't say
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by mutual consent. We don't know. We get no more
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details right now. Quite raw. The strong rumour
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is that Iola is the next in line. The chat that
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I've been getting really is around, well, why
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would they not get Alonso? And I kind of say
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to people, I'm like, Look, this is not something
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that they've just done as a snap decision, right?
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Like, if they wanted Alonso, I believe he would
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have been at Liverpool, right? In terms of if
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Alonso, like everyone said, he would prefer Liverpool,
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he's an ex -Liverpool player. I heard that he
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maybe wanted to be in London and not up north.
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That does factor in. People forget this, right?
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Sometimes they're human beings. Like, we all
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have jobs. location does matter. It can be a
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factor, right? So yeah, I just believe that either
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we didn't want him or he didn't want to come
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to us because if he wanted to come and we wanted
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him, he would be the Liverpool manager and they
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would have just said, look, Javi, we're going
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to do it at the end of the season. So I think
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that's a bit of a moot point. I think Eriola
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is a risk. Again, in terms of the football we'll
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see, I do love, that's the type of manager that
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I would want. But yeah, he's not a top -tier
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manager. Then the optimist in me is, well, if
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PSG win tonight and Luis Enrique is like, I've
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completed everything, maybe he'll come to Liverpool.
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I don't know. So yeah, that would be obviously
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any club's choice of manager probably right now
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would be Luis Enrique, if you asked anyone. So
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yes, I do feel a bit sorry for Slot with saying
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that. I think actually the way he's dealt with
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things, I think he is partly accountable. I think
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he didn't handle things well. But I do feel bad
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because I feel like he did come in and deliver
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a league title, which is no mean feat. And I
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know we can all talk about, you know, it wasn't
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his team. The culture was established. Yes, I
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get all those points. It's not easy to do. It
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doesn't happen often. So I do feel bad for him
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that he didn't get the third season. But I think
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it's probably the way things went down versus,
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you know, okay, we finished fourth or fifth or
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whatever it was. We got Champions League football.
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It was a bad season and a forgettable one, but
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I almost feel it was a way that he handled himself,
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particularly from December onwards, probably
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defined the outcome. I don't know. What do you
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guys think? Are you leaning towards right decision
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or do you lean towards maybe you should have
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stuck? What do you think? Go ahead, Billy. As
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you can see around my neck here, I'm a big fan
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of trust in the process. He's obviously lost
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the dressing room and he's lost the fan base.
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And I think it's hard to see the vision after
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that. But I would have preferred that you keep
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the manager, especially after losing what I think
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was the number one target in the managerial position.
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almost immediately like they didn't even try
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it feels like um and if he's been such a i don't
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know i don't want to say bad manager but such
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a bad manager for the past six months at least
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and alonzo's been available like why why haven't
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you made the the effort why have you done it
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right after he's been signed Interesting timing,
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mate. What do you think? Yeah, I mean, we were
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talking about it on a pod a few weeks ago, right?
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And Wazza was very vocal that if they didn't
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get rid of him, he was out by Christmas. And
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so I'm not surprised. The timing's weird, but
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I'm not surprised. I guess the good news is now
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Liverpool's going to have the entire summer run
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up to get themselves sorted with the new manager
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and all of that. But yeah, not surprised. necessarily,
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but yeah, just I don't know. I think it was all
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the bridges were burned at this point. The fans
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are gone, the locker room clearly. It wasn't
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just Salah, and so I just think ownership's going,
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you can't fix this, so it's time to move on.
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Yeah, I think that's the conclusion that they
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had to come to. They said it was an end of season
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review. I feel like he's just come up short with
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not having the answers. There's been a bunch
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of factors in terms of injuries, Diogo Jota's
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death. There has been a lot of... I don't make
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excuses. It's more like I go, OK, well, you can
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go, well, let's not completely write him off
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as a coach. I think it's more, look, you've only
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got what you've got and there's been times where
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you go, I just think he's not... given us any
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confidence that he's got the answers. And I think
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that's where fans start to lose faith, as well
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as the football being very pedestrian and boring.
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And look, he's saying he's not coaching them
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to do that. You know, he has said those things,
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but then it's kind of like, well, what's, there's
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a disconnect. And I think that's your point,
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Bill. And again, I don't know if he's, I mean,
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we dramatize because we, you know, we like to.
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Thought about losing the dressing room. I think
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it's, there's a disconnect between, you know,
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clearly something's not working there. And again,
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like you said, Mike, I think they must've reflected
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and said, you know what? I don't think this is
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a matter, like if Lewis and Ricky became available
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and they just sacked him and got him, you might
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be like, well, it's just because a better guy's
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there. Right. This feels like we don't have confidence.
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To my worry, I was speaking to a guy, my neighbor,
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who's a Liverpool fan at the gym. My worry was,
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I was like, they were going to stick with him
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and then not really back him because they didn't
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trust him in the summer. And I think that would
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have been worse. And go, we don't want to give
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him too much money. You know what I mean? I was
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really worried that they'd go in the middle.
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If you're going to back him and you think he's
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the guy, you've just got to keep going. Or you
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say, no, we don't believe he's the guy. And that's
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clearly what the belief is. Well, look, wishing
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the best of luck. Be interested to see where
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he pops up next. I'm sure he will get, because
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he will be one of those managers, I think he
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will get another job. He's got a good... I think,
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generally speaking, in terms of being a competent
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coach. We'll see if he goes back to, you know,
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back to his homeland, back to Holland, or whether
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he gets something, you know, in the Premier League.
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We'll have to wait and see what happens. You
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know, maybe he'll end up at Bournemouth. I'm
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sure they wouldn't take him with the brand of
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football, but we'll see. But listen, look, enough
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of that. We'll do next week, we'll do a full
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end of season review. Today is all about Arsenal.
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As much as I hate it, it is all about Arsenal.
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I think... I need to text Waz. I know he's not
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on. He said Patrick Malarkey had a question that
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I probably need to get to, which, again, he's
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been a bit better, so let's hope it's not a stupid
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one. But the run -up to the game, good news.
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And again, on the face of it, everyone's fit.
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So Timber's been announced back. Hakimi, Dembele...
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Now, again, how fit they are, they're playing.
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They're going to play, right? So there is a question.
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I would be saying keep an eye on those three
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players. I don't expect Dembele or Hakimi to
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last 90 minutes. Timber, I don't even know if
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he'll start. You know, with Arteta's cautious
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thing, he doesn't usually just pop guys straight
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in. So that will be interesting to look out for
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the lineups. The big question marks, again, I've
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had these, you know, sometimes in the build -up
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to a big game or whatever, you have these epiphanies
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or just gut feelings. So I remember when Declan
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Rice, remember the free kicks he scored in the
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Champions League. I just, I put a bet on it.
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I don't know why. I just was so sure Declan Rice
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would score that night. I don't know why. And
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now I have the same feeling about Eze tonight.
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I don't know why, but my question is, do you
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think he will start Eze or Zubimendi tonight?
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That's my, that's the big question that I, no,
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no, I know, I know your reaction and I understand
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because I don't think either of them start. I
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think Lewis Skelly and Trossard start. So you
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think he's going to play Lewis Skelly with Declan
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Rice and Martin Odegaard? Yes. I think Lewis
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Skelly gets the start, but I don't know about
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Eze Overtrossard. I mean, I would prefer Eze
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Overtrossard to start, but absolutely Lewis Skelly
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over Zubin Mendy. Absolutely. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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No, that's interesting. I didn't think about
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Lewis Skelly because I just thought, because
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Zubin Mendy to me is more of a... Given looking
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at PSG's midfield and their attacking prowess,
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he's not going to play Eze in the middle with
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Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. No, and that's
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why I think when he started to trust Lewis Skelly,
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it was because Zubimendi under the press was
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making horrible backward half passes that were
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getting intercepted and resulting in goals. And
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Skelly's going to be better against that press.
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Yeah, okay. I like that. Okay. Interesting. Okay.
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So how are you? What are confidence levels like
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tonight? I want to get a sense. Being a fan is
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very different. Obviously, I don't have any skin
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in the game. I can enjoy the game and just watch
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it for what it is. It's very different, obviously,
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when you're in your situation. How is your mood?
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How is your confidence level? Billy, are you
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still glass half empty, just being consistent?
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How are we feeling about tonight? How confident
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are we? I'm definitely 30 -70 in the PSG winning
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camp. Why? If Timber had a month's more fitness
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and I knew he was starting, I would feel so much
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better about playing against Ferdinand Scalia.
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But he's been the heartbeat of the team for the
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entirety of the knockouts. And I don't like Mosquera
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against him. I don't like Ben White against him.
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I think he's injured anyways. Yeah, Ben White's
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not good. I don't want him playing on the...
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On the other side, because then you have Douay
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on the left. What about Calafiore? So the predicted
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lineup... I think he's more of an attacking asset.
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He's good defensively, but I think when you have...
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Ideally, if you have Lewis Skelly playing, he's
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kind of dropping in a little more sometimes.
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And it comes like a three at the back. And Hincapia
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is playing left wing or center forward half the
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time. All the predicted lineups I've seen have
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Calafiore and Timber starting. Wow. Yeah. Which,
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I mean, that's the back four you want with Gabriel
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and Saliba, right? Like that's the back four
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you want. That's your best back four. 100%. Yeah,
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100%. But it really is going to come down to
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like Timber hasn't played in so long. He must
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be confident though. He must be. And I have a
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feeling that he may have been ready. for the
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last game of the season. And there was just no
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way that Arteta was going to tip his hand. We
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didn't need the win. He's, you know, you're going
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to, you're going to bill him as he's not ready.
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And so I, I have a feeling he may have been practicing
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a little bit more than we've been led on to,
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which is, you know, vintage Arteta in terms of
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like, he's not going to tell the media anything.
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And if that's the case, then, then he's, he's,
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he's right to start, but you know, just don't
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get injured. Joe Gingrich, yeah. So Mike, so
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Billy's 70 -30 to PSG. So he's got, he's not,
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yeah, all hope is lost. You know, his arse will
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have a chance, but he thinks, yeah, he feels
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like the likely outcome is PSG win. Are you in
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the same or do you feel it's closer? 60 -40,
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50 -50. I'm super nervous. I am going to be watching
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this match from behind the couch. I want the
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win so bad, so bad. It's just like you can taste
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it, and it's going to be a nervy 90 minutes.
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I think in the quintessential sports overstated
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things, that first goal is going to be so, so
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emotionally huge. I think they can win. I think
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it really comes down to who starts in that back
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four because of the offensive threat that PSG
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has. This is a different team than the one last
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year that played these guys. I feel like they
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have a much more legitimate chance to win. On
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the back of having now the champions of England,
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you can see the swagger that they have now. is
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so different than last year when it was we're
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top of the table and we're doing all these things
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and then lose it at the end. There's a different
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mindset, which I think is huge, but this is not
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going to be a light test. Yeah, would it be fair
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to say, being objective, that the best thing
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for this game would be an early PSG goal in terms
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of a spectacle? In terms of a spectacle as a
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neutral? Yes. I think that's terrible for Arsenal.
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To me, it isn't. Do you know why it isn't? Because
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then you see how good you are. And you see how
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good this Arsenal team can be. So the reason
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I say that is if the opposite happens, we all
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know how the game will go. You'll be delighted
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if they win 1 -0. Who cares? 1 -0 to the Arsenal.
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But in terms of, like, it won't be a good game
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to watch, right? It will be boring, and they'll
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make it that way deliberately, and they do that
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a lot. So, yeah, I do think that's a fair observation
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that that is. And I actually have a feeling that
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you'll win tonight. And it's not particularly
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based on... like anything other than just like
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like you say it's those intangibles i think this
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psg team are really really good i don't think
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they're as good as they were like they're not
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quite there's a little bit of a flip between
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those two teams in terms of depth and yeah a
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little bit and and it's margins right and i think
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look the thing that will determine it and i think
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you said the having the premier league if they
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lost that i was saying forget it forget it yeah
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i do think going into this they'll have that
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confidence my My worry, though, is just how they
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handle the nerves of the occasion. I think one
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thing you know is that that is not going to be
16:12
an issue for these PSG guys because they've been
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there and done it. So I do think it's going to
16:17
be interesting. What I expect to happen is them
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to start fast. I'm interested to see if Arsenal
16:24
can match that. If they can match it and give
16:26
them problems early or whether the first 15 minutes
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get through. And I actually think that's the
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thing. I think, unfortunately, unless PSG score
16:38
early, I think the way that you... The only way
16:42
that... The way that Arsenal are going to win
16:43
this game, it's not going to be pretty. And it
16:46
will be by being defensively really, really good
16:49
and being hard to break down. And then it just
16:51
comes down to those moments, whether it's a corner,
16:53
free kick, even just a moment of quality. And
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I have this feeling that Eze, I don't know why,
16:57
if he... I need to wait for the line -up. If
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he's starting, I'm going to put a bet on because
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I just have a feeling. Because I just think he
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is a player that shows up in moments. And I think
17:08
PSG, like from the edge of the area, I think
17:10
you can get, like, I think there's chances there.
17:13
I think, yeah, I think they're really good in
17:16
midfield. But I think that's, if I look at the
17:18
matchups, I was talking to somebody the other
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day, I said, look, if I was to say to you, what
17:24
Arsenal players get into the PSG team? So I've
17:27
got a strong opinion on this. Who do you think?
17:31
And then I'll give you mine. From the front three
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or just in general? So the whole 11? Yeah, so
17:40
I think Declan Rice is poised to have the game
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of his career. Okay. So Declan Rice is one that
17:48
gets in probably ahead of João Neves for me.
17:51
He's the only one that gets into midfield for
17:53
me. The thing is, because I think Vitinha would
17:57
start for Arsenal. I think Fabian Ruiz is one
18:00
of my... He is... One of the best players in
18:03
the world, but he's unbelievably good. Unbelievably
18:06
good. David Raya, to me, obviously gets in. Back
18:11
four is interesting. I think Marquinhos and Gabriel
18:15
would be the two. I wouldn't have Saliba. Marquinhos
18:18
has been as good as Gabriel in the Champions
18:21
League. He has been next level for them. It's
18:24
not a slight in William Saliba. It's just Gabriel,
18:26
I would take him over Saliba. I don't know if
18:27
that's controversial, but it is what it is. No,
18:30
I think... Three or four years ago, there was
18:33
a time when Saliba was the guy and you could
18:37
tell that he was calling that line and really
18:39
running the show. Not anymore. Over the last
18:40
couple of years, it's pivoted and Gabriel is
18:44
absolutely the general of that back line. Nuno
18:46
Mendes, to me, he gets straight into the Arsenal
18:49
team. He's better than it. I think the Timber
18:51
-Hakimi debate is interesting. And I don't know,
18:55
I could go either way on that one. I could go
18:57
either way. What do you think, Billy? That one's
18:59
way less interesting. I think the left back's
19:01
more interesting. Hakimi's better. Do you think
19:04
so? Hakimi is the best right back in world football
19:06
by a country mile. You agree, Mike? Yeah, I think
19:11
so. And Nuno Mendes, would you put Calafiori
19:15
in ahead of him? I would put... I think it's
19:18
a debate between Nuno Mendes and Hincapié. And
19:21
I would probably side with Hincapié. Or sorry,
19:23
with Nuno Mendes. And then my hottest take is...
19:28
Not one of Arsenal's front three get into PSG's
19:30
team. It's not even remotely a hot take. Is it
19:34
not? I think it's a harder take to not put Saliba
19:40
in. Because I think if you look at the stats
19:42
from the Champions League this season, we have
19:44
the best defence and it's not even like... Yeah,
19:47
it's not close. We've conceded six goals and
19:50
they've conceded 22. So as much as Marquinhos
19:54
is a fantastic defender, I would take Saliba
19:57
any day. Okay, but you agree, Mike, you're okay
19:59
with Saka not getting in? I mean, compared to
20:02
that front three, and on current form? Probably
20:06
doesn't, does he? I know, when I was thinking
20:08
about it, it's actually mad. It's current form,
20:10
though. I mean, three years ago, I would have
20:12
an argument, but Saka hasn't been, like, the
20:15
injuries piled up with him this season, and his
20:18
performance this season isn't Saka -like. No.
20:26
But the thing is, the reason I did that exercise
20:28
and I thought through it, I was trying to think,
20:29
like, logically, where do I think this game will
20:31
be won and lost? I think the midfield. You mentioned
20:34
Declan Rice. I think that's enormous. I think
20:36
Odegaard, if he is as sometimes ponderous to
20:41
me and just takes it, he needs to play faster.
20:44
And forward. Correct. So I think he, but again,
20:47
I think it is funny. I was thinking that because
20:49
I was thinking, I fancy Odegaard for a goal because
20:51
he's not really scored, but he does have that.
20:53
He's got it in his locker. And also sometimes
20:56
in finals, it's not the guy you expect sometimes.
20:58
I just think that midfield battle is going to
21:01
be, I think, because mid to front, they are better
21:03
than you. There's no doubt. They are. But defensively,
21:07
you said, Billy, so it is going to be this interesting.
21:10
But I do believe that, again, I do believe Declan
21:16
Rice can go and do what Gerrard did. He's got
21:19
that quality. I'm just going to go because he's
21:22
physically. Yes. Dominant. Yes. And I just, I'm
21:26
going to be so fascinated to watch him, yeah,
21:28
to watch him play tonight. I think that's going
21:31
to be key in terms of the midfield. But I do
21:35
think he's going to start Kai Havertz, right?
21:37
That's the other debate I was having. Like, Jokres
21:39
isn't starting. Is that fair? No, it's got to
21:40
be Kai Havertz. Yeah? Billy? No? Billy's? Gabby?
21:46
Gabby? Who starts? No, not Gabby Jesus. No. You
21:51
know what I was thinking? Like, Gyok is, if I
21:54
think about that, you know, I don't rate Gyokure
21:56
as that high. I think he's very average, right?
21:59
He's a blunt instrument. But when I've seen him
22:03
for sporting, like, you know, when I go, whoa,
22:05
you kind of look and go, wow. The common denominator
22:08
is just green grass to run into. And I do feel
22:11
it tonight. If PSG are the protagonist, they're
22:14
the front foot. That does lean into... those
22:17
balls into the channels for him, which to me
22:20
is his... Havertz, I understand why he likes
22:23
Havertz. Havertz is an all -rounder. He can do
22:26
a bit of hold -up. He can do a bit of everything.
22:28
He's not elite at anything. He can just do a
22:29
bit of everything. But, you know, Billy, what
22:32
do you think? I've changed my mind. I want Jokers
22:35
to start because I was complaining about this
22:38
in, I think, Arsenal's second -to -last match
22:41
of the season. And Havertz was playing everywhere
22:44
but centre -forward. He was everywhere but center
22:48
forward. And I think you need the way this team
22:50
is playing these days. We keep whipping in balls
22:53
from wide, and then there's nobody in the box
22:56
to get the ball. So I'd rather have Jokeres start
23:03
as an actual center forward. And he's not the
23:07
best striker in the world, but he has some of
23:10
the best hold -up play from strikers that I've
23:12
seen personally. he will win you a free kick
23:16
at half field. Yes. Five times a match minimum.
23:19
Yep. Yep. And help us get out of the half if
23:22
we're under pressure. So I think he's, he's better
23:25
at helping the team get up the pitch and hopefully
23:28
scoring from, from wide areas. He's lethal from
23:32
the spot. Yes. Yeah. Absolutely. Push his foot
23:37
through the ball. But yet I think, look to me,
23:40
you cite him for that money. Like he, again,
23:41
I do think he's a bit, he's a little bit average
23:45
he's not a yeah he's a bit basic but he does
23:48
have a and I just think if the game goes that
23:50
way I do think and I know why Arteta likes Havertz
23:55
I'm not a big Havertz fan but I understand why
23:57
Arteta likes the qualities that he has because
23:59
of what Arteta like winning you free kicks getting
24:02
you like Yes, I agree. Whereas Gyokrez is more
24:05
menacing because he's busy. He's a big marauder.
24:08
He makes a nuisance of himself and he runs about.
24:12
Odegaard does a lot of the press and he's good
24:14
at that. So I think that's a really interesting
24:16
decision. I do think that there's three interesting
24:19
decisions. Obviously, there's the shout and timber.
24:21
There's the Lewis Skelly, Zubamendi, Eze conundrum.
24:25
I just think Trossard's going to start on the
24:27
left. I don't think you can. I think you have
24:28
to start Trossard. And then there's the Havertz.
24:33
whereas for PSG you just know who's going to
24:36
play you know the line -up unless one of these
24:38
injuries is worse than feet they're letting on
24:41
and he's not going to risk them and wants to
24:42
bring them on and thinks they've only got 30
24:44
minutes in their legs so I think that's going
24:46
to be I think it's going to be interesting I
24:48
need to wait to see the line -ups before I maybe
24:50
make more of a conclusion I would love to see
24:52
him go Eze in the middle and just go and just
24:55
go right release him in Odegaard and say go toe
24:58
-to -toe and just go because I do think Eze could
25:02
He can be a difference maker. He can go toe -to
25:07
-toe with these guys. I think he can cause them
25:09
real problems. And he is, again, you're a bit
25:12
bigger than them physically, right? And I just
25:15
think you could go and, like, that's the only
25:17
thing about Odegaard. Like, go Eze Rice. I would
25:21
probably, if it was my decision, wouldn't play
25:23
Odegaard. I'd play Eze Rice and Louis Skelly
25:26
and say, right, boys, let's go. Let's go and
25:28
roll them over in the midfield. Because I think
25:31
Odegaard is neat and tidy. And I know he sets
25:33
the press. I know he's a big trigger for your
25:35
press. I just think, yeah, my worry is he sometimes
25:40
can get lost when the game's quick. And I think
25:44
Eze's better defensively. I actually think Eze
25:47
can tackle. He's a better tackler than counter
25:49
-pressing, actually winning the ball back than
25:52
Odegaard. He's really good from distance, like
25:55
both feet. So we'll see what happens. Look, I
25:58
mean, it's going to be a fantastic, fantastic
25:59
game. So it's midday Eastern time for you guys,
26:02
right? Yeah. How do you stateside feel about
26:05
it? Because they used to be eight, so it's early.
26:07
So it's great for the kids here, five o 'clock
26:10
UK time. How do you guys feel? How do the Americans
26:13
feel about the 12 p .m. kickoff? Is that good
26:15
or is it a bad thing? Rather than like three.
26:18
I think it's on a Saturday. I think it's fine.
26:21
It's perfect to be piling into the supporter
26:25
pubs and whatnot. So, yeah, noon is fine. I mean,
26:29
I'd hate it to be on the West Coast, but I don't
26:32
mind being here. 9 a .m. would be tough. Yeah,
26:36
that would be tough. Okay. Okay, so predictions,
26:38
guys. I'm going to pin you down for a prediction.
26:41
What's the score going to be tonight? Is it going
26:42
to be 1 -0 to the Arsenal? 1 -0 to the Arsenal.
26:47
Or what do we think? You can give a head and
26:50
heart prediction, Billy. I know you're going
26:52
to toil with this. You'll take 10 minutes to
26:54
make a decision. You can give me a head, which
26:57
is probably going to be a bad result, and then
27:00
a heart. What do we think? 3 -1 PSG, and then
27:06
my heart would love a 2 -1 Arsenal. That's all
27:10
I'm going with is 2 -1 Arsenal. I know it's spread,
27:16
but I just think it's going to be like 1 -0.
27:18
I think they might make it a really, yeah, I'm
27:20
going to go 1 -0 Arsenal. Eze to score. Yeah,
27:27
I mean, it could easily be Gabriel. I mean, you
27:29
wouldn't be shocked, right? Yeah. Bite your hand
27:32
off for it. Yeah, oh no, look, I think that they'll,
27:36
if I was, I think they'll make it like, watch
27:39
out for this in the game. be interested to see
27:40
how they defend the wings like trying to avoid
27:43
corners like I do think that there's an element
27:45
of like we'd rather than be swinging crosses
27:47
into the box in open play because if you've got
27:50
Havertz or Jochen there you can deal with those
27:53
guys right it's the so I do think that's going
27:56
to be really interesting to see how because Enrique
27:59
did this what was he did it against Liverpool
28:01
he did something he is a clever he is like that
28:04
vetting the details that's going to be interesting
28:05
I'm going to be watching to see how do they deliberately
28:08
going to go Yeah, yeah, 100%. Because I do think
28:11
that they are, yeah, they don't match up very
28:15
well. Like, just height -wise, they've got a
28:17
real problem. So, but they are. I mean, this
28:20
is where Marquinhos, I think, has been outstanding.
28:22
This against Liverpool, like, we should have
28:23
scored. He had got, like, the Gabriel S -blocks
28:26
and stuff. He's been playing at that level. And
28:29
the boy Paco has been, has looked like a good
28:31
foil. I know he's younger, but yeah, I think
28:33
having that experienced guy helps. So, listen,
28:35
we'll see what happens. We will see. yeah exciting
28:39
times could be uh yeah could be every time it's
28:44
uh yeah time in the blanchette household promise
28:48
me you're gonna go you're gonna sit on the couch
28:51
i don't mind you sitting on the edge of the couch
28:52
right think about this right you've got to believe
28:54
and go do you know what you could do look you're
28:56
in you've already won the premier league so regardless
28:57
what happens today that think of this as a free
28:59
hit but this is the cherry on top right if you
29:01
can do it try and enjoy it right Try and enjoy
29:05
it, right? That's what I want you to try. I know
29:07
it's hard. I know it's easy for me to say that.
29:09
It's not easy. But try and just get out from
29:12
behind the couch. Watch it. Enjoy it. Believe.
29:16
Let's see what can happen. I've been there with
29:17
Liverpool. We got beat by Real Madrid and it's
29:19
flat. And then we obviously won it against Spurs.
29:22
Yeah, I know the emotions. And let's see. It
29:25
could be a very famous night tonight. We'll see
29:28
what happens. It would be epic. What a double
29:30
this could be. What a double indeed. Yeah. What
29:34
a double. Yeah, so any other key matchups you've
29:38
mentioned, the PSG forward line, where would
29:41
you say if you're, as an Arsenal fan, where are
29:44
you most worried in terms of your team? Where
29:47
do you see the matchups? I think you mentioned
29:49
some of the wingers. It sounded like you guys,
29:51
again, if Timber plays, maybe less so, but where
29:54
do you think that you are worried in terms of
29:56
some matchups in the pitch to look out for when
29:58
you're watching the game? I think it's definitely
30:01
the midfield, for sure. Their midfield is just
30:05
super, super strong. And do we play attacking
30:11
or on your heels defensively? It's another trite
30:19
saying, right? It's won or lost in the midfield.
30:21
But it's just like their midfield is very scary.
30:25
Okay. Billy, in terms of... You know, PSG play
30:31
a three up front, right? So they don't really
30:33
have like a number nine as such. They don't have
30:35
a Giocares, right? That type of player. Saliba
30:38
and Gabriel have been, you know, defensively
30:41
dominant this year, right? So is there any concern
30:46
of how do you think PSG are going to cause you
30:48
problems with, you know, given the fact David
30:50
Rai is in the best form of anyone in the world
30:53
right now? Do you not just trust your defense
30:59
to deal with that? Or is it the wings that you
31:02
worry more about versus through the middle? I
31:04
think it's the wings I worry about more than
31:06
the middle for sure. But I'd be interested to
31:09
see what Enrique does with, assuming Dembele
31:13
starts at center forward. Because I feel like
31:17
his role might just be trying to drag Saliba
31:20
or Gabriel out of position for half the match.
31:23
And that would be a problem. But I do think it's
31:29
the wings. I think that's the key matchup today.
31:32
It's can Calafiori slash Nkepje and Timbers slash
31:36
Moschera deal with Douay and Favard -Skelia?
31:41
And the head says no. He is just... I was talking
31:47
to Alfie, my oldest son, and Alfie plays right
31:49
back, right? And I said, Alfie, I said, see Dembele?
31:52
I said, maybe it's because he's smaller. I don't...
31:55
I don't rate him that highly, right? I said that
31:58
to Alva. I said, see if I was an Arsenal player,
32:00
I wouldn't be losing any sleep over coming up
32:02
against him. I said, see Dewey and Kovacic. I
32:04
would be like losing sleep. I was like, how am
32:07
I going to do it? Like the two of them are just
32:09
like unbelievable. I don't, do you know what
32:12
it is? It's that they're obviously brilliant,
32:14
skillful. powerful. That's the thing. With Dembele,
32:19
you go, you could just use your physicality.
32:22
To me, I think... Gabriel's not going to get
32:24
bowled over by Dembele. Yeah, but you're just
32:27
like... I think his job will be to create that
32:29
space to get those one -on -ones out wide to
32:31
really cause a problem. I think it's going to
32:33
be interesting to see how Arsenal deal with that
32:36
situation and how disciplined they can be. I
32:39
just hope Declan Rice doesn't get sucked into
32:41
a really defensive role tonight. and you don't
32:45
get to see him on the ball because, yeah, I think
32:46
that would be a real shame. But anyway, we'll
32:50
see what happens. Okay, well, we'll try and keep
32:53
that short. We'll probably call it there. Well,
32:55
how long are we in there? 30 minutes? That feels
32:56
about right, lads. Well, look, we've got a good
32:59
preview. We'll be on next week. We're going to
33:01
do a full season debrief review before we then
33:04
switch focus to the World Cup, which is coming
33:06
up, obviously, quite quickly in June in a couple
33:08
of weeks. Very exciting. It's stateside. Are
33:10
you going to any games, boys? Did you manage
33:12
to get tickets in the lottery? Didn't get tickets
33:15
in the lottery. However, I just happened to have
33:17
a team meeting that is happening during the semifinals
33:20
in Atlanta. I don't know how this happened, but
33:23
we're going to play it by ear and see what we
33:26
do that week. And we'll see. But I do not have
33:30
tickets for anything right now. No. And I mean,
33:34
the Boston site has got some belter teams. But
33:39
if you know Foxborough. It is the worst place
33:44
in the world to drive in and out of. It is a
33:48
nightmare. Warning to anyone going there. It
33:51
is the worst. Take the train because it's one
33:54
road in and out and it is hell. It's hell. Yeah.
33:58
So, yeah. So, I mean, obviously. the biggest
34:00
team in the world are playing there, Scotland.
34:02
Right. We're at two games at Foxborough against
34:05
the mighty Haiti and then Morocco. And then we
34:07
go to Miami to play Brazil, which will be fantastic.
34:10
We're actually winning, watching the background.
34:12
3 -1 against Curaçao just out. Yep. So, but yeah,
34:16
I was trying to get tickets for one of the Boston
34:18
games, but it's just been a nightmare. So if
34:21
any, again, I'm hoping last minute somebody locally
34:23
might go, Scotland, Haiti, don't fancy it. I'll
34:26
be over at Foxborough like that if I can. I'll
34:30
take Alfie over. That's what I'd love to do.
34:31
But yes, if not, we'll be having a party here,
34:33
watching it here. But yeah, we're excited for
34:35
the World Cup. We'll get to all that later because
34:37
tonight we have to give you your flowers. It's
34:39
all about Arsenal. They're in the Champions League
34:40
final versus PSG. We need to leave it with positivity,
34:44
boys. Can they do it, Mike? Yes, they can do
34:47
it. Can they get it? Give me a hell yeah. Yes,
34:49
they can do it. Billy, Billy, they're going to
34:51
do it. Come on, Billy. Come on, Billy. Believe.
34:53
Keep me game one and goal. Come on. You're going
34:57
to do it, Billy. The Gooners are going to do
34:58
it. He's going to reverse mush it, and that's
35:01
going to be the secret. That's going to be the
35:03
secret. My anthem for a week and a half. I've
35:08
been humming that all week. So funny. Well, listen,
35:12
boys. Good to chat. Enjoy the game. Right. Yes,
35:16
I think my son's got a PSG tie and he wants PSG
35:19
to win. My dad was an Arsenal fan. He was a gooner.
35:22
So I'm just going to enjoy the game, mate. I
35:24
don't particularly mind what the result is, but
35:26
obviously for you guys, obviously we'd like it
35:28
to be. I know most people don't want Arsenal
35:29
to win because of the noise levels, but yeah,
35:32
look. Socials will be just merciless. I just
35:37
want, all I hope is this, wish both teams the
35:40
best. I hope it's a great game. I know we're
35:42
spoiled with the Bayern PSG games. I just hope.
35:44
the game lives up to the standard because both
35:46
teams are excellent so let's see what happens
35:49
and yeah as always thanks to everyone for listening
35:52
and we will catch you next week for our end of
35:54
season breakdown before we then switch to World
35:57
Cup build up so enjoy the game everyone and we'll
36:01
see you next time