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S1 E65
13 Plays5 days ago
Today Craig and Nyla are joined by our friends at GSPN Arsenal to talk about Villa trip to North London this Saturday.
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Transcript
Introduction of Hosts & Podcast
00:00:10
Speaker
Hello, hello, hello, and welcome to the Daily Arsenal and Daily Aston Villa Podcast, brought to you as part on the Global Sports Podcast Network. It's a bit of a strange one today because we are bringing you our crossover on Friday, seeing as there was some midweek Premier League action. I am your host, Josh Vince, and joining me from the Daily Arsenal Podcast, we have Craig Matthews and Jamie Patterson, and joining us from the Aston Villa Podcast,
00:00:37
Speaker
We have Craig Burtwhistle and Nyla Peterkin. Hello, everybody. It's lovely to have you. Craig Burtwhistle, in this occasion. i' going to Craig B and Craig N, we're going to use the thing to differentiate. Craig B, you hosted us last time around. It was the second crossover we'd ever done, I think,
Memorable Crossover Episode & Game
00:00:56
Speaker
wasn't it, at that point? Do you have fond memories of ribbing us? Because I was listening to it back earlier, and you gave us a good go.
00:01:02
Speaker
I had fond memories until the game began. That was pretty much it. We were all high of hopes before that game and there it's kind of been like stop start since that game to be perfectly honest. You were our first loss so something we need to rectify in my opinion.
00:01:19
Speaker
Yeah, I imagine it sort of sticks in the memory quite hard. I don't really remember it. You're our second win. you know It's just one of those. It adds to the ads to the total after a little while. ah Nyla, it's great to have you on as well. This is our first time meeting you. When you look back to that game on Saturday, August the 24th, Villa Park, a lovely summer's evening, and Arsenal, stick two goals past Villa in the second half. What memories do you have of that particular fixture?
00:01:49
Speaker
Not very positive ones, to be honest. I think, ah you know, any loss is hard, but a loss at Villa Park just hits a little bit different than on the road. So heading into that match, I was like Craig B had high expectations, high hopes, you know, considering our success in the previous season, but yeah, we just couldn't get it done on the day. So.
00:02:13
Speaker
Overall, looking back, feeling a bit like we've got some um making up to do, trying to right that wrong. Well, you've got to right that wrong for sure, but we also have reason to have to beat you at the Emirates this time around.
Reflecting on Arsenal's Loss to Villa
00:02:27
Speaker
Jamie, we'll come on to it a little bit more in detail later. Obviously, I'm a i'm sure you remember the game on April 14th at the Emirates when a certain Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins cost us the Premier League title. Can we can we also add as well that thanks a lot Spurs for also costing us the title. Yeah true that. You had one job and look 99.9% out of 100 you would go and score that but the 0.1 the 0.1 just made you miss. yeah Let's remember though that that actually secured our Champions League as well so we exactly like
00:03:04
Speaker
Of course, of course, of course. That is a game of two sides, very much so in that sense. um ah Craig M.
Goalkeepers' Impact: Ryer & Martinez
00:03:12
Speaker
um Obviously, the game that we played earlier in this season, it had some pretty incredible moments. The big one that people still talk about today is the save from David Ryer. Obviously, I think it was, was it Anana who took the shot from distance, comes off the crossbar, falls to Ollie Watkins. Ollie Watkins has the whole goal at his disposal. He could put it anywhere.
00:03:33
Speaker
but David Reijer comes to the rescue. i mean Is that still arguably one of the saves of the season? That one, I'm the one he saved again. Porto did it. It was Atlanta. Atlanta's league. I'm the save you made a couple of weeks ago, and again, it's the only figures I've reunited on the Lit header at Emirates.
00:03:58
Speaker
Yeah, I was going to say, I think Crete B might have an Emmy Martinez shout to throw in there for the days of the season possibly. Yeah, the one against Forrest for me is like, absolutely amazing how he's kept that ball out of the goal. um But then again, you guys know how amazing Emmy Martinez is, obviously. yeah miss it We do. He was it was one of those ones who was always on the periphery, but we I loved him personally. I don't know about Jamie and Craig M, but I thought he was such a great character. And obviously, Nyla, I mean, if we're talking about characters, Emi Martinez is the big one at Villa. How how much do the fans enjoy like his presence there at Villa Park?
00:04:39
Speaker
um I think it's contagious. it's It's infectious. Obviously, you've seen his antics from even the World Cup and everything like that. So overall, just entertaining to watch whether that's something you know on the pitch playing style or just him showing his personality. um He likes to really get the crowd going and get the energy up, which is pretty cool um to see when you're at Villa Park.
00:05:03
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I'll never forget that moment when he won the Golden Globe at the World Cup. um I don't think anybody will actually who watched it. It was quite it was quite a moment of quote unquote sportsmanship. I don't know. Yeah, celebration. Let's call it. ah Speaking of Emmy Martinez saves, um Craig B, the last time that you came to the Emirates, Trossard hadn't effort on goal is probably the best effort of the game for about six yards out and the save from martinez with his feet to deny him it was such a brilliant instinctive say how much has a goalkeeper arguably one of the world-class goalkeepers at the moment how much is that heightened villa
00:05:44
Speaker
Oh, massively. He's a player that we have to build our team around. it's It's one of those that it's always in the back of my mind that he said that he wants to stay at the club. He's been an absolute hero for us, but it's always in the back of my mind that now he's got a taste for Champions League football. If we don't keep securing it, is he going to be tempted to go elsewhere? Like, for example, like Chelsea, who are desperate in need of a good goalkeeper. So for me, um i I can't value him any less than any other player because I just think he is the heart and soul of that club at the moment and
00:06:24
Speaker
Isn't it really good as a football fan in general to finally have some players with some character rather than the robots that we all accused of just money grabbing and everything like that? So it is it is a very big pleasure though and all we say is a legend. And we did a um ah top five recently of goalkeepers of all time and he vote he came number one as Aston Villa's goalkeeper of all time.
00:06:50
Speaker
that just knows how far he's come in relatively and a little time slot really. like that That's incredible because, well, he's been there five years, is it? Five, six years. Yeah. I mean, Jamie, when i it's a really good point that Craig makes there when we talk about characters
Comparing Arsenal & Aston Villa's Form
00:07:05
Speaker
in football. Obviously, I mean, Villa have got that. I'd probably argue John McGinn as well is quite a character as well. i in In several ways, quite a character. Who would you say in terms of like the non robots that Craig was talking about, i like the Arsenal characters that we have in the squad currently? do you know what I have to I have to kind of revert back to like yesterday's pod because me and Craig kind of spoke about it. We we actually reckon that Marslu Skelly after last night, he has to fall in that category. The fact that you know the spur the Spurs fans were just there ganging up on him. he gets yellow carded he he just laughs it off he goes to the Arsenal fans like proper jizz them up and everything it was just he he's just he's that definition of what Craig was just saying yeah absolutely i think he's such an arrogant kid but that's good yeah as well arrogant in that good sense and Craig M obviously you guys were talking about it yesterday when we talk about form Villa have i think it's fair to say gone through a bit of a rough patch
00:08:06
Speaker
So of Arsenal as well. um Arsenal come out. They win the North London Derby. Villa win. Was it away at Everton? It was away at Everton, wasn't it? Yeah, not an easy game. We couldn't win away at Everton. So when you think about this Craig M, who do you think is coming into this game sort of with that extra boost in terms of confidence and form potentially?
00:08:28
Speaker
Obviously Arsenal thought that the game could have gone either way. If we had lost that yesterday, we would have lost against our main line at FA Cup and we would have lost at Newcastle. I would say that we have got the more advantage at home as well and we need to win as well. We may be more confident and I would say Aston Villa could be everything.
00:08:49
Speaker
even go either way, I would say. Well, I think Arsenal got a warm advantage, I would say. Correct. We need to win more than them, so we will win. May I understand also as well the fact that I think also going back to last season's fixture, I think the boys will be a bit more hungry for this game because they know that you know Villa came to the Emirates they they could they disrupted everything and I think going into this weekend's game it'll be an incentive for Arsenal to kind of be like right we've gone to Villa Park we won at Villa Park
00:09:22
Speaker
We need to do the double over Villa and we need to actually kind of come out all guns blazing here because they cost us the title last season. So we want to at least try and build on that momentum from Spurs and yeah just try and go that extra mile now.
00:09:39
Speaker
And to be honest, Craig and I, you seem like really nice people. We don't want to be angry at you guys, costing us the title again, but much rather it be another podcast. But anyway, that is it for section one. We're going to take a little break and hear from our sponsors at Zen Castle. But when we come back, we're going to be talking all things Aston Villa. So stay with us after this
Aston Villa's Champions League Journey
00:09:59
Speaker
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00:10:06
Speaker
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00:10:31
Speaker
And welcome back to the Daily Arsenal and Daily Aston Villa Podcast. We've talked a little bit about the last couple of fixtures between the two teams. Now it's time to focus in particular on Aston Villa. And with our guests today with Craig and Nyla, it's a fascinating story. Craig has come from England and gone over to the East Coast of America. Nyla has come from Canada and has come over to the Midlands. So to start off, because you're currently in the country, Nyla, I'd love to ask you,
00:11:01
Speaker
The Champions League coming back to Villa Park, what has the buzz been like around the area? Oh, it's been special for sure. um I think the excitement just, you know, more visibility, I guess, to the club and just really Villa essentially proving that, you know, we are one of the top clubs and that we can compete in Champions League and at an elite level.
00:11:28
Speaker
and still be successful in the Premier League, I think is massive. And I think it's been a long time coming again, and everyone's really excited about that. I have to say, it's a little bit like when Newcastle were in it a couple of years ago. I watched the first game at St James's Park, and I watched the first game at Villa Park. And even not as a fan, and I'm sure you got this, Craig, even from where you were, the goosebumps of the Champions League song playing at Villa Park was quite something.
00:11:57
Speaker
Oh, when they scan the players and they're all standing there for the Champions League anthem, it was like almost as good. I'll add up the word almost because of my wife listening. Almost as good as when I had they had my voice. So ah said it's been ah as said, it's been a long time coming. We've gone through big dips like going into the championship, seeing some really poor Premier League years before we were actually relegated. And then obviously, we had to save you Dean Smith, save us as well as our ownership. And um and now we have Unai Emery, which again, just like Emery, like Martin, as you guys know very well, but underutilized.
00:12:41
Speaker
Yeah I mean it's it's really good to see actually because I i quite like Villa. I'm not gonna lie. I know they've hurt us in the past boys and it's potentially traitorous to say but I quite like him as a team, one of my best mates as a Villa fan.
00:12:54
Speaker
and 13 out of 18 points in the Champions League, four wins, one draw, one loss, including beating Bayern at home. I was going to spend some of that as well. Niner, I'm not going to lie, beating Bayern is something that Arsenal fans dream of because they're the team that knock us out constantly. How was that? Like that big night when, I mean, beating the big team in Germany, that must be incredible.
00:13:17
Speaker
Yeah, it was insane. I just remember watching it and then just being in a bit of disbelief. Like did we really just do that? Um, but I think that just shows how good the club can be and how the players are. And obviously John Duran is big for us. So it's just been so much fun to watch.
00:13:38
Speaker
Well, I'm glad you brought that name up because that was my next line of inquiry. So first of all, from the Arsenal side, Jamie and Craig M, if I was to put you between the two, Olly Watkins or John Duran, Jamie, we'll go to you first and we'll come to you, Craig. Who do you prefer out of the two strikers?
00:13:57
Speaker
Oh, do you know what? We could be here all night. We could be here all night. I could be wrecking my brains. Okay. Who scares you more? That's probably a better way of putting it. Who scares you more coming at us? Oh, um, I'd probably go, Oh, I don't know.
00:14:18
Speaker
What about you, Craig? We'll let Jamie's cogs turn quickly. I'll say Ollie Watkins, because he's done damage on the pass, but who who who do I like the most out of both of them after they've drawn the ramp? He shoots from anywhere and he always needs to score. His goal record this season has been amazing for Aston Villa. I'll have to be honest with you, goals to game record has been... I've been scoring almost every game he's spotted.
00:14:40
Speaker
or maybe one or two above you. well Well, it's quite interesting because the reason I wanted to ask you two is because when you look at the stats, they're quite striking because it does seem I don't know, Nyla and Craig, if this is the case, but it does seem to be a lot of narrative as to whether Duran is better than Watkins. However, when we look at the stats last year, Watkins played 37 and scored 19. He had 32 goal involvements in total. Incredible season. This is all Premier League stats, by the way, so not not counting Champions League and stuff.
00:15:10
Speaker
ah Duran last year, 23 appearances, five goals. Not not brilliant, but you know he was still coming into the team. This year, Watkins, nine goals in 21. So he slowed down a little bit. Duran, in the prem, he's only scored seven. But it's quite comparable to Watkins. So Craig, where do you feel this discourse goes? Who do you sort of sit in favor of more? Or ah they is it handy just to have both and utilize both their different capabilities?
Villa's Strikers: Watkins & Duran
00:15:40
Speaker
Here's the thing, it definitely is handy to have both. um I consider Watkins very much a ah confident striker when he's on form is phenomenal. When he has those dips in form, it's very hard to get him out of that. and So having and another player of the quality of of Duran,
00:15:58
Speaker
Being able to take a spot whether from the beginning or from the end I think just separates us from like being a good team to an okay team um I think that's one of the areas that really heightens us as Potential challenges for Champions League. Yeah placement every single season when you come to comparing the two I think it's a case of They they both operate slightly differently with what Kings likes to drift out to the left to receive the ball and his connection play with Morgan Rogers is exceptional. And Duran is I wouldn't necessarily go as far to say to selfish striker because he's got a lot of assists for us as well. And he does seem to enjoy getting that. But I think one of you guys said it as well. He he knows exactly where the goal is.
00:16:46
Speaker
yeah every shot he has, you never see Duran hit one that's 25 yards like over the bar or wide or whatever. It's always in and around the goal. And that's very worrying. So to really give you an answer and to place myself firmly on the bet on the year fence here is the fact that I love it when Watkins starts because Watkins needs minutes in order to get into a game, whereas Duran is such an instant reaction that whether he plays from the first minute or comes on in the 60th minute, you're going to get something out of him. So if if we know going into like an Arsenal game, for example, where tired legs are going to be a factor after playing against Everton the last few days,
00:17:29
Speaker
I do want to see what can start. So when Duran comes on, he can take advantage of an Arsenal team that had a tough game against Spurs yeah and maybe be able to get something out of it. And one thing I haven't seen enough of is Duran and Watkins together. We only seem to see that when we're desperate for a goal.
00:17:49
Speaker
um And I would like to see that with potentially Morgan Rogers drifting out to the left a little bit more or even a 4-3-3 with Watkins going out on the left.
Morgan Rogers: A Rising Talent
00:17:59
Speaker
I think there's opportunities where both can play and both can be really dangerous against the Arsenal team that is slightly inconsistent at times.
00:18:08
Speaker
It is fair to say we're slightly inconsistent. And despite the fact you were trying not to, that was a fantastic sitting on the fence answer, Craig. That was very well done. And it's almost as if I shared the notes for the episode for you because you've perfectly brought it round to Morgan Rogers Nyla. What a talent this young man is. I don't know about Jamie and Craig. I want him in Arsenal. He's super, Craig showing us a little heart on his screen there. How good is he, Nyla? Like his ceiling is so high.
00:18:39
Speaker
He's, I've always said this, he's one of my favorite stories. The fact that last season we picked him up from a mid table championship club and just put him straight into the squad. And he's just not stopped since, um, yeah, you can't have them. Sorry, but he's yeah, for us, his ball carrying skills are just unmatched. I think yeah he's just so dangerous. And now that he's getting in and getting goals and scoring, it's only, you know, making him more of a player to watch. And.
00:19:08
Speaker
potentially someone to shut down. Yeah, I mean, Jamie, you've made no sort of you've not hidden your love for Morgan Rogers in the past when we've talked sort of in our group chat and things about how much you enjoyed him. If ah when I look back, it's the city game, the villa city game. ah For you, Jamie, how um how instrumental is he in just owning that midfield he made City look completely average. Just he is phenomenal, absolutely unbelievable talent and you know again as mentioned before you know the fact that he's come from Middlesbrough you know a championship club you know you do get a couple of players who
00:19:48
Speaker
are quite known for coming from a championship club and making a name, but I've not known, apart from maybe, don't know, like maybe Adam Waughton, apart from Adam Waughton, Morgan Rogers has just absolutely smashed it in the Premier League. And I mean, it's like, it's like in his past life, he was a former Premier League footballer already and he was just waiting to just go and do it all over again. He is phenomenal talent. I mean,
00:20:17
Speaker
I don't know why Arsenal never really kind of picked up on someone like him, especially as, you know, we we let go of Smith Rowe. He could have been a really good replacement for Smith Rowe being so young. And, you know, again, you know, I'm hoping that Thomas Tuchel is probably listening to this podcast somewhere, wherever he is.
00:20:38
Speaker
I would definitely get him into the England squad. Yeah, definitely get him in. I think you're right, Jamie. I think the Daily Arsenal and Daily Aston Villa podcasts are first on Thomas two calls Spotify listening. absolutely He says Alexa start the day is Daily Arsenal, Daily Villa and all the rest of the global sports podcast network, which brings you podcasts from every team.
00:20:59
Speaker
But speaking of players coming in Craig me and Jamie made a prediction at the start of the season We did we did sort of like a big you know Who's gonna top for all of that and me and Jamie had the same impact signing? ah We both reckon that Amadou. That's not even my name mate. Anana was going to be the signing of the season How do you think he's settled in because it's been a bit ah from ah from someone who doesn't watch Villa a lot It seems to have gone a bit quiet on that front with Anana How's he been?
Anana's Influence in Midfield
00:21:30
Speaker
if If you look at any of our socials, O'Nan has never been referred to as quiet, this guy. He's a big, big follow in the Villa fans. We we love the guy already. it's It's a case of that our midfield is very competitive. Mara's having a crazy run right now where he's really picking up form after his bad injury last season. So it's very hard to shift him out of the team. Tealumans has been Over the last couple of weeks a little bit inconsistent but overall throughout the season has been phenomenal.
00:22:07
Speaker
And then obviously we've got other players that have kind of played big part roles in the midfield, like McGinn and Ramsey, Morgan Rogers, dripping in there. So it's, it's a very compact area for those positions, but Oh Nana when he's been there has done really well for us. He's a, yeah um he's a physical attribute, ah dangerous onset pieces, commands the midfield well. And as I say, he's a fan favorite already and Even though like from an outside point of view, you say it's gone quiet, he's already matched his goal scoring um from Everton. ah wow And like, we're what? We've just passed Christmas. So I think there's definitely potential there just shows you how deep Everton defend, to be perfectly honest, because he's got a bit more of a lease of life going forward now. at the v um So yeah, I think he, there's still a lot more to come from him, that's for sure.
00:23:00
Speaker
Now I know we spent quite a lot of time on this villa section, but I've got two more questions I really want to get to you guys. ah First of all, Nyla, I'll start with you. Villa were the first team who signed a player that was big enough to pop up on my BBC sports app as a notification.
Excitement Over Daniel Marlin Signing
00:23:14
Speaker
Daniel Marlin has come in to you from Dortmund, I believe it was. yeah ah Probably quite a hefty fee. 13 goals last season at 9.5 XG, so he performs really well. How are villa fans feeling about this signing of getting Marlin in?
00:23:29
Speaker
because he's a decent player. I think overall it's positive. We seem to have some sort of connection going on with Dortmund. But I think people are really excited you know just to add another quality player to the squad and to see what he can do. I don't think he'll you know go straight into the starting group at all. I think it'll take some time for him to work himself in. But I think it's just another dangerous player that we have in our back pocket. And so just exciting to see who we can gel with and who we can connect with.
00:24:01
Speaker
on the pitch and and what we can use him for and and go from there. Craig, would you agree with that? Like, what are your thoughts when you saw the signing? I would. um Based on what I've seen, I expect him to play out on the right to give Bailey some more competition because Bailey's been very inconsistent to put it kindly this season. And obviously, we've just let Filijic go off to Rib Switch.
00:24:25
Speaker
So there's definitely a it a switch in there. And I think it's just a basic upgrade on Philagene. So I think that will make our team stronger. and The only one thing that I have heard from like Dortmund fans is he can be hit and miss like he's either phenomenal one week and not quite on it. Other weeks, which does sound like Leon Bailey 2.0, which I hope is not the case. Don't worry.
00:24:52
Speaker
ah we We've got someone called Havarts, he's very similar to that, to be honest with you. I wish you'd never brought that name up. You sort of shook your head then when I mentioned Daniel Marlin. Would you have liked to have seen him come to Arsenal instead as sort of cover on that wide position?
00:25:13
Speaker
Yeah, it's a good price, but it's affordable as well. As you move through Arsenal, you've got the whole system and all that. So it would have been someone I would have looked at as well, um available as well, cheap as well. Yeah. Well, the last question I have for the Villa fans before we move on to our Arsenal focus is this, and it's actually prompted by something that Craig said before we started recording. It's going to be an interesting game with your frontline and our backline. Craig.
00:25:42
Speaker
How rough's your backline looking at the moment?
Concerns Over Villa's Defense
00:25:46
Speaker
Very rough. It's more wholesome Swiss cheese. we We've struggled with getting clean sheets. Nyla has mentioned on our podcast that she believes the backline is cursed. Cursed? Can't disagree more. um kind Can't agree more, I should say.
00:26:04
Speaker
It is a case of we were actually praying um for MiGs to come back into the team, um even though Torres we like and there's definitely nothing about that. But one thing we were worried about was the consistency the inconsistency about our back four.
00:26:22
Speaker
all the time, the fact that we've had Kash, Luca Deane, Mings and Kanza have played lots of minutes together. So our theory was, played a lot more minutes, a lot more consistency coming out. Diego Carlos, a left-footed centre-back playing on the right. We thought this was some of our problems. But I'll be honest, it still hasn't been effective. We're still struggling with some of the basics, like the goal against West Hammy and Mattson is caught on the wrong shoulder.
00:26:51
Speaker
We're not following Peketa's run into the box. It's little things that like should be taken care of and it's very surprising in an Unai Emery team that especially last season with everyone highlighting the strength of our high line has been bleeding goals so much and I think this is a big concern for Villa fans and it's got to be for Emery in general as well.
00:27:14
Speaker
You can see Jamie smiling, Riley there in excitement. Well, that is it for our focus on Aston Villa. We're going to hear a quick message from the Global Sports Podcast Network. And when we come back, it's time to focus on Arsenal, and the North London Derby victors, and soon to be victors over Villa. So we'll be back just after this message.
00:27:35
Speaker
This podcast is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only network bringing you exclusive daily news and views on your Premier League team, the Premier League, women's football and fantasy football. A unique listening experience that puts fans first, bringing you the very latest breaking news from your team. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and make us your first listen every day.
00:28:05
Speaker
Global Sports Podcast Network, every club, every day. and welcome back to the daily arsenal and daily aston villa podcast for this final section of our crossover before our game on these What's it gonna be?
Arsenal's Injury Woes
00:28:20
Speaker
The 18th of January 2025 at the Emirates 5 o'clock, 5.30 kickoff. First things first, Jamie, Craig, I have something unfortunate to tell you. I listened back to our last crossover with the Villa Podcast back in, I think it was August time, and it turns out that our good friend, Esmond Cole, cursed us.
00:28:41
Speaker
He cursed the Arsenal team by saying it is incredible that Rice and Odegard never get injured and are constantly appearing in the squads. Jamie, he's really done us over there. Hi, Desmond. Really appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Touch wood. Literally, touch wood. Let's just hope for no more injuries this season. No more. And let us just play our football, enjoy our season and just... Oh, my gosh.
00:29:11
Speaker
yeah that that's one word that sickens me is injuries and and oh yeah i don't know what to expect out of this weekend that the team And again, even the starting 11, I mean, personally, and I mean, this will be news to your, this will be music to your ears, Josh, but I need to see Martin Eddy start over Trossard. And again, it bugged me in the previous game where Trossard, I think, I believe he started that game
00:29:42
Speaker
went and scored and was just really arrogant, didn't celebrate, and it only and it only took him until Saliba was like, hey, like, come on, man. And then he just goes like that and then just walks off. I'm like, look, you know, Martinelli starts for a reason. There's a reason why you are better as an impact player. But look, I don't know what to expect out of this game. I think no If Rice, ah for me, Rice was really good last night, was really impressed with how he performed. If he could perform
00:30:15
Speaker
exactly how we did in the North London Derby. I think we we should be in good hands here. I think Miles Lewis Skelly, I mean, me and Craig spoke about him ah on the previous episode. I mean, just what a player, what a gem we have in him. I know before we've we've been crying for Ethan Wanyari and um MLS to start games, but The fact now that I can sit here and confidently say I want MLS to start is just, it just puts my mind at a lot of ease. It fills it with joy, doesn't it? It it helps the heart inflate even more than the stress of the North London diabetes.
00:30:56
Speaker
JD, you're going to love me for saying this, but I hope Kai Havertz is just going to be on the bench. I'm sorry, I'm really hoping he's going to be on the bench. After watching him against United, I'm sorry, but I think you just need to sit out for one game. I think you've just got to sit out for one game and just watch. Just watch and learn because After watching that United game, I was frustrated. I mean, new it was Newcastle that frustrated me, United that frustrated me. ah i I can partly understand why JD doesn't like Kai Habertz. It's been 100 episodes and finally Jamie has turned on Kai Habertz. He's taken 100 hours of episodes but he's done it. Nyla, quick question to you before I go to Craig Matthews with my next one.
00:31:46
Speaker
um Jamie brought it up there, the dichotomy that Arsenal have on the left wing. So realistically, it's Trossard versus Martinelli. That's kind of our options there. From a Villa fans perspective, who would you be more concerned about facing? This is going to be really bad with me to say. that far I don't think our right side is particularly that strong. Oh, so I mean, either way, I think it will be a tough one for us to break down.
00:32:17
Speaker
I might have to say, um I might have to go with Martinelli, but I feel like it could just depend on the day as well. Yeah. it It's very, it's very, he's like Craig alluded to with Watkins earlier, he's a very much a confident, confidence player is Martinelli. And who's been starting to write back for you? Is it Cash? Is he back fit now?
00:32:38
Speaker
Yeah, because there was, ah last time we spoke, your backup right back, oh my word, how do you say his name? Nadelkovich. Nadelkovich, thank you. Nadelkovich, you were talking about him being a pacey option to face off against Martinelli, but if Matty Cash is back, I have hope for him. Craig Matthews.
00:32:58
Speaker
In the last game, ah the one at Villa Park, Gabriel, our beautiful centre back, seemed to actually struggle quite a lot against Villa. He gave the ball away a couple of opportunities. He actually opened up for the Anano opportunity as well. However, with his performance that he gave in the North London Derby, I mean, he was the best player on the pitch. So do you think coming back against Villa again, he'll be far more prepared to deal with them? 100%.
00:33:28
Speaker
Well, the last game was a lot more good, but it was fun to pass all of them. All the missiles. I had no protection, to be honest with you. So, I hope this game that the defense can be tight enough. Try and get a clean sheet as well. And try and just try to win the game like that. I'll take a sneaky one now. Honestly, I would.
00:33:46
Speaker
I think there might be a few more goals in this one, sadly. But I always say that because villa are scary. They scare me every single time we play them. um Speaking of goals, Jamie, who are we relying on now? like it's Because craig Craig's actually sent um a question in, which is, um how big of a loss is Jesus?
Arsenal's Striker Dilemma & Rumors
00:34:06
Speaker
And my word, go on, Jamie, explain how big a loss Jesus is for Arsenal.
00:34:13
Speaker
I don't even think I need to describe. I need to plead. I need to actually beg and plead. Josh and Stan Cronké, wherever you are in the world, you're probably you're probably watching the l LA Rams or you're probably watching the Denver Nuggets.
00:34:29
Speaker
Ah, just please, for the love of God, we all sit here and cry for a striker. If you want to go and win Premier League titles, if you want to go and be competitive in the Champions League, go and sign a striker. I don't want to be hearing of... I don't want to hear that we've potentially signed Martin Zubamendi. OK, well done.
00:34:50
Speaker
wow just because we've made a sudden signing doesn't mean you're gonna bring him in for january are you now no i want a striker i'm sick of it but i'm actually sick of the acl injuries we've lost sack we've lost jayzus i literally feel like our whole front like our whole strike balls have just been ripped apart now just please sign a striker i'm sick of it look if haberts does play and he does score um its Look, I need to see him go on a run. I need Kai Havertz to go on a run, but he also needs to be supported because you can't just rely on Havertz playing up front for, you know, for every game. Because then if he goes and gets injured, what are you going to do then? Oh no, it's February. Oh dear. Yeah, too late then. Too late.
00:35:37
Speaker
ah That was pretty far-reaching, Jamie. ah Craig, something you said last time that we met was, it's always funny listening to Arsenal fans complain when they haven't experienced the championship. its Now, don't get me wrong, as an Arsenal fan, we do get frustrated. Do you find it kind of amusing listening to big teams when they're sort of like, oh, we've not got this, we've not got that, when you've lived through relegations and all of that lot?
00:36:05
Speaker
I do. I'm a subscriber of Arsenal Fan TV just for the games when you guys last lose. I could click on something to amuse me, to be perfectly honest. but ah it it it's every villa It's every fan. We've got some of the most fickle fans in the world as well. like Just the past Everton game, the amount of stick that Ollie Watkins got and then all of a sudden he's a hero because he puts the ball in the net. It's sickening at times. So it's the same with every club though. You have that small fan base that aren't even watching the games and then are very critical of certain players when they haven't seen it. But at the end of the day, we have a lot of great fans and I'm sure Arsenal fans do too. I haven't met them yet, but... You didn't seem to believe that Jamie, did you?
00:36:55
Speaker
Listen, all I'm going to say is right is with ah with our fan base, right we can be so um our base can be so delusional at times. One minute, as soon as Artea can go and lose a game, it's, oh, Artea route, Artea route. But then next weekend we can go and win against Newcastle or whoever. And then all of a sudden it's, oh, we love super miracle and I'm like, oh, well, i make your mind up. Jamie, all I have to say is Manchester United fans, they're much worse. They're much worse. Everybody, every football fan can agree. Sorry, Man United listeners, you are the worst when it comes to that. um Craig Matthews, Jamie mentioned it a moment ago. Apparently we've signed Zuba Mending. What the hell? Where did that come from? Are you happy with the signing? Because he was linked with Liverpool and City. Like, it seems a bit of a strange pluck for us when we need a striker. There we go. I think we signed for the summer. I think we signed for the summer. I think we signed for January. so
00:37:54
Speaker
um find there a three so fast but obviously Obviously season tickets need to be renewed for next season, so they've been very strategic of making sure and they get more fans to buy new season tickets for next season, and so they're trying to please the fans. But we need to renew players now, not not in summer, we need players right now. Eight hours from the bottom. January is almost finished, so we need to hurry up.
00:38:14
Speaker
Well, apparently, I mean, Arteta did say after the North London Derby that they're going to have to try and do something. Now, Nyla and Craig, this is where I open the floor up to you. I've been asking you all the questions so far. I've been leading the conversation. Nyla, is there anything you'd like to ask us as Arsenal fans? Absolutely. I would love to know what your game plan is.
00:38:34
Speaker
no No, but seriously, I think I'm a bit curious to know like where you think um art you'll you'll see Arsenal succeed and maybe where some areas that are of a concern to you that you think Villa could exploit.
00:38:49
Speaker
Okay, that's an interesting one. I think in terms of areas that you could exploit, there seems to be there seems to be a habit at the moment of Arsenal, when we've've been in position we've when we've been possession and we've been attacking, for example, especially on the counter, there is a very common trait of the current arteticide to get the players up into an attacking position and rather than push on with the counter, set up a horseshoe around the opposition. And don't get me wrong, it's great in the sense of applying pressure. However,
00:39:19
Speaker
it' Effectively, what the current setup has us doing is losing the initiative on counter-attacks and not seeing them through to their devastating finish because you get into the corners and the possession gets recycled around. At that point in time, if you've got the likes of even, I know he's been inconsistent, but this pace of Leon Bailey, the strength of Ollie Watkins hanging around up front, also from our set pieces, I think the big worry with Arsenal is the counter.
00:39:47
Speaker
Now don't be wrong, Saliba is incredibly quick for a centre back and he's very gifted positionally as is Gabriel, but they are generally in the box being a nuisance. On the counter from set piece or from a counter attack, I think is where we're probably most vulnerable for Villa to really exploit. So I think pace and strength will be your biggest asset in this game without without any shadow of a doubt. Would you agree, Jamie?
00:40:11
Speaker
and Yes, pretty much so. I think also another kind of area that Villa could probably exploit would be our left side as well, because it seems like we've we've we've kind of reiterated it on numerous episodes where one side is always stronger than the other. And again, if I mean, again, it was kind of brought up in the Newcastle game when we was at St. James's Park, but if you can draw out If you draw out timber, it's already like already you would have a lot of space to kind of exploit there. so um I think Arsenal's left side is going to be but it's gonna it's going to be tested. I can only see that. Yeah. You were going to say something else then, though. Sorry. oh get I'll have to text that to Emery to let him know. so That was really helpful.
00:41:02
Speaker
What about you, Craig? Is there anything you'd like to know from us as Arsenal fans? Yeah, I'm going to go a bit more in depth with my question. um And essentially, obviously, you've just been knocked out of the FA Cup. Oh, God, here we go. Okay. You are potential to not be able to go through in the semi final. We're not going to go through in the semi final. It's not going to happen. We're not going to.
00:41:31
Speaker
And then obviously the league has took a dip with some inconsistency of form. um Obviously we don't count community shields. um which mialla thought does um If this is another year without a trophy, at what point is it seen as a failure with Mikala Teta in charge?
00:41:53
Speaker
oh So I have an opinion on this, but I'll come to Craig after it as well. And also, just before I answer this, just to make everybody smile, because I saw Jamie's reaction, United are losing to Southampton. Wow. Which is beautiful. So to answer your... Thank you, Michael Agate, for the own role you've scored as well. So Craig, to answer your question, in terms of success, I think this is a season that obviously The excitement was around the fact the city dropped off. like That has been where I think a lot of the frustration from Arsenal fans has come. Realistically, in terms of the quality, we're still showing the quality. We've just lacked, I think, a bit of the energy and a bit of creativity at times. I think we need a little bit of backup for the likes of Martin Erdegaard because he does seem a bit isolated in his creative responsibilities at times. so
00:42:47
Speaker
We'd need a striker, as well, without a doubt. So to end this season without a trophy would be disappointing. However, at the same time, to two seasons ago, we finished second. And we finished second out of nowhere. Like, it was not expected. It was Arteta's third season in charge. He'd got a few signings in, and all of a sudden, we were playing out of our skin. And all Arsenal fans were just, like, clinging onto the sides, going, what the hell is going on? We don't understand how we're doing so well.
00:43:17
Speaker
then obviously the next season we come even closer. the We only lose one game in 2024 in that last second half of the season and it is to you.
00:43:30
Speaker
and And so the expectation was set so high, but so soon, and I think way ahead of schedule, to be honest. I think, realistically, it was next year or the next season or the season after when we should have been aiming for number one spot. And I think, if anything, especially the fickle fans have been treated too much too soon, as opposed to the slow build up. So if we come away from this season without a trophy, I think it's quite likely Honestly, I think it's going to be incredibly hard to catch Liverpool. If we won the Champions League, I mean, I would cry probably a lot, but I don't see it happening. Whereas next year with the right signings and somebody up front, I think that's the year where if we come to the end of next season and go, still got nothing, I think that's when we might have to tighten the screws a bit. Craig Matthews, what do you make on that? No, I agree. I feel like it would be very unlucky to increase the season as well.
00:44:28
Speaker
Our squad is very, very thin. Everything you said, I agree. Given another season, let's see how we do this try and... Let's try and challenge ourselves and go far in the Champions League at least. Because we've seen that we've got Try and go as far as we can in the league as well. See what happens. Also, we're going to win it, but see how we do it. See how it goes. Yeah, reinforce them from January. See what we can do. oh Yeah, let's give them next season and make them rebuild the squad again.
00:44:58
Speaker
and then see what happens after that. It doesn't work out next season. Questions have to be asked. It's a disappointment, I think, Craig, not a failure this season if we don't get anything. yeah So that is pretty much it for this crossover. We have been at it for quite a while. But of course, there's one thing that we have to do first. And we're going to go in reverse order. So we're going to start off with Craig Matthews. Craig Matthews, could you please give me your prediction for the Arsenal vs Villa game on Saturday the 18th at 5.30 at the Emirates. 2-1 Arsenal. Ooh, 2-1. So you've changed your tone. You think Villa will score? Yeah. From what can we get? It's legendary goal against Arsenal at the Emirates, so I think it will score. Well, but it's still an Arsenal victory. That's the important thing. Jamie, what about you, Jamie? um I think for me, I would go 3-1 Arsenal.
00:45:56
Speaker
Oh, 3-1, even better. Nyla does not look impressed by that, so we'll come to her straight away. Nyla, your prediction please for this game, this upcoming game. I think it will be a battle. I think it will end in a one-all draw. Oh, okay, a draw. Would you be happy with the point at the Emirates? um I would consider it as two points lost, but one point is better than none.
00:46:27
Speaker
That's a fair, I think we definitely see it as two points lost, to be fair. And Craig, last but not least, your prediction, please, for this upcoming game. First up, I love the confidence, Nyla.
00:46:40
Speaker
i've really heard gotten I I just can't see us, um one, keeping a clean sheet against Arsenal. I think our back four needs to be seriously addressed in the summer.
00:46:53
Speaker
um I do see a goal in us, so I'd probably agree with the other Craig and ah a 2-1 to ask. Yeah. Well, I think I've got a side with the Craigs because Villa had no defence and we still only just about managed to get two past them.
00:47:10
Speaker
ah Sorry, Spurs and didn't have a defence, but we only just got two past them. Villa won't have one, so I reckon we'll get two past them. And I can see... Do you know what? I bet... Daniel Mano's gonna come on, he's gonna score in his debut, or some irritating thing like that. it will It'll be something like that. He'll race past Timba, wrong foot him, and just slot it past Ria and make him look silly in like the 95th minute or something like that.
00:47:35
Speaker
That's perfectly fine. You still don't take any points. that I will be happy with it too, Craig. Anyway, that is it today from the Daily Arsenal and the Daily Aston Villa podcast. Thank you all so much for listening. Make sure to follow both podcasts wherever you get your podcasts and to rate them as well. It really helps us.
00:47:52
Speaker
grow our platform and bring you even more brilliant content. I've been your host, Josh Vince. Today, we were brilliantly joined by the Arsenal team of Jamie Patterson and Craig Matthews. And thank you so much to our special guests from the Aston Villa podcast as well. Craig Burtwhistle and Nyla Peterkin. Thank you so much for joining us. We really enjoyed having you here. And until Monday, when we can review this game and all its finite detail, have a lovely weekend and goodbye. Every club.
00:48:23
Speaker
The Global Sports Podcast Network.