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Daily Arsenal - S2 - E13: EFL Cup 3rd Round, Port Vale Preview! Intro
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In this episode we will looking ahead to our game in the Carabao Cup away to League One side Port Vale! Now if you want to get involved with any of our topics discussed please do get involved through our social media, which can be found in our show notes in the description.
To make a donation towards Jamie and his girlfriend taking part in the Palace for Life Marathon March click the link here to make a donation. Any donations big or small Ould be very much appreciated!
Host: Jamie Patterson
Guest: Rodney Gooden
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Transcript
00:00:06
Rodney Gooden
you.
Introduction to Daily Arsenal Podcast
00:00:14
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.
00:00:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am your host Jamie Patterson and of course I'm joined by um I'm just gonna get straight into it I'm joined by the one and only Mr Rodney Gooden.
00:00:35
Rodney Gooden
Hey,
00:00:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Rodney how you feeling man?
Preview of Carabao Cup Game Against Port Vale
00:00:38
Rodney Gooden
I'm good.
00:00:38
Rodney Gooden
I'm good. I'm looking forward to the game tomorrow in good spirits as well. I said, yeah, it's good to be here. And yeah, looking forward to hopefully seeing a stellar performance tomorrow night against Port Vale in the Carabao Cup.
00:00:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Definitely. I mean, we've had some we've had some very interesting games in the Cowbell Cup so far. I mean, just before we we started recording, actually, I really kind of had my i kind of hedged my bets a little bit that maybe Lincoln and maybe Southampton might have done something.
00:01:06
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:01:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But of course, who was I to think?
00:01:08
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:01:11
Rodney Gooden
I told you.
00:01:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because it's Liverpool and Liverpool love a late winner, don't they?
00:01:12
Rodney Gooden
I told you. Wishful thinking. Yeah, they absolutely do. But come on, guys. I said, look, again, Man United will be the only exception to this rule. I said, when it comes to the other big teams, right, back to our usual broadcasting schedule, only major upsets going to come from them.
00:01:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:28
Rodney Gooden
And of course, yeah, I think it was Forrest on the edge as well, right?
00:01:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Oh, yeah, course.
00:01:31
Rodney Gooden
ah Yeah. Forrest, unfortunately, as well.
00:01:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
course, yeah. Can't forget that now, can we?
00:01:38
Rodney Gooden
That's what I mean. So said, yeah, those are your two regular upsets. I said everything else. Nah, come on.
00:01:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everything else is just kind of...
00:01:44
Rodney Gooden
It'll be the usual run in the tournament.
00:01:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it, yeah. Until we get to, like, the quarterfinals, that's where it'll get.
00:01:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's where it looks to get quite quite juicy then, doesn't it?
00:01:50
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:01:53
Rodney Gooden
Uh-huh.
00:01:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly that. But guys, as you can't tell already, in this episode, we will be looking ahead to our game in the Carabao Cup as we travel away to League One side Port Vale.
00:02:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, as always, if you want to get involved with any of the topics discussed on the show, please do get involved through our social media, which can be found in our show notes in the description. Right, Rodney, let's like where where can we really start with this?
00:02:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because this week as an Arsenal fan has not been plain sailing, put it that way, especially leading up to Port Vale.
00:02:28
Rodney Gooden
been some bad news. oh
00:02:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we'll discuss a little bit about that later on. But how are you feeling going into this game?
Arsenal's Injury Concerns
00:02:37
Rodney Gooden
Well, I think I'm confident about the game itself, but I think the wind's been taken out my sails with recent news about our current squad. I mean, you know the score, Jamie.
00:02:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:45
Rodney Gooden
Injuries have just been plaguing this season. Similar to last season, but I think every time we have a match week, There's another bit of bad news. Another spot above her. Another player out for an extended period. And this time, it's our boy Noni Maduweke.
00:03:00
Rodney Gooden
Ugh! Devastated. Yeah.
00:03:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's honestly so devastating. And I mean, we we have spoken so highly of Noni Madweke.
00:03:05
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:03:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I've said it to you guys before, is I love how no one's talking about his price tag.
00:03:16
Rodney Gooden
yeah Well, now.
00:03:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not a single person from the media, not anyone online has spoken about his price tag.
00:03:25
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. And I think credit where credit's to due. you know There were a lot of Arsenal fans who weren't happy about that transfer. A lot of people...
00:03:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean...
00:03:30
Rodney Gooden
i remember I remember there was a petition. There was a protest against it.
00:03:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:03:33
Rodney Gooden
It was ridiculous.
00:03:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:03:34
Rodney Gooden
so
00:03:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
How could you have a petition to get a man out of the club?
00:03:38
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
00:03:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's not even...
00:03:41
Rodney Gooden
And then expect the board and Arteta and everyone else to just listen to if it gets enough signatures. Just, all right, here go, Chelsea. Sorry, we're going to renege on this deal.
00:03:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we're going to do a Sancho we're going to give Nonny Madweke
00:03:49
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Yeah.
00:03:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
we' gonna give you but we're gonna give we're gonna give nonymad weka back
00:03:55
Rodney Gooden
Unbelievable. No, no, I think, yeah, fair price for absolutely brilliant player and props to Noni. He's taking the criticism in his stride and he's coming there and putting some stellar performances for us. I, for one, am devastated that he's going to be out for a little bit of a period.
00:04:07
Rodney Gooden
I know Arteta has just done his press conference, the pre-Portvale press conference, and he said that with Noni, he needs to go have another scan to find out exactly how many weeks it might be.
00:04:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:04:16
Rodney Gooden
The length of time being touted around today is about two months. But again, depending on that scan, it could be a matter of weeks. So Reserve judgment for next week, but know that he's definitely not going to be playing against Port Vale, definitely not going to be in the running against Newcastle, but hopefully he can return to form and return to the pitch as quickly as possible.
Fixture Schedule Challenges
00:04:32
Rodney Gooden
And we wish him here at GSPN Arsenal a speedy recovery.
00:04:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, i don't want to look too far ahead to the Newcastle game, but I will put it out there. We are now coming to the peak of what has been very difficult fixture period for Arsenal.
00:04:53
Rodney Gooden
Yep.
00:04:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kind of, lets let's go back to the start the season when it was United away, you know, then it was Leeds at home, if I'm correct, before then having Forest, sorry, before then having Forest home.
00:05:02
Rodney Gooden
Yep.
00:05:08
Rodney Gooden
ye Yep.
00:05:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Was it?
00:05:09
Rodney Gooden
Then see.
00:05:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then City and then Newcastle.
00:05:11
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Yep.
00:05:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, it's it's not been the most ideal starts we could ask for.
00:05:18
Rodney Gooden
No.
00:05:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, I mean, ah again, I'm quite happy that we've got, like you know, the Liverpool away's kind of out the way early.
00:05:25
Rodney Gooden
Oh, yeah, we forgot about that one. Yeah, yeah you see how both of us repressed that, you know, as we were going through the list.
00:05:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. Massively.
00:05:32
Rodney Gooden
It was Liverpool before Forest. We just both were like blank. Yeah.
00:05:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. You know, couldn't believe it. But at the end of the day, though, at least now we're coming towards the peak of our fixtures. And I think this Port Vale, you know, the Port Vale tie has come at a good
Squad Rotation Strategy against Port Vale
00:05:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
time.
00:05:50
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:05:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, squad rotation here is what will be so important, won't it?
00:05:58
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, and we'll get to see a lot of Arsenal players that, ah in Arteta's own words, very deserving of minutes, hopefully get to see some against Port Vale as well. You know, I'm expecting to see Kepa start. It'd be lovely.
00:06:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:08
Rodney Gooden
You know, actually have a rotation in goalkeeping, give Raya a little bit of rest, get to see what Kepa's made of too. And I think there's a lot of thoughts going into that lineup, thinking about the players that we can rotate. But I know that the nonny injury is going to be a bit of a blow.
00:06:21
Rodney Gooden
I know that it's a double whammy because you know what else we heard today as well?
00:06:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Same.
00:06:24
Rodney Gooden
Piero Hincapie out for a potentially short period. With a slight groin injury. Ah! And I'm frustrated, Jamie, because this is one of my favorites in terms of the new signings.
00:06:35
Rodney Gooden
This is one was very excited about.
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
i
00:06:37
Rodney Gooden
Love watching him at Leverkusen.
00:06:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Him and Eze for me were like, that you know, him, Eze, Jokeres for me were like the, like really kind of like, yeah, the big three kind of, I sat there and was like, you know, and I even said to you guys last week after the Champions League game, I was like, I want to see Hinkapie start.
00:06:42
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. The big three, yeah. Yeah.
Impact of Piero Hincapié's Injury
00:06:55
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, yeah.
00:06:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
want to see him start.
00:06:57
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And now we're going to have to wait a little bit longer for it.
00:07:00
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, we really are. And it's a shame because I thought, yeah, this would be a perfect game for him to start. Played a full 90. See what he's made of as well. Yeah, dominant, aggressive. You know, you could see that against Bilbao as well, that six minutes that he played, man refused to lose a single duel on that touchline.
00:07:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know.
00:07:16
Rodney Gooden
I was excited to see.
00:07:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah know. And I kind of just, I sat there and I just thought to myself, we have got a beast of a player in Hincapié, haven't we?
00:07:24
Rodney Gooden
yeah Yeah, we really have.
00:07:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, I was really looking forward to seeing like a Ben White or a Timber doing an overlapping run. And then you've got like either Calafiore or a Hincapié doing an overlapping run.
00:07:37
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, mirroring it on the other side of the pitch.
00:07:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Aww.
00:07:39
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, it would have been incredible.
00:07:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Honestly, I think that's something we've been crying out for for a while on that left-hand side.
00:07:46
Rodney Gooden
Very true.
00:07:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Someone to overlap, haven't we?
00:07:48
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, yeah, we really have. And I think it unlocks, you know, whoever you want to have on that left wing. You know, Martinelli has that instinct to kind of cut in central as well. You've seen that the last couple of games where his goals have come from central runs as opposed to touchline runs too.
00:07:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes
00:08:00
Rodney Gooden
You know, Eze has similar instincts too if he's going to play on that left wing too. So you know that someone adding that width with those overlapping runs and the ability to deliver a fine-tuned cross into the box. Yeah, we need that.
00:08:11
Rodney Gooden
We need that and it will be missed.
00:08:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Absolutely. and i'm ah And honestly, you know, from all of us here at GSPN, we honestly hope Hincapié, speedy recovery and you are back ASAP because we know that you are going to be one gem of a player.
00:08:31
Rodney Gooden
Absolutely.
00:08:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely one gem of a player. But With
Port Vale's Defensive Strategy
00:08:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Port Vale, let's have a little deep dive of them as well. ah League One, as I mentioned, sitting 19th, I believe, in League One.
00:08:46
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. yeah
00:08:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, we we had a discussion but discussion about this because we wanted to do our research on Port Vale. Obviously, it's ah it's an Arsenal-based podcast, but we would like to also show little bit of respect to our opponents.
00:09:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But their formation is a very interesting formation.
00:09:06
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:09:08
Rodney Gooden
Yep.
00:09:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
how would you compact? How would you break that? How how can we try and break that down?
00:09:17
Rodney Gooden
Well, I think it's interesting because I think if you look at the last couple of seasons, mid blocks have been something we struggled with against Newcastle, against Porto and the Champions League as well. I think, yeah, definitely mid blocks are something that Arsenal as a team struggle with collectively. But in terms of how you overload them,
00:09:32
Rodney Gooden
Well, I think we've got to kind of make sure that we don't get overrun in that midfield. and We've got to make sure that we have some of those fullbacks kind of pushing up in there and making sure that we've got 5v5 in there as opposed to making it so you've got a 5v3.
00:09:43
Rodney Gooden
So this is the thing. you know and There's many things that we can do here, but we're going to have to see if we can kind of play around that, play through them as well, and make sure that we don't get bullied into that midfield. So this is it.
00:09:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think when i when i when you told me about the 3-5-2, kind of sat there and thought, hmm, this is not going to be an easy game.
00:09:58
Rodney Gooden
Hmm.
00:10:03
Rodney Gooden
No, they're not going to make it easy for us.
00:10:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not going to be an easy game. And I mean, especially with a mid ah midfield five, that's insane.
00:10:10
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:10:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like that is, I mean, how do you break that down? How do you break down ah midfield where they've got five in the midfield. How would you break that down?
00:10:26
Rodney Gooden
Well, I mean, it could come down to just Man to man, you know, you just kind of meet five for five, you know, and with those fullbacks pushing in or you let it go down to individual quality.
00:10:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:35
Rodney Gooden
And then we got to start talking about team selection as well. You know, the Everitchie Eze is amazing in tight spaces, can receive the ball on a half turn and dribble through a few players. for finding that ideal pass out to the forwards, out to the attackers.
00:10:45
Rodney Gooden
You know, you could kind of put it down to individual quality, meaning that, all right, you've got a few players in there that it doesn't matter if they're doubled up on. doesn't matter if they're getting pressed. doesn't matter. They can kind of kind of respond to that high press. They can respond to that kind of double up and on and they can actually kind of play through that.
00:10:59
Rodney Gooden
Or you can kind of sit there and say, we're going to fight firewood fire and make sure that that midfield three that won't get isolated against that five V three and then they'll having that the fullbacks come in there and kind of support them that way. There's many ways in which you can do it.
00:11:11
Rodney Gooden
What do you expect to see so tomorrow night, Jamie? What would you like to see?
00:11:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know what? I just want to see good football. I just want us to enjoy it.
00:11:20
Rodney Gooden
So individual quality then. Yeah.
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm looking at yeah um looking at the individual quality.
00:11:23
Rodney Gooden
You just, you just get to start, right? There you go.
00:11:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm looking at that individual quality. But at the same time, though, i want to see i really want to see some sort of... I'd like to see us overlap.
00:11:36
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:11:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think I think if we can really cause... I think the best way we can cause damage is just with ah with an overlap. simple and It might be simple football, but I honestly can see us doing something along them lines.
00:11:50
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:11:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And again, you look at and and look, right, we we haven't really spoken enough about our our second squad. But when you look at our second squad, you look at the calibre of players, you know, your your Christian Norgards, your, you know, you know even even if when he's fit, you know, your Hincapiers, you know, Myles Lewis Skelly.
00:11:58
Rodney Gooden
Mm.
00:12:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Could he potentially, that's, you know, could he be someone that could be shifted into that midfield role?
00:12:17
Rodney Gooden
absolutely you
00:12:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, it's, again, the the second team looks scary enough.
00:12:24
Rodney Gooden
know
00:12:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And what's even more comforting is, if we can go out there, play, you know, play your players and still have an equally strong but bench with the like with the likes of potentially maybe a Jochrez or, you know, Saka or, um you know, Saliba on the bench or Gabriel even.
00:12:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, Calafiore, that is honestly, even just looking at that bench alone, it that is just mind blown.
00:12:54
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:12:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely mind blown, isn't it?
00:12:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
But i just, but I just honestly, go on.
00:12:58
Rodney Gooden
No, true. So, no, no, no. I was going to say, I was echoing your point. I said so much depth, so much quality as well. You've got plenty of rotational options and it does mean that you can allow Arteta to be a bit more brave, you know, tactically in this game to, you know, rotate kind of offer a lot of players that don't get minutes opportunities here, knowing that you've got at least five substitutions to cover with your usual starters.
00:13:19
Rodney Gooden
If you know you make the wrong choice, you can be brave. You can be kind of experiment with this game, too, because you do have that depth on the bench to say that, OK, if the game doesn't go our way, if there is a misplay here and there, you can cover your bases in the second half, much like we saw in the City game as well.
00:13:33
Rodney Gooden
You can fix it in post because we have that level of quality, that kind of robust array of characteristics and amazing players where to choose from.
00:13:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, definitely.
00:13:41
Rodney Gooden
so yeah, we can do it.
00:13:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I absolutely agree. I think we've got, we've we've honestly got such a good squad and I know we've been really unfortunate with with injuries left, right and centre, but but
00:13:52
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, the the one thing I kind of really pointed out on from last season is resilience.
00:13:59
Rodney Gooden
Hmm.
00:13:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, it seems like mental the a mentality thing is what seems to be lacking from last season and maybe even the season before.
00:14:07
Rodney Gooden
yeah.
00:14:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But when I go into like games now where, OK, yes, it's not great hearing that we've got these injuries. I do sit there now thinking, well, OK, you know what? We have got X, Y, Z players that can come in and and perform in that similar role.
00:14:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But again, are you are you worried at all? Despite all the injuries we've got, are you you worried at all?
00:14:29
Rodney Gooden
I'm more so worried about the frequency of the injuries and how often they keep occurring, as opposed to whether I think Arsenal have a squad that can go in there and comfortably see out the away game to Port Vale and the away game to Newcastle this weekend.
00:14:44
Rodney Gooden
I think currently with the manpower and depth that we have, I think those games, you know, very close by the ones on the near horizon, I think are fine.
00:14:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:51
Rodney Gooden
I do worry that if we keep having the situation where we almost have like a one in one out policy, Saka has just returned to fitness, Nonny's out. You know, I think if that keeps happening, especially if you actually start to have one where you're unlucky with that overlap, Saka isn't quite ready and then Nonny's out.
00:14:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:15:05
Rodney Gooden
And then you actually start having to play, you know, a downman or kind of move like Martinelli over to one side and then have a truss out out there.
00:15:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:15:11
Rodney Gooden
When you start having to kind of stop gap in the way that we were last season, I think that's when it becomes a problem. So am I worried about tomorrow's game and the games in the near future? No, but I am worried because I do feel that the issue with Arsenal's injuries is one that probably needs looking at. We need to maybe start having a look at how we train as a squad collectively. Are we training too hard? Are we training too intensely?
00:15:30
Rodney Gooden
What's going on in the matches? you know Can the physio team maybe do a bit more for these players? Are they being overloaded? Do their minutes need to be managed more? I think there could be something here because it is happening. And I know that teams deal with injuries all the time, but for Arsenal for two seasons, it's been quite a consistent problem.
00:15:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, of course.
00:15:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
It has.
00:15:45
Rodney Gooden
So maybe that does need addressing.
00:15:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely. But yeah, I mean, it's going to be really interesting to see how we how we kind of cope, ah especially during the next month or two, as obviously, you know, we've still got no Odegaard, there's no Kai Havertz.
00:16:01
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:16:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we'll we'll discuss a little bit about that a little bit later on. But join us after the break as we continue to look ahead to this third round tie. And I also kind of want to speak a little bit about your potential starting XI's. Who would you start? And just to kind of deep dive into this game. So join us after the break.
00:16:44
Rodney Gooden
you.
00:17:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And welcome back to this second part of the Port Vale preview, as I am joined by the amazing Rodney Gooden. Rodney, let's have a look. ah Let's have a look at a little bit more ah deep diving into this into this game.
00:17:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, it's the third round of the EFL Cup. And again, how do you think Arsenal will, you know, what kind of team do you really think Arsenal will put out ahead of this game?
00:17:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, and maybe even going on into and into like maybe future rounds, providing obviously we can ah get through Port Vale. um You know, how do you see us kind of progressing with teams, um you know, and starting 11s, going into the EFL Cup?
Midfield Options for Port Vale Game
00:17:44
Rodney Gooden
I think with this one, I think you've got luxury to kind of really rotate the squad and let some of those minutes, as I said earlier, of players who are not really getting them finally kind of get their full 90s here. So this is definitely a game in which players like Kepa, you know, absolutely deserve to play the full 90 here, give David Raya a rest.
00:17:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:18:01
Rodney Gooden
I actually do want to see that some of our usual starting 11 who tend to play, again, a lot of football, constantly being bench picked for that starting 11 week in, week out. I like to see them be able to take a back seat this game, sit on the bench, have them a little bit of a rest.
00:18:13
Rodney Gooden
allow us to really rotate and potentially play around with, you know, certain roles that maybe we've thought about, you know, and but we can't really test against a Man City, against Liverpool, you know, in the big high states games too.
00:18:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:18:24
Rodney Gooden
If we had the manpower and personnel, you know, Mars Lewis-Gelly in that kind of left-sided eight position would be something I would like to actually have a look at this game. I don't know if we can do that because of the Piero and Capier injury as well.
00:18:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:18:34
Rodney Gooden
I don't know because then you've got to kind of have a think about, do you want to play Calafiore at that left-back position? Calafiore, as we already know, was made of glass last season. So I said, do you really want to play him?
00:18:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
e
00:18:43
Rodney Gooden
Because he's going to be crucial. If Capier is out for a little while, we need him to be a starting left back. And I know Miles is robust, but it looks like we're probably going to be playing Miles in that Port Vale game as opposed to maybe having a look and seeing, all right, can Miles kind of cover Declan Rice there? I would like to see it.
00:18:57
Rodney Gooden
You know, get him some experience, get him some minutes in the midfielder because even Arteta acknowledges that Miles is a midfielder by trade. You see it in the skillset he has, the way he drives into the midfield, his composure on the ball.
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:19:07
Rodney Gooden
I think that the future of Miles Lewis-Gellier at Arsenal is in that midfield. And I would like to start seeing that process started in a game like this.
00:19:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, of course. I absolutely agree. I mean, ah before before we heard about the injury news to Hincapié and to Noni and so on, I kind of sat there and thought, you know what?
00:19:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, for me, I thought, yeah, you give Myles Lewis-Skelly an opportunity to go and shine out in midfield. You know, give the likes of Max Dalman an opportunity, play Kepa.
00:19:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I feel like now, after hearing all the news, I just feel like there are going to be tweaks made.
00:19:46
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:19:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
There are going to be some big tweaks made. So you've obviously said that you'd have Kepa in goal. Who would your back four be?
00:19:55
Rodney Gooden
Back four. Okay, so I'm thinking we'll have MLS in there as well.
00:19:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:20:00
Rodney Gooden
Arteta's even said that his performances have been good, but naturally, you know, you pick the right player for the occasion.
00:20:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah?
00:20:05
Rodney Gooden
Calafiore's having an incredible season too. The frame, the profile, the experience as well.
00:20:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
course.
00:20:09
Rodney Gooden
I said, naturally, he's going to be the starting choice, you know, going into those big games in the Prem. Right now, I'm thinking this is a great opportunity to give Miles his minutes, make sure he maintains that match fitness. And again, I'm thinking very, very solid choice in the left back position. So that's going to be my starting left back.
00:20:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:20:23
Rodney Gooden
The problem is when we get to the rest of the back four as well.
00:20:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:26
Rodney Gooden
I really wanted Piero Hincapié to be fit for this game because I wanted to see him start.
00:20:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Same.
00:20:33
Rodney Gooden
The problem is that he's not, which means oh my left side is center back. It's going to have to be Gabriel. But I wanted to rotate Gabriel because Gabriel plays football every week.
00:20:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he does. He honestly does. And it seems like it's going to be like that.
00:20:45
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. And he's recovering or he's he's he's recently come back from a hamstring injury as well, you know, because he was playing too much football.
00:20:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:52
Rodney Gooden
So this this was a game I really wanted him not to play.
00:20:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly.
00:20:57
Rodney Gooden
But when you see the rest of my starting lineup, you also got to factor in if Odegaard still isn't available to play. Somebody's got wear that armband. And I trust it to Gabriel. So if you can't if he has to play due to lack of manpower, then I'm probably going to put Gabriel as my starting left side, as center back, giving the captain's armband as well.
00:21:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, of course. Yeah.
00:21:14
Rodney Gooden
Although I really would like to see him rest. you know On the right-hand side, i think this one gets tough. Because I think what you could do is you could play Saliba because he is coming back from injury and you might need the minutes.
00:21:26
Rodney Gooden
However, Mascara has been solid.
00:21:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:29
Rodney Gooden
And with a fully fit c Saliba, how many minutes is Mascara going to get? So there's an argument for Mascara as the right-sided centre-back. But there's also an argument for kind of killing two birds with one stone.
00:21:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
course.
00:21:39
Rodney Gooden
You reward Mascara for the amazing performances early in the season and acknowledging that Saliba is just coming out from injury.
00:21:46
Rodney Gooden
You maybe kind of give him the minutes as well. you want to play Mascara on the left side and then Saliba on the right? This is where it gets a bit difficult.
00:21:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
really does.
00:21:55
Rodney Gooden
So I'm going to put it over to you. What do you think for the centre-back pairing?
00:21:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
the
00:21:58
Rodney Gooden
Because I'm leaning towards Gabriel Mascara, but I could easily go Mascara Saliba.
00:22:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
i
00:22:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know what? it has to For me, i would go i would personally go, this is actually such a...
00:22:17
Rodney Gooden
why This is why I said it gets tough.
00:22:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, this is something. It really does get tough.
00:22:21
Rodney Gooden
The hincapié injury, yeah, threw everything, put spanner in the works.
00:22:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean...
00:22:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah absolutely.
00:22:25
Rodney Gooden
It was supposed to be hincapié mascara.
00:22:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:22:27
Rodney Gooden
That was supposed to be the choice.
00:22:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and the thing is, right, I think with Saliba, we we saw him play against City.
00:22:34
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:22:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And my kind of thought process behind that is if were if I didn't see him play against City, i would have started him. But I think for me now seeing him start against City, I'm kind of like, well, we need to we need to be rewarding.
00:22:42
Rodney Gooden
I see, yeah.
00:22:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
We need to be rewarding Mascara.
00:22:50
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:22:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I would go Gabriela Mascara.
00:22:53
Rodney Gooden
Gabrielle Mascara. Fair enough.
00:22:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:54
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. That's what I'm leaning towards as well.
00:22:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I also think as well, I mean, as much as I'd like to see, it I would love to see a Mascara and Mascara. and Saliba, because then at least then he's got the experience of playing alongside both of them.
00:23:04
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:23:09
Rodney Gooden
Both of them. Yeah.
00:23:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's like, at least then it's, you know, one of them things where you could have, you could have obviously Gabrielle and Saliba starting together, but then it's like, oh, okay, well we can do Saliba and, you know, we can do Saliba and Mosquera and we'd we'd be fine.
00:23:11
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:23:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And vice versa.
00:23:23
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:23:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And also the same goes for, you know, Gabrielle and Mosquera. Do you know what mean? so For me, I would have that centre-back pairing of Mosquera and Gabriel.
00:23:33
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Nice. Agreed. And then I think for the right back, I think the obvious choice is it's got to be Benny Blanco. We got to let Ben White come in there and actually get some minutes.
00:23:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, absolutely. another one Another one that needs minutes because, you know, i don't want to see Timber be overused. And I...
00:23:49
Rodney Gooden
No, no, no. he's He's also so good. I can't risk another...
00:23:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is so good.
00:23:53
Rodney Gooden
I can't risk another ACL.
00:23:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, absolutely not. Absolutely not. I refuse it. I refuse it.
00:23:58
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, protect that man's knees, please.
00:24:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Please, please let them stay, let them stay fit. Let them stay fit all year round and all season round. I'm telling you.
00:24:09
Rodney Gooden
Absolutely.
00:24:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, I think for me, Ben White has got to be, got to be starting because he will be someone that will want to overlap.
00:24:17
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:24:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
He will be someone that will want to overlap to go and give support to whoever plays on the right.
00:24:22
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:24:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah. And I think if you can give him the minutes, give him the minutes and let him, if he can play a full 90, I'd be absolutely beyond grateful. Very grateful he could play 90 minutes because then it makes me think, oh, okay, then, you know, maybe for, I don't know, say, for example, West Ham at the Emirates could maybe give him some minutes there.
00:24:41
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:24:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, we need to start building his minutes back up again because we all know that Ben White is one for the future and,
00:24:46
Rodney Gooden
Absolutely, yeah.
00:24:51
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:24:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Unfortunately, injuries plagued him.
00:24:54
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. From last season to the start of this season as well, I said, yeah, it's been difficult.
00:24:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Injuries really plagued him.
00:24:59
Rodney Gooden
But if we know he's fit for this game, I would really love to see Ben White play as well. the Same situation. I want him to be in peak form, you know. It it will help his chances of getting selected into that English squad as well.
00:25:10
Rodney Gooden
He said in the past that now he wants to play.
00:25:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:11
Rodney Gooden
He's ready to be selected again. He needs minutes to find that form and then hopefully achieve those dreams too. So yes, let Ben White play.
00:25:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely.
00:25:18
Rodney Gooden
I'm confident in him as a starting right back for this game. So yeah.
00:25:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely, yeah. No, I agree.
00:25:23
Rodney Gooden
Hmm.
00:25:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we've we've kind of decided on that on the back four now and the goalkeeper. So let's move up into the midfield now because this will not be easy.
00:25:29
Rodney Gooden
Ooh.
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who are you having as your midfield three?
00:25:35
Rodney Gooden
Ooh, I think it's got to be...
00:25:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
One player for me. what There's one player that just... <unk>s There's no argument for me. There's one player that has to start for me.
00:25:43
Rodney Gooden
Go on. Yeah, who is it?
00:25:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nor God.
00:25:47
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, yeah, yeah, same.
00:25:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
there's no There's no argument there, is there?
00:25:50
Rodney Gooden
I was like, yeah, yeah, of course. Zooby-dooby-doo, you need a rest, all right? Let Norgard play.
00:25:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely.
00:25:54
Rodney Gooden
Come on, man.
00:25:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. And the thing is, right, with Norgard, he had a good pre-season.
00:26:00
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, he did.
00:26:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
He really did have a good pre-season.
00:26:01
Rodney Gooden
Scored as well. Remember that, yeah?
00:26:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I like ah really do want to see him play. And I really hope that he will get maybe, even if he got 70 minutes out there, I'd be very i'd be very happy with that.
00:26:11
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:26:14
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. And also another trait as well is it's the experience too. part of the reason why Andrea Berta chose him, you know, to be that kind of like party replacement or that kind of cover in a way was because of his experience, you know, captaining Brentford, that kind of composure, that seasoned veteran status.
00:26:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:26:29
Rodney Gooden
And I think when you've got a very heavily rotated side that might not be used to playing together, someone that can help that cohesion and with leadership qualities in addition to Gabriel, if he plays too, I think, yeah, very, very valuable. not just being a solid CDM here, but also that kind of experience, that ability to read the game, you know, and really kind of dictate the field as a leader.
00:26:45
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, that would be very useful in a game like this.
00:26:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Agree.
00:26:48
Rodney Gooden
So, yeah.
00:26:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I absolutely agree.
00:26:48
Rodney Gooden
So, yeah. So, starting six, Norgaard. Now, this is where it gets dicey, all right? The two left-sided... Well, two left and right-sided number eights. What are we thinking? Because I'm thinking Ethan Wignerri has got to play on the right-hand side.
00:27:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. ah Yeah.
00:27:03
Rodney Gooden
On the left...
00:27:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you
00:27:05
Rodney Gooden
Again, we had more cover defensively, I'd love to put Miles in there. Ethan and Miles would be incredible, but I don't think we have the personnel for that.
00:27:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know what? Honestly, that would...
00:27:13
Rodney Gooden
So I think it's got to be Mikel Marina. Yeah.
00:27:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. ah For me... just Yeah, I mean, look, there's no excuse now. Rice isn't there. So I would, yeah, I mean, you give give Rice a rest.
00:27:26
Rodney Gooden
yeah Yeah, of course.
00:27:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know he didn't play, what game he not play? Forrest. Well, he didn't start against Forrest, did he?
00:27:38
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, yeah, you came one second off for that, yeah.
00:27:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's it. So I would, I'd give Mourinho a full 90.
00:27:45
Rodney Gooden
Yep.
00:27:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
we'd give him a full 90 because they may be going into Newcastle. We can then switch it up.
00:27:52
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:27:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would go Marino.
00:27:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know what? Yeah, I'd go Marino and, um, um not miles and, uh, Ethan one,
00:28:04
Rodney Gooden
Fair enough. I mean, worst comes to the worst, you could do something quite rogue. You could substitute Marina for Calafiori and then have them swap with Miles later if you really needed to.
00:28:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know what?
00:28:13
Rodney Gooden
You could actually give that experiment a little bit of legs.
00:28:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
What?
00:28:15
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:28:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's something I'd like to see.
00:28:17
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:28:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Say if it was in the hour mark, I'd happily support that for half an hour.
00:28:21
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, yeah.
00:28:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why not?
00:28:22
Rodney Gooden
I could see it. Yeah, let Miles play a half hour left for eight. That would be quite cool.
00:28:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
is then Because then again, going back to, again, versatility, it would work so well, wouldn't it?
00:28:33
Rodney Gooden
I think so. And also, there's just something nice about the two Hellen graduates playing side by side.
00:28:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, You read my mind there.
00:28:38
Rodney Gooden
And they're best mates as well. ah If that works, you love to see it.
00:28:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
You read my mind. That would... Oh... I can't unsee it now.
00:28:47
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, yeah. I think that would be fun.
00:28:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
can't unsee it.
00:28:48
Rodney Gooden
Just once so I want to see Ethan and Miles play right next to each other.
00:28:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mikel, Mikel Arteta, if you're listening to this podcast, please, please heavily, all in caps, heavily consider your two Hellen graduates because that would be amazing.
00:28:51
Rodney Gooden
That would fun.
00:29:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you in advance.
00:29:09
Rodney Gooden
but
00:29:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah we'll see if We'll see if that comes true tomorrow
Speculation on Attacking Lineup
00:29:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
night. um let's move Let's move further up the field now. Let's go into our into our attackers. For me, I'm going Trossard.
00:29:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Trossard for me, i would have to start.
00:29:28
Rodney Gooden
Okay, but where though?
00:29:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would rest. I wouldn't rest Martinelli, but I would maybe bring him on towards the end of the game.
00:29:34
Rodney Gooden
Okay, but where? So you're saying left wing, Trussard starts. Because, you know, he can play across the front three. So there's an argument. know, you could do Trossard center forward, Trossard left wing, Trossard right wing.
00:29:46
Rodney Gooden
You What do you think?
00:29:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know what? now Now you've put it in that perspective, I'm going to go Trossard in the middle.
00:29:53
Rodney Gooden
Okay, Trossard center forward. Okay, fair enough.
00:29:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And then right wing.
00:29:57
Rodney Gooden
Fair enough.
00:30:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd probably give... I'd give it to Saka, actually.
00:30:04
Rodney Gooden
Really? You start Saka?
00:30:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would... Only because we need to build we need to build his fitness up
00:30:11
Rodney Gooden
This is the same guy who was complaining about starting Saka in Bolton Carabao Cup last season.
00:30:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:30:16
Rodney Gooden
I remember that. This is the same guy, ladies and gentlemen. And now he's co-signing it.
00:30:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, you're never going to let this down, are you?
00:30:29
Rodney Gooden
No, no, no.
00:30:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah not
00:30:30
Rodney Gooden
I understand. I think the one difference here is that last season, I think Saka was perfectly fit.
00:30:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go on.
00:30:36
Rodney Gooden
And I think starting him against Bolton was unnecessary. But this one, you know, he's coming back from injury.
00:30:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:41
Rodney Gooden
He probably does need to build his minutes up. He only seemed fit for a 45 against City, so I can see a reason for it.
00:30:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:47
Rodney Gooden
But me, I start Max. Let Max Dalman start.
00:30:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:51
Rodney Gooden
And Saka can come on for him if it's not working.
00:30:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's good.
00:30:54
Rodney Gooden
I'd do that.
00:30:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Another good shout there. i think I think with Max Dalman, though, you you've got to start him because, again, he probably may not get minutes against Newcastle.
00:31:04
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, do you think he's going to start again in the rest of the season?
00:31:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
You could give him minutes against West Ham.
00:31:07
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:31:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, and do you know what? If he could bag an assist or even score, that will be brownie points in Arteta's book.
00:31:12
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely amazing. Yeah.
00:31:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
That will be brownie points.
00:31:20
Rodney Gooden
I think so.
00:31:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i could I could... I'd support that, actually. Yeah.
00:31:23
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:31:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go on, then. We'll give Sakharov...
00:31:24
Rodney Gooden
Okay. Max, Max down and start. And then, yeah.
00:31:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Max Almond starts. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:31:27
Rodney Gooden
And then Saka can come on a bit later if we need. Yeah.
00:31:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know, actually. I'd probably maybe give Max the 490 now, I think.
00:31:34
Rodney Gooden
I'd like to see you Max play the full 90.
00:31:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would like to...
00:31:36
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:31:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, we haven't seen a 490 from Max, but...
00:31:39
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, but he's he's young too. And again, it's like, you know, he's playing in the big leagues now. So I think, oh, if he plays 60, 70 and he starts to struggle, i can understand like rotate. But if he can play the full 19, he's got the ability and he's comfortable.
00:31:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:31:51
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, it'd be great.
00:31:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Absolutely. And then in the middle for you, who i mean, I said Trossard up top.
00:31:56
Rodney Gooden
Oh, so this is it. like i You said Trossard. I was going to go rogue.
00:32:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:01
Rodney Gooden
I was going to put Trossard on the left wing and I was going to put Martinelli down in the middle. of
00:32:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ooh.
00:32:05
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:32:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, i can understand why you're saying that because of obviously what happened against City. You know, the little darting run into the middle and and the lob over Dunaroma.
00:32:16
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:32:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:17
Rodney Gooden
I said, sometimes you watch Martinelli play in those instincts for those central runs. I thought, yeah, you know what? Just if there's a game to experiment, maybe. I think he's played there for Brazil too. Yeah, he's been all right there.
00:32:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:27
Rodney Gooden
So I thought, oh, you know what? Fine.
00:32:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I also think to myself as well, maybe maybe for Martinelli now, he's not someone that wants to take on players. He's someone that wants to try and exploit space.
00:32:36
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Exploit space, receive the ball quickly, two touch, bang.
00:32:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:40
Rodney Gooden
And I thought, right, if he plays more centrally, we might see a bit more of that.
00:32:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
That could work.
00:32:45
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:32:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I could see that working Yeah.
00:32:46
Rodney Gooden
And I trust Trussell on the left-hand side because I go, while he's not quite as quick, ball IQ, ability to disguise his shots as well. And again, he's got that tendency to either play down the touchline or cut in centrally.
00:32:56
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, Trussell's a very solid option in that type of game. So he's got the kit for it.
00:32:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, definitely.
00:33:01
Rodney Gooden
That my pick.
00:33:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, that that's some solid picks there. Absolutely solid picks, in my opinion. But, guys, we'd like to hear your thoughts, actually. Let us know what you think of of our of our starting XI. Would you change anything in particular? Because would be good to know. So get involved and let us know your thoughts.
00:33:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
In the meantime, we're going to go to an ad break. And when we come back, we are, as much as it's all fun and games... We do need to address the elephant in the room and that is injuries.
00:33:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
So join us after the break as we will be talking about our list of injuries.
00:34:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And welcome back to this third and final part of our Port Vale preview. Rodney, let's address the elephant in the room.
Current Injury Crisis at Arsenal
00:34:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it is injuries because it just feels like we can't catch a break, can we?
00:34:29
Rodney Gooden
It really does,
00:34:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
let's let's go through Let's go through the list of injuries as it is right now. So, we've got no Kai Havertz. We've got no Odegaard.
00:34:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
can cat We've now found out about Hincapié and Madweke now.
00:34:47
Rodney Gooden
And Maduweke. Still no Jesus.
00:34:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Still no J... Oh my gosh. It's scarier and scarier.
00:34:57
Rodney Gooden
Yep.
00:34:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um No Jesus. Have I missed anyone else out?
00:35:04
Rodney Gooden
No, I think that is pretty much it. so Kai Havertz, Gabi Jesus, Noni Maduweke, Piero Hincapie, Odegaard potentially, and then also...
00:35:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:35:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jesus.
00:35:18
Rodney Gooden
No, did I say Jesus? Yeah, yeah. So I think that's it.
00:35:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ah.
00:35:20
Rodney Gooden
So we got we got at least least five to six injuries, you know. A couple of regulars are not out.
00:35:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Five. six Five to six injuries, roughly.
00:35:26
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:35:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not looking good.
00:35:29
Rodney Gooden
No, no, not.
00:35:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
well But the thing is, though, despite us saying it's not looking good, there's not a lot of fear amongst the Arsenal amongst the arsen fan base, is there?
00:35:41
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, well, I think similar to what was saying earlier, I think the one-in-one-out policy is quite funny to watch sometimes, but I think we'd be panicking a bit more if Nani had the issue with his knee before Saka had come back to play that 45 against City.
00:35:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:35:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:35:53
Rodney Gooden
I think that could have been, dear, you know, now we're a bit short in the attack as well. I think now that Saka's come back, you want to wrap him in bubble wrap and you don't really want to play him too much. But at least we do have our first choice right winger who's just returned to fitness.
00:36:05
Rodney Gooden
And hopefully, fingers crossed, you've got Noni coming back in a matter of weeks and not months. I think the Kai Havertz situation is a bit worrying, especially because with Victor Yokarez, I know he's big, bulky, robust as well. But I do worry if something happens to Victor.
00:36:18
Rodney Gooden
Are we playing Marino at number nine again? I'm i'm just saying.
00:36:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh. Dear
00:36:23
Rodney Gooden
Because that's our only fit striker right now. We've got Kai Havertz and Jesus. Double whammy. So that's not ideal.
00:36:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:36:29
Rodney Gooden
At least.
00:36:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's... It's... You know, why why do I get flashbacks of last season all over again?
00:36:37
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Although I think it is the same as last season. But the difference between last season and this one is we just have more options this time. That's why we can be a bit more confident.
00:36:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Absolutely.
00:36:45
Rodney Gooden
Last season it was right. Havertz is out. You got nobody. You've got Havertz and Jesus out.
00:36:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:36:50
Rodney Gooden
You've got absolutely nobody. You've just got to start putting wingers playing down. Wingers and infielders playing centre-forward. Now, at least, we've got one fit centre-forward. You know, we've got that option. We can rotate now. We've got a decent chunk of wingers.
00:37:01
Rodney Gooden
Even if Saka wasn't fit, we could be giving Max Downman first-team minutes, which, you know, or we could put Ethan Waniere down there on the right wing too, but I quite like him as the Odegaard cover. With Odegaard as well, there might be one bit of positive news because I did have a look at the press conference from Mikel, and Mikel did say that Odegaard is back in training. He doesn't need surgery for the shoulder.
00:37:20
Rodney Gooden
There could be a chance that we actually see him play against Port Vale.
00:37:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
goodness. Do
00:37:23
Rodney Gooden
But for now, I'm not expected to see him in the 11. I'm thinking Newcastle. Yeah. Okay.
00:37:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know what? In all fairness, if we are going to see Odegaard back against Newcastle, I'd want him subbed on.
00:37:37
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:37:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd want him subbed on for the last 15 to 20 minutes, just so that he can get, just so he can get ah feel you know, of the ball and kind of just get a feel of being back in that kind of rhythm.
00:37:41
Rodney Gooden
okay
00:37:49
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, yeah. I quite like that. I like to kind of yeah do that with most of the injuries.
00:37:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
If, if you can't, if you can't get him back for for Newcastle, West Ham, but not starting though, I would, I'd bring him on against West Ham.
00:37:54
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:38:01
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Okay.
00:38:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Have we got champion? Wait, have we got champions league that week? Actually, we might have champions league that week.
00:38:08
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, we might actually.
00:38:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Olympiacos, yeah. Olympiacos at the Emirates before West Ham.
00:38:13
Rodney Gooden
Oh, wow. Okay.
00:38:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
That could be very interesting as well.
00:38:16
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. But I do feel that like man Martin shouldn't be out for an extended period of time. As we said, no shoulder.
00:38:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:38:22
Rodney Gooden
Well, no, no surgery necessary. So I think if it was me up to me, I'd say leave it for this next game.
00:38:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely.
00:38:28
Rodney Gooden
I think it's far more important to have him back for Newcastle because we know that St. James's Park is a very difficult game, but I'm expecting.
00:38:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:38:35
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:38:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:38:37
Rodney Gooden
but Yeah, but it's true, you know, and I think.
00:38:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, you are absolutely spot on with that.
00:38:40
Rodney Gooden
And I think to to talk about injuries again, I do feel that it is something that we need to kind of have a think about as well.
00:38:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:38:45
Rodney Gooden
It is happening a bit too often. We've now got the depth to cover it, but I'd like to see less injuries to our starting XI, you know, happening as frequently as they currently are.
00:38:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
e
00:38:54
Rodney Gooden
I don't know what could be done. For the ones that happen in matches, I think maybe there is nothing to be done about that. But for Piero, getting involved in training, you know, I think, yeah, I think that one, is it an issue with training?
00:39:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:39:05
Rodney Gooden
Is it an issue that the team can look at? I understand that training needs to be very intense to simulate, you know the reactions and techniques that players need to utilize under pressure in a game. But when you think about some of the injuries that we've had to undergo in training, Mikel Moreno, shoulder to fracture.
00:39:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:39:22
Rodney Gooden
Kai Havertz, hamstring. Fierro Hencafier, groin injury.
00:39:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Literally.
00:39:26
Rodney Gooden
Some of these injuries in training have been diabolical.
00:39:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
They have been. They really have been.
Arteta's Training Methods and Injuries
00:39:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
i was actually going to ask you, I mean, does Arteta's training regime need to come under questioning? Because...
00:39:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, yes, we get it. Teams have their injuries from time to time.
00:39:47
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:39:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it seems like for Arsenal, it seems to be a repeated occasion.
00:39:53
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:39:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whether it's training, whether it's matches, does Arteta's training regime need to be studied? Because look, for the last, what, three seasons now, we've had some significant injuries.
00:40:01
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:40:04
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:40:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like last, we took we take a look back at last season, hamstring injuries, you know, Does it need to be a thing of Arteta's training regimes need to be a bit more looked into?
00:40:18
Rodney Gooden
I mean, without being there at London Colony or sober now.
00:40:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:40:23
Rodney Gooden
ah But without being there and having eyes on.
00:40:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. That's it.
00:40:26
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, don't forget.
00:40:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:40:27
Rodney Gooden
Don't forget.
00:40:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:40:29
Rodney Gooden
Brand new name.
00:40:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
brand New name. It's not London Colney. It's the Sober Reality Centre.
00:40:36
Rodney Gooden
But this is what Without having eyes in at sober, like we can't really tell, you know, how intense those training sessions are, whether they need to be lowered, you know, whether lowering the intensity of those training sessions might protect players but weaken their performance in an actual match.
00:40:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:40:49
Rodney Gooden
I think what actually might be the case is, you know, that most managers do this on a regular basis. They have their favorites, their favorites, their top choice starting 11s. They play the most minutes.
00:40:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:40:58
Rodney Gooden
And don't forget, we know with Arsenal, how many of our starting 11 play international minutes for their countries as well?
00:41:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, of course.
00:41:05
Rodney Gooden
huh
00:41:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, we
00:41:05
Rodney Gooden
With new fixtures, the new Champions League format, you know, you've got international friendlies, the World Cup coming up as well, the World Cup qualifiers, club World Cups.
00:41:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:41:13
Rodney Gooden
I said, there's a lot of football that's being played and every team's got to deal with it. And I think this might mean that The kind of protocol going forward for the strongest teams in terms of keeping players fit would actually be having a ah team of 25 outfield players that can be rotated with very little quality because it means that then it really is just about managing minutes.
00:41:33
Rodney Gooden
It's Declan Rice is playing too many minutes. That's why he's injured. It might not be any issues with training. It's just too much football in general. You need to have a kind of backup option that rotates in the Premier League. in addition to just playing the cup games as well.
00:41:45
Rodney Gooden
And I think what we do as Arsenal is we rotate for the cup games, but every week, week in, week out for the big competitions, the same 11 players are usually playing. And I think that's why you start to see injuries to them because they're playing just too much football.
00:41:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:41:57
Rodney Gooden
So it might be a problem with the game and how it's framed today, you know, as opposed to, oh, the training that's going on behind closed doors. I think it's just the pressures of being a modern day football player in today's game.
00:42:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:42:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, it's a good point you make, actually. And and the thing is, as well, right, is the fact that Rodri spoke about this, I believe, about potentially players going out on strike.
00:42:16
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, he did.
00:42:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And my my thing is, right,
00:42:20
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:42:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can understand that. I can understand players striking. But why hasn't it been continued? It kind of was spoken about and now it's got very quiet.
00:42:35
Rodney Gooden
As in as it player striking?
00:42:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:42:38
Rodney Gooden
ah Because I think, you know the school with this, Jamie, football, there's too much money in it and there's too much competition as well.
00:42:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course. it Money talks at the end of the day, doesn't it?
00:42:44
Rodney Gooden
Exactly. If a player goes on strike, there's so much risk that player risks himself getting blacklisted, risk not playing for his club. And he knows that there's a replacement in mind, whether it's at the club or shortly to be acquired in the transfer window.
00:42:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:42:57
Rodney Gooden
So players going on strike, it's the it would only be an effective measure if multiple players did it en masse. And I think it's going to be very hard to organize and it would be a really, really difficult thing.
00:43:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cool.
00:43:08
Rodney Gooden
And too many players don't want to risk their positions, their livelihoods, their salaries, you know, the love of the fans, the trust of the manager.
00:43:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:43:14
Rodney Gooden
I think it's a really, really difficult thing. So you can only hope that maybe, know, UEFA, FIFA, all of these kind of legislative bodies going forward with all of these tournaments and competitions would reduce the number of fixtures. But because it's heavily incentivized to kind of keep having more and more of them, it's unlikely.
00:43:30
Rodney Gooden
So you can only hope that higher quality teams, better advancements in the medical industry, you know, better advancements in physios, care, player recovery.
00:43:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:43:39
Rodney Gooden
You can only hope that that catches up to the increased schedule to make it so that, yeah, it can be sustainable.
00:43:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. You could not have said it any better. At the end of the day, we need somewhere we need something where, at the end of the day, that there's not going to really be a middle ground, unfortunately, because...
00:43:57
Rodney Gooden
no
00:43:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
The games keep upping. You know, again, you mentioned it, the Champions League format keeps increasing, you know, is now increased.
00:44:06
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:44:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, internet you've got the international breaks that come into play.
00:44:09
Rodney Gooden
Yep.
00:44:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, yes, you do get that period from, say, November through to, I believe, what, May?
00:44:19
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:44:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Roughly May or March, something like that.
00:44:21
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:44:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
March or April, one of the two, where you get no international football. But... It does take a lot out on players.
00:44:30
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:44:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And realistically, the recovery period as well from, say, the last game of the season through to preseason really isn't that long, is it?
00:44:39
Rodney Gooden
No, no, it's like about, what, six, six weeks?
00:44:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
eight Yeah, I was about to say six weeks as well.
00:44:42
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:44:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's about to say six weeks.
00:44:46
Rodney Gooden
No.
00:44:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And again, it doesn't seem like we'll find any sort of middle ground to to solve this.
00:44:52
Rodney Gooden
No. Yeah, I know. And I think that's the only option is going to be having bigger squads, but bigger squads come with bigger costs and more unhappy players who aren't playing regular football, which is the condition to go out there and play for your country as well.
00:45:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:45:06
Rodney Gooden
So said, yeah, it ends up being a, it's been difficult.
00:45:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:45:09
Rodney Gooden
and The future might be that a lot of clubs have to start moving like Chelsea.
00:45:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Definitely.
00:45:12
Rodney Gooden
Having 40 players.
00:45:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:45:15
Rodney Gooden
and That might be the only way to make it sustainable. And I don't think a lot of those players will be too happy either. So it's going be tough.
00:45:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. Give them long-term contracts. Yeah.
00:45:22
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, yeah. 10-year contracts.
00:45:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ten-year contracts.
00:45:23
Rodney Gooden
Nah, but
00:45:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, you know the rest. Yep. That's it. And then And then after four years of their contracts, they they wouldn't want to really kind of be part of it all, would they? That's where it doesn't look good for us then.
00:45:37
Rodney Gooden
but
00:45:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Telling you.
00:45:39
Rodney Gooden
But I do think that in terms of managing the increased schedule and the difficulties, how we've done business this summer has
Arsenal's Summer Business Impact
00:45:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:45:45
Rodney Gooden
definitely made Arsenal more sustainable as an enterprise.
00:45:48
Rodney Gooden
you know I do look at what's happening to us now and I'm thinking some people are suggesting that injury luck is worse than it was last season. And I kind of maintain the point that it's about the same. We're just better equipped to handle it.
00:45:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:45:58
Rodney Gooden
And I think that's all you can really do as a club.
00:46:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, absolutely. i mean, right now for us, I'm quite grateful with the depth we've got right now.
00:46:08
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:46:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah you know, thank goodness we've got that depth. And we just need to hope that hopefully the recovery period for the players that are injured of is going to be as short as possible.
00:46:18
Rodney Gooden
is as short as possible, yeah.
00:46:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. Because... Games will come in thick and fast.
00:46:23
Rodney Gooden
Oh,
00:46:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Don't forget, come December, we'll start, you know, games will then really come in thick and fast come December because you'll have your midweek games, you'll have your Christmas Day, you know, you'll have your Christmas Eve, sorry, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and Boxing Day and then the weekend after, you know, the weekend as well.
00:46:30
Rodney Gooden
ah yeah, yeah. Yep.
00:46:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there's so much to take in, isn't there?
00:46:45
Rodney Gooden
That really is.
00:46:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, so much to take in. But just quickly, Rodney, before we yeah round up, got to ask for a score prediction.
00:46:54
Rodney Gooden
Ooh, score prediction.
00:46:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Have to ask for a score prediction.
00:46:58
Rodney Gooden
I'm going to go bold with this one.
00:47:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go on.
00:47:00
Rodney Gooden
Considering the quality that we have off the bench. 3-0.
00:47:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:47:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Okay. Fair enough.
00:47:10
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:47:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I actually was thinking 4-0.
00:47:13
Rodney Gooden
Oh, wow. Okay. Yeah. Yeah.
00:47:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was actually thinking 4-0.
00:47:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't see us going there and say winning like 6-7-0 because I've heard some crazy scorelines from Arsenal fans saying that we should be winning 6-7-0 and I'm like, 4-0.
00:47:18
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:47:25
Rodney Gooden
Oh, really? What, they think it's going be another PSV in the Champions League? Like, just absolutely, yeah, yeah.
00:47:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll probably win 4-0. You know. Yeah. Yeah.
00:47:31
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Nah.
00:47:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
nell we'll probably win four nell
00:47:34
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, those those games are kind of more like anomalies where the team sort of, the mentality the team you're playing kind of crumbles halfway through.
00:47:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know
00:47:41
Rodney Gooden
I'll give them more respect.
00:47:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, and I think it'll be one of them where if we tire, if we can tire this team, of say, by the hour mark or just beyond the hour mark, that's where i think we're going to really take them on.
00:47:44
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:47:50
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:47:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But also, you've got to remember, conditions-wise, pitch conditions are going to be a little bit more different.
00:48:01
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:48:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, atmosphere is going to be a lot more different as well. And again, adaptability will be huge. Yeah. adaptability will be huge
00:48:10
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, exactly.
00:48:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because, you know, the regulations of a Premier League pitch will be will be completely different to what it is in the Championship in League One and so on.
00:48:11
Rodney Gooden
You know.
00:48:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, I'm going 4-0 in my opinion.
00:48:23
Rodney Gooden
Fair.
00:48:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, we'll we'll have to see what happens.
Podcast Conclusion and Listener Engagement
00:48:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that's it, guys. That is it for us today. Have you liked what we've had to say? We'd love to hear your thoughts if that's the case on social media.
00:48:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Make sure to go and follow us, give us your thoughts, and we'll even read out a few on the show. So, as always, you can find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify by searching Daily Arsenal.
00:48:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've been listening to the GSPN Podcast Network. part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only place to find daily podcasts for your favourite teams, a daily wrap-up, and every week, the road to World Cup 26.
00:49:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've been your host, Jamie Patterson. He has been the amazing Rodney Gooden. Have a good day, all, and take care.
00:49:15
Rodney Gooden
Thank you.