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Daily Manchester City: Arsenal Crossover - can City close the gap?
6 Plays1 month ago
Episode 67, Daily Manchester City - Jools ventures to North London to be hosted by Josh from the Daily Arsenal team as we discuss all things from this weekend's massive clash
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Transcript
Introduction and Setting the Stage for Arsenal vs. Manchester City
00:00:01
Speaker
every club every day the global sports podcast network hello hello hello and welcome to the daily arsenal and daily manchester city podcast brought to you as part of the global sports podcast network today we are looking forward to the big fixture let's be honest in everyone's calendar livable might be top whatever no one really cares about that But if you're an Arsenal fan, this is a big game and I'm sure if you're a City fan it is as well.
Guest Introduction: Jules from Manchester City Podcast
00:00:32
Speaker
And I'm joined today by Jules Jordan-Probert from the Manchester City podcast. Jules, thank you very much for coming along. It's lovely to meet you. How have you been doing? Yeah, a lot better the last few weeks. Not completely ah tied in with the City's form, I promise. But yeah, and thanks for having thanks for having me and hopefully it'll be yet another quality game between these two sides.
Recap of Previous Arsenal vs. Manchester City Encounter
00:00:53
Speaker
Well, I certainly have a feeling it will be if last game was anything to go by. I mean, I'd say a good game, it was a sucker punch of pain for Arsenal fans. like how So we'll get into more detail about the game in just a moment. But when you look back to that two-all draw at the Etihad, coming away from it as a City fan, how did you feel about the match itself?
00:01:15
Speaker
i'm I think getting the point made it feel like more than a point. you know it was It felt like the tide was turning for Arsenal to possibly topple City in that match. As the game developed, then obviously ah you retreated, got more defensive, which you've been and If you've got a lead against City, you know, at the end of the day, I don't blame me for going behind the ball. You had a red card just before half-time as well that I thought City would come out and steamroll you in the second half. That's what they tend to do when they sense weakness. But I think you defended excellently, gave up barely anything until the last seconds where a half-inch on stones gets that so, so vital goal. Not vital for City's title challenge, as it turned out. But could be vital for you guys, can they?
00:02:06
Speaker
Yeah, it really could be. It really could be vital for us. I cannot tell you how much I despise John Stones now as a result of that. You're the only man in the world that doesn't like John Stones. Oh, maybe other Arsenal fans too. to be Maybe other Arsenal fans, yeah. God, that was... what Where else were you watching the game? what What were you doing with the game?
00:02:26
Speaker
i was I was just at home, but yeah, was I was home alone, but my my neighbors probably heard the celebration was coming, 90 plus A. God yeah, eight minutes, wasn't it? Eight minutes at a time. i was So I live in Manchester and I was in a bar watching it, surrounded by city fans. I was the only asshole fan in there. And I'd kind of like retreated into a little corner, just praying and praying. And when that goal went in, I basically got bundled by all the city fans.
00:02:55
Speaker
and yeah it was one of the most chastening experiences of my life. I mean so in terms of like city that was obviously it was towards the beginning of the season your form at that point was was pretty solid like how did you feel about the way that you came out because you just said like you retreated a little bit Is that sort of normal of City or has that been sort of a feature of
Impact of Rodry's Injury on Manchester City's Performance
00:03:16
Speaker
this season? and m No, I said that you guys retreated. Oh yes, we retreated and you should have come out. That's it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Definitely from City's perspective, not put teams to the sword at all. Even when the form was good at the start of the season, and the games were only one or two goals in it. You know, Brentford, Ipswich, games that you'd expect City to dominate at home were narrow victories. So the write-in was a bit on the wall.
00:03:42
Speaker
Even if we were all being a bit blind to it for quite some time, you know the the squad build up had always been scary, the lack of players compared to other elite teams. im Luckily, no injuries had halted City's progress over the past few years, but it didn't take much for the House of Cards to to to tumble. It didn't. And it was actually in that game where the arguably the biggest injury of this entire season ever who has talked more about an injury than that maybe i'm biased because it's all we talk about every week twice a week it seems like but uh yeah that rodery that rodery injury sent shock waves through the footballing world to be honest it really did like i can remember i can remember seeing it and it wasn't it wasn't a malicious challenge i don't think or anything like that it was it was just an unfortunate injury i remember seeing you ask
00:04:34
Speaker
I remember seeing him limp off and thinking, that's awful, but brilliant, because now we might have a chance. But I didn't realize how much city relied on the man.
00:04:46
Speaker
I think if any any team in the world loses their best player, it'll have
Challenges in Manchester City's Defense and Squad Depth
00:04:51
Speaker
an effect. And not only their best player, the world's best player, who we which she was crowned six or so weeks later. and You guys have candled soccer, being injured quite well, but I'd say that that that defensive pivot position is probably the most important on the pitch. Hence why we've seen all these elite teams spending hundred hundred plus million on players that probably aren't worth that but it just shows how important that position is to to the top teams in this day and age and Rodry is the best at it and he
00:05:23
Speaker
He comes up in vital moments all over the pitch whenever you need him. Defensively, he can be the last man. He can make a fantastic clearance, snuff out danger going forward. He scores goals, creates goals at vital moments too. He's the perfect midfield player and City just haven't got the personnel oh or the depth to be able to cope with the the the strenuous nature of that position for Manchester City.
00:05:49
Speaker
Yeah, it's a very, very specific skill set, isn't it, in that position. You have to have that ability, like you say, to be able to be... defensively minded, strong in the challenge, but also acutely intelligent and aware of what's going around you. But I think one of the things that Rodry has in particular is also a real threat going forward. Definitely. You have to you have to defend differently because you expect that hold in player to be someone that stays there and just kind of dictates play, which Rodry does do. But then if you've got him crashing the box late with
00:06:20
Speaker
brilliant finishing to be honest and he's a threat in the air. He says, what I mean, what a complete footballer. And yeah, he is sorely, sorely missed. And I have to ask you this because we we commented on it at the time and we thought it was hilarious. As a Manchester City fan, what did you make of Real Madrid refusing to go to the Ballon d'Or ceremony because Rodriguez, because Vinicius wasn't going to win it?
00:06:43
Speaker
it shows the whole thing is just stage theater, isn't it? You know, like if everyone knows who's going to win the Ballon d'Or before it even happens, like what is the point of having the whole ceremony? We all seen on, on Twitter before what was going to happen. But yeah, to answer your question, um, um, a little bit pathetic, not too surprising from Real Madrid. Uh, they are quite like that. I, I'm not against.
00:07:05
Speaker
the the idea of Vinny being a Ballon d'Or winner too. He was the best player in the best team last season. So that normally tends to get you the award. But I also don't think if, you know, if you're a football fan and your objective, you can't really argue that Roger is the most valuable player in the world. And this injury, this season, and I think has proved that having the the world's top, you know, one of the best teams in the world completely crumble in his absence.
00:07:29
Speaker
Yeah, I think, I think it would be fair to say that even if Roger, I mean, obviously he was granted the title of the best footballer in the world, but even if he wasn't the best footballer in the world, he's probably the most important to his team in the world. Because it's, I mean, who else have you got in that position? Nunez can play in that position, Kovacic can play no not in Nunez cannot play in that position. Honestly, like Nunez can barely play many positions, but I think right back works well because he doesn't have the best brain, but he's a good athlete and he works like hell. So I think fullback is pretty good, but no, do not have him in that pivot. He will lose the ball and you can't trust him to be where he needs to be. Carvajic is who has played in that position yes to vary in success. He is brilliant in some moments. He looks like a fantastic press
00:08:14
Speaker
resistor and he'll skip away from a challenge and then he can score from 20 yards and he's done that four times this season and then other times he just looks like he's so slow and so weak and you know... He gets lost in games doesn't he? He
Kevin De Bruyne's Influence and Injury Concerns
00:08:28
Speaker
can do but I think a lot of that is because of the way that's how high City play and he's basically on an island there The defenders, it's been a different, back four every week, back five, even with Ortega and Edison. yeah And, uh, Kovacic has been all by himself because there's normally been two number tens in the midfield next to him going forward. So it isn't all his fault, but he isn't the ultimate solution. But I think he might be, because I'm not sure if city are going to get, get one over the line. So.
00:08:57
Speaker
To be honest, I don't think we are necessarily either. Right. We're going to take a quick break now. And when we come back, we're going to do more of a laser focus on City, their season and how Jules thinks everything has been going. So that should be quite an interesting conversation. So we'll be back just after this message from our partners at Zencaster.
00:09:15
Speaker
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00:09:38
Speaker
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster. And welcome back to the Daily Arsenal and Daily Manchester City crossover episode. I am joined today by the fabulous Jules Jordan-Proboat from the Manchester City Podcast. Now Jules, 41 points from 69 in the Premier League in 23 games and currently 25th place in the Champions League. We are recording this 45 minutes before the final Champions League fixture of the league stage. As a total, how do you feel the season has gone? Because it would be we would be lying if we didn't say that City have had a bit of a rough time.
00:10:22
Speaker
Yeah, to to put it lightly, sure. um I think it's been catastrophic, to be quite honest. This is as big a collapse as as one can remember, maybe not in terms of position and points, but from the standard
Manchester City's January Transfer Window Activity
00:10:38
Speaker
set by the team, the club, to the performances and the results over that two months. you know And it's still not fully out of the woods yet. The performances and results have improved, sure, but there's still a lot of problems that teams were exploited, exploited a little bit less now, but sorry, I'll get back on track.
00:10:57
Speaker
and The start start of the season, like I said, and the results will come in, but the performances weren't fantastic. A lot of that could have been down to people recovering from injuries and having a long summer, Foden being one of those, he didn't score on his first dozen or so appearances, got seven and two assists in his last night, no so he's back on track now.
00:11:18
Speaker
it's fair to say you had a shattered squad because they had gone so I mean yeah we've seen a massive injury crisis throughout well not just the Premier League but football in general but City in particular and I'd say to an extent extent spurs as well though no one's giving them any sympathy don't worry about it like your your players have played so much football over the last three or four years at the highest level a drop-off was inevitable but I don't think anyone expected it to be this big it's the the consequences of somewhat determined squad building, i.e. PEP not wanting more than 20 senior players in an in a squad, like as a rule, which
00:12:00
Speaker
sounds great when you're winning every week because everyone's getting game time but then when the wheels start falling off and you've got no options and you're having to play Debbie Thompson the Champions League every week and you know I understand people's and lack of empathy for City because obviously the amount of money spent over the over the last X number of years and City had everything in their power to not let it get to this point but it is and everyone can say oh you know everyone has injuries over the course of the season but that is the main cause of what has been a terrible season. Getting up to fourth place over the last few weeks and only six points away from you means I i don't think the season will end catastrophically but up until this point I don't think anyone in the city hierarchy could have foreseen and such a drop off.
00:12:55
Speaker
I don't think any other real football fans could. I mean, for example, on on our podcast, we obviously did preseason predictions. and myself and a fellow Josh on the Daily Arsenal podcast were the only two, but we were both adamant that City were gonna win the title. We just couldn't see you, we couldn't see them dropping off because of the levels of professionalism that have been over the course of the season, but you're right. This inevitable this inevitable sort of addling of players and injuries to players. And I think I'd argue that probably your biggest issue has been your back line. As you said earlier, the chopping and changing, Karl Walker, ah goodness only knows what happened to him,
00:13:31
Speaker
but he went completely off the boil. Rika Lewis looks like a good player, but he's not a good enough backup for him, and then injuries all along. Yeah, so on that Walker Lewis topic, which I think has been rifle season, I don't think
Player Performances: Savinio and Mackity
00:13:46
Speaker
the the plan was to play Carl Walker much this season. and um I I think everyone at City had recognized that he served his time and he's you know a but little bit over the hill. I think even he might admit that, you know, he's been great over the years and I and i And I feel bad for a lot of the stuff I've seen about him, but you can't argue that he's not the same player. Even even last season, I think the physical qualities that he has always kept him at the top of the game has started declining and without them, you start to see the cracks. Rico Lewis started the first 10 games of the season.
00:14:20
Speaker
got his debut for England at left back and then came back a bit injured and then fell off. So again, I think, you know, an 18 year old wasn't expected to play every minute for the first couple of months, and but he did and he got worn out and then he lost his confidence and that's when City's run started. So it's hard for a young player like that who isn't able to physically impose himself. He's, you know, he plays with the ball, at his feet and his brain. And it's really hard to do that when the whole team is lacking confidence and you don't know where to go. And did you plane alongside different people every week? So yeah, the backline in general has, has been one of the many problems. Sure. And we you never know who's going to start every week. you Like, it's different centre backs injured all the time and coming back for a game which means they're clearly being rushed and then injured again and that's Akanji, Akay, Stones, Diaz, all four of those elite centre backs have been injured constantly from the start of the season and and if you imagine if Saliba and Gabrielle was the same for you guys
00:15:24
Speaker
You know, it's so hard to build a title winning team without solidity in your backline. That is probably your strongest aspect. You know, of the two are the best centre backs in the world and you know they're going to be there every week. yeah That gives you
James Makati and City's Strategic Signings
00:15:34
Speaker
full backs confidence, that gives you midfield confidence and it gives you goalkeeper confidence. without that, we've seen that teams are just finding this so easy for about two months to just get at City. And it's still quite easy now, but things are improving.
00:15:50
Speaker
The thing is, Jules, you're not Man United. It could be much worse. I've said that on the podcast myself. Now, I mean, you know, it's really funny because obviously, sit here and they've had a rough season, but they're in fourth. Arsenal have had an odd season, but we're in second. And I find on the Arsenal podcast, we're very negative about the team.
00:16:08
Speaker
a lot of the time because we were expecting so much and with you falling away and everything it felt like our year. So let's let's change it around to a couple of positives for City. Savinio, my word like I knew that he was a good player coming in but my goodness me has that man just exploded onto the scene at the Etihad.
00:16:27
Speaker
and So soon as well, you know, he's so young and took him a few weeks to find his feet and I think he still is but and you could see the quality he possessed every single game He does something that makes you go. Oh my god. That was wonderful. He can go either side He's got a peach of a left foot. Yeah I know Yamal is young, but I feel like they've got quite a similar style in in the way that... think Savini was faster, but in the way that they both cutting on cut in from the right inside and they deliver a lovely weighted ball that just kind of goes over the centre-backs, you know? yeah And lands in that space where you want Harland to be. Who else would you want that? Well, when you've got Erling Harland in there, a ball that peachy is just going to... It's so inviting.
00:17:13
Speaker
And that's what happens when City play poorly. Everyone says, oh, Harlan's not in the game. Harlan never gets on the ball. He needs service. Every striker needs service. He's not a habit that is there to link the play. He's there to score goals. you know Obviously, we want him to link the play, and he's been better at it this season than than previously. But he needs service. And Savino is someone that looks like to have been providing that. Yeah, very exciting player. um um And I can't wait to see what else he can do.
00:17:41
Speaker
oh my goodness me he's only 20 years old what eight goal involvements already in 28 appearances for someone of that age that's i mean it's a it's a remarkable turnaround it really is and another youngster who we briefly spoke about before we started recording but for the listeners especially on the daily arsenal podcast you might not be quite as aware i mean goodness me mackity james mackity 14 appearances in all competitions five goals admittedly three of them wearing a hat trick against sulfan but still the youngster has so much talent, but reports seem to be that City are looking to shift him.
00:18:16
Speaker
Well, I mean, over the last few years, and you've seen some of the talent city
Pep Guardiola's Unusual Signings Strategy
00:18:21
Speaker
you've gotten rid of. It wouldn't be so surprising, would it? And I think if you get rid of Cole Palmer, who everyone at city already knew how good he was, it wasn't a surprise when he went and did what he did at Chelsea to people at the club. but If you get rid of him for 40 million, it shows that you're willing to get rid of any academy player, doesn't it?
00:18:39
Speaker
But back to Makati, I think he's a fantastic player. As I said to you, I think he's been i think he's been this good for a couple of years. He's definitely had this potential for a couple of years. He's got a lovely touch on him. He finds himself in pockets of space really well, which is exactly the type of player that Pep would want in his position. and lovely wand of a left foot. And yeah, like you say, he started banging in the goals recently, too, which if he can do that, he'll get more and more minutes because now is the time. KDB is still my favorite player one of the best in the world. But, you know, his time is numbered and City are going to want a replacement. And Makati keeps going the way he is. Who knows? Yeah, KDB, he's 33. No one can ever deny how beautiful a footballer he is. Whoever you support, KDB is one of the most
00:19:23
Speaker
stunning footballers I think on the planet in terms of the way that he plays his game and the way he ties football together but I mean Macatee he looks like a really good prospect but I mean they're not the only squad members the last thing I wanted to really ask you we're in January there's what two days I think oh no it's an extended is it no Friday sorry two days left of the transfer window you brought in two signings already one a young center back who Cushionov I think isn't it Actually, more signings than that. If I could just take over for a sec. Oh no. not You don't need any more players. Go on. and So, in Pep's entire tenure before this season at City, he had made...
New Signings Overview and Impact on Squad
00:20:04
Speaker
I can't quite remember whether it's 6 or 7 January signings. Either way, 6 or 7 in the nearly 10 years that you've been at the club.
00:20:12
Speaker
city of mid five in January. Five? Three for three for the first team then two that, i one what so alexll I'll explain quickly. So yeah, you very yeah you mentioned Kucinov from Lend, who obviously had that baptism of fire against Chelsea. and What I do want to say if we're trying to be positive on this podcast is after after that four minutes,
00:20:35
Speaker
We'd already written him off, do you know what I mean? so i So I think he did really well and impressed me a lot to recompose himself and play pretty well until he got subbed off then, in my opinion. He was key in the block ah from Jackson when Cole Palmer should have shot when he was in on goal, wasn't he? He moved himself quickly.
00:20:52
Speaker
So many players and can just capitulate in that moment and who would have blamed him you know it it the worst had already happened he could have got sent off for that challenge after four minutes too I thought I thought it was gonna be a red to be honest it looked like one of them way knew we'd made a mistake and chopped him to make up for it and you always see them given don't you. But anyway, yeah, he's one of the, one of the, one of the signings from, lot from Lons in France and City have bought, uh, another centre back called Juma Bar from Valladolid for five million and loaned him to Lons. So, oh so I assume there was some business going on there. Is, is Lons one of the City group by any chance?
00:21:34
Speaker
No, it's not. Is it not? Oh, right. Okay. Cool. Okay. Okay. Fair enough. But another player city you've bought is from a city group club. yeah um mean That's McFarline from New York City. 18 year old left back. another youth player. But on to the exciting ones. So we mentioned Kuzminov.
00:21:51
Speaker
And it's Vito Rice, 19 year old center back from Palmeirach and very highly rated ah ah and Anders International for Brazil. But I'm not going to lie. I don't know too much about him. I don't watch too much Brazilian Anders football. But we all want to talk about is Omar Mamouche. No, we don't. No, we don't. We're going to. Oh, yes. we've signed him Yes. I am. So in the upcoming game, I'm half expecting us to play party at right back because Arteta keeps doing it.
00:22:19
Speaker
If that's the case and he decides to put Mimouche up against him, Mimouche will have a field day and eviscerate him. and it could't ah couldn't happen against a nicer bloke either. Absolutely right. No, I'm not going to defend it on that. Correct, 100%. Yeah, a mamouche. What a season he had in the Bundesliga. 15 goals, 9 assists and 9 man of the matches in 17 games for Frankfurt. That's that stat you'd expect from Harry Kane at Bayern, isn't f it? It isn't. It's from and
00:22:51
Speaker
Ex-Frankfort forward, Mamouche. No one thought he was going to blow up the way he has. He's been highly rated for a few years, but this season he's just skyrocketed and he looks he looks fantastic. He's versatile, which is something that Pep always looks for in his team. he can play anywhere across that front line. Expect him to play out wide and he's fast and he's direct, which is what city have been crying out for from those forward positions. The amount of times we've seen Dokku or Grealish get the ball in a promising position and we're like all in anticipation, awaiting something to happen, and and then they come inside and pass it back to Carver Church.
00:23:31
Speaker
ah so so Mamoush, even though we only played about an hour, 70 minutes against Chelsea, we're all seeing that that is not his game at all.
Omar Mamouche's Debut and Potential
00:23:40
Speaker
He is like a whippet, making runs in behind, stretching defences, good with the ball at his feet, confidence to shoot from anywhere, free kick specialist. He had a goal choked off as well, didn't he? He did, yeah. And he was important in the
00:23:58
Speaker
The Vardial goal as well. um um He made that run inside. and the the cha Robert Sanchez kind of flopped out because he's rubbish. He is rubbish. I still don't understand that. but I think i think he's he's homegrown. He's been in England since he was a teenager. So I assume that's one of the only reasons that Chelsea haven't got rid of him yet. Most likely.
00:24:19
Speaker
But yeah, anyway, we don't need to talk about Robert Sanchez and how rubbish she is. I mean, I'm a moosh. He's I think he's arguably there haven't been huge January signing so far. Realistically, City have been sort of like the big team who have done it. But I mean, he's such a coup, absolutely such a coup. I think he could be devastatingly good for Manchester City going forward.
00:24:40
Speaker
it what It's one of them, right, that you never see Citi, well, the point I was trying to get to earlier was you never see Citi react like this in the transfer market. They don't need to. And because of that, they've signed a player that has one elite, actually six months of an elite career. So the the risk factor is way higher than we're used to seeing from what is normally a pretty, well, maybe not the last couple of years, but during,
00:25:07
Speaker
at least Pep's tenure, the signings have pretty much all been hit, right? Especially the big money ones. So this is much more of a risk. Many players before them have come to the Premier League off the back of hitting a good form over the last six months or a year, and it's not panned out. But I mean,
00:25:24
Speaker
That thuff hour on debut against Chelsea, I think, has diminished most of those doubts. you know If you can terrorise one of the best teams in the league, with and he only arrived the day before, I but i believe Pep said, yeah barely and at any time to understand.
Arsenal's Injury Challenges and Key Player Absences
00:25:40
Speaker
Maybe maybe that is what helped, right? Because Pep's known to overcomplicate and It's very mentally draining for the players, especially ones that have been there for a while. Maybe that's exactly why they've bought him because he is someone that is just going to get the ball and he is going to attack, not think about tactics too much. Well, I say, wholeminded goette I say that, I say that I'm sure he will have to, but hopefully we won't get another Grealish out of it. But yeah, my moose definitely exciting sign in. And I think he will prove his worth.
00:26:09
Speaker
he He's the one who terrifies me about ah this this weekend, I'll be honest. And that is it for our focus on City. When we come back after this little break, a little message from the Global Sports Podcast Network, we'll be talking all about Arsenal and what Jules thinks might be the big threats coming from the Mighty Gunners. And then, of course, the main thing you've all come here to really hear, our match predictions. So we'll be back just after this break.
00:26:32
Speaker
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00:27:03
Speaker
Global Sports Podcast Network, every club, every day. And welcome back to the final part of this Daily Arsenal and Daily Manchester City crossover podcast. You are here with Josh Vince from the Daily Arsenal podcast and Jules Jordan-Probert from the Manchester City podcast. And now it's time to talk about Arsenal. We've talked about City in some depth. Now, Arsenal, much like Manchester City, we've had our problems with injury this season. We really, really have.
00:27:31
Speaker
had Erdogan out for a considerable period of the season. We had a really rough patch at that point We have Saka out currently until the end of February and we are really really missing him and we also have a German forward who I actually really like I think he's a vital part of the team. I like him too for what it's worth, but he just can't score. He's just struggles to score. He definitely struggles to score headers at the very least. When you look at the Arsenal squad in its current iteration, where do you see, especially with the Manchester City team as it is in its current state with players coming back from injury, where do you see the current threat coming from particularly?
00:28:11
Speaker
and particular I think Arsenal are and and ah ah are an elite football club now. So I think you have threats littered throughout your squad. You've been building towards this with the young players that are all kind of getting to that age now where starting to see them in in their best, at their best, thinking of players like Odegard or maybe not after his injury, being up there, but Ryse, Saka, these are world-class or just below world-class. They're about to be world-class players. I think you've got a bunch of them, Saliba, another one.
00:28:41
Speaker
Yeah, so would say Saka is the primary threat when he plays, but of course he's injured. I like Odegard, but he he like he's looked not as sharp as usual. I think that connection he has with Saka is vital yeah to the team. And without either one of them on the pitch, I think you suffered, like you said, when Odegard was missing, you you were struggling to score goals earlier in the season. and Then he came back and then he started banging them in. But yeah, so yeah I think Defensively is probably where you're strongest. We have found it difficult to score goals against you over the last three seasons. you Same with you scoring against City too, to be fair. I think it's one of those games that it normally gets decided or not decided on a better of quality or or a mistake or a red card or something like that. you know Just does fight those fine margins. But I think and
00:29:33
Speaker
with your, I don't know if timber is fit at the moment. he He's not been confirmed as being fully fit but he's being worked back into training currently so he might be available on saturday on Sunday but I'm not sure he'd be 100 fit honestly.
00:29:48
Speaker
Well, if he is, I think he's impressed me so much. I can't believe how immediately he settled in after that awful injury last year. And you hate do you hate to see a player that just signs, get an injury like that, i don't you? It's rough, isn't it, for anybody? i mean like A lot of football fans joke about injuries and things like that, but nobody actually wants to see any players being properly hurt and being properly out. So, but a bit like the situation with Roger, I was generally gutted for the player when he was when he was actually injured. And with Timber, I mean, it was his first game for us, first proper game.
00:30:20
Speaker
and and ACL and he was out for the entire season but he's back now he's I think the fact he he wasn't rushed back from the injury which is really key and I think that's been a it's been a staple of Arsenal under Arteta there haven't been that many recurring injuries there's been obviously the odd ones like Zinchenko Gabrielle J Zeus I mean I love Gabrielle J Zeus and but he's just He's a broken man.
Controversies in Football: VAR and Time-Wasting Issues
00:30:44
Speaker
Yeah, he was made of mashed potato before you signed him. for taste so that I can't blame our title for that. No, no, no. I mean, he's such a gifted footballer as well. But I just
00:30:55
Speaker
I have a feeling that his Arsenal career might be coming to an end, honestly. I think he might be becoming... We've had this discussion a little bit, sort of, obviously we brought in Jay-Zu and Zinchenko to try and bring winners to the team. That was kind of the big argument. to bring ah it It was up in the floor, wasn't it? Yeah, exactly. yeah And now you need to up the ceiling, I think. And Zinchenko and Jay-Zu specifically are two players you could improve on, to be honest.
00:31:19
Speaker
And I think that's been one of the big debates that we've been having. At Leftback, we've got Callifiori and Marzlo Skelley. Marzlo Skelley, who by the way, is not red carded anymore. oh Did you win the appeal? We won the appeal within like two hours. I thought they were going to stick to their guns after the the statement they put out.
00:31:38
Speaker
audit yeah we We just don't, what did you make of it? Did you just look at that and go yellow? That's never a red, is it? It's never a red. I'm pretty sure Arteta and Pep instructs his players to to make those challenges, those yellow card ones, and I'm pretty sure they trained them on how and when to do it too. Oh, 100%.
00:31:59
Speaker
uh yeah but the he'd gone past him and there was barely he barely lifted his leg like if there was no malice in it at all it was one of those that the attacker's happy to take a yellow and get a bit of respite as well because wolves had been under the cost for so long as well so yeah i thought it was ridiculous the pgmol's reaction was ridiculous i think that If there were any more space in the coffin to put nails in for that organization, and then this would be yet another one. But somehow, I think i think that ship has passed. Scrap scrap it all, man. Scrap VAR while we're at it too. i don't i don't The idea of VAR is correct. I don't know why I've ended up just going on a random one. Actually, please carry on because we've discussed this a lot recently. like When you look at VAR, obviously, you look at it from a different perspective, just coming from a different team, you have different experiences with it.
00:32:52
Speaker
Arsenal have had a torrid time with it this season but then like last season Forest had an awful time with it the season before I think Bournemouth had so many opportunities and decisions going against them that the consistency is not there it's just not there at all and something needs to change either I would argue potentially a a system like in tennis a challenge system where you get a number of challenges per half and that's it or get rid of it completely where do you stand on it Oh, I've not actually thought of a solution. I just enjoy, you know, venting. But ah yeah, i've I've seen this challenge system talked about it. It works in basketball, it works in tennis. Everyone just accepts that that is the way it is. If you don't have any more challenge, oh, cricket as well. If you don't have any more challenges, you don't have a challenge. It's as simple as that. So I think it would work. What we need to do is take power away from that organization. So anything that does that is a good thing because it's ruining
00:33:49
Speaker
It's ruining elite football in a lot of cases. And before we could all accept, not that we did, but when it came down to it, we could accept that there would be variances and bad decisions in football. It's 20 athletes all running at full speed and full contact into each other for 90 minutes. There's going to be collisions and mistakes and things may be missed. Exactly. It happens. It's human nature.
00:34:13
Speaker
But to then implement VAR with the goal of being 99.999% correct and the quality of refereeing has not improved. In fact, many would argue it's declined, even though they've got more power now and and less accountability. So yeah, it's been a failure as an experiment. and Scrap it all and start again, because The games are taking longer. The flow of the games are getting interrupted. Some of the times it's taken to make these decisions is outrageous. How you can justify the game stopping. Well, the clock's still going, by the way. That's my other biggest gripe about football. You should go to a rugby system. Yeah, just stop the clock when it stops. Yeah, every time. And then you get rid of time wasting.
Concluding Thoughts and Match Predictions
00:34:54
Speaker
There there is literally never, ever been time wasting in rugby because of that because of this system. um And it means everywhere.
00:35:01
Speaker
Anyway, very, very good point. i I genuinely agree with you on the time wasting situation. And on that, there's so many things that need to change. And also when you have big gaps, these are elite athletes who are warmed up, they're prepared to go, they prepared their bodies, and they're often playing at night, especially the English season, majority of it happens in sort of autumn, winter and sort of early spring, it's cold in The weather's terrible whatever time of year it is. Absolutely crap the weather wherever you are in the UK and then for five six sometimes eight minutes the players are standing around not doing anything getting cold and then expected to start again and wherever all these injuries come from out of
00:35:42
Speaker
who knows you know and we as a viewer as a paying fan we're missing out on football being played on the pitch while this happens that's the key because they can say they add it on at the end all they want but they have a system where Things get added on at the end, like like a quarter increment of what yeah what it what it actually was. i think I don't know the ins and outs of the system, but i I've heard the referee speak about it somewhat. So so you can always time-waste effectively, because you know that time isn't going to go back on the end. So yeah so like time-wasting is the like one of the biggest poisons in football. And I totally understand why players do it. It's all about winning. The managers tell them to do it. I don't blame the players at all.
00:36:25
Speaker
But we can change the systems that allow it to take place so easily, 100%. Jules, you're welcome back on the Daily Arsenal podcast. You're you're welcome to switch sides and come and join us here at Arsenal. We'd be happy to have you. Ditch City, they that like they're done and dusted now. Their time in the sun is over. Come to us. let let Let me wait until Sunday and then I'll let you know, yeah? Well, I mean, on on that note, we are coming towards the end now and it I think it's time to do our predictions. It's a big game on Sunday and also tonight as like we're recording in 15 minutes the next group the last set of games in the Champions League league stage kick off so who knows what's going to happen. There could be massive debates, there could be huge injuries who knows but as things stand right now Jules the game on Sunday how do you see it going down at the Emirates at 4.30
00:37:18
Speaker
well city of Windlass in the last four against Arsenal. So today or this week would probably be the wrong time to to back the boys if I was looking at at it logically. But I do have a feeling, you know, I do have a feeling I think I think it's going to be close. you know i don't see I don't see either side running away with it because even though you could definitely say Arsenal have been a better team in this season, and I just don't see a world in which Arsenal win this game 3-0, 4-0 because of the way you set up against City and the way that you play in general. It's not a system designed to go and get five goals every week.
00:37:57
Speaker
Even though you do sometimes because you're so good yeah at times, but it's definitely not designed like that against the top teams at least. So with that in mind and with I think three of the last four being in draws as well, yes I'm going to go for another two-two. So that's Desmond on both both fixtures of Arsenal City this season. But ah I wouldn't be surprised if either team won it 2-1-3-2 as well. So Jules, I also have a feeling as well and I'm scared. I think that Arsenal are at a point where they have to push on this season, they have to do something in this game. You've got to win this game. If they don't get a result in this game and you make three points up on Arsenal and Arsenal photo from Liverpool, I think the confident shock to the team will be immense and that concerns me and I think they'll be weighing on the players.
00:38:51
Speaker
I think it's going to be incredibly cagey, as you said, it's going to be tight. These two managers know each other well, and Arteta at the very least, sort what I know of Arsenal, is not the sort of manager who will risk it all to get one over on Pep. He will play defensively minded, careful, intricate football. So I'm going to say 1-0, but I don't know which way it's going to go.
00:39:16
Speaker
So like last season, right? where you, it was even, wasn't it? And then you got that morning early goal.
Closing Remarks and Summary
00:39:23
Speaker
i Yeah, I could, I could see it like that. I just think a city will make a mistake defensively. So there will be a goal. And I think city have got a bit in their groove.
00:39:32
Speaker
recently scoring, so I see Harland or Mamoush causing some havoc and some chaos. Harland has been kept quiet for 90 minutes at a time this season, but I still wouldn't put money on it, you know? I mean, gabriell is that's the only thing that I'm confident about, is that Gabrielle Saliba seemed to be able to have him in this and their pocket. that That's the one player in particular who they seem to thrive against, is Erling Harland. Which could create the space for one Egyptian... A certain...
00:40:00
Speaker
of Mamoush, the new Egyptian king on the scene. Oh, God, I can't see fans singing anything like that as well. Well, you heard it here, guys. Jules reckons it might be a tool. I think it might be 1-0, but I can't call which team is going to win it 1-0. And for now, that is it. Thank you so much for listening to both the Daily Arsenal and to the Daily Manchester City Podcast. I've been your host, Josh Vince, and thank you so much to Jules, Jule, and Probert for joining us from the Man City Podcast. It's been great having you, Jules. Thank you so much for coming along.
00:40:30
Speaker
Yeah, thanks thanks for having me. It's been really fun. and Cheers. Amazing. And I would say best of luck, but I would be lying for Sunday. So, of course, we'll see how the game goes. Good luck tonight. You need a win. You really, really need a win. By the time you're listening to this, you already know the result, whether the City make it through in the Champions League. I reckon they will, but we'll have to wait and see. Anyway, until then, thank you so much for listening and have a great day. And from us, goodbye.
00:40:57
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network.