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Crossover Special: Arsenal
44 Plays16 days ago
Gavin speaks to Jamie and Craig from the Daily Arsenal podcast for an insight into The Gunners before the weekend's game. They also wax lyrical about Fulham's contingent of former Arsenal players before looking ahead to the fixture itself.
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Transcript
Introduction to Fulham Podcast
00:00:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Hello everyone and welcome back to the Daily Fulham Podcast, your home of all things Fulham.
Preview of Fulham vs Arsenal Derby
00:00:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
The weekend is here and another London Derby is upon us as Fulham Take On Arsenal, a fixture that had some success for the Cottages last season.
Crossover with Arsenal Team
00:00:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Today is our crossover episode and joining me from the Daily Arsenal team, we have Jamie and we have Craig. How are you doing guys?
Chat on UK Stormy Weather
00:00:30
Craig matthews
I'm good. Thank you. How are you?
00:00:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, not too bad at all. Trying to brave the elements. It's a bit of a windy stormy weekend. So everyone out there, try and stay safe as best as you can.
00:00:42
Jamie
Yeah, no, I'm feeling good. I'm feeling good. Like you said, also ah storms. ah Yeah, not great. Not great reading when you when you hear that there's storms, especially around the UK. But again, like you said, mate, you know, everyone stay safe out
Fulham's Impact on Arsenal's Title Hopes
00:00:55
Jamie
there.
00:00:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Well, I did mention it briefly thatd that Fuller had some success in this fixture last season. Does that still haunt you guys?
00:01:02
Jamie
Painfully.
00:01:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fuller 2-1 win? Dent in your title charge?
Arsenal's Missed Title Opportunities
00:01:08
Jamie
Yeah unfortunately because you know I kind of sit here and I said it to my mates if you know if we'd got a result against Fulham and the thing is right if you look back at the you know when we played you guys at the Emirates as well the fact that you guys held us at the Emirates as well to just the point you know I do sit there and I've always just thought to myself if we you know if we'd beaten Fulham home in a way might have got us the title, you know, then there's West Ham and Villa and ah yeah, I'm hoping for a better outcome this weekend.
Arsenal's Post-Dubai Performance
00:01:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
You feel the same way Craig?
00:01:45
Craig matthews
Yeah, I think the full-on game cost us the I vanilla game cost us the full-on game. However, in a way, for the full-on game, ah won game ah craven quite well one not at grave quite loss season as well and thecycl were involved and i was spotpped with a spot play and but i considered twoloy goal in a the the
00:02:16
Craig matthews
lethargic, they're not enough after it at all. I think after that game they went to Dubai and I see the transform of
Fulham's London Derby Success
00:02:22
Craig matthews
that game.
00:02:22
Jamie
a
00:02:23
Craig matthews
After they went to Dubai and it came back, it was like winning a lot of games after that. Not even winning with the battering team. so yeah
00:02:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think the season before the narrative was about Arsenal bottling it. I know there was a game against Southampton, there was a couple of other games as well that they kind of lost leads and they from good positions. But last season, I didn't feel i didn't feel they bothered.
00:02:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
They just lost the Aston Villa game, which was the the only game they lost in like, was it like two or three months of football when they won a pretty much every other game?
00:02:50
Jamie
Something like that, yeah.
00:02:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
after the Fulham game.
00:02:51
Craig matthews
Hmm.
00:02:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But no, Fulham do come into this into this game on on the back of that win against Brighton and then they do have a good recent record in London Darby's, I don't know if you know this, but they're actually unbeaten in the last eight London Darby's and playing some good time good sides in that period as as well.
00:02:53
Craig matthews
Yeah.
00:03:02
Jamie
Wow.
00:03:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're off the back of a draw against Spurs, beating Crystal Palace, beating Brentford, so they'll go into this
Arsenal's Return to Form
00:03:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
game full of confidence. What what about Arsenal then? They had a little bit of a sticky patch in the towards or October, start of November time, back to back losses away from home at Bournemouth and Newcastle. Do you think they're starting to turn things around now and hitting top gear?
00:03:26
Jamie
Yeah, I believe since the international break, since we've been back from the international break, it seems like now we've kind of just really kicked ourselves into gear now. The the the win against United, I mean, me and Craig and the and the boys on the GSPN Arsenal pod, we we touched on it. We were saying that we played some really good football. It's just a shame that we never really kind of took the game further to United.
Predictions for Fulham vs Arsenal
00:03:49
Jamie
And I think Look, all due respect to Fulham, I think they've got an amazing squad, but I just think going into this weekend, I feel like Arsenal are going to really kind of use this game, especially going away to Fulham, knowing that
Arsenal's Set-Piece Strategies
00:04:02
Jamie
last season, it really, you know, last season, both home and away, it plagued us.
00:04:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know
00:04:08
Jamie
And I think this year I can see something different, can really see something different.
00:04:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we've seen...
00:04:15
Craig matthews
I think it's going to be a different game to last season.
00:04:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go on, sorry.
00:04:22
Craig matthews
We'll go there and do our job and win the game.
00:04:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And one player that's returned to the Arsenal setup in recent weeks is Martin Udergaard, who of course had that longest-term injury at the start of the season. Do you think it's no coincidence that they started banging in the goals and a comprehensive scoreline, scoring five away in the Champions League, five away against West Ham, and how influential has he been in those games?
00:04:46
Jamie
Go on Craig, I'll let you answer, go on.
00:04:47
Craig matthews
I feel like he's a top, top player, top class player. He didn't play for round Madrid, he's not a top class player. So since he's been injured, who struggled, soccer struggled, the whole team struggled because he's not a leader, he's not a captain. Any team that has a captain as their leader will struggle with their best player in their team. So he's done very well since he's come back. Excellent. Played 90 minutes against Chelsea. That game just before the international break.
00:05:15
Craig matthews
um Came back against Western, better Western, better sport in a way from home.
Arsenal's League Competition
00:05:20
Craig matthews
but One of the best teams in Europe. but One in Europe on the mine line manager now when he was there. And it's Tom Gokores as well. He's a very good striker. So I have to say that like he he's a top player and and he and he makes that awesome if you'll tip when gets ball.
00:05:38
Craig matthews
Post it left, right, anywhere, and in the cycle where I could understand on a right hand side, a link up between them too. So, yeah.
00:05:49
Jamie
yeah i mean i kind of touched on it again on a previous podcast with the boys i feel like since odor guard has been out we've not really had a proper recognisable cam player and that's why we've had to just bring in Trossard and don't get me wrong you know Trossard I mean like again everyone says that City are struggling without Rodbury but again it was also the same for us however we were able to grind out the results but you know that they weren't comfortable the football wasn't free-flowing but it's just such a breath of fresh air that we've got Odegard back because he is that heartbeat of
00:06:24
Jamie
of the team really, you know, you take away him and it's like, well, where do Arsenal kind of go from here? So um really, really, really key that we've, we've got him fit, available and ready for the weekend.
Liverpool's Form and Arsenal's Focus Shift
00:06:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah definitely agree he's a top player and one start that's been banded around in recent weeks in the last few days is Arsenal's prowess from corners and I think they've scored 27 goals from corners since the start of last season and I don't know it causes a bit of a of debate amongst fun football fans and I don't know why it's met with the derision because at the end of the day if you score a goal from a corner it's still a goal isn't it? It makes no difference if it's 30-40 passes, tick attack of football or a goal from a corner. I like ah applaud the team for working on that and having the set-piece coaches because that's another thing in today's game modern age people look at set-piece coaches and then maybe not sure. I know Fulham for instance, Fulham
00:07:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
have really struggled with set pieces this season. It it was only last night the game against Brighton where they ski scored their first goal from a corner or a free kick this season. They've had like 80 plus corners and ironically enough it was off of a Brighton player's backside. um But yeah just talk about the role as a set piece coach can have and the influence he can have on the team.
00:07:41
Jamie
I mean, I've said this, again, the Nicholas Jova, he needs a pay rise. He needs a Christmas bonus, a pay rise. What he's doing is unbelievable, but it really seems like now Arsenal have rattled. Like, I don't know what we must, this must be a common theme that we've done all season is rattle teams, whether it's the dark arts and now this, I mean, it's just Nicholas Jova doesn't get a lot of recognition, but now you know now as the games have really gone in and you know we're starting to see more set pieces it's just you know it's good that set piece coaches are getting the recognition they deserve because again you know if it's not a free kick if it's not a corner you know it's either one or the other you know if they go in they go in and it's a huge it's a huge bonus knowing that the set piece coaches sit there and think well you know what we did this in training and it's pulled it's just pulled off brilliantly
00:08:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, I definitely agree with that, and I think it's something that's worth paying attention. If you can get an extra 1%, then get the 1%. You know, let's not make a mockery of employing set-piece coaches if ah you ultimately benefit from it. It's something that can win Arsenal the lead.
00:08:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And speaking of which, I actually predicted Arsenal to win the league at the start of the season, and not quite gone to plan-up, such as the form of Liverpool, I think, that have
Fixture List Comparison: Arsenal vs Liverpool
00:09:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
exceeded everyone's expectations.
00:09:07
Jamie
Hmm.
00:09:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arna Slott's coming in, he's done amazingly well. It's just been just a seamless transition, taking over from Jรผrgen Klopp, which is tough shoes to fill. So with that being said, how does it feel now at this stage chasing Liverpool rather than Manchester City?
00:09:27
Craig matthews
I think it's easier, kind of local drop points eventually, they'll lose form. And the teams, I've also had the hardest tick service that I've often put four clubs in the league so far. We had to play Man City away. We had to go to Liverpool at home. We had to play Chelsea away. We had to play Tottenham away. We had some hard fixes at the start of the season. I played Brighton at home. They were always good at problems. So we had some hard games. All the other Liverpool had the easy fix of this. We only had to play Chelsea.
00:09:57
Craig matthews
They played Man City recently, I think, I don't know, quickly, and they played downplay like, they might not have as well, so they had many hard, hard games. The only test that was last week was the other guys who played the City team anyway, so, and they're at home, so they haven't really had a serious test yet in the league, so when they have that hard game, they're probably not going to see how well they do, and then we can take it from around with the chasing, in fact they need a leader to do that, so we chase them down.
Unpredictability of Premier League Table
00:10:25
Craig matthews
Yeah.
00:10:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Would you agree with that Jamie?
00:10:44
Jamie
I don't know if we've had much of a run of home games as of recent like craze kind of mentioned it there we've also been away to new castle you know we're kind now this weekend going away to Fulham but I see that as a good I see that as quite a positive in my opinion you know getting the likes of Tottenham away um and uh city away you know though those for me are huge and i think now we're going into the second half of the season which i believe kind of starts around just around the christmas period or just after that christmas period um it's kind of refreshing knowing that a lot of the teams we've faced have been in the top 10 as well so
00:11:28
Jamie
you know it really does shape up I've always said it but I've always thought that this you know this month kind of once we get to the end of this month we get to the end of all the festive period and and so on I think we get a much better position of like what the table will look like going into the new year because we've had that run of games and you know it does start to slowly mellow down but then you've got the ref a cup coming up and other competitions so you know, there there is literally no break, there's no rest for Premier League football.
Arsenal's Striker Dilemma
00:12:00
Jamie
um Craig, just quickly, I just wanted to ask, when you say about difficult teams, yeah ah you know, could you maybe define on like, what is a difficult team? Who who do you see as difficult teams in the prem?
00:12:11
Jamie
Because I was a bit like, city and all that gone.
00:12:12
Craig matthews
I feel like Brighton are very difficult to play against because they won't play them after 10 minutes.
00:12:18
Jamie
Hmm.
00:12:24
Craig matthews
They're teams like that, teams who just have a look at like, when you play against hard teams, I mean like, team when you play and they have a low block and they just defend for the whole game and the they don't come out of defense. So I'll say, so I'm like, maybe Fulham might do that against us on Sunday as well as defending.
00:12:38
Craig matthews
trying to hit as an accountant. It's like teams like that who just don't want to concede any goals. They just put like 10 men behind the wall and you have to break them down. Sometimes it's very difficult to break them down. So that's why I mean, it's part of the season.
00:12:50
Craig matthews
We had some hard games, some hard fixes where we had to really like grind out the resort and get the resort. Even the CT game could have won that. It's just the referee. That's not the point of the referee.
00:13:01
Craig matthews
But yeah, my game was 2-1 up in the 90 minute. I think they scored like a lot of the other games.
00:13:06
Jamie
Literally.
00:13:08
Craig matthews
We've been very unfortunate in the results of the season as well, if you really think about the last many goals against Liverpool at home towards the end. We've dropped points against Chelsea as well, and are available whenever comfortably. So those games, if them points have turned into three, it would be more hard at the table, and i mean maybe because it's Liverpool right now,
Key Arsenal Players and Injuries
00:13:31
Craig matthews
obviously. So that's why I kind of met that as a little part of the experience.
00:13:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think in fairness, such as the nature of the league this season, where you don't really see it, where you look at Brighton, they were fifth, and then you've got Manchester United with four points behind in 13th. It's such so congested. I think every, to be fair, every win away from home you get should be celebrated and appreciated because there is a lot of difficult grounds to go to in the Premier League. It's that old cliche and there's no easy games in the Premier League, but I mean, it's true. i mean A team in 12-13 go win a couple of games, they're on the verge of champion league places, you lose a couple of games, you you lower mid-table, so I think that makes it more exciting when it's so congested. There's no doubt it will separate as the weeks go on, but at the moment, yeah, you can't really call it.
00:14:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
One thing i just I do want to focus on in terms of the Arsenal team, they've got some fantastic players, for fantastic array of attacking talent, but I'm sure you might have been asked this previously as well. They they just seem over the last couple of seasons just to lap that real top quality number nine. Is that something that you can see possibly being addressed in January? It's typically said it's a tough month to do business in, but is that possibly where Arsenal could fall short again?
00:14:47
Craig matthews
Do you want to answer that one Jamie?
00:14:49
Jamie
know what it's funny you it's funny you speak of a number nine because i also i also put the the question towards the boys in our previous pod and i said do you really see us going out there and maybe trying to take a sign of number nine and the response i got was pretty much no and as much as i would love you know I would love Arsenal to go and sign a number nine I think it's it's really vital and I know JD you're probably going to be listening to this but sometimes chi-habits is just not enough you know
00:15:23
Jamie
you know, e if you've, I'm sure if you've listened to the pod before, you know that JD is a massive Kai Haberz hater. um But again, at the same time, Gabriel J. Zeus before his knee injury, you know, was a great, great footballer, but now that knee injury has just really plagued his career. And I just think now Arsenal really do need to try and go out and get that number nine. Whoever it is, whether it's Victor Jocreds, who apparently is going for 65 mil,
00:15:52
Jamie
um would I mean, I wouldn't mind him, but again, I've said it to the boys as well. The one striker I'd like is Ezak. I could just see it with Merino, Odegard and Ezak up top.
00:16:06
Jamie
ah just yeah that I think that would complete Arsenal in my opinion.
00:16:10
Craig matthews
So.
00:16:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, it's funny you mention Isaac's name actually because he's he's someone like I've mentioned myself when we have spoken at times about Arsenal and i just feel I just feel like he's the perfect Arsenal type player and I feel like if he was in that Arsenal team, well he's scoring 20 goals a season anyway for Newcastle, but a guy who could get 20 goals a season for Arsenal with players like Saka and Udegaard and Martinelli chipping in.
00:16:37
Jamie
Yeah.
00:16:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, that could be just the extra layer, extra ingredient that just tilts it in their favor. But the final first final question I want to ask, just focusing on Arsenal, is, you know, I've mentioned your great players there and you've had one or two injuries.
00:16:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gabrielle is out of the last game. Will he be fit for the weekend? We're not quite sure. But if there was one player who suffered, you know, touch wood, obviously it doesn't happen for your guys. If there's one player who suffered a season-ending injury, who could you least afford that to be?
00:17:06
Craig matthews
None of them.
00:17:09
Jamie
um Good answer to be fair.
Former Arsenal Players at Fulham
00:17:13
Jamie
Very good answer in my opinion.
00:17:13
Craig matthews
but
00:17:15
Jamie
If it if but if if I had to pick one and i ah I think it's tough, it's got to be between Odegard and probably Saliba.
00:17:28
Jamie
Gabriel, it's either Saliba, Rice even, or Odegard. It's just it's one of them three. They are huge. Don't get me wrong. Saka huge everyone everyone that I could think of they all do their bit for Arsenal, but To stop us or to like really call our progress It'd probably be one of the three if one of the three got injured it would Yeah, it would be a bit worrying for me
00:17:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i do I do really like Salibi, he's a Rolls Royce of a defender. and I was pleasantly yeah quite happy. I had a smile on my face when I saw he got that goal from the corner because he's been been in my fantasy team. I don't think he's come out of it for the last two seasons. So got me an extra few points there, so that was nice. We'll come on to the full inside of things because I'm sure the boys, they'll be interested to know how some of the X Arsenal players are doing. um But before we do that, let me tell you a about our sponsors here, here at the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:18:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
We spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner with 4K video recording and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and r's. It's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered
Emile Smith Rowe's Transition to Fulham
00:18:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.
00:18:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right then guys, so I'm sure you're keen to know then, aren't you, about how some of the Arsenal boys have been getting on? What what are you dying to know?
00:18:57
Jamie
For me, it's got to be it's got to be one player and one player only. It's Emmelsmith Rowe. How I miss him so much. My heart still breaks. You know, I just, I loved him. Absolutely loved him in an Arsenal shirt. You know, really guided the artet and never really gave him the time to kind of prove himself but at the same time injuries really did plague his career and I think ah last season I remember being at the Emirates watching him against ah Luton and me and my mate were saying
00:19:37
Jamie
unfortunately can only last an hour on the pitch you know it seems like his fitness back then his fitness wasn't maybe the best and you know there were times where I could see him running to the side to quickly get like a drink or or you know some form of hydration and you know it's kind of sad because the thing is you go back to I think a good couple of seasons ago when the talk was all about Bakaya Sakha and Emil Smithrow, how these two would light the Premier League up together. And just unfortunately for Smithrow, it just hasn't, it just didn't work out towards the end of his Arsenal career. Really pleased that he is doing well for Fulham and I mean, you know, the money that you guys had spent on him, you know, it's a good reflection of
00:20:22
Jamie
you know, of the the money that we need as well, because we've spent all this money, but just not managed to sell many players. And, you know, I think for me, the Emma Smith throw is going to be bitter and it will be equally bitter if he scores against Arsenal over the weekend.
00:20:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
and kisses the full-on badge.
00:20:40
Jamie
Oh, no, don't break my heart.
00:20:41
Craig matthews
yeah he he
00:20:43
Craig matthews
want you is that
00:20:43
Jamie
Don't break my heart like that.
Fans' Reactions to Smith Rowe's Move
00:20:46
Jamie
Oh, don't. Oh, deary me. That would be heartbreaking. At that point, that would ah that'd probably be enough to make me turn this video off.
00:20:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
can Can I just ask that with Urza God being injured in the early part of the season, do you think he would have had an opportunity to start games?
00:21:00
Craig matthews
100% he would have started every game if he were still there. I thought that Like a lot, I know Jamie didn't speak on it but I thought that Smith wrote kind of same officer in the job during the time. There was a time when Smith wrote scoring a lot of goals for me. One game scored against Chelsea in the arm, 4-2 win. Even when they cut it off, scored a couple of goals in that game. He saved the officer's job when he was doing well, when he first came into the team. He was playing very well, scoring goals, getting a lot of assists.
00:21:27
Craig matthews
I think he had a serious groin injury. He got an injury against my knight in Old Trafford. He was too sensitive.
00:21:33
Jamie
Yep.
00:21:33
Craig matthews
He had to get out for a long time. It was a groin injury. I think he never put a recovery from that. When he came back, it was not a start, a comeback. Injured, combat, start, injured, all the comfort events and then do a little cameo.
00:21:46
Craig matthews
My honest opinion, I was very upset when he left as well. did I said he knows as well, but I thought he needs to move on to get mid-regular minutes. first career, I feel like he needs to move on to get to play.
00:21:56
Craig matthews
He needs to play, he can't be on the bench every week. I watch him play like Fabio Villa and then I'll get minutes ahead of him. I feel like he needs to play and he needs to go out there and show what he can do.
00:22:08
Craig matthews
So fair plays to him, he's gone to Fulham and he's sparring off at Fulham now. So you just wish him the best. Not on Saturday, Sunday though, but any other game you wish him the best.
00:22:17
Jamie
ah
00:22:19
Craig matthews
yeah
00:22:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean I was interested to gauge sort of the Arsenal reaction when he did leave and looking on social media and most of it was part full of positivity wishing him well and a lot of people gutted that he was leaving which isn't always always the case when players move on
Smith Rowe's Fitness and Improvement
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
to other clubs. ah kind of you know say say the thing like but they try and save face a lot of the time and say, oh, he was never that good anyway.
00:22:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there was there was never any of that. It was all look after him, you know, that sort of thing.
00:22:39
Jamie
Nah.
00:22:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think you both mentioned sometimes injury problems, maybe setting him back. And I think I don't think he's actually completed 90 minutes at all this season. um it
00:22:50
Jamie
No, I believe he's only lasted at best 65 to 70 minutes. I've never seen him play a full game and you speak about FPL. I've got him on my FPL, but at the same time, it's like, you know, he can, he can play, he can play great. But the the sad thing is he just unfortunately still hasn't reached his full, like he hasn't reached full fitness yet to last 90 minutes.
00:23:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, and so it's it's gradually built up as the season's gone on. It was like 60, 65, 70, but he's still not seeing the fox scene still not seeing the final whistle.
Fulham's Dynamic Playing Style
00:23:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Everyone at Fulham, we know there's a player in there and then eventually he will repay that money and it will be a great sign and I can see him getting back into the England squad.
00:23:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
probably not in the near future but probably in the distant future.
00:23:38
Jamie
Yeah.
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
His flashes, what I would say, how would I rate his signings so far? I would say it's seven out of ten but there's so much potential there, there's so much growth and just seeing the flashes of what he can do, you just want to see him do it game in, game out but one player who is doing that at the moment is is Alex Owobi and of course another former Arsenal player, what are your memories of him as ah as an Arsenal player?
00:24:01
Jamie
Um. you know what i have glimpses but the thing is i feel like with iwobi he just didn't break he just didn't for me didn't kind of have that time to break into the arsenal squad and you know i mean surprise i was really surprised that we actually sold him to everton for the for the money we sold him for back then and i mean again good to see him scoring because You know, if you'd stayed at Arsenal another year or two, I mean, again, we wouldn't have known what would have happened. But, you know, it seems like it won't be, it won't be, it won't be, it's really helped a lot of players, but I've realised him and Smith wrote together just, I think it won't be as being key behind
00:24:50
Jamie
uh like welcoming in and just getting him used to the setup and the surrounding so you know it's good to see and also like on top of that you've got a former Gunner in in Bert Leno, and then you've also got Rhys Nelson, who's on loan and obviously won't be playing this weekend, which would have actually partly worried me. um But just quickly, I wanted to know actually, what's what's been your thoughts on Fulham so far, especially knowing that you've got the likes of Bert Leno, a lot of like former Arsenal players in that squad. I mean, how how are you feeling about all that?
00:25:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
absolutely Absolutely fantastic and you mentioned Rhys Nelson there. ah Obviously he's not available for the for the weekend but it's unfortunately he went off in the game last night.
00:25:36
Jamie
Yeah.
00:25:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah He looks like he's pulled a hamstring so he might not be available for the rest of the year. ah Time will tell on that. Hopefully it's not long term because he's coming to the side. Obviously you guys remember him as an Arsenal player, but he's got really quick feet and he's a dynamic sort of player, but maybe just the one criticism of him at times is maybe just lacks a bit of confidence in front of the goal.
00:25:50
Jamie
Yeah.
00:25:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
His finishing has just been a little bit suspect at times, but he can make things happen and the combinations and the link up play. Obviously these guys kind of grew up with each other at Smith Rowan at Woah, B&M and Reece Nelson.
00:26:10
Jamie
Yeah.
00:26:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's been so exciting to watch and I think that's encapsulates Fulham this season. They've been so excited to watch and so dynamic going forward and while like I feel they can offer a threat against Arsenal, Arsenal obviously you know top quality side and you know I could end up eating my words. I'm not not saying Fulham are going to win but I think they can cause some problems.
Fulham's Challenges with Fixtures
00:26:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah They sit six in the league and it won't be who I just want to pay tribute to. I've been singing these praises on this podcast week week in week out and maybe at Arsenal as well there's an extra pressure on you where there isn't that pressure on on you at Fulham at Arsenal he's competing with other top quality players who he knows he's not necessarily going to be first name on the team sheet but his performance has just just been so consistent and he's so he's so versatile as well you ask him to do a job on the right
00:26:48
Jamie
Yeah.
00:26:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
he'll do that as well as he can do it on the left and as we saw against Brighton he was mad on the match going two goals from a slightly deeper position playing in the number eight so that's a manager's dream and is that when you've got a player that can play anywhere behind the striker basically or and even central midfield so as his performance has surprised me this season a tad yes absolutely and
00:27:02
Jamie
and
00:27:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hopefully we can see more of that as the season progresses because if you're asking me now, he would definitely be full of his player of the season, but then it's just maintaining that, keeping that consistent level isn't it as the season goes on, as games come thick and fast.
00:27:21
Craig matthews
Hmm. Yeah.
00:27:25
Jamie
yeah also i need to there's another thing i need to draw draw up upon on this podcast as well um i don't know if you had a chance to see marco silvers uh press conference in the build up to arsenal now you guys are sitting sixth in the in the premier league table as it stands now there was a discussion about europa league and european football next season Do you guys not believe that you could maybe even get into into Europe by the end of this season maybe?
00:27:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Possibly. I mean, there's probably eight or nine teams such as the nature of the league that probably think the same, but it's overcoming adversity and dealing with injuries and setbacks and Fulham for the first couple of months of the season, they were blessed.
00:28:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
They didn't really have any injuries and just start to pile, not pile up, but if I'd one or two recently, one or two suspension, Jockemanderson was in the important sign and he's out as well.
00:28:11
Jamie
Yeah.
00:28:19
Jamie
Oh yeah.
00:28:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he won't see him on the weekend. A bit of a blow that Nelson's got injured, as I mentioned, couple of suspensions as well. So. It's keeping players fit. There are probably 15 or 16 players in that squad that feel they should be nailed on starters. so I think Fulham actually, they've scored more goals from the bench than any other the team this season. So it just shows, doesn't it, that ah they do have a squad there. There are players after the first 11 that can contribute, just as well as the players named in his first team sheet. But yeah, it's dealing with, you know,
00:28:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
sequences like this when you've got Spurs away, you've got Brighton at home, you've got Arsenal at home, you've got Liverpool away, you've got Chelsea on Boxing Day. This is a really tough time for football, this is a really tough month and we'll a lot we' learn a lot more about their credentials after this month.
00:29:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But the exciting thing is they go into these games with no fear. There's no inferiority complex, which would have been the case in the past, because I've watched them play at Man City and outplay them.
00:29:12
Jamie
Yeah.
00:29:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've watched them play at Spurs and outplay them. So, you know, it goes to the show. they They go into these gate games. Marco Silva's first thought is, do you know how can we attack these teams? How can we put our best foot forward and try and influence it going forward rather than thinking, let's keep it tight for 20 minutes.
00:29:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's be resolute, 10 men behind the ball. He's always taken the positive option, which as a fan is just great to see.
00:29:38
Jamie
No, definitely. That's so true. you You guys have got some great, great players in that Fulham squad, you know, you've kind of touched upon it. and And, you know, I couldn't imagine if you had a fully fit, if you, if like, you didn't have players suspended in a fully fit squad.
00:29:53
Jamie
I mean, wow. I mean, that Fulham squad would be looking quite scary.
00:29:56
Craig matthews
No.
00:29:57
Jamie
I can't lie to you. So yeah, no, um this weekend is going to be, it is going to be such a on edge kind of game as well.
00:30:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. And we will just build a to that game in a moment. But let me give a shout out to GSPN. The Global Sports Podcast Network is changing the face of football podcasts with dedicated daily content for every Premier League team, women's football, fantasy football and a daily Premier League rapid broadcast.
00:30:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
In five different languages, it's your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcast. So yeah, let's look ahead to this fixture then. In terms of availability, I know Gabriel missed the win against Manchester United. What are you hearing? Is he likely to be back for this one?
00:30:41
Craig matthews
think I think it might be interesting for the next game, for the next games against our next game off the Fulham, but I think, I think, I think Kivio, Everton, I think Everton are away, is it?
00:30:50
Jamie
I believe it's evident, evident at the Emirates.
00:30:54
Craig matthews
Emirates, okay. I thought that, I thought that Kivio had a great game, it's the best game for Arsenal, again, playing that, and I would say he looked very solid, he looked very good. in otherate if you if we were op playing bats and bat games what if gabil's not afraide of all things but I have to play back-to-back games.
00:31:11
Craig matthews
And I thought that, you know, like, Jimenez is a very tricky striker. He does start against us. I think he's a very tricky striker. I know yeah and its before his injury, before his head injury against us a couple of years ago, he's got an awful lot of goals for wolves, I remember, as well. Golf headers. and So he's a very clever striker. He's South American, very clever. So, you know, we have to watch out for him as well. I'm taught another player to watch out for as well is Harry Wilson. He's a very impact letter.
00:31:41
Craig matthews
When he comes off the bench, I was watching the full in Brentford game a couple of weeks ago and he came off the bench and scored two goals and literally no time at all.
Arsenal's Lineup Changes Due to Injuries
00:31:50
Craig matthews
I went for the one-day game. By the time I blinked my eyes, it was 3-2, 3-2, I was on the full in. He'd be a danger man as well. You've got Calvin Bassi at the back. He's got some good players as well, as we were saying before.
00:32:06
Craig matthews
The day, all over the pitch, they couldn't make it hurt us if we don't if we're not concentrating properly and not on our game. So after all that, we have to be very cautious and do our job properly. I've got to get the three points and go home. So yeah.
00:32:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and and one player I want to give a ah shout out to from the Fulham team is Anthony Robinson, who's probably the only Fulham player that I think would get in Arsenal's first first team. He's just solid, so dependable, so consistent, and his final ball is the one thing that was lacking in seasons gone by, but that's improved him mentally this season.
00:32:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's just been given the captain's armband as well, so he's ah he's a fantastic fantastic athlete as well.
00:32:36
Jamie
yeah
00:32:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah I think Fulham fans would be delighted if Gabriel was not playing in this one just because of not only is his partnership with a silly but probably the best in the league but just the way he attacks those corners he just causes just causes chaos doesn't he he's a massive threat for them.
00:32:57
Jamie
Yeah, it is.
00:32:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:32:59
Jamie
I think also another play you'd probably want to keep an eye on as well as Callifiori, because again, you know, he's been quite pivotal in in some of our games. And, you know, when I looked at the the squad for United, I was a bit, was a little bit on edge when I had seen, uh, uh, no Callifiori, I thought, Oh, Zinchenko, not really keen on Zinchenko. So I've realized, uh, if, if teams can really kind of exploit Arsenal's, uh, left side with, uh, with Zinchenko there, it's.
00:33:29
Jamie
It might be a very uncomfortable game for Arsenal, but again, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll have everyone fit for the game, hopefully.
00:33:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
So would that be the only change that could potentially happen?
00:33:37
Craig matthews
Hm.
00:33:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Would be Gabrielle coming back in or is there something else that he
Fulham's Tactical Setup Against Arsenal
00:33:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
might throw a spanner in the work somewhere?
00:33:42
Jamie
ah As far as I can think of, probably Gabriel and Callifiori are the two players that we're hoping to have back from injury because they missed the United game. Apart from that, there's been no fresh injury concerns or or any major worries or doubts. Obviously, I know we've got our long-term absentees in the likes of uh tom yasoo and so on but apart from that we we seem to be looking in good shape going into this weekend uh how about yourself any any major doubts or injury concerns yeah
00:34:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
While Sassa Lukic is the one that's coming back from suspension, and obviously Joe Pelina's replacement this season, even though he's been at the club for a little while now. um So he missed the Brighton game. So he I'd imagine he'll come back in.
00:34:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
it' so It's an interesting interesting dilemma for Marco Silva because he's had a problem in that central midfield area lately because there was, I don't know if you you paid much attention to the Andreas Pereira saga slash situation.
00:34:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, it was talking about him potentially wanting to move away to Marseille.
00:34:40
Jamie
Yeah, bits of it, yeah.
00:34:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
he released a statement saying he was misquoted, the wording wasn't quite what he said, they wanted to portray him in a bad light. So he actually came off the bench against Brighton, he got booed. So he got you got a frosty reception and he's not necessarily been, you know, the fan's player of the season or flavor of the month anyway. So the only way that's going to turn around for him if is if he puts performances in the pitch. So that's the one interesting area to see what Fulham do because you know, the temptation with a Wobbe's performance against Brighton would be to keep him in that midfield sort of area. But I'd imagine Fulham would line up, as as he's done against some of the better teams going away to the Etihad, going away to Tottenham, was playing Berger next to Lukic. I imagine you see that again. and then
00:35:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously Nelson, who's been in the team for the last few weeks, wouldn't have been able to play anyway.
00:35:31
Jamie
Yeah.
00:35:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you'd probably see Troy already go over to the left. And then the other question mark, well, it's two question marks, basically. Wilson, as you as you mentioned, Craig, who's ah it wass great to see him get those two goals recently.
00:35:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And being Welsh, you know, a lot of Welsh people say, why is he not playing for Fulham? You know, he's outstanding every time he plays to him. I think he has like the best minutes per goal ratio in the league this season as well.
00:35:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So the question is whether it's him on the right or whether it's Adama Traore, you know they pose different sort of problems.
00:35:53
Craig matthews
Mm.
00:35:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then the striker Moniz came in a bit of rotation, 33-year-old bro him and there's maybe playing three games in a space of eight days. He was asking a little bit too much. ah His performances were a lot better a month ago.
00:36:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
We just seemed to lack a bit of sharpness in the game against Spurs. That clinical edge, which could have and should have probably seen Fulham come away with the three points there. So whether he goes with Jimenez, who scored in this fixture, of course, last season,
Fulham vs Arsenal Match Outcome Predictions
00:36:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
or Muniz, we'll have to wait and see on that one.
00:36:23
Jamie
Yeah. Another good player Moniz. Yeah. I mean, I kind of rinsed him a fair bit during FPL last season. So, you know, hasn't quite hit the heights just yet. Again, you just never know.
00:36:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go on then guys, how do we see this game go and how do we see it panning out?
00:36:46
Craig matthews
I'll say, I'm going to say 3-1 Arsenal, 3-1 Arsenal away win.
00:36:55
Jamie
I don't know, I feel like this is gonna be a bit ah um it's going to be close. I've said it, I don't know why I say it every week, um but I'm sticking to 2-1. I've said it for the past couple of predictions to be fair.
00:37:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
two wonderful
00:37:07
Jamie
um Oh, no, no, no, no. 2-1 Arsenal, of course. Do you know what? Part of me thinks... There's a small part of me that actually thinks maybe Smithrow could score against us. So I'm going to go... Smithrow is my goalscorer for Fulham. And not also, just to boost my points on FPL. And Arsenal, I'll probably go Saka, and I'm going to go Odegard.
00:37:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
mmm, sack of someone who I have in my FPL so if he does score I wouldn't mind that too much. ah this is This is a tricky one for me, because I know Arsenal are kind of flying at the minute.
00:37:40
Jamie
yeah
00:37:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
The goals are flying in, having scored five away from home in the last to two games.
00:37:45
Jamie
Yeah.
00:37:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But Fulham do score in every game. they' They've only blanked the once, and that was on the opening day against Manchester United. There are 13 games in a row that they've scored, and so I expect both teams to score.
00:37:57
Jamie
Let's say yeah.
00:38:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm home in an hour, and whether it's 2-1 to Arsenal, whether it's 2-2, being the host of the Daily Fulham podcast, I have to say 2-2.
00:38:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
any any final thoughts on this one guys
00:38:10
Jamie
Well, we'll see.
00:38:15
Craig matthews
It's going to be an interesting game. London Derby is anyone who will win on the day. The form goes out the window. London Derby matches anyway. Anything can happen if you don't. If you don't prepare well or you don't do the basics right, like passing the ball. If you take it on the ball, you can lose the game. So I feel that we have to be very professional.
00:38:36
Craig matthews
Use a lot of game management. Use the dark arts if we have to. um Use our use our strength last strengths, our strengths, our pieces. So when we have corners, capitalizing every corner we get in the game.
Arsenal's League Momentum Needs
00:38:48
Craig matthews
So yeah.
00:38:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Jamie?
00:38:54
Jamie
Yeah, I think for for us going into this game, we've we've just got to make sure that we can we continue this momentum because we're on a good run here. We're on good momentum here. And we, you know, I kind of touched on it earlier before, but, you know,
00:39:08
Jamie
um I've said it before, but we just need, we need to continue going on this run. If we, if we want to be catching the likes of Liverpool and, you know, in order to kind of keep the pressure up on Chelsea as well, um, we we just need to keep ramping up the pressure. We need to keep winning and we need to keep going on this run that we're currently on because, you know, if the worst was to happen, I'd yeah, I don't even want to, I don't even want to speak, but I don't even want to imagine what could happen if that were to happen.
00:39:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think from an arson perspective, they they need to win this game, to as you said, to ramp up the pressure on Liverpool, who set such a ferocious pace that if they do slip up there, the ones they're able to capitalise and keep up the momentum they've had in recent weeks after those couple of shaky losses around October, start of November time for Fulham. It's a good game to go into. It's a exciting game. The pressure is off in some sort of way.
00:40:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Most people we predict an Arsenal to win, but they've shown in the last two games against top quality sides that they can go against these teams and get points and cause them a threat. So it's one to look forward to and other than Derby as I said, Fulham have had good success in them in recent times.
Episode Wrap-Up with Jamie and Craig
00:40:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
That'll do it for today's crossover episode. Many thanks to Jamie and Craig for being with me today.
00:40:19
Jamie
Thank you for having us on.
00:40:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll catch you all on the next one.
00:40:21
Craig matthews
Thank you. but