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Episode 12: Arsenal's struggle to create continue + Chelsea are for real + NBA Cup Final
12 Plays5 months ago
- Why can’t Arsenal create ?
- Are Chelsea for real ?
- Top 4 predictions
- NBA Cup Final Review
- Game Of The Week: Liverpool vs. Tottenham
Recommended
Transcript
Return & Apology
00:00:12
Chino Onwuka
Hello and welcome to episode 12 of the Love of the Game podcast. I'm here know with my brothers, Chukwu, to give us up to the fam.
00:00:21
Chuku
what's up guys know we've been off for a little little while a couple of days but it's got to be back you know bringing people what they want and just creating more content so hopefully today's gonna to be another a great episode and stay tuned
00:00:37
Chino Onwuka
Yes, yes, you know, I'm sure, you know, some of you are refreshing your your Spotify, your Apple podcast, whatever platform you're on, you know waiting for the next episode last week, but some time life does get in the way, so we apologize. we're gonna make up for it this week with it with another fire episode. Emeka, how are you?
00:00:59
Emeka
Yeah, well, go on, y'all. Hey, listen, life 100% gets in the way. But at the end of the day, football is life. So you know what would be going to be back to but that what it takes. And rock with us another week. I'm glad you guys are sticking around with us.
00:01:14
Chino Onwuka
Indeed, indeed. So let's just jump right into it.
Arsenal's Current Struggles
00:01:19
Chino Onwuka
We have to talk about arsenal, don't we?
00:01:22
Emeka
What a surprise.
00:01:24
Chino Onwuka
I'm not going to lie, guys, i I don't know how much energy I have in me for this discussion. you know I'm going to let y'all you all, you all young pups carry it because I i just want to preface it by this.
00:01:39
Chino Onwuka
I just want to speak my piece. I want to explain to you what I was saying earlier in the season. So we're going to talk about some of the issues Arsenal are snow facing right now, creation, whatnot, etc. Right, we've had in the Premier League, we've had two straight draws, you know, we're recording this on a Wednesday night, we just had a Carabao Cup win, you know, Gabriel Jesus, you know, Brazilian, pretty much R9 reincarnated showed up for us today. but When I was so upset at the beginning of the season, when we dropped points due to situations that in my opinion and what I think are legitimate concerns were due to the refs taking things out of our hand and you guys were saying, Oh, you're crashing out. It's too early. The reason I felt that way was not just due to those games. It is because you guys were talking about, Oh, it's still early in the season. It's like,
00:02:37
Chino Onwuka
i Knew that regardless is the Premier League. They're gonna be game they're not on it they're goingnna be games with other teams are really good play We are still going to drop other points. So what pissed me off Was if we drop points due to our own faults and that that's one thing and we can evaluate that and we will but I'm pissed because that was what four points that we lost and due to situations none of our own. And then when we get drop points for real reasons, now we're even further behind. And that's what I was trying to convey. And I don't know if that came across well, and here we are. Because again, like y'all are smart. Dropping points in August or September counts the exact same as dropping points in April. So this whole thing where, you know, it's it's still this, it's still that, yeah, you still drop points. And if the other team is not dropping points,
00:03:32
Chino Onwuka
going to be an issue. Will other teams drop points? Yeah, they will. But we will also still drop points. So any point you drop when they haven't dropped points is a net loss. So that's been my angst. The last two games, yes, it's been tough teams. Teams have set up to stop us. We won in full flow, injuries, lack of cohesion. That is why I was so upset at those games where I feel the ref took points out of our hands because now that you have these games, you can see the compounding effect of that. That's why I was so upset.
00:04:09
Chuku
Yeah, I mean obviously, you know, hindsight 2020, you know We wish were you know, which were things you know, I guess we wish I think it's your points. Let's just put it I'll put you this way because looking back now like Those man city and bright and bright in games those two especially looking at this current situation of man city and when they are at the moment I Look, I look back and those are those are two games that
00:04:39
Chuku
At certain points, WUs were clearly written on on both of those games. To my opinion, they were. And the referee, obviously part in part, some of us are players not making the best decisions.
00:04:58
Chuku
But then at the other another end, another point, I can look at it and say the reps were being quite harsh when they when they were making those decisions to change
00:05:07
Chino Onwuka
We have not seen any of those decisions ah ah again since then.
00:05:08
Chuku
i
00:05:11
Chuku
Exactly, exactly. Which is why, you know, I don't i can't see... When we're bringing up these points and talking about how, you know, the refs, I guess, to your point, you know, affected, you know, basically four points right there from two games, especially against a team like Man City, where, like, again, the game was in our hands and everything switched the moment we got the that record. It's like...
00:05:41
Chuku
Coming, looking back now, like those are four points that we could have used to, you know, at least, you know, maintain, at least have a closer edge towards the
Red Card Issues at Arsenal
00:05:50
Chuku
ball. And for sure.
00:05:50
Chino Onwuka
just The gap would have been closer. Yeah, we dropped these points. The gap would have been closer.
00:05:54
Chuku
Yeah. Yeah.
00:05:56
Chino Onwuka
And you know I can see Emeka's face and you're talking about the four points. is was We never know whether we would have ended up winning those games or not. Maybe there was a higher chance, but the fact is we'll never know because it was taken out of our hands.
00:06:09
Chuku
away exactly or sticking out of our control.
00:06:10
Chino Onwuka
oh
00:06:12
Chuku
when you when Especially when you're given a red card for things that we don't consider to be typical red card you know record occasions or red card equivalents that that we see happen on a week to week basis.
00:06:31
Chino Onwuka
and And even the Bournemouth game, because, okay, we lost that one because that is another one we'll never know.
00:06:35
Chuku
oh
00:06:37
Chino Onwuka
That's Saliba red card. Like we all thought in time, you know what? We can see it. My problem with that one is the rep on site gave a yellow card was not a clear and obvious error.
00:06:48
Chino Onwuka
Why was it not a clear and obvious error? Because every single situation since then has not been a red card either. Did you guys see what happened in the Liverpool game today?
00:06:59
Emeka
No, I've heard he's pretty good over
00:06:59
Chino Onwuka
Kwanzaa's bomb.
00:07:00
Chuku
Let me see.
00:07:01
Chino Onwuka
oh Tried to equalize this wasn't even at the halfway line. This was right on the box and Simon Hooper old Carol surprise. He's a Liverpool fan Didn't even call a foul. There's no VR in illegal. So that that is my axe because I
00:07:18
Chuku
Hmm.
00:07:19
Chino Onwuka
Even when were born with game, who knows what, but again, we'll never know because a decision that again, we have not seen since then took it out of our hands. And it's just, that's why I'm just, I'm frustrated at Arsenal. I'm as frustrated with our setup, but all those external factors is just why I'm like.
00:07:37
Chuku
Yeah, no, it's true. I mean, like looking at it, like out of like, wait, how many times have we dropped points this this year this year? I think it's like five times, even five games.
00:07:46
Emeka
More than that It's more than that, right Yeah, six yards two losses Sounds about right for this season
00:07:50
Chuku
Are you sure?
00:07:52
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, it's not been been the best season.
00:07:54
Chuku
Okay.
00:07:57
Chuku
okay So six draws, two losses. What if I told you half of those matches that we've dropped points? involved us getting the record.
00:08:12
Chuku
That's insane. We've had literally more records this season. We've just barely gotten across the halfway line. I'm pretty sure we've gotten more records this season. Again, mind you again, halfway through the season than we did last all of us year.
00:08:32
Chino Onwuka
we're not two by season or not even halfway through the season
00:08:32
Chuku
i am i
00:08:35
Chuku
And we're never halfway through the season and we're putting more red cards.
00:08:36
Chino Onwuka
you been worth record records in
00:08:39
Chuku
We've put in more red cards than we've got in all season last last year.
00:08:46
Chuku
that's crazy that's ah ah That's crazy stats. I mean, that's a crazy number to think. I mean, look, at the end of the day, I mean, the season's not going to be decided until, you know, until April, May.
00:09:01
Chuku
and You know, we just have to buckle up and, you know, try and not to drop any more for the points this year and, know, put ourselves in the best position, but truthfully. And, the reality is any hope of within the Premier League is going to be, he's not in our hands anymore. You know, is in, we have to pray for the form of the teams above that they end up slipping.
00:09:28
Chuku
And with the way Chelsea's been looking, with the way Lil Paul's been looking, and I mean, I don't know if y'all have seen Chelsea's schedule, but like they they have like a decent run of games with decent, not that not that many great competition. They could go on on on a good stretch here know if they continue playing with how they've been playing. So yeah, it's gonna be a long one. I just don't know. I just don't know if, like I said, I truly don't know if we have the squad that is good enough right now to
Tactical Challenges & Improvements for Arsenal
00:10:04
Chuku
to win it. Because my fear and my issue that I have with the team is if if I knew every game was going to be an open play and teams are trying to play, you know, we're trying to actually play, you know, prove football against us, I would give us more of a chance. Because I feel like in those situations,
00:10:28
Chuku
more times ah ah than not, we are were able to break down those types of teams because they leave the offensive spaces in the back. But the reality is against teams that are going to be playing a low block. This is not the first season, this has been the case. This has happened numerous seasons. I just don't have the faith that with our team presently constructed, the squad presently constructed,
00:10:58
Chuku
that we are able to consistently, keyword here consistently, break down those sort of teams. And and that's where, you know, but that's where we're going to run into some problems, because it's not every week we're going to be playing, you know, a side that wants to play, you know, good football against us, you know. A lot of the times we're going to run into these evidence of the world, these these sort of teams that,
00:11:27
Chuku
that would want to be compact. And it's going to be on ah on the boys to to try and find a way to to break it down and score a goal. And you know we've seen with in this past week with Everton, if a team can hold their structure and be very disciplined and in the back, it makes it hard it makes it hard for us, especially if we don't have our shooting boots on um and that particular day, to to know to put the ball past. Because again, even in that game,
00:11:56
Chuku
We had chances or the guard had plenty chances to score and we just, we just were missing out through the moots that day. And and that happens.
00:12:05
Chino Onwuka
and And like you said, you because like that happens.
00:12:05
Chuku
So.
00:12:08
Chino Onwuka
Look at the full game.
00:12:11
Chuku
Yeah.
00:12:11
Chino Onwuka
Almost three points, a tight, tight, tight offside call is what kept the three points from us.
00:12:16
Chuku
Yeah. yeah
00:12:18
Chino Onwuka
If you look at the part of the problem is is like football is football and your luck can bounce other ways. Last two games teams have scored off their only shot in the game.
00:12:27
Chuku
no
00:12:31
Chino Onwuka
Their only shot in the game And like, yes, you can say we're not, I know we'll have the discussion, we're not creating enough. We're not creating a lot, but we are creating enough. But the problem is that enough that we're creating to win the game, because if you look at it the XG we've created versus the XG against, and I know we'll talk about XG, XA, whatever. We've, that differential has been enough to win both games that we've drawn recently comfortably.
00:13:03
Chino Onwuka
The ball just hasn't gone in, gone in the net for us. And probably because, you know, I know people talk about we don't have that sharp shooter up front or, you know, maybe those dynamic game breakers, you know, offensively outside of Saka and corners, but then the other teams, the one chance they get is going in the net and book wall and that's why happens and that's why any margin you can get, you take it because it'll bounce back the other way at some point.
00:13:35
Chuku
yes No, Fox, you're spitting. I guess, like I said, just to kind of just summarize, my issues my issues are not against the teams that, you know,
00:13:48
Chuku
the top six teams, teams that like to cut, like lower door teams in the table that like to play football against us like, you know, sportsmen of the world know that, that still try and play good football, you know, like I'm not worried about those types of games per se. Cause I definitely feel like with those types of games more times than not, we have proven that we can, we can win those games. We can we can score goals in those types of games.
00:14:16
Chuku
And we know how to to take our chances in those double scenarios. My biggest worries are the games like we just played passing Everton, where again, the team sets back and they they're not there to play ball. They are there to literally defend and counter attack us and play a low block. And those those are the type of games that give me more more worries.
00:14:44
Chuku
and you know We just got to find ways to to be more consistent in putting goals past those sort of those sort of teams because until we learn how to consistently break those type of teams down and find ways to to win, which again, that's one thing I'm not too mad about the corner situation because at least that's another dynamic that we can hopefully know use so ah ah to win those sort of games.
00:15:14
Chuku
Because, again, gold by any means necessary. We've got to do what we've got to do. But we need to add to that repertoire. Corners can't be the only tactic against teams like that. So either way, there's something to monitor and something to watch. I don't think the season is done or lost. But I will say this. And I think, again, I'm just sticking with what I've said in the past.
00:15:43
Chuku
I still don't think this is going to be the year Arsenal wins the Premier League. But, you know, I just think this is a time that Atutta can use to improve in the areas that I think we as a club know we need to improve. And I think, you know,
00:16:07
Chuku
not to, you know, harken on this player, because again, you know, he's he's been He's not been the worst player on the team and he's not played terribly, but again, we can still improve in this position and that's still on the left-hand side looking at Martinelli. And I think I really do believe getting somebody with experience but not too old that can still, you know,
00:16:40
Chuku
It's prime right now that Martinelli can watch and learn from, I think would be a huge benefit to us as a team. In the now and in the long run, because I really think Martinelli is still a good option for us. I just think we just need to improve in that position as well as also, I don't want to let today's performance of the ability to blind us from the fact that We still also, in my opinion, need a striker to add to this team. And either way, hopefully, you know, we see more performances like we did, like we did the second half of today, because it was the Palace. But all in all, you know, the team is on the right track. We just got to just add some some so more pieces here and here and there. And I really do think
00:17:37
Chuku
We'll be back to competing and hopefully you know at some point here in the next couple of seasons, if not next season, we're we're back in and looking as favorites to to win the Premier League. So either way, yeah, that's my two cents on that. Watch your thoughts.
00:17:55
Emeka
damn y'all her The pain the pain is real is real and uh I mean it only I I try to be mister positive guy over here but uh it's last game was tough last game was tough shout out to to uh Everton because man damn I really wish that uh Merseyside Derby went out last week made them pull drops and points because everything came out to set up shop I love my boy Martinelli, but it's it's tough watching him. Can't go by Ashley Young like that's like that should be it has to be free eats for him. That has to be like you take him on one on one every single time. He's not. I mean, I'm sure everyone everyone if you haven't watched my idol Igua, Terry on Rio on Monday Night Football. I recommend you do because his breakdown was it was pretty on point. I said it was pretty on point.
00:18:53
Emeka
We work so hard to get, you you know, are our wingers in one-on-one positions, and only Saka has the cojones to take his man on.
00:19:04
Emeka
Too many times, I see Gabrielle just pass backwards and just give up. I know dribbling, close close dribbling, isn't really his strong suit, but man, I used to have some techers on them.
00:19:16
Emeka
I feel like he's regressed there the most. like he
00:19:19
Chuku
applause you them
00:19:20
Chino Onwuka
he's he's he's He's lost confidence like before.
00:19:20
Chuku
and
00:19:23
Chino Onwuka
He used to back himself to go past that person. But now you can tell that he's thinking too much because he's not as secure in his position. and and and so it's a quote youpameica I'm just giving my thoughts as to what I think is happening because yeah he he has regressed.
00:19:39
Chino Onwuka
I feel like what's happening is before he knew he was the number one in that position, things were good. He was confident. So he wasn't afraid of making mistakes. Now he's like, Oh man, if I do something and it doesn't work out, I'm going to get subbed off or Trussard is going to come on or I'm not going to start the next game. And so he's playing it safe. And we don't get a lot of value in Martinelli apart from, you know, tracking back and working hard if he's playing it safe.
00:20:08
Chuku
I was just going to add to your points before you continue on, because I'm very intrigued to hear what you've always got to say on the matter. But you mentioned something about Mattinelli not being the best at close ball control, or is that what I told you to believe?
00:20:22
Emeka
Close your book, yeah.
00:20:24
Chuku
This is so funny, because I felt that way about it. But have you heard, when you hear, because if you watch videos of the club, the players talking about other players on the team.
00:20:40
Chuku
Like, guys mentioned Martinelli as one of the better, like, you know what I'm saying?
00:20:42
Chino Onwuka
every single time. Yeah.
00:20:45
Chuku
Like, they mentioned, like, which is, like, so crazy to me, because I'm like, from what I watch in the game, I'm saying I don't see it.
00:20:45
Chino Onwuka
and
00:20:53
Chuku
I don't see the close dribbling ability. But you have players on the team that are saying that they think, like, I think it was, I'm pretty sure I was watching, it was, like, one year, I think it was one year ago.
00:21:03
Chino Onwuka
but important is multiple, not just the ethane mountain.
00:21:06
Chuku
what much Yeah, a lot of them.
00:21:08
Chino Onwuka
They say martinelli every time
00:21:10
Chuku
Bro, listen to me. The question was, I guess this is the question that was posed to the player, right? I'm just paraphrasing here, but it's like, if you had to pick one player on a one-on-one closed dribbling session, something of that nature, and this was like to save your life, like, this is the life that's on the line.
00:21:30
Chuku
guys were picking martinelli bro i couldn't believe what i was hearing they were picking martinelli so it's just so funny to me when we were talking about it and like you know we're having a conversation we're saying oh well this closed dribble it isn't the best well i i would agree with you and if it was just you know like ah just us having these conversations but i just find it so odd that the players So otherwise, they they they say that he has one of the best close or one of the best close jibblings on the team. And it just crazy to me that we don't get to see that on the pitch. And I think like Chino was saying, I'm pretty sure as you all live into here, like ah like it's it's a confidence thing. Is it like but ah you think bringing more competition would make or spark you know some sort of fire underneath a player to want to improve and do better, but
00:22:23
Chuku
I just don't know. I just don't know what what what else it could be. And I don't know what the remedy or the solution is because I don't know. I don't think at this point we're looking to try and loan him out, right? so I think he's probably a situation where he's either going to be stay at the club or he's going to be sold. And as of right now, like I think we just, we all want the, we all want what's best for Martinelli because we can all agree that bro, he is shown, you know,
00:22:53
Chuku
at least he is shown to be a pretty good player when, you know, when he's got his opportunities and when he's confident, he's shown that he could be a decent player. But it's just like, where is that confidence gone? And, you know, I don't know, hopefully something that he can get back to because we're seeing, you know, glimpse and, you know, just, so I guess,
00:23:21
Chuku
we we're just We're seeing some things, but we're not seeing enough out of him. And for him to have taken that next step, which other players have retaken, it's just kind of unfortunate that we're not being able to see the best of Martinelli in the last couple of seasons here, where we could have really used that. Because that could have been the difference between us finishing second and us winning the league.
00:23:50
Chuku
Could have been this him taking that leap. So I don't know I was very interested to monitor and see what happens was there, but I think we can save to save that nothing Ellie has truly been one of the bigger disappointments is these last Couple of seasons compared to what he showed, you know, and that's what I believe was it's what 22 22 23 season where he broke out Yeah,
Critique of Arteta's Coaching
00:24:15
Chuku
anyways, that was just my that's all I want to add to your point there, bro
00:24:19
Emeka
yeah you know it's a <unk> It's weird to watch because he's the only Arsenal guy who consistently at least tries to run him behind and we just don't play that pass that often and I'll defend him a little bit because something I've been noticing recently is I really wish Arteta would have our full backs overlap more.
00:24:43
Emeka
I'm so tired of seeing Thomas at right back. I get why he's there because we have ah ah even though we have 15 full backs on roster, they always injured at the same time. But ah ah just it's the same pattern of play every single time. And just once, I just want someone to run in behind. Just switch things up a little bit. And I get why Arteta is trying to set the team up to not get transitions on.
00:25:10
Emeka
And I understand the logic behind it, but then I'm like, why do we we have Saliba, who and Gabrielle, two physical monsters, who can you know cut come back and cut off passes. We have a sweeper keeper who can leave his line and cut out some of these passes. Yeah, it's risky. But I rather we take those chances, you know push up a little bit more. And if we lose to ah over a ball over the top, we lose to a ball over the top. Arteta is just so paranoid about conceding control. It just ends up being the same boring pattern up and down. and
00:25:46
Emeka
uh, it's You know, we make fun of him, you know paella pewless all that stuff and I say it as a joke, but there is Sometimes it's real there like it's is I just wish he had that little bit of devil may cry attitude in him and what i'm going to say next I say with the i'm trying to be measured when I say it because it's a pretty hot take but I I want to preface it by saying this player is one of my favorite players ever and I can't believe he signed him. But the more and more I watch Odegard, I'm beginning to to and and check me if i'm wrong on just state guys but i'm beginning to think he's miscast as a 10, as a final pass kind of guy.
00:26:36
Chino Onwuka
I've been telling you guys this from, sometimes I feel like you guys don't hear what I'm saying until something happens. He's a 10, but he's a different type of 10 than Ozil. People have been like, oh, he's Ozil, that's not, and we're talking I think we're talking about this when we're talking about, you know, KDB and Odegard. Odegard is a small spaces, intricate connecting. He can play that deadly ball, but it's,
00:27:05
Chino Onwuka
but it's at an, it's those intricate angles in the box over the top, sort of like what he he played today. that's that's That's his game, that's his, he's like he's a connector, you know, combining in tight spaces, his close control, his touches.
00:27:21
Chino Onwuka
He can play that that pass, but he he's not a sesq, he's not an Ozil in that way, he's not a KDB, and it's always been there, people just typecast typecast everybody to the same point.
00:27:33
Emeka
yeah right He is typecast as that Rowan.
00:27:34
Chino Onwuka
yeah
00:27:35
Emeka
He's not really that was more iilbo was more of that guy than Odegard is Silva was more I agree with you saying he's not this prototypical Ozil 15 through passes a game guy, but Silva still had that bit more and
00:27:37
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, he's still a 10, but he's a different type of 10. David Silva wasn't that final ball player, but he still brought a lot of money.
00:27:50
Chino Onwuka
and
00:27:56
Chino Onwuka
yeah
00:27:58
Emeka
forward-thinking I don't know if it's a mindset or because I he know he yeah he has it in him he just
00:28:03
Chino Onwuka
I think it goes back to what you know art teta the way he set up the team because what he's what he said is, the way we play now is we get up to a certain space and then it's up to the players to figure out that space. The problem is how we get into that into those positions because like what did what did we see today?
00:28:25
Chino Onwuka
This is one of the few games where I saw us, like even at um it's because we knew we had 80% possession eighty percent position anyway, they were giving the ball back to us, but like, it wasn't just Odegard, like this is the most amount of times I've seen us play that ball in behind, even when we've played other teams with highlights. And you did see that final ball and that desperation from, not desperation, but that drive more risky passes from Odegard today than we've seen. So it is there, all those guys can play those passes. I see Kai make those runs in behind all the time. I see when was the last time we hit Martinelli on a ball like that. we we Every time there's a chance to play that ball, we bring it back and pass it back to the defense. like What frustrates me so much is when we get a turnover, we play the ball,
00:29:18
Chino Onwuka
And I get it. We don't want to play risky bass because then you have ah a counter press and a counter attack. Because we we have the defense running backwards scrambling. And that's where, unlike other teams, we'll pass it back so that we can have control and get everybody in position. But then that allows the defense to get in position as well. And it it frustrates me so much. We're just like, bruh, yes, we we we do have a certain thought base. Do that. But just add a little bit more of that.
00:29:48
Chino Onwuka
Devil May Care into our play. Just a touch, not all the time, just a touch.
00:29:51
Emeka
What a fact!
00:29:52
Chino Onwuka
Well, you made a great point about we have Saliba, we have Gabriel, we have Raya, you know, we play with, you know, people say, oh, we play four CBs, we really don't, but you know, guys with a certain profile at the fullback position, let's have one, even those guys overlap a little bit more and stay wide.
00:30:15
Chino Onwuka
stay wide. Look how much space that created today. Teering that hasn't touched a pitch in how many years.
00:30:23
Emeka
500 or so a day is the step.
00:30:24
Chino Onwuka
okay Look at the look at the threat that he he provided.
00:30:29
Emeka
Exactly.
00:30:29
Chino Onwuka
And so, so he has been a little bit compromised this year.
00:30:29
Chuku
Bro, he was beautiful to do.
00:30:30
Emeka
No more roads in ba behind.
00:30:33
Chino Onwuka
And I think that has played a lot of factor into how a bit more conservatively we've been.
00:30:40
Emeka
How do we be concerned with race?
00:30:41
Chino Onwuka
But we have those guys back like let the others attack because we have enough to to counter that. We have enough to counter that. Like one of the things that really frustrated me at the Everton game was taking Odegard off at the 68th minute. I really did not understand that at all. You know, you're you're playing Everton, you're playing a team like that.
00:31:07
Chino Onwuka
You don't, yeah, he's struggling, but regardless, you never know what moment, yeah, I mean, yeah, it wasn't his best game. You never know what moment Odegard can create and his leadership. If you want, bring Ethan on as well alongside him because y'all know I love Ethan. I did not think it made sense. I had hope. I did not think it made sense to take Odegard off or Ethan in that position. And then to compound the issue, when you Odegard in those situations he's the guy everything goes through because you're looking at those type of create players to create something whether it's there or not their job is to tie and create so you feed them the ball every time Ethan came on he's coming on to be that life for life replacement not additive but life for life he did not get the ball at all so it's like what was the point of that sub like I don't know whether
00:32:02
Chino Onwuka
Number 5 has beef with Ethan. I saw it again today. He did not pass Ethan the ball at all. Every single time Ethan would drop deep to try to get the ball and create. He did not. So like so what's the point of that sub? Why do you take Odegard off? like in
00:32:18
Emeka
He's trying to send a message. No one's above the, you know, if you play like poop, you get pulled off.
00:32:22
Chino Onwuka
Okay, okay, that's if if that's the message you're sending them the same message should be the guy that's supposed to be creator Feed him the ball every single play to create because we did not do anything at that time, you know, if Martinelli struggling if Trussard is struggling Put his who's in that position, right? We've we've seen What Martinelli can do at sometimes you've seen what Trussard put He's using that position.
00:32:52
Chino Onwuka
Put Sterling in that position. If somebody can attack pack boxes, whether he does nonsense after it or not is Sterling. So like, so, so, so, so what's so that really frustrated me.
00:33:01
Emeka
Well done, Seth.
00:33:06
Chino Onwuka
You know, and another interesting point, you know, I'd like to nuance take about Martinelli because I think that is where we've all been at. You know, I don't know what you're saying before, but that's what we've all been at is.
00:33:18
Chino Onwuka
And this surprised me because it sort of shows how like perception can sort of influence, you know, your thinking or your opinions on a player, because what I always tell people is, you know, when they were targeting Martinelli, he's like, the whole attack is struggling, right? He's not getting chances. We're not creating enough chances. If you look at non penalty goals, Martinelli has, I think maybe one less non penalty goal than Saka.
00:33:48
Emeka
Look at the assist.
00:33:49
Chino Onwuka
I know, I know, but like just take that into context. like that that that That tells you something. Yes, it's been bad, but maybe it's not as bad as we think, and that if for all that it's still that, that shows you that overall, if you look at the whole team, there's an issue there in that we're not creating enough.
00:34:12
Emeka
We're definitely not creating enough. that's That's, so I mean, that's even a blind man can see that. Like we, I just really wish Arteta just, you know, you just was willing to let the handbrake off shut out and just let the guy, i let the kids play. Like just,
00:34:34
Emeka
go for it it sometimes. Like we talked about this Odegard thing, like why can't we play Odegard and when we're at the same time? Like it's, why not at home it gets Everton where they're just 10 men behind the ball? Why not give it a try? Like I just wish he had that in him a little bit more to just go balls through the wall. And it annoys me because like today is a perfect example. First half, we were so slow. I mean, we're getting some chances, but not that much. But then all of a sudden the second half,
00:35:00
Emeka
you Yeah, we made some subs but it was clearly for me a mindset thing where the guys just went for it more Pushed up and the next you know, we're banging and goes left and right obviously we are after a little bit but you know, it's just It's there the talent is there. It is a talented squad. We got ballers like it's clear There's so much more that could happen, but we're just not there yet. Yeah, it's I mean, I'm acting all frustrated when we had a great game today, but I understand, you know, I understand you guys. I'm not going to shy away from it. Beginning of the year, I said we're going to win the league. So I'm obviously expecting more from the guys and it's tough to see. I'm usually not one to call for transfers because I find that to be, you know, it's a lot easier on FIFA and football manager in real life. I get it. I want
00:35:50
Emeka
yeah Our next signing, well, I've always wanted a guy with pace. That's just, uh, only once in a while behind. I wish one more pace, but what I really want is.
00:35:58
Chino Onwuka
Hold on, before I continue, again, I want to, you know, that Martinelli is not the only player that runs in behind.
00:35:58
Emeka
it
00:36:08
Chino Onwuka
Kai runs in behind when he plays up front. Jesus, when his mind is right, he runs in behind. We just do not play that pass.
00:36:18
Emeka
I look up many times and kind of the box.
00:36:18
Chino Onwuka
we but
00:36:19
Emeka
I'll tell you that that frustrates me.
00:36:23
Chino Onwuka
But just what when we have the ball, like, i Like try watching the players off the ball, because I think sometimes if you watch it, you don't see it until the ball's in that position and the guy's not there. Just watch, because that's what I'm looking for, watch those guys off the ball who aren't and watch see the ones they make and you will get frustrated. You will get frustrated because they're making the runs.
00:36:48
Emeka
and fair I mean, I frustrated regardless. So yeah, I'm sure you're right. But I i want someone who can strike a football with some venom in them. That's what I want nowadays. It's funny you talked about how teams score these low percentage chances against us. They do that because they take shots. And man, Jimenez is the perfect example. Jimenez lathered that ball. And I'm trying to think how many guys in Arsenal could really smack a ball like that on like on that angle. It's funny when you say that because today, Jeju scored a similar goal to that kind of but like so many times we'll get in these positions and the shot and we take at the end is it's so weak and it it just doesn't have that conviction in it like I just oh man I'm just thinking of guys like Podolsky for some reason like I just want someone who could just put his foot through the ball and just
00:37:37
Emeka
try and titt tear the net sometimes. that's what That's what I think we're really kind of missing these days. It's just someone, you know, i people are going to say it's a number nine. It might be a number nine. It might be a winger.
00:37:47
Emeka
I don't know. Just I want someone on the team who just has, you know, 99-shot power, I guess, for the lack of a better phrase than fries.
00:37:55
Chuku
more.
00:37:56
Emeka
It's just someone who strikes fear in the other team when they line up for a shot.
00:37:59
Chino Onwuka
I think for me, you know to your point, and my guide, thank you for sort of to to to put labels on what we need. I would say dynamicism and transition thread.
00:38:13
Chino Onwuka
I think that is the element that we lack that, because we have so many great elements of the team. But that transition, like I swear to go over bottom five teams in the world when it comes to transition.
00:38:26
Chino Onwuka
like With the amount of time
00:38:28
Emeka
That's coaching though.
00:38:30
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, with your coaching and mentality, with the amount of times we win the ball back, with the control that we have, like, we should see a little bit more. It might not even lead to goals, but just because if teams felt threat from that, they would also play us differently. Like, everything plays into into everything. You panic, you make a mistake. Right now, we don't even, because the second we get the, ah, let's come back and get everybody in position, let's do that. Like, you're right, it's coaching.
00:38:59
Chino Onwuka
So now let's look at the two position might even be three.
00:38:59
Emeka
It's good.
00:39:03
Chino Onwuka
I i don't think I think Marino played a little bit better today. It's still his first season. You know, I sort of want to see a little bit more. He's solid. That's the best thing you could say he puts in an honors day was work.
00:39:18
Chino Onwuka
I need to see a little bit more than that on the offensive side of the ball. Mark more threat there. He's got the technique. He's a big body can can turn into tight spaces, use that at that end of the page, it's not just headers.
00:39:32
Chino Onwuka
Or maybe it's our tatatahim like, yeah, you only, but like, I think it's still three positions where we don't have an answer to striker, left wing and left eight.
00:39:44
Chuku
interest
00:39:44
Chino Onwuka
So,
00:39:45
Emeka
I wrote it back and left back because I don't know well what I'm seeing from the fullback positions this year, man.
00:39:45
Chuku
nothing burned
00:39:51
Emeka
I don't know
00:39:52
Chino Onwuka
right back, we have enough. We have the players there, quality players, they're just injured. Left back, we have the players there as well. I don't like, we have answers there.
00:40:03
Chino Onwuka
They're not fit. I don't think we have answers at striker.
00:40:06
Chuku
Interesting.
00:40:07
Chino Onwuka
My, in my opinion, to be very fair, you know, looking at the strikers we've been linked with, you know, Sesco, you know, I think he brings again that transition threat and he can, he can hit that ball like a bastard.
00:40:12
Chuku
Nothing burned was...
00:40:22
Chino Onwuka
And you know what, honestly, I was very skeptical of this name, you know, multiple, whenever it brought up, it gets brought up. But, you know, Gia Coris, you know, he's, he has that, he can, he can leather that ball as well.
00:40:36
Emeka
You can leather. That's why I'm naming these guys. They can leather the ball, man. Like, you know, I want to strike it like it's football like that.
00:40:39
Chino Onwuka
of yeah love but You know, they're, they're, they're coding, you know, I like them because they're, they're big bodied guys and, you know, they can you know, people bowling balls or a bull in a china shop in the box regardless, because, you know, hopefully, you know, we look for them and they have. They have conviction, you know, in that transition, which a lot of our players don't have. So I think that would be good. You know, OC man, I think that's what he'd be good at to even though he's not that, you know, 99 shop power like those other guys, but he is that transition threat and he can work.
00:41:17
Chino Onwuka
with with pack boxes. you know The other big name is is Isaac. I do worry about him a little bit because again, when teams are playing 13 men at the back, he doesn't have that frame like those others you know where he can be I don't, I question whether he'd be as effective in those situations.
00:41:42
Chino Onwuka
He does have that, he does have that transition.
00:41:42
Emeka
It's got the dribbling though
00:41:45
Chino Onwuka
He he does dribble. He can connect. So I feel like he'd bring that. He does have that shot in him, you know, but it's more of those, like he has that power in, but it's sometimes it's, it's, it's one when he does it.
00:41:58
Chino Onwuka
It's like, Oh wow. He does it. Whereas those other guys, like anytime they touch that ball, the team, they fly. So that's all we need from striker left wing.
00:42:03
Chuku
Okay.
00:42:08
Chino Onwuka
I love you, Martinelli. you know It's good if you're a great at this point. you know Maybe you need just some time away from the spotlight. You need that hunger that you have. I know you still have the hunger, but you know you came in as a guy from the fourth division in Brazil. You exceeded expectations. Expectations have risen. Maybe it's gonna take you more time. Where we're at, you know we can't keep waiting for you anymore, especially we suck on the other wing. We need, whether it's,
00:42:36
Chino Onwuka
We go back in for Nicole Williams, whether we find some other options, we need something there. We need the next team there. Trussard, you've given us a good run. You're turning 30, you know, it's time to upgrade that position.
00:42:47
Chuku
Okay.
00:42:49
Chino Onwuka
And left eight, we still, we still need that. Like Marino is solid, but he's 28. We need the future in that position. Whether if it's even Harvard's coming back there, if we got a striker, like those are, those are what we're missing.
00:43:02
Emeka
Hey, don't bring that evil on me. Do you trust Arteta to identify the right targets for the positions?
00:43:14
Chino Onwuka
The thing is that we have had good targets for those positions. We just have not sealed them. We had a good target at Stryker.
00:43:21
Emeka
Fair?
00:43:24
Chino Onwuka
Vlahovich didn't seal it. Good target at left wing. Nicole Williams didn't seal it. to what ah I I mean, hindsight is 20-20.
00:43:35
Chino Onwuka
What I thought was a good target at left eight initially, Mason Mount, I think it'd have been perfect. Didn't see it. I'm missing some other process go didn't finish it.
00:43:47
Chino Onwuka
You know the only big Yeah, you guys know I was never that excited with that to begin with you know who I wanted at that position, you know the only guy The only targets as ironic as it is that we've targeted
00:43:48
Emeka
Targeted in the marina though just asking dr. Usmani
00:44:04
Chino Onwuka
and gotten have all been on the offensive side of the ball. And whether it may be, is it we didn't press? like Even Mudrik, yeah, we've seen the news that have come out again. We targeted that position, didn't get it. Anytime we target those offensive positions, I think we too easily, like, OK, then we'll make do with what we have versus the defense. And maybe they're not as sought after, or I don't know what the market is. Our main targets for those, apart from I'm Kaiseido, we've gotten them.
00:44:36
Emeka
What does buy another fullback in the summer? That's all I can say.
00:44:39
Chuku
talk come on please be of yourself just can't feel back nah man we have to begin attacking options but there's no way in hell we're not getting an attacking option whether that's to be the striker or binger something attacking the fielder or something because bro yeah it's impossible but i just i can't imagine us going to next summer i'm sorry we're going to the summer time and start of next season
00:44:42
Emeka
What should happen? What should happen?
00:45:09
Chuku
and we don't walk out to the with a striker now. There's just no way. I refuse to believe it. I refuse to believe it.
00:45:15
Emeka
I hope so, man.
00:45:16
Chuku
Well, I was going to ask you guys your opinion.
00:45:16
Emeka
I hope so.
00:45:18
Chuku
So right now for the striker left wing position, who will be the two like realistic big names that you'd want to see the team sign?
00:45:30
Chuku
and any Any ideas? And why would you, want who and why? when it comes to
Transfer Targets & Strategies for Arsenal
00:45:38
Chuku
those two rules.
00:45:38
Emeka
What's realistic though?
00:45:41
Chuku
I mean, for example, like, I'm not going to say, I say, like, Liao, because Liao, not realistic. But, you know, the Touma, no more is more realistic.
00:45:52
Chuku
Like, there's no, like, there's no, always no, like, a means that you know, there's like, basically, next to zero chance of us being able to sign, you know? Yeah.
00:46:04
Chino Onwuka
I can give you some names.
00:46:07
Chuku
Just do the two best realistic names for each tracker and level.
00:46:13
Chino Onwuka
Striker, Sesko and Isaac, Winger, Nicole Williams, and Antoine Simeo.
00:46:17
Chuku
interest You sorry, the columns is realistic.
00:46:28
Chino Onwuka
His release, yeah, because I know the fee, the fee is there. We may have to pay high wages, but the fee is a release clause. Cessco is a release clause.
00:46:39
Chuku
No, no, no, that's cool. It's definitely realistic. So let's go to the stick. I just don't think Nicole Williams is realistic because I don't see like Nicole. There's one of those players that it looks like he just only doesn't want to leave Spain.
00:46:50
Chuku
No, that's why.
00:46:51
Chino Onwuka
Fair enough. Fair enough.
00:46:53
Chuku
Well, that's cool is that the rest of them are definitely all realistic.
00:46:56
Chino Onwuka
What do you got?
00:46:57
Chuku
So that's cool. He's back. And then some menu. That's a good shout. Honestly, speaking of you, some menu, some menu.
00:47:02
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:47:02
Emeka
Yeah, it's many of the flyers.
00:47:04
Chino Onwuka
Sorry.
00:47:04
Emeka
We don't buy from the league though. We rarely buy from, I got i mean, no, I take it back. We bought Rice and Raya, but I feel like we don't really use the internally that often.
00:47:13
Chino Onwuka
we We bought a lot from the league.
00:47:14
Emeka
I guess white as well.
00:47:15
Chuku
Yeah, I would say we've all heard.
00:47:15
Emeka
You know what? I mean, I'm chatting. Maybe I'm chatting. I don't know.
00:47:18
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:47:19
Emeka
He's a championship. There we go. We don't buy from the championship. That's what I was thinking of more.
00:47:21
Chuku
Yeah, championship. Yeah, we don't know.
00:47:23
Emeka
We don't really...
00:47:23
Chuku
But the league, he's had and he held of a season, bro.
00:47:23
Chino Onwuka
But some menos are born with now.
00:47:26
Emeka
I know.
00:47:26
Chino Onwuka
i
00:47:27
Emeka
I'm just thinking domestically, like, I guess,
00:47:27
Chino Onwuka
from
00:47:32
Emeka
Yeah, one more with the bimbo.
00:47:32
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, and you know, he's attacking and I'm sure Don Arteta will like this.
00:47:32
Chuku
Like, he even if we has a score.
00:47:38
Chino Onwuka
he he's he He's responsible, you know, tracking back, he wins his duels, so...
00:47:43
Chuku
Not just that, he plays both sides as well bro. Like he plays both sides.
00:47:46
Chino Onwuka
Exactly, exactly.
00:47:48
Chuku
He'll be a perfect addition.
00:47:48
Chino Onwuka
And I... Yeah.
00:47:51
Chuku
No, Gushal's Gushal. What about you Makar?
00:47:54
Emeka
ah ah Fords, boring answers. Yolkaris, most informed striker in the world. would be nice. I don't know how realistic it is. I'm not an accountant. If you told me that we bought but rice two years ago, I thought it was unrealistic.
00:48:04
Chuku
That's still realistic.
00:48:08
Emeka
So what do I know? Isaac is my dream. I call him middle class Henry. You know, he he is. The only thing would be the injury concerns. And I would the way Kyle Fury is looking, maybe we ought to pay more attention to injury concerns.
00:48:22
Emeka
And but he's been my goodness man when I watch him His highs are the highest of any highs like of all the strikers were linked with like when he's on he looks Unbelievable just this combination of physicality speed skills Unbelievable.
00:48:39
Emeka
I mean more.
00:48:39
Chuku
This is result.
00:48:40
Emeka
Yeah, he's like oh see man as well just cuz I'm Nigerian and you know messed up.
00:48:41
Chuku
No.
00:48:44
Emeka
Oh, see man I don't think he'd fit the best and for wingers. I'm not really I tapped into wingers, but I have a semi if he's a forward probably play for us, but I would love Arson to sign.
00:48:57
Emeka
kuna No bad time. He's going to get suspended for a couple of games because he's throwing people's elbows and snatching glasses on the weekend, but if wolves get relegated, I really think he's going to go to a ah big, quote une big club and and impress a lot of people.
00:49:03
Chuku
No.
00:49:11
Emeka
He's got He's playing in a terrorist organization in the wolves and still single-handedly creates scores Presses like he's he's got the whole package. I think he's gonna go to some team in and really shine for them But I it was funny to be looking at all these transfers I'm not look I'll never ever be I took that out for at least years and years but I We can sign Austin Mary. We can sign all these guys and I wouldn't be shocked if we still look the same next year because I truly think
00:49:43
Emeka
it's a it's so It's a team philosophy. It's not really talent. Like, this is the same team we had last year, essentially. and They were balling out. Like, what's changed is that, like Chino said, we we we don't press the opportunity when we have it. We have many times we could attack fast. And it's funny, because last year, I was praising Raya for doing this. He would start counters so quick. He'd get the ball, quick throw out, and we'd go. It's clear. Ateta has told him none of this anymore.
00:50:11
Emeka
slow down slow to pace control the ball and it's Infuriating to watch like I echo what you know the same 100% it's infuriating to watch and I'm terrified that we're gonna spend if we do spend money and we sign a Nico Williams or a sesco it's just gonna be the same pattern of play and and I would hate to see that I I'm gonna say fans other one of these fans why I say man i Watch Chelsea. I watch Liverpool teams play a high line against them must be nice, man Why the team sit deep against us also actually really deep did and it's Liverpool Chelsea All these teams what they do is they take chances like don't get a corner loopholes the perfect example of this
00:50:53
Emeka
You have a quarter as Liverpool they got man's up front as soon as they get the ball There's one ball up front to sell he's chasing it and it's just that's how they get these transitions When we get chances like that, like you know, I said, man, we go to the halfway line pass it all the way back All right, pass the ball around let rice touch it rice touch it pass the ball back to Saliba see what good ball the Gabriel Gabriel Gabriel give it to the left back inverting timber I pass the ball back and I'm sure we have look suckers up the fastest man in the world But we still can catch teams if we pressed. Look, I'll go against Liverpool. One ball from White to Saka, one on one, a full back. Murdered him, scored. We haven't scored a goal like that since, I feel like, until today when Crystal Palace just, I don't know what they were doing. But, so I fully agree. We need to buy left wing games. I'm not arguing that. We need to buy these guys. But I'm just concerned that if we do buy them, not much will change just because the team just is not empowered to do it.
00:51:50
Chino Onwuka
I think the thing is, it's again, this season, right? With the pressure. That's why I said, like we are playing more with the handbrakes on, we're playing more to not lose than we are to win. 2022, 2023, it was no one expected it of us. So let's go for it. Last year we had our struggles.
00:52:18
Chino Onwuka
We went in behind, so we have to catch up to Liverpool. So it was, let's go for it. This year, that that pressure, that losing the title by two seasons is in Arteta's mind. So a lot of his decision making, which we talked about was, you know let's not lose. Things aren't ideal because I really think that a lot of the reason why we've played more with the handbrake on is the lack of cohesion we've had at the back. I think if we were in a situation where we had our starting back floor and rice fit, Arteta would release the handbrakes a little bit more. But he's so concerned at the back. All right, we have Miles Lewis Skelly playing left back. We have Parthi playing right back with Giorgino in the fence. Let's not have people running at at them too much. And the other thing that I hate that we do is
00:53:18
Chino Onwuka
When we score that first early goal, because of it, that's when we pep at teams. But if we don't score that goal right away, then it is so ponderous in the first half, and then the second half we try to come through. I feel like if I, whatever in a game when we score first, I'm usually not worried, because then I know the guys who play with freedom, because we have that one goal lead. But whenever it's zero, zero, man, the way we play is just,
00:53:47
Chino Onwuka
i don't I don't know because it's it's in us. Last year, we were bagging in goals left and right and we were playing largely the same way. Now maybe other teams have evolved and adapted and we haven't, you know, we need to play it quicker, but it's it's this year, it's just been too much of a fear of losing rather than trying to win the game, the mentality.
00:54:14
Emeka
I also feel like last year we used to blitz teams a lot more like Like you said the first goal thing we get a first goal in the first 10 minutes like every other game it felt like we'd start off just that's the one mentality from attack from the jump and like maybe it is the the Losing back to back does mess with you.
00:54:31
Emeka
Maybe maybe honestly, maybe it's as simple as that and our touch has been traumatized And now he's just going back to conservative because we just don't do that anymore
00:54:37
Chino Onwuka
Because yeah, what if you notice, if you watch our first 10 minutes of games, we start out good and we put pressure. We don't score and then and then things slow down. We still put that pressure on teams first 10 minutes again. We just haven't been scoring them like we did in previous seasons.
00:54:58
Emeka
Well, I hope ah some point in January, I look on my IG and I see photos of Arsenal Dubai because that's apparently what the magic was last year. Hey, I took the book another Dubai trip, man.
00:55:08
Chuku
the I had the by-trip saying some things.
00:55:11
Emeka
We need some. We need some because oh my goodness.
00:55:15
Chuku
They lie. I had the by-trip or something else.
00:55:22
Chino Onwuka
I think we've... Arteza, you know, I've seen a lot of... of ah ah his I even know the right word, my English might not be proper. I've seen a lot of hysterical comments, reactions about the last two games, especially when it comes to Arteza. I feel like this is just really
00:55:49
Chino Onwuka
you know, where things are out in 2024 and that people don't have nuance in in in their opinions and their reactions. Because I feel like you can be, have definitive criticism about, you know, Arteza and his decisions, his tactics, his mentality. I criticize that, but that is a whole different thing than being Arteza out, Arteza's a bum, Arteza's a fraud. And when I see that, it just,
00:56:20
Chino Onwuka
I didn't close my mind because it's like, okay, well then tell me who's better. And he'll say, Oh, well slot, you know, it was in his first year as a coach. Okay. He asked Salah van Dyck on his team. You know, Mecca, Mecca, Mecca was rightfully saying this at the beginning of the season. He said clock left him with a great team and slot is taken advantage of that. Kudos to him. Okay. My Russ guys.
00:56:46
Chino Onwuka
Okay, people talk about how much Arteta has spent you know to get the team there. Well, Mariska has a 1.4 billion squad. They they should be in second place or third place. So like you can see, he's not doing as good as we want him to be. But if you think replacing him is gonna be that easy, if it comes to that, then and then then good luck.
00:57:11
Chino Onwuka
Good luck, good luck, because I don't i don't think it it's as as easy as that. And I think maybe that might be a good segue to to talk about Chelsea a little bit. They continue to fly.
00:57:22
Chino Onwuka
They continue to fly. Currently sitting second in the table. Again, proving us.
00:57:26
Emeka
but not title contenders. Not title contenders, as they always say every interview, after every game.
00:57:30
Chino Onwuka
but title apparently you know, continuing to prove us very, very wrong. You know, we, we Mayor Culpa, we we apologize for, I don't know if you apologize, but yeah, we were wrong.
00:57:43
Emeka
I beg.
00:57:47
Chino Onwuka
Let's just put it that we were wrong.
00:57:48
Chuku
We were on classes, yeah.
00:57:49
Chino Onwuka
on
00:57:50
Emeka
Definitely wrong. Oh my goodness, we were wrong.
00:57:52
Chino Onwuka
Someone who boycotted us because of one comment where we said Chelsea should be better because of how much they've spent. I hope you're listening again because all we've done is praise them. So you you know who you are. Hi, welcome back. If you're not back, you should be back because. Yeah, like they they're they are a problem. The the negative to the way they've been approaching things, they figured out a way to make it work, which is was always their plan and we didn't think it was feasible. Again, we'll see what mass scramble with PSR they do at the end of the season. But you know, if you look at the current season and
00:58:31
Chino Onwuka
Don't laugh. If you look at some of the players they have coming through and if they they can make those players work as well, it's a problem.
00:58:40
Emeka
Oh, big problem. We're all wrong. i One of my bold predictions was that Maresca gets fired by Christmas. Yeah. unless Unless he sleeps with bully's wife, I think his his job is pretty safe. I'm going to give a big shout out to Maresca because I was making fun of his man management at the beginning of the year. Turns out I'm an idiot, and he's a professional coach for a reason. He handled it perfectly. When you have a big squad like that,
00:59:05
Emeka
Honestly, the best way to do it is just be straight up with the players you guys do you're my 20 you're gonna play and this quote unquote bomb squad either you leave or a clutch of money man, like it is what it is like I thought he was the chemistry was gonna be brutal because he's this icing man's out like Chalo bah and chill well, but turns out, you know if you just hunker down and start winning some games people can you know, look a lot because man, he's got them but his his people If you're not now, it's now it's clear like he has his 11 if you're not in that 11 plus the You know the couple on the bench, you're just not gonna see the field and you know, we laughed about how many guys they have on payroll Those guys just collecting checks because the guys he's playing look fantastic like Nico Jackson I you know, I was defending him last year I wish there was a player here in there and if people were slander my man a little too much because
00:59:58
Emeka
he first of all he's young and also secondly, he wasn't even bought for that much money. like people I feel like for some reason people attach a price tag to him like he's Nunes. He's really not. It was a reasonable purchase and my goodness this year he looks like a number nine. He looks You know, I won't say I wish I had a guy like him, but he looks like a guy who can get him behind scrap with defenders. And I i always like trackers who take a lot of shots. That's always been a um big positive for trackers for me. Just trackers who just take part shots because you never know. You had the flexion here. Lucky chance there. And the guy I was most wrong on the most entering this season. I got to give a big shout out to Jane and Sancho. I would never believe her in Sancho. I hate wingers who are not fast.
01:00:44
Emeka
Sancho is might be the slowest winger a big club I could think he does not run but I Give him credit man is he's found his confidence again. His dribbling is on point He's making good passes into playing with Cole Palmer.
01:00:59
Emeka
He looks like uh, he looks like a ah player now He looks like the guy man you played all that money for back in the day You know
01:01:05
Chino Onwuka
It looks like the Dortmund, a little bit more of the Dortmund's essential.
01:01:09
Emeka
He looks like that guy again. So big shout out to Baresca and Chelsea for getting him back up there. i I'm gonna go see her pretend I was always a central hater. He's proven me shutting me up this year. He looks fantastic.
01:01:21
Chuku
Yeah, no? Big fox.
01:01:24
Chuku
Big fox.
01:01:25
Chino Onwuka
So spoken about Chelsea. We've spoken about Arsenal, so maybe it's a good time to revisit, you know, where we're almost halfway through the season. I
Revising Top Four Predictions
01:01:37
Chino Onwuka
don't know if it's a good point to do it or, you know, maybe once we hit that many Christmas break. Do we want to do a revised top four prediction for the end of the season?
01:01:50
Emeka
I think it's a maybe a full top four, but I came going to ask you guys and now's a good time to do it before the holiday fixtures pile up right now. Would you think or predict Man City to finish top four end of the year?
01:02:06
Chino Onwuka
yes why because i can't forget the last
01:02:07
Emeka
sugar
01:02:14
Chino Onwuka
years okay maybe they won't come first anymore but in my mind at some point they will get it back together and they'll get top four
01:02:18
Emeka
Yeah, that's that out the picture.
01:02:26
Chuku
yeah top four i mean i just gotta believe top four yeah i'll just go
01:02:36
Emeka
I guess now I'm planting my flag hot take-wise. Man City will not finish top four this year.
01:02:41
Chino Onwuka
And so what what makes you what makes you say that?
01:02:46
Emeka
When I hate that I was right about this because also didn't capitalize on something. But I smelt this from the beginning. I was trying people who thought looked at me like I was crazy.
01:02:57
Emeka
Man City were due from a season from hell. And I was watching a Monday Night Football and then Karakaki made a great point. This looks a lot like Liverpool two years ago. And Nathan finished off for that neither.
01:03:09
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:03:11
Emeka
When you have slow midfielders, it it It changes how the team operates and I'm thinking back to when Arsenal used to be stunning guys like when doozy and I try to slander any man, so I won't name any more names, but we lack the physicality in midfield I See teams like every time we play against another team It just felt like that was a losing battle every we just give would see the midfield like we just can't control the game because we just get out physical and and He uses to change and you know fair credit to him. or Why did you switch it up? He's pep, but he plays like he has young legs and he doesn't and Goals like met the two goals man. You scored on the weekend We're childish goals and they will keep get up these childish goals because they refuse to adjust and they'll keep playing this high line even though all their players are slow and kind of walkers used to build them on all the time and
01:04:06
Emeka
unless he gets to Germany or something, he's going to look like what he looks like now. And they're going to keep shipping these goals. And more importantly, outside of early Holland, who is Man City's top scorer in the league?
01:04:18
Chino Onwuka
Cordial.
01:04:19
Chuku
Hard deal, you know.
01:04:21
Emeka
Guardiola, these four goals, no one else is more than two. It's great. No one scores goals in the team, except Holland. And Holland is the me you know best goal scorer in the world. You can only do so much. And now teams, like man I saw a Man U this weekend, they just didn't even respect the winger, Dokko and Silva. They had two minutes on Holland at all times and essentially just dared anyone else to score. And if not for a lucky deflection they got from the corner.
01:04:47
Emeka
Actually, we're creating nothing that game and not just I've seen it teaming that now and Hollis now is that was just going to frustrated because he knows I'm again the ball because he's got two dependence on me. No one's making runs It's just me out there this there's just systematic flaws of man city and they need a summer to get it, right? And I think by the time they fix it next year, they'll fix it and they'll be good again, but I think this year If it's crazy to think but I think man city gonna finish fifth or sixth this year. I really do.
01:05:18
Chino Onwuka
So who's who's who's the other team getting top 4?
01:05:21
Emeka
That's the big question. That's the big question right now. Gun to my head. I'd say I hate to say it, but I'll say Tottenham just because the underlying numbers they have are are.
01:05:33
Chuku
sparets so Stop You lost me, bro.
01:05:36
Emeka
Hey look, you can say stop it. They are the second highest scoring team in the league and like I think. only fifth or six goals conceded. Like they're not a bad team.
01:05:48
Emeka
They just the most inconsistent team of the league. out of me I mean, I haven't talked to a fan of my life. I always love just showing the results they have every week because you never know where you're going to get from them. Guys, I got to my head.
01:05:59
Emeka
I picked them. I don't know. This is tangent. I was thinking about this. I feel like in the all the years I've watched the Prem top to bottom.
01:06:07
Chino Onwuka
And.
01:06:08
Emeka
This is the strongest Premier League I can remember.
01:06:10
Chino Onwuka
Prem is hard, but meet every every game is every result is magnified because you can lose every game.
01:06:13
Emeka
It's hard,
01:06:18
Emeka
man.
01:06:20
Chino Onwuka
You can drop it in every game, but anytime you do. For whatever reasons, it is magnified so.
01:06:28
Emeka
yeah
01:06:29
Chino Onwuka
Prim is tough, you know, just speaking of, you know, see I was looking at who they're playing this weekend, you know, do they have a get right game in them and it's Villa. So that could be, you know, a potential another another trip hazard for them.
01:06:41
Emeka
Exactly. It's tough. There's no look at the schedule and honestly outside of Southampton notice respect to them There are no gimmes in the they're no gimmes anymore in the Premier League like Ipswich away wolves away.
01:06:51
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:06:54
Emeka
Those aren't gimmes and those are 18 and 19 like Everything's 16. We just played them as we can if we just saw like it's not like it's not easy It's not free eats in the league like that anymore
01:07:05
Chino Onwuka
And, you know, just, you know, maybe one last thing we'll say about City, you know, just seeing how how and in in seemingly implausible the the recent one has been, you know, lose dropping points in the prem, you know, getting knocked out of the League Cup, you know, losing games in the Champions League, you know, all I really have to say is We love to see it. We love to see it. All the pain you've made the last couple of years, you deserve it and more. So whenever it means another team winning, keep losing.
01:07:45
Emeka
you
01:07:47
Chino Onwuka
you know if you know If you don't want to be, peace keep being prideful. you know We'll all stay humble. You do what you're doing with me.
01:07:55
Emeka
I really wish we were doing good this year so I could spam stay humble everywhere I just I really wish it doesn't hit the same I'm only three points ahead of them it just doesn't hit the same for me
01:08:06
Chino Onwuka
It doesn't hit the same, but you know, you take what you can get.
01:08:09
Emeka
um um Listen, I agree with you 100%.
01:08:11
Chino Onwuka
yeah
01:08:11
Chino Onwuka
ye
01:08:11
Emeka
They were overdue for a season like this.
01:08:14
Emeka
Overdue. Eat.
01:08:16
Chino Onwuka
And, and, and, you know, you talked about, you know, it's such that we can't take advantage of it.
01:08:16
Emeka
Stay humble.
01:08:21
Chino Onwuka
You know, this just clearly shows, not clearly shows, what this says to me is how much. City and Arsenal pushed each other the last two seasons where Both teams just had to keep going, blow for blow, and M for M, band for band, pound for pound, last two seasons, and at some point, you can only do it for so long.
01:08:50
Chino Onwuka
you know Liverpool did it with Man City for two years, and then dropped off, and somehow Man City kept going, but...
01:08:58
Emeka
As well, I got to give credit to Man City because they've been doing it for like five years in death matches in the patrol to win the Premier League, like literal death matches.
01:09:00
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah. Finally, after them,
01:09:06
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:09:08
Emeka
So you're right. You know, that's why that was my point. At some point, it's just human. Like you're going to have a bad year. Everyone has it. Every team has a quote unquote down here. It just so happened that they took five years of of losses, saved them up and just had them all in a row this year.
01:09:25
Emeka
Shouts out to my man, Roger. you know, best player in the world, even though he ain't winning the people best or whatever. Every game this season has just made that Ballon d'Or even more and more and more valid because he really was covering up a lot of their a lot of their weaknesses last year. That's very clear now.
01:09:42
Chino Onwuka
And all we needed was one of these games last season, just one.
01:09:47
Emeka
Listen, son has blood on his hands for me till I die.
01:09:47
Chino Onwuka
Just...
01:09:50
Emeka
Hon Min Sun, wherever you are, if I miss you on the street, man, man, if I see you on the street, son, oh my goodness.
01:09:55
Chuku
It's all in bro. It's all
01:10:00
Emeka
Today I die, I'll never this time miss that chance, but that's not the end of it.
01:10:05
Chino Onwuka
and Okay. so So... don't know what if you can hear it in my voice, but you know you know, football is football and you know, last couple of ways games is, you know, had me, you know, very muscle menos, you know,
01:10:22
Emeka
Really?
01:10:22
Chino Onwuka
of
01:10:22
Emeka
I couldn't tell.
01:10:24
Chino Onwuka
you know I'm umm proud we've been able to, you guys have been able to squeeze, you know, an hour and 11 minutes of football discourse out of me because Like, yeah, stay tuned.
01:10:34
Chino Onwuka
But like man, like sometimes, and probably this this is the case for a lot of other fans out there, you know when your team doesn't do what they need to do, I just check out.
01:10:45
Emeka
Hey, football is life, fam.
01:10:46
Chino Onwuka
I can't go on social media. Sometimes I can't watch highlights. I can't you know i't i don't want to see nothing else about football. you know i look
01:10:56
Emeka
Football is life. What am I hearing from you guys?
01:10:59
Chino Onwuka
i i I even watched a Jaguars game this weekend just because I just needed something else.
01:11:05
Emeka
Oh my goodness.
01:11:06
Chino Onwuka
I wasn't doing football anymore. but on for this So, you know, hopefully, you know, Arsenal can give me enough to to want to talk about football again next weekend.
01:11:09
Emeka
What am I hearing?
01:11:17
Chino Onwuka
And it's always, it's always dope hopping on this with you guys because, you know, it's like I've told someone, it's a little bit like therapy. It's a little bit like therapy, you know, get some of yeah some of those thoughts out.
01:11:24
Emeka
It's been therapy.
01:11:27
Chuku
It's not going to look like therapy man.
01:11:30
Emeka
I can't hear this from you guys because if we were doing this podcast eight years ago That's when we really see man's crashing out like we're crashing out now over this magic back in them days when we look at the table will be 11th
01:11:30
Chuku
Honestly, it is.
01:11:41
Chino Onwuka
No, no, no, we, we, hey, honest, you if we did not have like, we're so blessed that we happened to be best friends and we're all Arsenal fans, so we could, how many, we had therapy sessions within the group chat.
01:11:47
Emeka
yeah
01:12:00
Emeka
I'm not saying like this podcast would have been numbers if we recorded but in some of those results. We do a numbers.
01:12:06
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, yeah.
01:12:07
Emeka
That's all I say.
01:12:07
Chuku
we
01:12:09
Emeka
That's why I listen. Look, I think you guys could come at me some time from like, I'm going to explain my my perception. Like I'm not trying to defend this season. It's a bad season. I just, the reason why I make it upon myself to sometimes push back at the, at the, you know, the pity parties is because I still, it's my brain, man, just those those days, those dark days, every day.
01:12:30
Chino Onwuka
I think you remember those days, and I feel you on that point. I guess I'm a little bit more of, all right, we're in a new era now.
01:12:36
Chuku
We're on.
01:12:37
Chino Onwuka
And so I do i do you know i do recognize where, how far we've come. But I mean, we're here now. And so what I say is based off of where we are now, while still recognizing.
01:12:47
Emeka
We are here now.
01:12:51
Chino Onwuka
So when people go the other end of our tent out, that's when I'm like, what are you talking about?
01:12:55
Emeka
Yeah, come on.
01:12:57
Chino Onwuka
But it's just like, at that point, i Maybe it's just because I'm so pessimistic at that point, I was like, we're going to drop points at other ends of the season. And we've already, we're already too far back based on the perfection you needed in the promo season.
01:13:10
Emeka
and that's fair Yeah, that's fair.
01:13:12
Chino Onwuka
So, so yeah. So, you know, let's just quickly before we, you know, I think we'll probably end it by talking about our, our, our game of the week, but sort of talk a little bit MBA real quickly.
NBA Cup Final Reflection
01:13:30
Chino Onwuka
You know, we just had the the final of the NBA Cup, you know, last night, you know, at OKC versus the Bucks, which looked a very, you know, exciting matchup to me.
01:13:43
Chino Onwuka
I don't know about you guys, but it's crazy to think that, you know, a year ago, all three of us were there live for the final of the NBA Cup, where we saw where we saw the King
01:13:50
Emeka
Not to say. Inaugural.
01:13:54
Chuku
Can I just say we picked the best year to go? I just want to just put that out there. I still think it'd be the best year to go.
01:14:00
Chino Onwuka
Hey, the the the first time is always special.
01:14:01
Chuku
yeah
01:14:04
Emeka
Straight up.
01:14:05
Chino Onwuka
The first time is always special.
01:14:05
Chuku
That is what we're all looking for.
01:14:08
Chino Onwuka
you know there's just you know it's it's It's best in a place of marriage. medical The first time is always special, but just wait wait for the right time. But yeah, we we we were there, you know, live and in charge but to see, you know, the king, LaBrizzle, when the inaugural Emirates NBA Cup. You know, I can't remember. I'm like, I know you're the one who usually pulls this up for us. This Lebron wanted anyone. The MVP does this. Does Jordan have one of those?
01:14:43
Emeka
I personally have never seen Michael Jordan win an NBA Cup.
01:14:47
Chino Onwuka
Wow.
01:14:48
Emeka
That's all I can say. I personally haven't seen it.
01:14:50
Chino Onwuka
And and and that's that sounds good.
01:14:51
Emeka
Well, that's all I'm saying.
01:14:56
Chino Onwuka
learning
01:14:56
Emeka
Hey, they sound the good Darvin Ham. Darvin Ham, 8-0 NBA Cup games undefeated.
01:15:02
Chino Onwuka
My dad was telling me that last night and I was like, well, that's bad.
01:15:05
Emeka
Never lost in the NBA Cup.
01:15:07
Chino Onwuka
i want
01:15:09
Chino Onwuka
And so, you know, with that, you know, we had Milwaukee and Giannis pretty comfortably, surprisingly comfortably dispatching or in the final by about 20 points, you know,
01:15:18
Emeka
surprisingly comfortably.
01:15:23
Chino Onwuka
What are our thoughts on you know multiple things, the game, you know what does this mean for the Bucks, Yanis, OKC, how are we feeling about the NBA Cup in general? you know Do we still like it? Is it a gimmick? you know The players seem to be really going after it. just I'm just going to open the floor you know to to whatever aspect of it you know guys want to talk about.
01:15:51
Chuku
and matt
01:15:51
Emeka
I love them.
01:15:52
Chuku
oh goia whoever
01:15:53
Emeka
I love the NBA Cup. And I'll never understand the people who don't like it. and Probably because we spent the first hours of the conversation showing, we're all football fans here. I love the concept of multiple trophies in the season.
01:16:05
Emeka
And I think it's really going to click for people when we have a dominant team come through, win the NBA Cup, win the championship, like the double, quote, unquote. And that's going to be the bar of like, oh, your team was good.
01:16:17
Chuku
Hey Matt.
01:16:17
Emeka
Did they win the double?
01:16:18
Chuku
Oh, go ahead bro.
01:16:19
Emeka
and Funny enough, I say this because I would have thought in meeting of the year, OKC would be the team to do that. I really thought OKC was going to come in there, comfortably beat the Bucks, and show everybody that it belonged. But this game exposed something to me. And it's is's hard. I don't like making problematic things like this over one game. But man, OKC seems small against the Bucks. Really, really small.
01:16:45
Emeka
and obviously, they don't make him a Yannis and many teams out there, but Man, they really need just one more and it hurts because they had Chet. Obviously, we know what he's hurt I hope he comes back in and can be good for them in the playoffs But they really need some more big bodies out there because it looked like it was Hartenstein by himself against trees like Yannis and Brooke were just Abusing is strong, but they were just look overmatched and okay, see also needs some shooting like
01:17:17
Emeka
Obviously it was an all time bad game from them from three point line, but. Man, I'm looking at the team, the roster, and the guys they have, all great defenders, all scrappy. How many of them would you really, really you know consider a knockdown sniper from three? There's not that many. And the playoffs, when things slow down and teams pack the paint, they're going to need one or two guys out there who can knock down an open three reliably. And I don't know, besides Isaiah, Joe, and Shay, there's no one really on the team that I really trust to be a dead-eye shooter like that from three.
01:17:50
Emeka
And lastly, man, shout out like the guy Yannis, bro. Like we always say, if you don't like Yannis, you don't, you know, I don't want to be, for i don't I don't, I don't know who you are. How can you hate Yannis, man? What a guy or a trooper.
01:18:03
Emeka
I hate how you know some media people are are trying always trying so hard to kick my man out of Milwaukee and get into another team. No, let Giannis stay there, man. Let him put his roots down there, man.
Giannis vs. Jokic: Generational Debate
01:18:15
Emeka
The league is better off served when Giannis is making property small market teams up.
01:18:22
Emeka
And even though I'm a huge Jokic fan, I always do think that everyone's a little too quick to just definitively say, oh, Jokic is the best of the generation. Jokic is the best player in the league, but well blah, blah, blah. It's not even a contest. Yeah, he might be the best, but it's definitely a call. Giannis is up there. You can't tell me. You put up accollets Accolade to Accolade. Giannis and Jokic stay right next to each other, man.
01:18:44
Emeka
Giannis, I'm so curious in five, 10 years, when it's all said and done, who really would be considered the best of this generation? It's tough because like, you know, LeBron still playing, he's the best, but like, of this little 20, the 2010s, 20s, like that era, who's really going to be the, the guy to 2020, I guess is the first way to split it. You'll get your Giannis, because there's going to be, there's going to be a contest between them. And I'm really curious how it shakes out.
01:19:11
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, yeah, that's a very good point. I think the thing with Giannis is he's such a force. He's so dominant in the physical way that you really notice. You can see he's just a beast. And like you said, how do you not love Giannis? There's only two sports people that I follow on social media.
01:19:39
Chino Onwuka
That is Sokka and Yanis. I just love Yanis, but you in your comparison to... In your comparison with Jokic, I think the thing with Jokic is...
01:19:52
Chino Onwuka
The way he affects every piece of the game. He is their center.
01:19:57
Emeka
Yes.
01:19:59
Chino Onwuka
He is their point guard. Like, this man is... always at the top in points, rebounds and assists and just the way he he orchestrates the game. Like this isn't a direct comparison, but in terms of like two of the greats and sort of what, you know, separates one from the other, you know, Giannis is a little bit like your Ronaldo and Jokic is a bit like your Messi where he can do everything. And then, you know, the other thing with where, you know, in the future, how's it all going to end with it, too?
01:20:31
Chino Onwuka
The thing is, I can see how Jokic's game will age.
01:20:36
Emeka
fair
01:20:36
Chino Onwuka
You know, Yannis is, you know, because it's his game is is based off of ah ah physical dominance, you know, how long.
01:20:36
Emeka
fair.
01:20:44
Chino Onwuka
At some point, yes.
01:20:44
Emeka
He's always going to be 611 though. He's always going to be 611.
01:20:48
Chino Onwuka
But you know, that's why one of the things that's been good to see, he he's developed a little bit of a mid-range
01:20:52
Emeka
I'm about to say that mid-range looking kind of nice now.
01:20:54
Chino Onwuka
he can keep developing them that will really help because you know his game is so physical he's crashing into bodies every game and you know you know that West African blood is built different you know
01:21:04
Emeka
Hey. Evo-
01:21:07
Chino Onwuka
how how How long is that going to last? How long is that going to last? So yeah, we'll we'll
NBA Cup Format & Future
01:21:13
Chino Onwuka
see. you know I love NBA Cup. Are there some tweaks I would like to see with it? Yes. you know People always talk about shorting shortening the regular season. you know I think they should reduce the amount of games for the regular season and have the NBA Cup just like stand out on its own. Because one of the things I kept seeing is, you know Trinko mentioned it, we got blessed. you know We were there for the first one. Lakers were in the semis in the finals, so you know the the crowd was electric for both of them. Now, this year's final, we had two smaller market teams in Milwaukee and OKC, where I'm pretty sure what happened is by the time it was confirmed, you know those guys were in the final.
01:22:01
Chino Onwuka
That man can't just, you know, leave work and decide, oh, I'm flying to Vegas the next day.
01:22:03
Emeka
Yeah.
01:22:06
Emeka
<unk>s not the But the size of the market honestly you touched on it, it's the proximity we were there it was a Lakers home game like let's be real It was a Lakers home game because LA is a two-hour drive ah ah You can do like you said you can confirm it and be like hey boys round it up two-hour drive or even a you know Cheap relatively cheap plane ticket if you're a man from OKC or Milwaukee like bro, that's a that's a grip right here You're spending you've been a big money to fly there.
01:22:10
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
01:22:31
Chino Onwuka
yeah
01:22:33
Emeka
So like yeah, it's tough.
01:22:33
Chino Onwuka
so
01:22:35
Emeka
I
01:22:35
Chino Onwuka
So So, yeah, I think maybe they need to think about like if they just make like a certain part of the schedule, maybe just before Christmas, after Christmas night, it's just the and NBA Cup.
01:22:47
Chino Onwuka
So everybody knows that this phase of the season, that's what everyone's focused on. Just a little tweaks. I think it's it's really great. you know Sometimes a bit confusing where, oh, it's a regular season game and an NBA Cup game at the same time.
01:23:01
Chino Onwuka
I think there's this trying to cater to the North. I think at this point, the players are really into it. So they need to move.
01:23:08
Emeka
How about you kid, baby?
01:23:09
Chino Onwuka
When you make it its own thing, you know, if if it's a little bit like, look how they get excited for March Madness, where, okay, this pure