Transcript
Global Sports Podcast Network: Hello everyone and welcome to the Daily Arsenal podcast where this is your one-stop shop as we bring you all the latest Arsenal news and views. Brought to you on the GSPN Podcast Network, I am your host Jamie Paterson and of course I'm joined by my amazing crew of Arsenal connoisseurs.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And tonight I'm joined by the one and only JD and Rodney Gooden. Guys, how are we keeping...
Rodney Gooden: Very well. You know the score. Team's doing well.
JD: and
Rodney Gooden: And again, it's been an interesting, well, the last couple of days for Champions League fixtures. So yeah, it's been a lovely watch.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And JD?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Oh, no. JD, we can't hear you, JD. Oh,
JD: Sorry, I'm taking the mic in.
Rodney Gooden: I knew it!
Global Sports Podcast Network: right. Yeah.
JD: you know what it My mute part, yeah, it's literally blocked from the screen, so I can't see it. don't know why, but can't see.
Global Sports Podcast Network: all right
JD: I don't know. i put myself on mute and then, yeah. No, I'm literally saying that I'm extremely happy. Do you know I mean? I'm so happy. I mean, i don't know.
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah
JD: The last couple of weeks, Arsenal have really put a day, you know, they they put a smile on my face.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
JD: You I mean? You know, I'm not really an emotional man, but when it comes to football, I'm a bit emotional.
Rodney Gooden: right, then.
JD: and
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah
JD: Sometimes my emotions go higher, but I'm not going lie to you. Man, I don't want it to stop, man. I don't want it to stop.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, I agree.
Rodney Gooden: This one, mean, Jamie, as you said, used to pray for times like this, man. There we go.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yes, exactly. Exactly. Yes. Yes, let the good times roll. I used to pray for times like this and now they're finally here.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Let's enjoy them while we can, people. Let's enjoy it while we can.
Rodney Gooden: Yes.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But in this episode, it'll be slightly different episode, as we normally do talk a lot of things Arsenal, but... In this episode, we are going to be discussing and we're going to be giving you a roundup of Champions League Match Day 4.
Global Sports Podcast Network: four As we have a look at how all the English sides got on in this week's competition, we'll also maybe take a look at a few with a few other couple results from some of the big teams that featured this week.
Global Sports Podcast Network: As always, guys, if you want to get involved with any of the topics discussed on the show, please do get involved in our social media, which can be found in the show notes in our description. Right, guys, let's... Before we talk about... Before we talk about tonight's games, let's go back to 24 hours ago.
Global Sports Podcast Network: obviously spoken about Arsenal winning 3-0 against Slavia Prague. I mean, convincing result. You know, result that... Let's be honest, we all kind of knew that it was going to happen, wasn't it?
Rodney Gooden: and
JD: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And oddly enough, me and Craig got our predictions correct as well. We we actually both predicted 3-0 after school.
JD: Yeah, free no.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, 3-0.
Global Sports Podcast Network: So what are the chances of that happening?
JD: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: I couldn't get the scores right, though.
Global Sports Podcast Network: No, no, no. We don't talk about the score, please.
JD: And what's your goal score, right?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Let's just talk about the scoreline.
Rodney Gooden: yeah a Yeah, yeah, yeah.
JD: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, that's true. That's true.
Global Sports Podcast Network: overall, good result for the boys, wasn't it?
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, yeah, fantastic.
JD: Yeah. Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Routine win now.
Global Sports Podcast Network: put us and
Rodney Gooden: It's getting ridiculous. You've come to expect it with our club.
JD: and
Rodney Gooden: Yeah,
Global Sports Podcast Network: I mean, it's unbelievable now that we're just keeping clean sheets everywhere now, really, isn't it?
Rodney Gooden: yeah. I think that's actually the most impressive part of it too. It's like, right, we've now extended that clean sheet run.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Unbelievable.
JD: I mean, it's the only thing that's kind of really impressive because we're not playing great football.
Rodney Gooden: This is it.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: It's not... I mean, for the neutrals, it's not pretty to watch. i mean, if you like it tactically, tactically defensively, i love watching Arsenal.
Global Sports Podcast Network: No.
Rodney Gooden: Hmm.
Rodney Gooden: Hmm.
JD: I think you can see they're so solid.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: yeah so well organized yeah true
JD: They're so disciplined, you know. It's fantastic to watch. um But obviously, going back to the Wenger days when used to play nice, pretty football,
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: I mean, you know, it's not pretty to watch like that, but you know what? It's getting us results. The clean sheets part. It almost got ruined with a silly decision yesterday. if no one We're just going to get into it again.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Oh, my gosh. Goodness me. I mean, as I described it on our socials, as, you know, the alarm bells really started to ring there for us all, didn't it?
JD: Yeah, it was a joke. For me, it was him watching it over and over again. I'm just like, bro, come on, man, it's quick.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: I can see it. they don't like He dropped himself. I didn't. i don't want to get into it again.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Hmm. ah
JD: you
Rodney Gooden: Still upset. Yeah.
JD: I'm just like, imagine you can see you see the penalty you like that.
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah
Rodney Gooden: yeah
JD: Come on, man, that's a joke, team. Come on, man.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, no, absolutely. I mean, again, that VAR decision really drove me up the wall because I was like, come on now. This doesn't even need to be replayed three, four times over.
JD: Yeah. Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: One replay, maybe two at a push. That's it. You've seen enough. Go back and get on with the game.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
JD: yeah
Global Sports Podcast Network: But the good thing is we've kept clean sheet. We move on to Sunderland this weekend, which we'll discuss um in our next episode. um Let's have a look at another team. Let's let's talk about... Oh, gosh, do we really have to talk about them?
Rodney Gooden: Oh, you know we do. Get out way, Jamie. Come on.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, talk about our so-called neighbours.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, them lot from down the road. all saw the scoreline. Come on now.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: And
Global Sports Podcast Network: Let's also talk about the fact that they got red carded, you know, down to 10 men as well. Brendan Johnson, red card, you know, not great, but,
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, true, true, true. Yeah, ref had to walk that one back upon review. Reckless and dangerous challenge.
Global Sports Podcast Network: um And the funny thing is, is the fact that he kicked off the goal scoring for Spurs against Copenhagen.
Rodney Gooden: He did, actually.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I mean, for those of you that didn't know, they won
JD: yeah
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, they played at home. They had a man sent off. You know, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, who cares? Anyway, Brendan Johnson opening the scoring and then getting himself sent off before the hour mark.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah. Yeah. They were two up at that point.
JD: It's a good goal.
Rodney Gooden: You're thinking maybe they would throw the game after that, but unfortunately not.
Global Sports Podcast Network: No.
Rodney Gooden: hey, but listen, I know you guys hate to give credit to them a lot, but can we just maybe just have a little chat about Mickey Van Der Ven, all right?
Global Sports Podcast Network: No.
Rodney Gooden: Because listen, all I'm saying is like, I'm talking about Mickey Van Der Ven's goal because even now, I saw that and I said I had to put my hands up.
Global Sports Podcast Network: No.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Let's actually, you know what?
JD: But he's facing a joke team.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Let's talk about that. Yes. Because.
Rodney Gooden: That was impressive, yeah? Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Did any of you, did any of you hear what Thomas the Frank, so-called Frank engine said after the game?
JD: He came out to Messi, didn't he?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Thank you.
Rodney Gooden: Okay, not not now he's doing too much.
JD: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: But yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Thank you.
JD: He's a joke.
Global Sports Podcast Network: He compared it, he basically compared it to like a Messi-esque kind of goal.
Rodney Gooden: I don't know.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Now look.
Rodney Gooden: Because I feel like if it was a Messi-esque type of goal, Messi would actually dribble through those five. Whereas he used a lot of strength and speed to get past them. And I thought, very impressive. I don't know. I think Messi is far more technically gifted.
Rodney Gooden: It was still amazing, you know, to take it from your own half all the way in. then, of course, bury it with a clinical finish as well.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Oh yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Very impressive. I don't know. I think Tom... Mr. Franken just doing a little too much comparing it to one of the greatest of all time. Still lovely to see though.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: But yeah, yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Calm down, bro. Calm down, mate.
JD: I have a question, though. I but have a question.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Go on.
JD: You see Tottenham. did Do they even have a Tottenham GSPN? Do they even exist anymore? I mean, are they relegated?
Global Sports Podcast Network: No, not anymore. Not anymore.
JD: You see, I wonder why, you know, because they know the team.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Oh, dear.
JD: You know what I mean?
Global Sports Podcast Network: no
JD: They didn't get no listeners.
Rodney Gooden: Outrageous.
JD: and They didn't get no listeners. They're sinking the whole channel down. You know what mean? You know what I mean? They can't have to be like, guys, you you know, you're killing our numbers there. No one likes Tottenham. You know what mean? Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: yeah look there's better teams in North London to support so there you go yeah yeah
Global Sports Podcast Network: That's it. That's it. Exactly that. I mean, after the
Global Sports Podcast Network: I mean, what more could you say, really? What more can you say? But let's move away. you know Let's not bring our numbers down talking about...
JD: ain't got no listeners one cares about them there ain't got listeners man
Global Sports Podcast Network: about
Rodney Gooden: Oh my god.
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah Well, listen, let's let's move away before we start losing out on listeners now.
JD: Yeah, for real. Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: um Another game I want to talk about, and again, big result here, Liverpool 1, Real Madrid 0.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I mean, did you guys, before going into this game, did you really think Liverpool were going to, you know, were going to struggle?
JD: yeah
Global Sports Podcast Network: Or did you see Madrid potentially winning that game?
Rodney Gooden: You know what, to be honest with you, after the Villa game, you know, I just thought results wise, maybe they try to build on that momentum. I didn't think it was going to be a wash either way, but I thought maybe there might be a draw.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah. Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: I could see Liverpool or Real sort of edging it. And I said, yeah, when it come down to it. I was surprised, you know, only in the sense that when I won back and watched the highlights as well, it looked like Liverpool had a more dominant side there.
Rodney Gooden: You see how many shots they had on goal.
JD: Yeah, they were.
Rodney Gooden: You see how many saves Courtois had to make.
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah yeah
Rodney Gooden: I think that was what shocked me.
JD: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: The result, I thought, yeah, it looked like a bit of a tight game when you just saw the scoreline. But watching those highlights back, I thought Liverpool could have had 2-3-4 as well. Thibaut Courtois was making save after save after save. Very impressive stuff.
JD: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, absolutely. JD, do you reckon for Liverpool now, after beating Real Madrid, do you think this might be a turning point in their season?
JD: Um... I can't lie, their team doesn't really make any sense to me. I mean, i no as in know there' summer their summer window doesn't make any sense because they were linked to Zubimendi last season, right?
Rodney Gooden: As a whole.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Go on.
JD: They need they can use a play they need a DM, right?
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
JD: right
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: They didn't buy a DM. They bought two number nines and didn't buy a centre-back. And they got rid of you know some key players. but You know, yeah. i don't I think it it kicks them in the right direction, but there's a lot of work there that needs to be done.
JD: I think that i mean they've had a shocking transfer.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I can
JD: I think they've just bought all the flashy players, and so far it's not really worked out for them. you know hot Apart from one guy, Roddy's guy, he worked out for him.
Global Sports Podcast Network: see that, Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: and
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: know, Roddy loves this guy, you know. He loves this guy.
Rodney Gooden: I do love Ekatike.
Global Sports Podcast Network: ah pay yeah yeah
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, it's it's an interesting one because I think that had they managed to pick up Gehi in time as well, then I think that would have been a much better window.
JD: So...
JD: Yeah, I think that's a big one.
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah
JD: Yeah, yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
JD: I think they should have been the main priority. I always said, if they got Gehi, I think they'd probably win the league. I don't think they need two number nine. You di know, they're probably going get...
Rodney Gooden: Yeah. Yeah, I thought breaking the British transfer record twice in one window is really, really crazy stuff.
JD: Yeah, I'll...
Rodney Gooden: but I said, yeah, and then when the team chemistry doesn't seem to work out immediately, it's like you're just asking for criticism at that point. So this is it.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: but yeah They haven't got squad depth.
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah
JD: I mean, think the reason why they they won the season, I mean, they won the league last season, is because, you know, no one really got injured and had a decent sized squad.
Global Sports Podcast Network: but you will But also, I was going to mention as well, take into consideration with Liverpool as well last season, they didn't make a single signing.
JD: Now they've kind of cut.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Apart from obviously agreeing...
Rodney Gooden: It's Chiesa, yeah. Yeah, was Chiesa.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Oh yeah, Chiesa.
Rodney Gooden: That was it Yeah, yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Just Chiesa, sorry.
JD: Yeah. Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And then obviously they agreed the deal for Marmodevashvili.
Rodney Gooden: Hmm.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But obviously that was due to come in to effect this season.
Rodney Gooden: Hmm.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But apart from that, you know, it was pretty much still the same squad that...
JD: Yeah, yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: You know, still the same squad from previous season before. And yet...
JD: I disagree with that.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Go
JD: with that because the last two couple seasons, they've had some key injuries. So I'm really, really, they've lost a lot of big players, right? And I think that's what's kind of kept them not really in the title picture. I don't know that one where they, they i think I think Everton beat them and then from then they were just out of the title. I think it two seasons ago.
Rodney Gooden: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Oh, yes.
Rodney Gooden: I remember.
JD: Yeah, yeah, that, yeah, yeah, lots of everything.
Rodney Gooden: it was us City and Poole. And then they yeah they lost to Everton and it just went downhill from there.
JD: They had so many injuries that season and the season before that, they had so much injuries as well.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, that's it.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah. Hmm. Hmm.
JD: So last season, when you look at Liverpool and last year's Liverpool and their team all fit, it's a pretty decent squad. And you know what is? They've been together for a few years now.
JD: I have six years now. and was it was six five six years now
Rodney Gooden: mmm
JD: not really, they've changed they've changed a few guys, but they've not really had what a whole complete U-turn I've had this season. So, ah yeah, for me, i think there's still gaps there, you know. I think there's still a bit of gaps there.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. I do agree with you, JD, in the sense of with Liverpool, they really haven't gone like for like with their transfer market this season. Like you said, they've kind of just really splashed the cash on like the Florian Burt's, Yurisa, Izak's, you know, Rodney's favourite, Eketike and so on and so on.
JD: There go.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But I do get you, though, because did they not get... They sold like Kwanzaa, for example, but never...
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, Jiro Kwanzaa.
Global Sports Podcast Network: but they never signed a backup for Kwanzaa, say, or they never signed a backup centre-back, you know, but they've spent all their money in the forward lines.
JD: they
Global Sports Podcast Network: But yet, yes, I guess Kirk is coming in as, you know, and Fringhong, but yeah, and on top of that, you know, there
Rodney Gooden: Also Frimpong as well. So they brought two defenders, but both of them are wing backs. Yeah. Yeah,
JD: They need to send it back in a DM. They need to send it back in a DM and they brought neither.
Rodney Gooden: yeah. Yeah, that's true.
Global Sports Podcast Network: you go. See?
JD: don't get it.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, makes no sense, does it?
JD: but um I've got another question as well. don't want to make it all about Liverpool, but what do you not think of Canate?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Go on.
Rodney Gooden: Go on.
JD: Because here's my opinion of him.
Rodney Gooden: Ooh.
JD: There's games where I've seen him play a 9 out 10. And then there's games where he's played 3 out of 10.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
JD: And I'm just like, is he good or what? I don't know.
Rodney Gooden: I think he is good, but I agree with you. I said, yeah, there's been a couple of seasons where you've seen eight, nine out of 10 performances well. i I remember a game against us. You remember the Nelly challenge in the box where we all thought it penalty and then you come back like, actually, hands in air, amazing tackle.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: Yeah. Yeah. i Yeah. in.
Rodney Gooden: So I said, yeah, you've seen games where Kanata is absolutely just balling out, really, really solid player. But I think this season, he's just been off his game. Many, many shocking performances for Liverpool. So, You know, the rumours they've heard.
Rodney Gooden: They've heard that maybe he's got the Real Madrid contract offer in his ear.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Only got 100 more.
JD: and
Global Sports Podcast Network: but
Rodney Gooden: That's the rumour. But I don't know. I just feel that generally for me, I feel that, yeah, he's having a bit of an off-season. And, yeah, I know future at the club is a bit questionable too. But just think, yeah, he's quite... Well, there's quite a lot fluctuation in the quality performance you get from Canate.
Rodney Gooden: And on his day, yeah, he's a wonderful player. But on a bad game, he's more of a liability than anything else. So this is the
JD: He is. He is.
Rodney Gooden: You've got flip a flipper coin, see which version you get.
JD: I agree that.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Mm-hmm. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I remember talking about... I remember talking about in the Liverpool... When we done the crossover with Liverpool, I actually said it's going to be a battle of the left sides because obviously with Arsenal's left side not being the strongest and obviously you look at Liverpool now where obviously they've now got, you know, Conate and obviously Kerkhez.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I just, again, for me... I feel like with Canate, like you guys have said, there's times where he can really play great football, but then there's more times now this season where we're not seeing him play great football.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And it's like, well, what are you doing?
JD: I don't
Global Sports Podcast Network: I mean, where's it going wrong? Like you said, Rodney, could it be because he's got Madrid in his ear? don't know, but come on now, surely you'd want to give everything at this point.
JD: think it's good enough. I don't think he's good enough. I'm sorry, but you need your centre-backs to play week in, week out, 7 out of 10 if you're going for the title.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, yeah.
JD: you know I look at Gabriel on sleep. I'm going to say Gabriel more because I think he gives us 7 out of 10.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, of course, I agree.
Rodney Gooden: Oh, true, true, true, yeah.
JD: No, no, I don't him 8 out of 10 actually because he's that good. 8 out of 10, he plays it.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: I don't see him do anything wrong. I don't want too biased because I know there's an answer. don't want to be too biased. I'm going to give him an 8 out of 10. Saliba, I'll probably give 7. I think Gabriel is just that bit better.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, I agree.
Rodney Gooden: yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: i agree. Yeah, yeah.
JD: But Canate, he's just useless to me, bro.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, absolutely.
Rodney Gooden: man said useless.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, no.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, it's true.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But it'll be interesting to see.
Rodney Gooden: Not a season.
Global Sports Podcast Network: it will This result will be interesting to see how Liverpool go on with regards to their Champions League performances and also their form in the Premier League.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Just looking back at another couple results, Again, another cracking game. PSG Bayern Munich with Bayern Munich winning And wow, I mean, what a game that was. I watched it last night.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Diaz bagging a brace before then getting himself sent off in stoppage time before half-time.
Rodney Gooden: And a red card. Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And as a result of that being, as a result of that red card, he now misses the Arsenal game.
JD: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I mean...
JD: Yeah. Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: We love to see I
Global Sports Podcast Network: Exactly that. Exactly that. But with the fact that Arsenal do play Bayern next, are you guys concerned about Bayern?
Rodney Gooden: mean, yeah, they're above us in the table, you know, and if you look at their last string of games, yeah, they've got team that really seems to click.
JD: course there yeah
Rodney Gooden: They've got so many threats on that team as well. Gnabry, Elise, Harry Kane as well. Not to mention, of course, Louis Diaz, who thankfully we won't have to worry about in that fixture, but still, yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Even what? They've got Nico Jackson now as well. And he seems to have adapted all right. So I said, yeah, this is the thing.
JD: And
Rodney Gooden: So, yeah, I think Bayern in terms of squad depth and quality always going to be a bit of a threat. And I think they are one of the teams to watch out for in this year's competition.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Fair enough. JD, do you reckon with PSG, this is a... Do you reckon this might be a small blip in form or do you reckon... What's your thoughts?
JD: Nah, wouldn't say a small blip in the form. I think, you know, they're both good teams and, you know, Bayern are just better on the day. um To kind of like what Rodney was saying, they' they're a big threat, you know.
Rodney Gooden: I'm
JD: I mean, you'll be pretty silly to think. I know we've been playing well, but I think it's probably, you know, those deluded Arsenal fans at AFTV, they probably would think, yeah, you know, we're going to be buying this little small fish or something that.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Rodney Gooden: going to smash them yet.
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
JD: But over here GSBN, you know, we we we get you know our football and, yeah, it's going to be a tough game.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Thank you, yes.
JD: They're a tough opponent.
Rodney Gooden: yeah
JD: Now I've already said they've got quality across the pitch. I mean, you know, where's the weak link in their team? I can't find one, you know.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
JD: I can't find one. So it's going to be a tough feature.
Global Sports Podcast Network: No.
JD: But you know what? I like it because I think, and like I said in yesterday's pod, this would be a good test for us in general with these sort games, yeah how Arsenal approach it, how they deal with the pressure, if there is pretty pressure.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Mm-hmm.
JD: And I think we're going to understand a lot more about this Arsenal team when we do face this Bayern. We've got a couple of tough fixtures. you know look and It's going to be interesting to see how we go about it.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, yeah, because I'm looking at the rest of them and it's like we've got Inter coming up as well. And then, of course, Bayern, Kyrat.
JD: Now, now,
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yep.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, Club Rouge as well. Yeah.
JD: yeah
Global Sports Podcast Network: Club Rouge away, I believe, as well.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, Club Rouge away. So, yeah, the next couple interesting games, to be honest.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, definitely. And echoing what you just said there, JD, I mean, with Bayern Munich coming up as well, it's going to be a really interesting game and it will be a really good test to see how this Arsenal team, I think the resilience is going to be really interesting because obviously when we come back from the international break, having, you know, Tottenham at home, Bayern at home and then away to Chelsea,
Global Sports Podcast Network: It'll be a really interesting turnaround period between Spurs and Bayern Munich because, you know, with both games being at home, I think that is, that's what, that's what plays to our advantage.
Global Sports Podcast Network: The fact that we don't have to travel away to, to Bayern, you know, and the, or, you know, even if it's, or even if it's, you know, say Spurs away, Bayern away, I think we're really lucky we've not ended Bayern.
JD: Yeah. Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: up with that kind of game.
JD: yeah
Global Sports Podcast Network: But again, I think it's going be a really big test and it'll be interesting to see how how we fare up, especially after the international break. Let's just hope we just don't get any injuries in the international break.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And before we go to a break, actually, there is one game I do want talk about specifically, and it is Bodo Glimp'd Monaco, where it finished Monaco 1, Bodo Glimp'd 0. And who scored for Monaco?
Global Sports Podcast Network: None other than Balogun. Former Arsenal striker Balogun. I mean, you like to see players do well. And I'm glad that Balogun seems to be doing all right for Monaco at the minute. You know, had to cut you know he's at a yeah had a good taste of playing against Spurs.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And and now he's you know now he's managed to get himself on the score sheet against Bodo Glimps. I mean, what more could you ask for? Do do you miss Balogun Arsenal, guys?
JD: Nah.
Rodney Gooden: I feel like...
Global Sports Podcast Network: JD, I'm sorry. I don't know why you're nodding your head because I'm pretty sure you said on yesterday's podcast, you'd take anyone over Kai Havertz.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, that's correct crazy.
JD: He doesn't start, though, does he? He doesn't start.
Rodney Gooden: I feel it. Yeah, I feel like the question would have been like, would you prefer Balogun over Nketiah? Because I think that was the real kind of shift is we sold Balogun and then kept Nketiah and then ultimately let go of Eddie as well.
JD: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: So I said, yeah, the question would have been, had we made a different choice, would he still be at the club? And would you appreciate it? I always thought he did all right in Ligue 1, you know, but again, I didn't watch him enough to form a proper opinion of him.
Rodney Gooden: I just generally felt that, oh, is Stryker doing well another league and we're missing one, bring him back, make him return home.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: And then we just never made it happen.
Rodney Gooden: So I guess you have to contend with the fact that, yeah, maybe he wasn't good enough to make that Arsenal first team.
JD: It's a tough one. It's a tough one, you think about it. Oh, God.
Rodney Gooden: But I do like former players sort of, yeah, I do like former players sort of just, again, doing well out there.
JD: I'm not saying...
Rodney Gooden: So there you go.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, no, absolutely. Absolutely. In the meantime, we're going to take a little quick break. And when we come back, we're going to have a discussion about tonight's games as a couple of interesting ties in tonight's games, which we'll speak about just after this break.
JD: What the fuck has happened?
Global Sports Podcast Network: And welcome back to this second part of our Champions League review. We are going to have a discussion now about about tonight's games.
Global Sports Podcast Network: um Unfortunately, due to some sort of... Oh, he's back.
Rodney Gooden: Oh, he's returned.
Global Sports Podcast Network: He's back in the room.
JD: yeah and new weapon
Rodney Gooden: He's returned. Yes!
Global Sports Podcast Network: He's back in the room just in the nick of time.
JD: of
JD: I don't know what happened there. It's been one of them days, technical problems, you know what I mean? Technology's going crazy these days. I've heard a guy this morning.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Do know what? I was just, i was literally just in the process of saying due to t technical difficulties, ah jd's um JD seems to be having a bit of issue. um But he's now back.
JD: i don why I know why the issue is.
Global Sports Podcast Network: He's now back.
JD: It's going discussed Tottenham on this damn program. That's why
Rodney Gooden: happy
JD: Never again, lads.
Rodney Gooden: You know what, fire.
JD: Never again.
Global Sports Podcast Network: See? See? That's what happens.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, you know what, fair enough.
Global Sports Podcast Network: That's what happens. But let's have a discussion about tonight's games. Did any of you guys watch any of tonight's games by any chance?
Rodney Gooden: No, I couldn't. I've seen some of the scorelines, but couldn't manage to sit down and watch all of them.
JD: Yeah, didn't get a chance either.
Rodney Gooden: But yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I mean, me, there is one place to start with, and it was in the early game. Carabag 2, or as I call them, Carabag, 5P Carabag 2.
Global Sports Podcast Network: two
JD: Hmm. Hmm.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Chelsea 2.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Wow. I mean, haven't had a chance to see the highlights. I didn't watch the game. But the fact that Chelsea... Oh my gosh. First of all, Lavia cannot catch a break.
Global Sports Podcast Network: This man can't catch a break. He started and then got injured.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, his record is shocking.
Global Sports Podcast Network: so
Rodney Gooden: Absolutely incredible player, though.
Global Sports Podcast Network: and And a lot of people are saying, a lot of people are saying, as if Rhys James isn't bad, goodness me, Lavia could be on that level of Rhys James here, couldn't he?
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: It's true.
JD: for years, for years.
Global Sports Podcast Network: So it's not looking too good for him. But Estavio giving Chelsea the lead in the 16th minute, before then, Carabao, who were 1-0 down, then bring the game 2-1.
Global Sports Podcast Network: to two one which again blows my mind. And then just before the hour mark, Garnaccio goes and equalises.
Rodney Gooden: I know. Alejandro Garnaccio goes on and helps him rescue a point. Crazy.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I mean, did you guys really think that Chelsea were going to win this game?
Rodney Gooden: I thought Chelsea would win this game, but I actually did manage to catch the highlights.
JD: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: And looking back on it, I think, yeah, Chelsea were unlucky not to win it. Towards the end of the game, they had way more chances than Carabao. But it was interesting. I think if you saw one of the Carabao goals was a pen, which I thought Hatter was unlucky to concede.
Rodney Gooden: but it is what it is.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, I heard that Hato did not...
Rodney Gooden: Arms are away from his body. It's kind of unfortunate because you're thinking, oh, well, he's not had a lot of time there, but it's true. Judge of whether it's a natural position, unnatural position. his arms are not by side, not behind his back, gives away the penalty, and of course, blings, brings it back into the game.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, I mean, I heard that Hato didn't have the best of games, I hear.
JD: Didn't Chelsea get a penalty in that game?
Rodney Gooden: I can see that. Go on, JD. What did you say?
JD: Didn't Chelsea get a penalty in that game as well?
Rodney Gooden: No.
Global Sports Podcast Network: not No, don't think so.
Rodney Gooden: No, no, no.
JD: um so I don't know.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: No, no. It's only Karabag that got it, yeah, off the Hato Handball.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: I was watching the highlights just before we came on. So I was watching it like this and I watching like that.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
JD: And I i couldn't tell he was you.
Global Sports Podcast Network: ah
Rodney Gooden: yeah
Global Sports Podcast Network: No, I get you. But yeah, I'm a bit surprised for Chelsea at the minute. You know, I didn't expect, really did not expect that result at all. You know, I thought Chelsea would really kind of run away with with the game.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And obviously with the team they've got, you know, obviously i don't think they had Cole Palmer, but I thought they would still still win the game.
Rodney Gooden: no
JD: There's no delay as well, isn't there?
Rodney Gooden: No, DeLat played. Yeah.
JD: He's played.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, DeLat played. Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: arc Okay.
JD: For me, he's a bit of a... Didn't he get sent off the other day?
Rodney Gooden: He did you get sent off the other day. Yeah.
JD: ah don't know what's wrong with him.
Rodney Gooden: Ill-discipline. To
JD: Yeah, I don't know.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Come on now.
JD: Did you see the tag?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Come on now, guys. It's Chelsea and Red Cards here. Come on now.
JD: He was...
Global Sports Podcast Network: They go hand
Rodney Gooden: be fair, at beginning of the season, they wore red card FC. It was unbelievable. It was exactly how we wore the season before. You remember that? We had a string of three games.
JD: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: We just got everyone.
Global Sports Podcast Network: dearie
Rodney Gooden: It's got to be one team every season. And I said this time it was Chelsea.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Oh, yeah.
JD: They're a young team, though, but but day they spent, like, what, a billion pounds now?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Definitely.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Pretty much.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
JD: I mean, ah why is it no one talks about them? You expect if you spend a billion pounds, you you should be at least competing for the title.
Global Sports Podcast Network: That's a good point, you know.
JD: I mean, if we spent almost near that, right, within quite a few years now, um not in the times where they've done it, they've probably done it, what, two seasons, I think, and people get onto us and be like, yeah, also this, also that, but Chelsea...
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Pretty much.
JD: I mean, if you're expecting to spend a billion pounds, you have to be at least a competitor
Rodney Gooden: Do you really think they get away with it, though? Because I said the criticism I've heard is i think I think people have given up on them, really.
JD: for the time.
Rodney Gooden: Because I think I remember when it was, you know, back when Parch was still there.
JD: How do you do? More
Rodney Gooden: remember when Gary Never called in the blue billion pound bottle jobs.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: power.
Rodney Gooden: That's what I mean. I said they didn't get away with it.
JD: I don't think they get enough heat as they they should.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
JD: I just don't think that they they do because...
Global Sports Podcast Network: True, I agree with that.
JD: i mean they they spent a lot of money i think it like i think they bought a lot of garbage for being honest very
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, they have. Hmm.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Well, you've had some that just haven't worked out at all, like Mudrick as well. Spent, what, 80-odd on him? And then I said, yeah, you see what happens to that player too.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Goodness.
Rodney Gooden: So said, right, devastating. Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Could you imagine if Arsenal...
JD: there was a player in there though there was a player there was a play i do believe that but them and they're like the
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, there was.
Global Sports Podcast Network: gone?
Rodney Gooden: yeah I know, it's why we were linked.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And sadly, you know, he had everything going for him. Really had everything going for him at Shakhtar. Thought he'd come to the Prem and I thought, oh man, could this be the one that's just slipped through our fingers here?
Global Sports Podcast Network: But I look back on it and I'm like, no, definitely didn't slip through our fingers.
Rodney Gooden: yeah yeah wow
Global Sports Podcast Network: Definitely didn't. Another result to to look at, Man City 4, Borussia Dortmund 1. I mean...
JD: I do watch B&A.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Goodness me. I knew City were going to win. I just did not expect them to wipe the floor clean with Dortmund. Does it not surprise you?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Haaland scores a brace from Foden and Xerchi in stoppage time with Anton scoring Dortmund's only goal. Again, knew from the offset City just came out all guns blazing.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And I just thought, yeah, this could be a long night.
Rodney Gooden: hmm
Global Sports Podcast Network: And I give credit due to Dortmund where it's due. I think they were, believe it might have been 2-0 or 3-0. I think it was 3-0. But, you know, they they then started creating a few chances. But they sadly, none of them were just, the chances were not the best opportunities. They weren't really hitting the target.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Donoranma had a little bit to do, but nothing too crazy alarming.
Rodney Gooden: hmm
Global Sports Podcast Network: City, they seem to be going from strength to strength in the Champions League, don't they?
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, yeah, something to watch out for.
JD: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: We all know the dreaded city run. Are we watching it live?
JD: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: hope not.
JD: I mean, no, I'm just going to say Haaland even celebrating against his on these former team.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Come on, JD.
JD: I mean, you know and you know, did he not rate Germany or something?
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, true.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: or What's going on there?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Did you get Yeah. No, absolutely. Absolutely. I'll tell you what, though. player that I'm really quite shocked with, actually, because he probably didn't have the best of seasons last season. It's Foden.
JD: what do you think like What do you think about him?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Foden seems...
Rodney Gooden: Oh, yeah?
JD: but before Before I give my seen do it for England.
Rodney Gooden: i think
Global Sports Podcast Network: Again...
Rodney Gooden: I think he's a great player. I just think the last two seasons he hasn't looked on form. It's you know, similar to the Canate question that we brought up earlier.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah. Agree.
Rodney Gooden: I go, yeah, look, there's a player in there. You've seen him do it for England. You've seen him do it for City. last couple of seasons... Well, he's a...
JD: but what What game?
Rodney Gooden: Okay, look.
JD: What game? What
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, that's it, Jadie. You tell him.
JD: game has he done it England?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Thank you.
Rodney Gooden: All right, listen, to be fair, all right, he's I was talking more in the sense that he's made the call up, right? There you go.
JD: Okay, okay, alright, okay.
Rodney Gooden: He's been selected and he's played minutes.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Sure.
Rodney Gooden: But I'm saying, like, you've seen decent performances, right, across the board.
Global Sports Podcast Network: oh
Rodney Gooden: So I said, right, you know that there's a player in there, but I think the last couple of seasons for Phil Foden, you know, not been too great. But I know that he's had one or two games this season where he seems have kind of returned to form. So, yeah, in terms of what think of him as a player, I think inconsistency.
Rodney Gooden: remember back in the day when he was in form for City, there were many comparisons. It was like Saka or Foden. And I know it's crazy to think now, but once upon a time, that was a debate amongst a lot of fans. You know, who was a better player?
Global Sports Podcast Network: I can't believe that was a debate.
Rodney Gooden: It was. And then you had last two seasons where he dropped off and Saka was still performing.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: So now it's less of a debate. But think there's still a player in there. He just needs to build up that consistency. So this is it.
Global Sports Podcast Network: No, absolutely. I mean, right now, with the way City are moving, it is actually insane now because seems like Zierke and Haaland have got this new bromance now on the field all of a sudden.
JD: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: it It's actually... No, this is not right. Like, this is actually quite scary, but...
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Champions League-wise, they seem to be killing it.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
JD: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But when it's the Prem, it's a different story altogether, isn't it?
JD: Prem is a different league on its own. Do you know what I mean? it's you got You've got...
Global Sports Podcast Network: course.
JD: I think on new on on its day, any team can beat any team in the Prem.
Global Sports Podcast Network: True.
JD: Do you know what mean? That's why it's probably the best league in the world. don't need to be biased. But...
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, yeah, no, I agree.
JD: I wanted to go back into the folding thing there because I do not...
Global Sports Podcast Network: I absolutely agree.
JD: I think this guy is super overrated. I've always he overrated. He's just... eating a good ant don't that He's at... I don't... Look, I'm not saying he's rubbish because he's not he's not rubbish.
JD: But he's not this player that people thought he was.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
JD: He never was.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah. Yeah.
JD: It's saying that with Dele Alli. I said the same thing about Dele Alli. He's not this amazing player. He's okay.
Rodney Gooden: Hmm.
JD: like if these guys are old, they're okay on their day, they might do a little thing, but that's at best, these are not world-class, amazing players, I know, my I think Mike Rich's last, I think it was in the Euros, he said that, oh yeah, you know you've you've got to find a place for him, you know you've got to find a place, somewhere you can play folding, was like, if folding is so bloody amazing, do we have to find a place where they're playing?
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah
JD: He should be able to play anywhere, if lost the front three, you know what I mean?
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah So true.
JD: Nah, he's, for me, overrated, absolutely overrated,
Global Sports Podcast Network: I think during this, you know, obviously I think the the season before, like it kind of went downhill and we were all comparing him to Saka and Foden and all this, that in the other.
JD: I wouldn't. I wouldn't.
Global Sports Podcast Network: You know, at that time, I thought, you know what?
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
JD: i like
Global Sports Podcast Network: I thought he was a good player. But I never saw him as, oh my goodness, he's absolutely out of this world kind of player. do you know what i mean? So I do agree with you, JD.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I do think there was a bit of, you know, he's quite overhyped and overrated a little bit by fans in general. But yeah, for me, Phil Foden, it's good to see him backscoring now.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But again... Oh.
Rodney Gooden: yeah
Global Sports Podcast Network: again
JD: Nah, don't even see him scoring. What year that? 23. 23. that's even less.
Rodney Gooden: Hold on, hold on, hold on.
JD: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: I just this up as well, right? Last time he did well in the England shirt, right? It was a Senegal in the knockout stages, right? When we beat them 3-0, he got two assists in that game. So go, that's the one time. yeah
Global Sports Podcast Network: Goodness me.
JD: what what year is that
Rodney Gooden: Wait, hold on, i meet let me find it.
JD: a free pretty free
Global Sports Podcast Network: ah
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, that was 22, wasn't it?
Global Sports Podcast Network: bet it's going be like...
JD: twenty it even worse
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, it's 22.
Global Sports Podcast Network: but
Rodney Gooden: That was it, yeah. We beat Senegal to go on to fight France, and then, of course, he got two assists in that game. So, I go, that's when he's done it for country, right?
JD: You said pays more for England.
Rodney Gooden: Hey, hey, you just asked for the data.
JD: Huh.
Rodney Gooden: I'm giving it to you, okay? I'm not saying he does it, like, every international break. I'm just saying.
JD: you say you pay more for
Rodney Gooden: Even he said, he said in interview, that was his best game in English, yeah. I'm just saying.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Fair enough. Fair enough. And quickly, before we do go to a break, Newcastle at home against Athletic Bilbao. Newcastle winning 2-0 with goals from Dan Byrne and Jolington.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Another team that they're not being spoken about a lot of Newcastle in the Champions League.
Rodney Gooden: What, Nick?
Global Sports Podcast Network: But what do you make of their performances?
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, I like Newcastle, just as a side in general. And I also thought that while everyone liked to make fun of them for how they start at the transfer window with players rejecting them.
JD: I didn't even bring it up.
Global Sports Podcast Network: that that
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, yeah. I can't help it. was like, right. Absolutely shocking transfer window in terms of just PR. But I think, yeah, how they ended up was actually all right.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah. Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: You look at the some of the players that came in there. Alanga, Wisser, Volta Mare. Like, look, they've actually reinforced quite well. And if you think about the core that Newcastle team that already existed, look at the midfield. Tonali, Bruno Gimaraes as well.
Rodney Gooden: I said, yeah, look, you've got a really solid, physically dominant team. And I thought if they just had the necessary depth, then they'd actually do well in this competition. Remember when they were in the group of depth like two seasons ago?
JD: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, that was the season.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: and Weren't it like Dortmund, AC Milan and PSG?
JD: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: PSG or something, yeah.
JD: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: and
Rodney Gooden: When were in that group of deaf and yeah, they actually ended up having quite a poor showing in that tournament. You could see that they weren't used to playing in multiple competitions they didn't have the depth. But now I'm thinking, okay, they're in a better position to do so now.
Rodney Gooden: So again, am I surprised by Newcastle's performances? No, I actually think they have a much better showing than they did it two seasons ago. So yeah, again, another team to watch out for.
JD: yeah
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, absolutely. JD?
JD: Yeah, no, I agree. I think Newcastle... I think with Whistler, I think he's been injured since he's first...
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, true, yeah.
JD: That's a bit unlucky for them. um But yeah, they did have a bit of a banter transfer window. Kind of like reminds a bit of us a little bit, you know, when we... know if that window we will link with to um as it Thomas Lamar.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Thomas Lamar, oh, geez.
JD: ah Yeah, we offered him like... We offered him like... Athletico, Monaco, sorry. Like 94 million or something like that.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, it was like right towards the end of the window, we we were like, yeah.
JD: Yeah, he's turned... um
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
JD: ya You know, I mean, shows how far we've come, really. Now that I look back, okay.
Rodney Gooden: true
Global Sports Podcast Network: Hmm.
JD: Yeah, yeah.
Rodney Gooden: yeah Look at us now.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I know.
JD: Yeah, it makes you think.
Rodney Gooden: Got players saying only prioritising Arsenal. That's what I mean.
JD: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Exactly that.
JD: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Exactly that. But with Newcastle, though, you know, I really admire the resilience because obviously that first game back in the Champions League, you know, at home to Barcelona,
JD: Oof.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And obviously, once they had lost that game, I thought, how will they bounce back as a team?
Rodney Gooden: Yes.
Global Sports Podcast Network: How will they really bounce back? And the fact that, you know, they kind of took it on the chin, thought, right, you know what?
Rodney Gooden: Okay.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I think the goal that they scored helped boost the morale. Despite losing, I think the fact that, you know, getting that first Champions League goal at home as well, at St James' Park, I think it did help.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But the resilience now is honestly so good to see from Newcastle. And, you know, you I didn't actually.
JD: Did you watch that game by any chance?
Global Sports Podcast Network: No, I watched Tee Dortmund.
JD: I don't really well like it. was They played really well. They had their chances. They just didn't take it. And then, you know, Barcelona being Barcelona, they just grabbed it. I don't know if you saw Rashford's goal.
Rodney Gooden: yeah yeah so I saw Rashford go crazy yeah he is yeah
Global Sports Podcast Network: I did.
JD: He's having a decent season, isn't he
Global Sports Podcast Network: law
Global Sports Podcast Network: He really is, yeah.
JD: Barcelona, he's doing all right.
Global Sports Podcast Network: but I could say the same about a lot of former Man United players as well.
Rodney Gooden: yes Scott McTominay yeah talk to me about Onana there's no way Onana's getting clean sheet off the clean sheet is he
Global Sports Podcast Network: Dominic, Dominic, yeah.
JD: MVP and MVP
Global Sports Podcast Network: Even Onana.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Crazy.
JD: Is he?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Crazy.
Rodney Gooden: Izzy! That's insane.
JD: To be fair He was hopeless for them though He was But I kind of They need to bring him back I want him back there today I'll pay for if connect web Yeah Just stay there It's funny isn't it
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: and Really words, yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, we all wanted it to stay. Wow.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Exactly. Yeah. Absolutely.
Rodney Gooden: wow
Global Sports Podcast Network: Absolutely. but we're going to take a quick break in the meantime. And when we come back, we're going to have a discussion about the league, the the current league phase as it is, where all the English teams are in the league phase.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And if there's any sort of concerns for some of the the bigger boys that are lurking in some of their in some of their positions. So join us after this quick break.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And welcome back to this third and final part of our Champions League roundup.
Rodney Gooden: Thank you.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And let's have a discussion about the current league phase table. Where do we start off with? You know what?
Global Sports Podcast Network: We, you know, again, let's just let's just kick it off with Arsenal. Arsenal sitting second in the league. Bayern are top.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And I believe... And I don't even know what... I don't... I'm not sure. I think one of you... If one of you lot know, let me know. How are Bayern... How are Bayern top again? Because...
Rodney Gooden: It's got to be Go difference, right?
Global Sports Podcast Network: No, actually.
JD: Let
Global Sports Podcast Network: We're both on the same goal difference.
Rodney Gooden: Is it not? ah Is it Waco's? What?
Global Sports Podcast Network: I'm not sure.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, how is it?
Global Sports Podcast Network: I'm not sure. Because I'm currently looking at the league... face I'm looking at the table now.
JD: and me let me have a go.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Bayern are top um with... 11 with 11 goals. And so are Arsenal goal difference wise. On top of that, there is one other team that are that also have a perfect record.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Can you guys guess who the other team is?
Global Sports Podcast Network: One other team and I will give you a clue. It's not an English team.
Rodney Gooden: Inter Milan.
Global Sports Podcast Network: JD.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Rodney, you're correct. It is Inter Milan that have...
Rodney Gooden: Yeah. Mm-hmm.
JD: I was going to go into the number one tradition.
Rodney Gooden: Didn't Barca also draw today, was it?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yes, Barcelona drew against Club Rouge as well.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, yeah,
JD: Wow.
Rodney Gooden: Barca have a perfect record. Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
JD: Wow.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Another team that we can also talk about, again, Newcastle. They are sixth in the league phase.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Sitting on the same amount... This is insane to say this. They are on the same amount of points as PSG, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Galatasaray.
Rodney Gooden: God.
JD: I mean, Galatasaray is not really part of that that name there, you know i mean? They're not, though, you know what I mean?
Rodney Gooden: That's crazy.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Listen, man, don't disrespect Ossiemen.
Rodney Gooden: Disrespect, yeah. Leroy Sané, Ossiman, Icardi.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Don't disrespect Ossiemen.
Rodney Gooden: They've got some ballers there, you know.
JD: Yeah, but come on, man, they're not, you know what There's levels to this, you know mean, man?
Rodney Gooden: That's crazy.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Oh, dear me. Looking further down the table. Oh, dear me. We have our noisy neighbours. They're not and end losing him from from the pod.
Rodney Gooden: Fair. Where they sitting?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: see you've lost me. You see what I'm saying? You've lost me.
Rodney Gooden: Fair.
JD: ah told you, man.
Rodney Gooden: unbelievable
JD: Don't ring them guys here, man.
Rodney Gooden: yeah
Global Sports Podcast Network: um They've got eight points at the minute. um behind So they're sitting 10th. Barcelona
Global Sports Podcast Network: And they all sit, and Atlanta, I'm going to throw them into the mix. They all sit with seven points in the league phase.
JD: I don't like the league phase. I really don't like it. Because you can miss out.
Global Sports Podcast Network: we We said we we have had this discussion, haven't we?
Rodney Gooden: I know, I know.
JD: You literally can miss out on eight.
Rodney Gooden: nostalgia for the group stages, yeah?
JD: you
Rodney Gooden: i Just want to go back and return to the old format.
JD: No, but it's silly, though.
Rodney Gooden: Hmm.
JD: It's silly, though. Because, you again, let's just say you're the top eight would automatically qualified, right?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, top eight qualify. It's places nine to 24 that end up in the knockout round playoffs and 25 to 36 the elimination. Yeah, yeah. is the elimination
Rodney Gooden: Hmm.
JD: Right, so back to your question when you said Bayern are top and we don't know why they're top. What if they have a situation like that, battling for eighth?
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah yeah
JD: That would be a stupid way to go through, wouldn't you agree?
Rodney Gooden: Oh, I see.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, I agree on that.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, just like just on the cusp.
Global Sports Podcast Network: but But again, I'm not sure the exact reason why buying a top.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: i'd need to I'd need to do my research into that.
Rodney Gooden: Hmm.
JD: For me, I mean, the group stage is very clear. You win your game, you go through. You win top the group, you you get an easy round.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: You finish third, you go to Open League.
Rodney Gooden: Hmm.
JD: yeah I think it made it better for football. You know what mean?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah. And it also, again, going back to, you know, we we obviously talk about the league phase. With the league phase, we've got two additional games, whereas before there were six games in the Champions League group stage.
JD: Yeah. Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Now we have eight games alone.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Like, as if we don't talk enough about the group stage being like, you know, the league phase and, you know, the fixture congestion being like being too much for clubs that are playing in Europe.
JD: It's a lot on the players.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I mean, this is a prime example of it.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, yeah, I agree.
JD: Yeah. Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: You know, I think the new format means that more teams get to play more games, more opportunities to capitalize on revenue from those additional games, more teams that get to feature more regularly in the Champions League. But I agree with you.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: My main issues with it are more fixtures and a higher congested or more congested fixture list being more prone to injuries as well. And means that this is just less sustainable kind of going forward. So do I prefer the old format?
Rodney Gooden: Sure. I do enjoy as a fan, enjoy more football, but that football has got to be sustainable.
JD: is That is a good point.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: That is a good point. I think but last season when first started, I think the first game, I think it was, was it Liverpool-AC Milan?
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
JD: I can't remember.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I believe it was.
JD: there's no i think it was the first game and I remember...
Global Sports Podcast Network: think so.
JD: And then was just like, wow, man, there's so much good games like this on this week. Like, wow, this is great.
Rodney Gooden: yeah
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: So as a fan part, I do enjoy that that part. But I think the actual league phase and how it's structured, I just don't i don't like looking at Because if you're i mean writing if you're top, if you're top you're first and you're eighth, I think, what is it?
JD: you get I think you get priority within the home.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Basically, I believe ah higher the higher you are in this league phase, I think the better chances you have of getting one of the winners from the knockout playoffs, I think.
JD: It's not something like that.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But I think he's one of the teams that finished lower.
Rodney Gooden: So what? If you do quite well, you get a high chance of...
Global Sports Podcast Network: So, for example, if we freeze the table, if the table stood as it was, right, with Bayern being first and Liverpool being eighth, I believe Liverpool would most likely play against a Galatasaray or a Barcelona, whereas with Arsenal, Arsenal could potentially play against a Club Rouge or a Frankfurt.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, okay, you fight a weaker team, yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But then... Like Bayern, for example, could play against a Napoli or a Frankfurt.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, okay, okay.
Global Sports Podcast Network: you get... Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: It is very...
Rodney Gooden: So it's your likelihood of fighting a potentially weaker team in the next knockout stage, so yeah, that's it.
Global Sports Podcast Network: It's still very confusing.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Basically.
JD: good still do.
Rodney Gooden: Fair enough, okay. okay
JD: For me, i don't like that format.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: I don't. I'm not a fan. I'm used to it now, but I don't.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I mean...
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: ah
JD: I'm used to the old days.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I mean, to be honest with you, I look at the league phase now and there's some really surprised teams currently sitting in the playoffs. Like Pathos, for example, I believe they won their game tonight.
Rodney Gooden: Hmm.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I believe they won their game tonight.
Rodney Gooden: Hmm.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And they're sitting 20th now in this, you know, in this knockout play, in this playoff round.
Rodney Gooden: mmm
Global Sports Podcast Network: Parabag sitting 15th, you know, Do you get it? Teams that we probably wouldn't expect.
JD: yeah
Global Sports Podcast Network: And then you've got... And then if you look at the elimination now, you've got Marseille, who are sitting 25th. You've got Juventus, sitting 26th. And you've got Bilbao, who are 27th. You know...
Global Sports Podcast Network: you know
JD: I mean, all these little teams, though, if they were to go through, do you want to watch them? i don't. I don't to watch them.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I get that. I do get where you're coming from. But obviously, from that perspective, you know, you know, a lot of people, a lot of people might see it from that perspective.
JD: For them, yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, exactly.
JD: From there, yeah.
Rodney Gooden: If you're a fan of that club, yeah, of course.
JD: Yeah, we're fine. You all yeah are happy.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah. Fans from that club will see it as, oh, my goodness, this, you know, we may have not got this opportunity back in back in the old phase.
JD: You're happy.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: you know what really surprises me more than anything is who occupies 35th and 36th place? The bottom two spots, because I briefly touched on it last night, Benfica and Ajax.
JD: Just ask. Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Oh, yeah. Lost every game. Damn.
JD: I mean, Mourinho, he's not having a good time in Portugal, is he?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And for me, I'm really shocked at Ajax and Benfica. I thought they would be sitting at least, you know, maybe 24th or, you know, at least 20 to 24th.
JD: Who have they played? Who have they you'd been playing?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Good question. Oh, my gosh.
JD: They've had a tough fixture.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Now you're going to...
JD: I mean, I think, was it, was it, was it, was it a tough fixture? Was it Porto last season?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Porto did, I believe. Yes.
JD: I think it Porter. They had like back-to-back big teams. I'm just like, right.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Like, for example... All right, so for example, Ajax tonight played against and lost So...
JD: Wow.
Rodney Gooden: Fair.
JD: Wow. bit of a tough match
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, fair.
Rodney Gooden: Damn.
JD: there, yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: so I mean, don't get me wrong. What are we now? I think we're four games in. We're halfway through now.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah,
Global Sports Podcast Network: We've still got another four games left of the league phase. And let's, you know, anything could happen. But for teams like Benfica and Ajax, it's got to be a little bit worrying now.
JD: I mean, they're out. you know
Rodney Gooden: yeah. yeah
JD: They're out.
Rodney Gooden: I think it was boring a little bit before that, you know.
JD: Yeah, yeah.
Rodney Gooden: That's it. That's four Champions League fixtures in a row that both of those teams have lost as well. I think after the second, yeah, it's a point concern.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: Yeah, I think Mourinho wants to come out to the Premier League anyway, to be fair.
Rodney Gooden: I heard that as well, yeah.
JD: Yeah, I think he's...
Global Sports Podcast Network: Didn't Mourinho say, maybe last year two years ago, that he wanted to manage a team that was struggling in the Premier League?
JD: Yeah, he did.
Global Sports Podcast Network: West Ham could have been calling him.
JD: I don't know why.
Rodney Gooden: Oh. Yeah, we we might have a few. Yeah.
JD: don't I don't know why you'd want to do that.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Maybe, you know what, maybe it could be in the sense of the fact that, you know, maybe he's been used to, you know, having the success being with all these big clubs.
Rodney Gooden: yeah
JD: Success.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Maybe he just wanted to, you know, maybe he just wanted to, you know, jump in the deep end of the pool and, you know, see what it's like to kind of, you know, help a struggling team out.
Rodney Gooden: Or maybe just be a club legend and take them from a struggling seven-team squad to maybe middle table or fighting for Europa League, Conference League, FA Cups, and maybe even Champions League places.
Rodney Gooden: I think he kind of wants that. That's a real heroic story. So yeah, you might want to kind of be a part of that club's journey as opposed to coming into like a Chelsea or an Arsenal and then just maintaining all going above and beyond.
JD: I think he's washed now.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: So this
JD: I think he's washed now. I think i think he's had his time.
Rodney Gooden: is it. Just watched as a manager.
JD: No, I'm not. No, um'm i'm living I'm not even joking. I think...
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, yeah. I hear it. The last couple.
JD: He's had his time.
Rodney Gooden: When he's at Rome, not great. Not when he's at Rome, yeah, same situation.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Adebache wasn't great. He
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, for the Bachelor, not great either.
JD: He did all right at Roma, I think. He got them the... um obviouslyly yeah He was there, but nah, I mean...
Global Sports Podcast Network: got in the conference league.
Rodney Gooden: Towards the end, though. Yeah, that was it.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: and Let's just say, would you have him at Arsenal?
Rodney Gooden: No.
Global Sports Podcast Network: No.
JD: No?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: Two seasons ago, would you have my arse on?
Rodney Gooden: No.
Global Sports Podcast Network: no
JD: Three seasons ago?
Rodney Gooden: Two seasons ago, we were still coming second.
JD: I'm just trying to, I'm just trying to, I mean, five years ago.
Rodney Gooden: Like, yeah, what are you talking about? LAUGHTER
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, no yeah you need to you need to be like, end of the Wenger era, or like, yeah, back-to-back eighth place, would I have taken Mourinho then?
JD: Five years ago.
Rodney Gooden: I said, okay, maybe that's a shout, but...
JD: No, no, no, no, no. Even with Arteta, I wasn't his biggest fan then, but I'm not taking Mourinho out there. Because Marino, you know what you get with him. You might get you might get something the first season.
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah
JD: But you know there's something about him that when it really drops off, it drops off hard, man.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
JD: We've seen it.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But you've also got to remember, you look at the teams that he's managed before, teams were kind of already ready-made for him.
Rodney Gooden: Hmm.
JD: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: All he had to do was go and manage.
JD: I think he did do a job a good job at Man United.
Global Sports Podcast Network: my opinion.
Rodney Gooden: Hmm.
JD: I think he was a bit unlucky to um to get set there. I think that the team he had and everything, I think he did right.
Rodney Gooden: Hmm.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Hmm.
JD: I think that season he finished second and that team, they were knowing good enough to finish second.
Global Sports Podcast Network: True, yeah.
JD: I think he did all right. I think he did right at United. At Tottenham, you know.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Oh, I think that, oh dear, right, I think that might be time to wrap it up there before you...
Rodney Gooden: That's what mean.
Global Sports Podcast Network: what
JD: My time was good again. It's good again.
Global Sports Podcast Network: oh
JD: I told you guys, let's not talk about that, man. You know I mean?
Global Sports Podcast Network: You're the one that brings it up, though.
Rodney Gooden: yeah exactly.
JD: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah
JD: Well...
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah ah Oh, but no, honestly, I think currently with the Champions League format as it is, I think that there's still plenty, there's still a long way to go. And, you know, currently, I mean, the fact that Arsenal, there's still three teams that have a perfect record.
Global Sports Podcast Network: The question is, will we still see Arsenal keep that perfect record?
JD: well the but I'm hoping for it, but just don't lose that game. you know mean?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, so you take a draw.
JD: Don't lose that game.
Rodney Gooden: Fair enough.
JD: Yeah, I'll take the draw. Yeah, I'm just going to take draw. Obviously, I want to win, but we never know.
Rodney Gooden: Hmm.
Global Sports Podcast Network: i I think we could win.
JD: Oh, yeah, we've got good chance.
Global Sports Podcast Network: i honestly I honestly think we could win. You know, we're at home.
JD: I think it depends who we can back.
Global Sports Podcast Network: You think about we're at home. You look back to our performances against the likes of, you know, Atletico Madrid. And, you know, don't see why we can't go win.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, I hear it. Obviously, you want to win every game that we play. But if I had to, I'd rather do to them what PSG did to us last Champions League fixture.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Rodney Gooden: I'd rather lose to them now. And then when it matters in like a semifinal or a quarter, you beat them over two legs. That's it.
JD: rather this, we just don't lose to them, we win and we face them again, we beat them again. you know what mean?
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I like your talking there, JD.
Rodney Gooden: Okay.
JD: Yeah, for me...
Global Sports Podcast Network: I like your talking.
Rodney Gooden: I like that. Because I don't want a PSG situation where you beat them here and you get confident. And then it happens. You play them in the semis and you lose both fixtures.
JD: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: No, I like JD's.
Rodney Gooden: Oh.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I like JD's philosophy.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I can run with that.
Rodney Gooden: Fair enough. Double down.
JD: think I think... I do think as well, i think it depends who we have fit back, ready, sharp. I think that's going to come down to that.
Global Sports Podcast Network: course.
JD: If we've got the squad where we've got now, let's just say, God forbid, Jockridge are not ready, you know, and Nani Maneweke is not back yet.
Global Sports Podcast Network: course. Fair
Rodney Gooden: yeah
JD: ah Even Havertz is not back yet, right?
Rodney Gooden: But in theory, we should have all of them. We should have Jokeres back.
JD: We should.
Rodney Gooden: Yeah, Madiweke, Odegaard, Havertz.
JD: Maneweke, I heard it might take a few a few more weeks.
Rodney Gooden: We should have all of them.
JD: It might take a few more weeks.
Rodney Gooden: Oh, fair.
JD: After the international break, it might take a few more weeks. And the same with Oldergaard as well.
Rodney Gooden: Okay.
Global Sports Podcast Network: barel
JD: This is what i've heard. I don't know if how true that is. So if that is the case...
Rodney Gooden: Hmm.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I mean, listen, JD, we've heard the same Gabriel and, you know, Gabriel was there starting. So maybe it hook it could be all mind games.
Rodney Gooden: Another Arteta mind game. Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
JD: Ah, cheers man.
Global Sports Podcast Network: ah calleds that ah Dark Hearts FC, you love to see it.
Rodney Gooden: I'll take it. I'll take it. Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. But guys, that is it for us today. Have you liked what we've had to say? If so, we'd love to hear your thoughts on social media.
Global Sports Podcast Network: As always, you can find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify by searching Daily Arsenal. And as always, JD, big yourself up again for the socials. I'm not going to stop singing your praises because at the end of the day,
JD: one
Global Sports Podcast Network: Look, if it weren't for you, wouldn't be sitting in this situation. And also, thank you so much. We've now reached 500 followers on Instagram.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Like, that is insane.
JD: I think it's 704, actually.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Huh?
JD: I think it's 704. I'm going to say it really
Rodney Gooden: T.D. said get it right.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Jeez almighty.
Rodney Gooden: 504.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Right, let's do with v a VAR check on this.
Rodney Gooden: Nice one. Wow. 504. Say no more.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Let's do a VAR check on this. Right, let's have a look.
JD: heavy. Yeah, 704.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Oh, heavens above. JD's spot on.
JD: yeah
Global Sports Podcast Network: Jeez almighty, he's monitoring.
Rodney Gooden: wow um hundred four
Global Sports Podcast Network: He's been monitoring the socials.
Rodney Gooden: and know
JD: Yeah, I have been. I take it very seriously. Someone's got to, isn't it?
Global Sports Podcast Network: ah
Rodney Gooden: yes yes
Global Sports Podcast Network: Exactly that. Exactly that. But um yeah, go and show us some love on all our socials give us a follow. Go and tell your friends, tell your family, tell your pets, your next door neighbours.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Go and tell everyone about us. But... You've been listening to the GSPN Arsenal podcast, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only place to find daily podcasts for your favourite teams.
Global Sports Podcast Network: A daily wrap up and every week, the road to World Cup 26. I've been your host, Jamie Patterson. They have been the amazing Rodney Gooden and the amazing Joshua Duncan. Have a great day all and take care.
