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Champions League Quarter Final Recaps: Arsenal brush past Real Madrid + Manchester Utd Comback
9 Plays1 month ago
- Champions League Quarter final recaps
- Arsenal v Madrid, PSG v Villa, Barca v Dortmund, Inter v Bayern
- Utd comeback for the ages
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Transcript
Introduction and Team Welcome
00:00:10
Chino Onwuka
Hello and welcome to another episode of the love of the game. I don't know if you can hear it in my voice, but I am excited for today's episode because We got a lot a lot to talk about in fact I'm going to say that's the reason We waited to drop this episode that we could just unload the clip on everything at the same time So with that being said, I'm here with my boys Chukunameka. How are you doing?
00:00:37
Emeka
Are are you, are you Tottenham in disguise? Hey, boys, is life is good, man. Life is good. What can I say? Life is good.
00:00:48
Chino Onwuka
Life is good indeed. As a as a some guys on Arseplug would say, it has been a couple of goodly mornings. Chukku, what's up? Say what's up to the fam.
00:01:01
Chuku
Declan Rice, Declan Rice, oh what a week, I'm just excited to you know chop it up with the boys, this is going to be a ridiculous episode, you already know the vibes, I just can't wait to get started, a lot to get into and yeah, it's going to be good vibes, good vibes all day, good vibes all episode, let's go.
00:01:28
Chino Onwuka
All right,
Champions League Quarterfinals Overview
00:01:28
Chino Onwuka
let's get into it. So, i mean, if you're listening to us on this podcast, then I'm sure you know what's been going on for the last week, especially in the world of football.
00:01:40
Chino Onwuka
It is the Champions League quarterfinals, and we had a couple of huge matchups. Real Madrid versus Arsenal, or should I say Arsenal versus Real Madrid?
00:01:51
Chino Onwuka
Bayern Munich versus Inter, PSG versus Aston Villa. Barcelona versus Dortmund. A couple of episodes ago, we we stood here and we gave our predictions, and now it is time to revisit those predictions and even just talk about the matches themselves.
Arsenal's Victory Over Real Madrid
00:02:08
Chino Onwuka
Look, there's no point in beating around the bush. There's one place, only one place we're going to start, and that is Arsenal versus Real Madrid with a convincing 5-1 victory over Real Madrid over two legs.
00:02:25
Chino Onwuka
You know, for the last week, all we heard was remontada this, remontada that, oh, we're closing the roof on the Bernabeu. Oh, 90 minutes is a long time, yada, yada, yada. yada yada It was light work.
00:02:40
Chino Onwuka
It was light work. And i but we're gonna we're gonna come to you guys.
00:02:42
Emeka
Right work.
00:02:46
Chino Onwuka
I'm gonna be honest. Did i dream that something like this could happen? No. As in, I didn't think we could be we would beat Madrid 5-1 over two legs. Did I see us you know getting a 0-0 and then no squeaking 1-0 just to get over the line against a Real Madrid team featuring Mbappe, Vinicius, Rodrigo, Bellingham, Courtois at the back, even with the issues that they've had? Honestly, ain't going front. ain't going cap. i did
00:03:19
Chino Onwuka
I didn't believe it. when When the draw was announced, I was like, you know, coming in, I told you my goals for the season were second and quarterfinals. We know how horribly the season has been so far for Arsenal between injuries and suspensions and you know regression and play style.
00:03:38
Chino Onwuka
And so I was like, you know, Real Madrid, it is what it is. like Let's just not get embarrassed. That was that was my goal for the time, to be very honest. And you know I wish we could have done the episode right after last the the first leg because...
00:03:54
Chino Onwuka
That three-mile victory, oh, is a sweet body. Till now, I still watch highlights of that game. That second Declan Rice free kick had me floating. You know what? I'm talking too much.
00:04:05
Chino Onwuka
So much to talk about. Declan Rice free kicks. Saka coming back from injury to lead us past Real Madrid. Arsenal's first semifinal since 2009, you could believe it.
00:04:22
Chino Onwuka
Arsenal vs PSG, so much to talk about. i don't know where to start, so I'm just going to pass it off to you guys to to start off where you want to. And Mecca, I'll i willll start with you because you are the most confident about Arsenal's chances.
00:04:35
Emeka
I'm waiting for someone to say something. My goodness. First of all, i go everything you say. I'm kind of happy we didn't record last week, even though I was screaming and lost my voice and yelling.
00:04:48
Emeka
It was because back of my mind, the Madrid Black Magic would have had me couch my words. Now I can just talk on my chest. Oh my goodness, fam. what a What a performance from the boys. What a performance from Arteta, from everybody.
00:05:05
Emeka
I can't believe... People, and I say people, I say it was a capital P. People would actually come on and tweet Rodrigo is better than Saka. I couldn't believe what I was reading, hearing that garbage take.
00:05:19
Emeka
I'm so happy that the guy, I'm so happy for our players, Saka, Saliba, Raya, Rice. Do you get that acclaim? You need to have
Player Highlights: Saka and Rice
00:05:29
Emeka
nights like that. And now the world can see, it's not just Arsenal fans talking.
00:05:33
Emeka
We actually have world-class players on our team. And I was the most confident, even though, look, i I picked Madrid to win, but I was picking up Arsenal because, i sadly, i placed a little wager on Madrid to win La Liga. So I watched as much La Liga as I can.
00:05:50
Emeka
And I'm telling you, week on week on week, I see these random Spanish teams Smack up Madrid. like And look, i do they win on last-minute counters. They score two, three goals against Madrid.
00:06:03
Emeka
Madrid's front line, whatever. Look at the back line. Look at the guys they start on defense. They play Lucas Vazquez. A right winger right back they play a kid essential like this isn't the strongest team and I kept saying I just hope we don't show them respect and thank goodness we didn't Madrid have too many passengers Mbappe I love you, but I'm glad you didn't show up this game Vinny I big you up as a Champions League assassin.
00:06:29
Emeka
He knew nothing this two legs They don't press So many times in the second leg, we'd have the ball and we'd just stand there because no one wants to press them. Oh, a tactical masterclass from Mikel Ateta.
00:06:42
Emeka
And possibly probably for him... I think it feels even sweeter because when he got hired, it was it came down to Ancelotti and Arteta at the time. And now five years, five, six years later, he gets to look across the dugout and say, yeah, look what I've done. built a team here that could come to the better bow and ball on these mats.
00:07:03
Emeka
Sweet. How sweet it is, my brother Chico. How sweet it is.
00:07:06
Chino Onwuka
Wow, i actually forgot about that part. And yeah, before we come to Chukwu, yeah, just want to address some of the points you made because what I was most proud of about was how mature
Arteta's Tactical Mastery
00:07:18
Chino Onwuka
our performance was.
00:07:21
Chino Onwuka
Like, Arsenal is still a very young team and it is a team with not a lot of Champions League experience. This is only our second year back after being in the wilderness for 40 years.
00:07:34
Emeka
Thank you.
00:07:35
Chino Onwuka
And definitely not a lot of players who have been battle tested in these type of environments. So, you know, to go out and not only to to get that win, that big win at home, convincing win at home, know, three nothing, but, know, second, like exactly the same thing. Like I was like three nothing should be enough, but I still felt that,
00:08:00
Chino Onwuka
the second leg would still be held because Real Madrid would do something and it's, would we be able to hold on with that much of a margin? And the performance yesterday was so mature. like
00:08:13
Chino Onwuka
it We took everything that they tried to, not even that they gave us, that they tried to give us with like, a okay, yeah.
00:08:23
Chuku
Bye.
00:08:24
Chino Onwuka
You did
Arsenal's Growth and Resilience
00:08:24
Chino Onwuka
your best. All right. Now we're going to do what we want to do as well. Like we were still able to play the game that we wanted to play. We didn't fall for their antics. These guys just came and tried to.
00:08:36
Chino Onwuka
I don't know.
00:08:36
Emeka
Try to make bloody man's broody guy out here stomping on an 18-year-old's chest. Cavalier grabbing Saka's neck.
00:08:43
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, they they tried all sorts of antics.
00:08:43
Emeka
Bushman.
00:08:45
Chino Onwuka
To me, that showed how afraid they were of us. I think that first leg really had them shook because instead of trying to play their game, they they tried to do these other antics and just think, okay, if we just, you know, just shake our head a little bit, they're going to rattled.
00:09:02
Chino Onwuka
And it was like, nah, like, we we do this. Like, I've seen videos of, you know, them in the tunnel before coming out. I've seen videos of MLS, MLS, Like before, like before the game, like the Real Madrid crowd is trying to give it to him. He's just like, all right, I'm here for this. Let's go. Like, I'm going take your best shot. We're going do what we do regardless. And so that's what I was really proud of, of the performance from the boys, how mature their performance was, how they handled that game from beginning to end, even with the hiccups that came during the game.
00:09:34
Chino Onwuka
you know, that's a lot of maturity and, you know, for Arteta as well in, how you know Real Madrid, you know they have injuries, but we do too, some serious injuries and the way he's been able to marshal such a a credible, formidable team, even even in spite of everything that's going on.
00:09:54
Chino Onwuka
Chukuru, as someone who watches lot Arsenal and Real Madrid, you know it's interesting to get your your point of view on on for for both teams.
00:10:06
Chuku
Man, man, man. like Notice how I just just wanted to soak in the moments of just hearing hearing my boys chat about this this this tie, this victory. This is a monumental moment. Like Chinon said earlier, this is an Arsenal team that has not made it to the semifinals of the Champions League since boys were in boarding school.
00:10:33
Chuku
boys were like it's it's been a hard minute man like can we just take and just soak in the fact like we as as men did not see our this team in the semi-finals until our pre-teenager teenage years bro boys can you just imagine yeah even Even then, even even that.
00:10:55
Chuku
It was just such a huge moment that I'm just so proud of the boys. And can't even put into words how I feel being able to just experience that. I was lucky enough to have watched that game working from home you know, at my parents and and being able to share that moment with, the you know, with my dad in terms of just being able to show show those two Declan free kicks. This is how our dad is, Emeka.
00:11:24
Chuku
our dad is i'm like He doesn't even watch the games. He can't watch it live. He has to look at the stats via his phone just to keep up with the score.
00:11:35
Chuku
He can't even put himself through through the the stress and agony of watching the team live. I had to go up and show him every single like highlight of all the goals that went in that 3-0 matchup. But and anyways, besides the point, besides the point, let's get back on track, back on track.
00:11:54
Chuku
I mean, what can I say, man? Like having, you know, being a supporter of Arsenal, watching our games every week, week in, week out. And then obviously having, you know, an interest in terms of, you know, um, know,
00:12:07
Chuku
Madrid and like my brother has mentioned, like, you know, I mean, side note here, but, you know, I like to put a small bets, you know, in in terms of, you know, Madrid and, you know, that obviously encourages me to want pay attention and see what's going on.
00:12:22
Chuku
And, man, there have been so many times this season, that Madrid have lost some questionable games to some questionable teams.
00:12:33
Chuku
So it's not like you know this Madrid team that we're talking about world beaters in the sense that you know they were having a great, great season. like They've already shown this season they can lose games. But at the same time, I don't want to get carried away because, again, this is the same squad that just won the Champions League less than 12 months ago.
00:12:55
Chuku
Like, let's not act as simple. I feel like people take this, you know, whole, this Madrid not being the best Madrid to to a whole, you know, I think they take it too far, but I definitely think there is a point to be made because, obviously, they do have they do suffer from injuries.
00:13:11
Chuku
They are playing as you know as a teenager,
Real Madrid's Weaknesses vs Arsenal's Strength
00:13:13
Chuku
in a sense. You They are playing, you know, a right winger as a right back. On my screen, a right winger a right back. So there are some injuries.
00:13:22
Chuku
Yes, there are. But I don't want it to be an excuse as to, you know, ha how and why this victory was a monumental one on Arsenal's part.
00:13:27
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:13:32
Chuku
Because again, Arsenal... just like Madrid also suffer from injuries. we are we are We're missing our nine.
00:13:37
Chino Onwuka
yeah
00:13:41
Chuku
We are missing our top one of our top defenders that's been one of the better defenders all year.
00:13:47
Chino Onwuka
We also had a major playing in defense.
00:13:47
Chuku
Like, we have a team.
00:13:49
Chino Onwuka
We also have guy playing out of position.
00:13:51
Chuku
Of course, that's what I'm saying.
00:13:52
Chino Onwuka
So, you know, You know, I'm glad to say that because, you know, when people... I'm sure in hindsight, everyone's going to say, or like, yeah, this Real Madrid team isn't good. Yeah, this Arsenal team has really been struggling as well.
00:14:05
Chino Onwuka
So it's really interesting seeing people change their tune from when the draw was first made to be like, oh, it's only Madrid. And like you're pointing out, Chico, and I'll let you carry on, no matter what happens going forward, I do not want anything to take away from the performance...
00:14:16
Chuku
yeah
00:14:23
Chino Onwuka
that that Arsenal team put together against, like you said, the defending champions over two legs. Continue.
00:14:32
Chuku
100%, 100%, no
00:14:33
Emeka
I have some questions for you. just Just real quick, my brother. I got glasses on. My vision ain't the best. Did Mbappe play both games?
00:14:42
Chuku
He sure did.
00:14:44
Emeka
Did Vanessa Jr. play both games?
00:14:46
Chuku
definitely did!
00:14:48
Emeka
Couture play both games?
00:14:50
Chuku
in short that
00:14:52
Emeka
Did Jude Beringham play both games?
00:14:54
Chuku
and definitely did
00:14:55
Emeka
Okay, okay. Like you said, I don't want to hear anybody talking about this performance. Anybody. That's all I can say about that. Please continue, Chikou.
00:15:02
Chuku
I'm with you, boys. I'm with you 100% because, you know, I'm really hearing narratives of people talking about this ain't the typical Madrid. This ain't the best Madrid, blah, blah, blah, blah.
00:15:13
Chuku
All I know is this is the same squad, like I said earlier. Won the Champions League just twelve months less than 12 months ago. I ain't trying to hear all this BS about Madrid not being Madrid. And they want to add a whole Mbappe into that equation.
00:15:26
Chuku
Whether the matchup and mix and matches fits, I don't give a damn. Point is, this is still Madrid. This is still the quote-unquote team that has all the pedigree in the cup and Arsenal.
00:15:40
Chuku
Not just one, but again, I feel like people need to emphasize, beat this team home and away. unbelievable sightings.
00:15:50
Chuku
I just, i I can't even begin to just tell you how happy I was in terms of that result. And I think I really got to come away, come out of this with, I mean, there's a lot to come out of this, a lot to come out of this. is's crazy It's crazy. too much to talk about, but I just want to just point out to three players. Okay.
00:16:11
Chuku
Three players that I just want to just, again, just big up even more individually. All right. One, Myles Lewis-Kelley.
00:16:21
Chuku
I think, boys, it it might really be time to have a conversation. And, like, I think it has to be sad. I know we've talked about this a little bit in the past, but I'm just telling
Declan Rice's Midfield Brilliance
00:16:31
Chuku
you all right now.
00:16:32
Chuku
Like, to Tino's point, you know, this guy could be a ridiculous midfielder. Like, all the workings in terms of what attributes he needs to be in the midfields. I think he, from what I've seen, he has it in spades.
00:16:49
Chuku
If he wanted to play, or if I tell you ever felt like, you know, we could, you know, put him in midfield, 100%, 100,000% believe he would do a job. However, i just think it's going to be one of those things where, you know, when, you know, with football, a lot of things just have to just, just, they just kind of happen. And then once it happens, it just takes off from there. And, you know, that just,
00:17:13
Chuku
you know, the way it goes and the way it's ridden. And in this case, I'm speaking more about just Luis Kelly fitting himself into that left-back position. I just think... He has just made that his position. Like, he has made it his role. Like, yes, I definitely don't doubt he could do a job in midfield, and who knows if we ever get to actually see that you know come to fruition in the future.
00:17:36
Chuku
But for now, all I got to say is that's my left back. This boy is special. He's already... Making waves to be one of the best fullbacks in England. I'm just saying, i don't want to hype him up too crazy.
00:17:52
Chuku
But boy, I think we got a special one in this kid. So, shout out to Lewis Kelly. Props out. One to watch. Can't believe he's 18. I can't wait to see what he turns into as the years go by.
00:18:06
Chuku
Second is... Declan Rice has to be a world-class midfielder. I feel like I've heard too many debates about this. People talk about, oh, is he good? Is that right? We spent $100 million.
00:18:19
Chuku
you know People like to make shots or take shots every now and then. Even though I feel like within the Arsenal fan base, I think a lot of us could have agreed even from last season. Man, we believe the $100 million was well spent.
00:18:31
Chuku
I think he's always been, a you know within at least the fan base, so always been looked at as a great signing. But for whatever reason, I feel like the rival fan bases weren't giving him...
00:18:44
Chuku
to there were still chatters out there. If if you pay close attention, there were still chatters out there questioning that signing of Declan Rice for that prize that we did.
00:18:55
Chuku
And I'm here to say, after this full leg, watching this Arsenal team, go to the Bennebal, play at home, beat this team twice in this matchup, and Declan Rice receiving man of the match twice in both accounts.
00:19:14
Chuku
There's, thought, it's an offset, man. In fact, in my opinion, if you still have questions about 100 million for Rice, I don't know what to tell you because in my opinion, I still think we owe West Ham another $100 million because this guy is beyond class. He epitomizes everything we need in in a in a my in a good midfield. And i feel like Declan Rice, honestly...
00:19:39
Chuku
yeah you can't get enough praise from me because he is just out of this world. See some of the clenching tackles he was making away at the Bernabeu.
00:19:50
Chuku
Look at the free kicks that he scored at home in doubt and and that leg. He just did everything. In a midfield battle that consisted of Drew Bellingham, at one point Valverde, Chiromene, Kamavinga,
00:20:08
Chuku
Declan Rice looked like the best midfielder. I can't emphasize this. So I think people just need to just accept and learn that, look, man, Declan Rice, he's world class. And I'm just glad he's in my football club.
00:20:22
Chuku
I'll leave it at that. Last player I wanted to bring up, and again, Emeka, I think you touched on this. The blast when we head into this matchup of people trying take shots at Saka, talking about, hearing thoughts of, he can't lace next to Rodrigo, Rodrigo this, Rodrigo that.
00:20:43
Chuku
My God! In a field that had Vini Rodrigo Mbappe, I'm here to tell y'all, Saka looked like the best attacking option on that pitch.
00:20:56
Chuku
And I don't want to hear it no more. Saka is completely world class. my My boy missed a penalty, second on leg. from trying to do a Panneka chip, and still said, hold that, I'm to chip you regardless, when he had his next opportunity one-on-one.
00:21:16
Chuku
what if that ah't If that doesn't tell you this boy has nerves of steel, in terms of believing in his ability, I don't know what what else he's got to do, because this boy... After missing the penalty, he still had the audacity to still go back and still try to dink again.
00:21:32
Chuku
and it's it hit the way it did. Like, enough. I mean, you know, at this point in time, it's just Saka, man. he's He's a cold brother.
Saka's Global Status
00:21:42
Chuku
He's top, easily top three best wide-wingers in the world. If not, top two.
00:21:48
Chuku
I don't know else he can do. Done it for both country and club. This boy is special. Still only 23 years old. 22 or 23. One of the two. Either way, this boy is under 25.
00:22:02
Chuku
Cooking has been super consistent the last four years. I don't know what else he needs to do to earn the right to be called world class. But in my opinion, he's earned that title for me.
00:22:13
Chuku
And yeah, there's more. Obviously, there's other players that know deserve shout outs. Marino, people you know people need to apologize to Marino and Curior for their performances and how they've been able to fit in with injuries in the team.
00:22:26
Chuku
but you know Martinelli has come to play recently. mean, I got Ikro on that. He's definitely you know made me eat my words you know about him.
00:22:36
Chuku
Thomas Partey... thomas party Boy, what a midfielder. What a midfielder. I mean, I really do hope, you know, with these performances, we you know, we at least we sign him to a one year plus one, one plus one year deal or something along those lines.
00:22:53
Chuku
But regardless, I would want to keep him for another year, until we start, you know, adding better, uh, you know, better help, you know, in the midfield position. But the party has been immense.
00:23:05
Chuku
And, yeah, man, the whole team has just made us proud. And I just think, you know, people just need to start putting respect on, on Arsenal's name. That's just the best way I can put it. Put, put some respect on Arteta's name.
00:23:16
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, just to follow up on some of the things you made, and I'll start with where you ended off.
00:23:16
Chuku
And, uh,
00:23:17
Chuku
Yeah.
00:23:23
Chino Onwuka
Saka, I've been thinking about this, and I don't know whether I've mentioned it on the pod previously, but I feel like Saka is like Bukayo Saka. Let me say his name well.
00:23:35
Chino Onwuka
I feel like he's like the Jason Tatum of of soccer in that. He's just so good at everything, but not too flashy. So
00:23:46
Chino Onwuka
he people underrate him and they underrate him by thinking he's overrated when he's him. And he just goes about doing his thing effectively, no wasted movement.
00:23:59
Chino Onwuka
The way every time he gets the ball, he changes. You can see the way changes the the the geometry of what the defense has to do because they completely change their shape to account for him.
00:24:11
Chino Onwuka
And he just, the way he's able to think the game and manage the game that no matter what you throw at him, he has a solution. and And that's what makes him so dangerous. There's not one way to defend him because anything you throw at him, you know he might not be the best at it compared to no others' position, but he has an answer for everything and he can execute in any which way.
00:24:33
Chino Onwuka
And this is him not even fit yet. So the the disrespect, you know and and i like I love what he said when that question was asked to him, where he said, yeah I'll do my talking on the pitch. Thank you very much. And boy, did he do that.
00:24:48
Chino Onwuka
You know, Declan Rice, you know, last year there were, no one was talking about his fee. Like he's one of the few hundred million signings where nobody said anything. Now this year, like, like I said, it's multiple times on the pod. I feel like he was carrying something and he, he didn't seem the same player the first half of the season. But since, know,
00:25:09
Chino Onwuka
since December onward, he's just been back to his old self and maybe even taking it up a gear as he's taking a little bit more responsibility. I think he's found a little bit more freedom in his role. think he understands more of the things that he can he can try out and do.
00:25:26
Chino Onwuka
and so you can just see him with all the elements to this game, just him adding new things to his locker or discovering things he had in his locker that he can now bring at this stage. It's just amazing. you know MLS, like...
00:25:39
Chino Onwuka
I don't know what else I can say. Like i I've spoken about it multiple times. The joy of, you know, something that you've seen and watched for such a long time. And, you know, you dream about what it could turn into, you know, when it comes to young players and the fact that it's actually coming to fruition just as you dream and even better than you dream is just amazing. MLS, he is one of our own.
00:26:05
Chino Onwuka
It feels a little bit different when it when when it's someone from your own academy. And what I just love is his cojones. He has no fear. Think about the players he's coming up against and he's like, yeah, you're you're good, but I'm good too. We're going to do what we do.
00:26:21
Chino Onwuka
but Just to name some other players that I really want to shout out. You know you mentioned it. I owe. Kiv, you're a big apology because I was i was scared you know once Gabriel went down. and you know Even the first 10 minutes of the first leg, I was like, oh no, like here we go. butd he He has come in and he has done the job.
00:26:40
Chino Onwuka
Maruno, I was not familiar with your game. i i honestly thought it was a wasted time and effort on that signing. I thought you were just a plug and play player who was a little slow to the game, but He's been put into a new position and he's just... <unk>s He's getting better and better at it, you know, each game.
00:27:03
Chino Onwuka
You know think Premier League might be a different story, but definitely, you know, in Europe, like, he has shown his quality and he's he's already more than paid off his signing, being able to to fill in at an emergency role and and produce.
00:27:17
Chino Onwuka
The one guy that hasn't been mentioned yet, but that I really, really want to shout out is... my fellow brother in the Lord, Drury and Timber.
00:27:28
Chino Onwuka
My goodness. Like I don't think it we could it could get any better with what we've been enjoying in Ben White. And the fact that we now have the both of them and hopefully they're both healthy next season, where you have another amazing right back coming. Like, want you think about this. he's He's younger than Saliba.
00:27:54
Chino Onwuka
I think just with the way he plays in his maturity, we think maybe he's a little bit like, oh, he's 25 or something. He is younger, just a little bit younger than Saliba. And he just comes in and he just does the job. Doesn't matter what type of winger you put at him, you know he's going to give you a solid shift at the right back. And he was coming against one of the best players in the world in Vinicius. And that's the side Mbappe likes to come in as well. And it was just a shutdown thing.
00:28:21
Chino Onwuka
So... Julian Timber, you know, the whole team deserves your flowers. Gabriel Martinelli, I was so happy that he scored that goal. But I just wanted to give a special shout out to Julian Timber.
00:28:34
Emeka
Hey man, for giving everyone flowers. First of all, echo everything you guys have said about everybody. like The whole team deserves flowers. MLS, you've all said what needs to be said. I stand on, he's made left back his own. He's getting England call-ups. That's my left back of the future.
00:28:50
Emeka
Big shout out to Bukayo Saka. oh Big shout out to Declan Rice. I have put my hands up. I love Rice. I always thought he was better as a six than an eight.
00:29:01
Emeka
The brother can play wherever he wants to play. He's got the skills, athleticism, everything. And like Chinon said, I can agree Chinon. I thought he was carrying a groin injury or something but to start the year.
Jurrien Timber's Defense Excellence
00:29:13
Emeka
Who? 2025? Declan Rice on a different wavelength. And I've noticed especially when games get open, His athleticism takes over in the midfield.
00:29:24
Emeka
He can get the ball, get a tackle, and carry the ball 50, 60 yards easily. Sprinting, muscling guys out, and he can play that pass, and then play the pass before the pass.
00:29:35
Emeka
like He is... Like my brother Chukwu said, it how can you not say he's not world class? In a tie that had Jude Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, he was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch. It wasn't even close to me.
00:29:52
Emeka
He played like he has three lungs. Like, I just, oh, I can't speak enough about. Also, I wanted to give, I'm happy to give a shout out at the end because I was going to hype him up. Jurian Timber, Joshua 1-5. This man.
00:30:06
Emeka
I love Vinicius. And I don't want to, signed to Madrid a lot, but I always wanted to dedicate, I love Vinicius Jr. In the Champions League, after Ronaldo's generation, next generation, no one's better than Vinicius Jr. in the Champions League.
00:30:19
Emeka
So by sir my shock when I saw Timber put this man in Alcatraz. Like, Vinny has some, you know, he has like, in over 180 minutes, I promise you, he maybe had three sets successful dribbles.
00:30:32
Emeka
This is the best dribble in the world. Lockdown. Why i love Timber is, he has great man marking, but he's still physical too. So it's like, you can't out-muscle me.
00:30:44
Emeka
I got pace, you can't out-pace me. And if there's one-on-one defending, I got that too. Like, ugh. you know how good you have to be to keep Ben White out the side? Ben White that last year, I think every Arsenal fan have top five player of the season.
00:30:57
Emeka
I was hyping this guy up. Team of the year right back. He's back healthy. I don't even know if White's healthy and injured anymore because I'm like, Timber's playing if he's healthy. Like, what a guy. But I got to give proper shouts out to two people who haven't been brought up yet.
00:31:12
Emeka
Mikel Marino. Huh. I keep reading about how Arsenal ain't got a number nine. We don't got a number nine. don't know when look at the screen. I see a number nine up there. see Marino.
00:31:23
Emeka
a goal and two assists in the Champions League quarterfinals against Real Madrid. who Who could have ever thought that?
00:31:30
Chino Onwuka
And all quality.
00:31:30
Emeka
Who could have ever thought that?
00:31:31
Chino Onwuka
It wasn't like it was tap-ins and like off his shit all quality.
00:31:36
Emeka
I feel for that first leg. In any other first leg that didn't have two genuine 10 out of 10 free kicks, that Marino's goal would actually be in folklore. Because that finish was amazing.
00:31:46
Emeka
Left foot one time. Oh. And then my brother Chinon said, brother, his assist, he was passing. Oh. Fantastic. But finally, the whole team deserves flowers, but I want to give a special one to Gabriel Martinelli because it's I know he's not technically an academy kid. I don't care.
00:32:06
Emeka
I have seen this brother since he was 17, skinny Brazilian, wearing number 35. When he scored that goal against Chelsea and then did the hands on his chest celebration, i I always root for Martinelli.
00:32:17
Emeka
He hasn't had the best season last two years. The man works his socks off of the club.
00:32:24
Chino Onwuka
But even the last, like, I feel like since he's come back from his hamstring injury, feels like he's from a little bit more of what he used to be two years ago.
00:32:24
Emeka
like
00:32:32
Chino Onwuka
Like, I feel like he's had four or five straight really good games in a row.
00:32:37
Emeka
I agree. He's back dribbling again. And you mentioned how Marino's not great in in the Premier League versus the Champions League. And I think none of them is a Marino thing. It's just a respect thing. Teams in the Premier League have now known arsello Arsenal or Arsenal.
00:32:51
Emeka
They don't give us space. It's low block, mid block after low block and mid block every single game. Madrid, near the end of the game, they were like, you know what, and man, screw We're going to put Manziel forward. And I promise you, if you play a ding dangerous high line against Martinelli, that brother will catch you.
00:33:09
Emeka
His pace, even what impresses me the most about his pace is he carries it even in the 90th minute. Off the top of my head, Villa, Chelsea, now Madrid. There's so many games where 90th minute, he gets you on the counter because the brother that got that favela energy, got five lungs. Like 90th minute, he's pressing, he's chasing people, and he's chasing down balls. And was so happy he scored that goal.
00:33:34
Emeka
He deserved it. Oh, God, man, this is a, it means something, It means, it really means something to us Like this, this, this game.
00:33:44
Chino Onwuka
So much to wax lyrical about. So I'm going to move us on with two questions. you know One, question number one is which of the Declan free kicks did you guys think was better?
Arsenal's Recent Victories
00:34:01
Chino Onwuka
And two, where does, you know especially that the the first, because it was at home, Where does it rank amongst Arsenal performances in in your memory?
00:34:16
Chino Onwuka
Where does it rank? and mi I'll start with you.
00:34:23
Emeka
Oh, damn. Those are great questions. Is it, can we do Arsenal memories at the Emirates? Because there's all one obvious answer for pre-Emirates and that's invincible. So, I mean,
00:34:37
Chino Onwuka
But I'm just talking about maybe not moment in like a singular game.
00:34:41
Emeka
I get what you're saying.
00:34:41
Chino Onwuka
Like a singular
00:34:42
Emeka
I what you're saying. I'll say for the free kicks, I saw a YouTube comment of all things, and it's stuck with me ever since, that the first Declan free kick was the best free kick I've seen in years, and the second one was the best one I saw in 10 minutes.
00:34:58
Emeka
I have to go with the second one being better because the pace he hit that ball with, my goodness. Replays don't do it justice with slow motion. Fast-paced, regular, the speed he whipped that ball in, I i should have thinking about it.
00:35:14
Emeka
As for the best Arsenal game,
00:35:19
Emeka
Again, it's cheating. I'm... I guess the Vince Boles wasn't really one game. was a season. One-off game. I'll say Arsenal versus Hull is the best favorite one I have in my brain just because the trophy drought, 2-0 comeback, everything. Like, after that...
00:35:38
Emeka
I'm gonna say it's a tie for second with the Man City 5-1 and the Real Madrid 3-0 because both of those games, it just made me feel like Arsenal are back. I don't care what this season is about.
00:35:50
Emeka
This is Arsenal I grew up with. For the first time in a decade plus, I truly believe my heart of hearts were at the worst of top five team in the world. And I haven't felt that way since I was 10 years old watching Henry, Perez, Lundberg, Vieira, all those men back then. Ever since then, I never really felt like truly we're the one of the best teams in the world.
00:36:11
Emeka
Seeing us smack Man City 5-1 and smack Madrid 3-0, that feeling came back.
00:36:17
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, I feel like probably part of it is we've talked about this already, but I have to go for bar with everything you just said. That second free kick, I don't know why, but I had an out-of-body experience. i don't Something about the fact that he did it again even better than the first one, the the fact that we were now two up against Madrid,
00:36:35
Emeka
to the end.
00:36:43
Chino Onwuka
for a game that I was very pessimistic about. Like i like i will always remember where I was for that free kick. And my only regret is that I wasn't at work so that I could have fully celebrated because I almost started running i around the office in that moment and only home training held me back. I ain't gonna lie.
00:37:09
Chino Onwuka
And I'm with you you. You have my exact same top three or top four because it is definitely the Real Madrid three zero the The Man City five one just felt like it was it was so, it was a little bit of catharsis because of every the wars we'd been in with Man City over the last two years, what happened in the first game of the season that to me just ended the title right there and then.
00:37:40
Chino Onwuka
And the fact that we, when they were down. You know, sometimes we've played teams when they've been in down moments and we haven't really punished them like we should have. We've just squeaked by. way we beat them down, shake it.
00:37:54
Chino Onwuka
and just sprinkle on top MLS scoring his first goal, giving it back to Haaland for the nonsense he was doing, even with the 27-pass sequence and then his symmetry curler into, oh, it was so sweet. it just It just put me at, like, when whatever else happens the rest of the season, like...
00:38:16
Chino Onwuka
It was not that it makes it worth it, but I can take because of this victory. And then this game, just for everything that it meant, you know, yes, the first, the FA Cup in 2014, you know, the last out-of-body experience I had with an Arsenal goal was Santi scoring that free kick to start the comeback.
00:38:38
Chino Onwuka
i yeah You guys were there with me in the pub. I... severely injured myself celebrating that goal. And I didn't feel the pain until after the game. that's that's how That's how sweet that moment was. you Definitely have to go with but that Barcelona's famous 2-1 victory over Barcelona with Wilshere's performance in midfield announcing himself and then that Arshaven counter goal. All are all our ballers, Wilshere to to Arshaven, just...
00:39:13
Chino Onwuka
beautiful moment, but I think this one means more than that because sometimes, you know, even I forget that we actually still lost that tie because we lost the second leg.
00:39:23
Chino Onwuka
This one, and I probably chose to forget it, but not only do we convincingly beat them, we didn't just hold on to to make it to the next leg.
00:39:23
Emeka
I'll never forget that. You will you forget that? I'll never forget that. i
00:39:35
Chino Onwuka
We beat them again in the second leg. So, you know, those are some of the the top moments for me and Probably some of those five twos and five threes against Chelsea or Tottenham will have to be in there somewhere as well.
00:39:50
Chino Onwuka
Chukwu, what are your some of your your moments?
00:39:55
Chuku
Well, I'm not going to really go into too much moments. All I'm really going to say is, regardless of all the moments you just brought out, because there have been a few, there have some pretty great moments. And lot of them, you know, happened to have just occurred this year, this year with the Man City 5-1.
00:40:14
Chuku
Man, that was beautiful, beautiful to see, to watch.
Reflecting on Arsenal's Journey
00:40:18
Chuku
And, you know, I still got to say that 3-0 to Madrid at home in the Champions League quarterfinals, if for me, for me, has to has to make it into...
00:40:34
Chuku
top three best moments watching live in terms of seeing my club, like, as a grown adult. Like, yeah, nah, that's definitely one of the but top three best moments for me, at least, I can say for sure.
00:40:50
Chuku
does does Just the fact that, you know, again, this is a the same Madrid team that won the champs the year before, come to your ground.
00:41:01
Chuku
Everyone's talked so much shit. Hell, i didn't even believe that we, you know, I didn't think we'd win a game. I thought we'd draw and then they beat us with some nasty, you know, nasty, nasty game at Burnabout. But, man, that 3-0, to give them 3-0 at home, yeah, no, that would definitely live in memory, in my memory for a long, long time.
00:41:23
Chuku
And, uh, for sure, guaranteed top three moments, for sure. And then as far as the free kicks, I mean, i don't think this is even a, you know, a debate, to me at least. The second free kick by far.
00:41:36
Chuku
The guy scored at the goalkeeper's side, yo Like, the goalkeeper is meant to, this is like, you the goalkeeper is daring you to come and put the ball in the top corner. And he put it at the only place he could not reach at his side.
00:41:54
Chuku
Like, it's, that was an insane free kick. I don't know what, like, Like Chino said, like, yo, my spirits lifted when that ball went in. Like, I had to pause for a second to check where I'm at. Like, bro, I was in my lunch break. I just, I couldn't even, like, fathom. I was, like, thinking to myself, man, I got to go back to work after this. Like, how am i gonna how am I going to be working? And I just seen one of the most craziest, you know, like,
00:42:21
Chuku
free kicks ever and is done by one of our top, our highest-paced signing, you know, and and in the Champions League quarterfinals against one of the best best teams of all time. Like, bro, it's it's insane, man. the The, I guess, the moment, like, just everything that went into it, like, I just think You him scoring that free kick, especially after he scored one or just a few minutes prior, and the the way the ball went, swerved to the top bins, like, that to me, yeah, has to be has to be the one. So, I'm taking that as my number one free kick for sure for sure between the two.
00:43:05
Chuku
And, I mean, I don't know. I guess I want to just segue this onto the next, you know, I guess another question here, boys.
Can Arsenal Win the Champions League?
00:43:14
Chuku
But, like, after seeing what we've just done in this leg, right, to Real Madrid,
00:43:22
Chuku
what are what what are y'all thinking we go from here? Because I'm going to tell y'all right now, man, I can't even hide this enough, like, I think we're winning the Champions League, boys. i Honest to God, I honestly feel this way. know we don't want to drop the gun.
00:43:40
Chuku
I know guys aren't feeling this. But look, let's that's face facts right now, boys. We're in a semi-finals against PSG.
00:43:54
Chuku
a Team we've already shown that we can play I have beaten sure granted this is is this is a PSG that made it the addition of of of a very very good player in Kravoskela Skelia forgive me from no Murder in that name, but the point is dip they made us yeah, they made a serious addition to that team but boys Just like how we've seen Declan Rice hold up and and shine in in in a midfield that consisted of those names that we talked about in Madrid.
00:44:30
Chuku
I've already seen what Declan Rice did to this PSG midfield. And I can tell you all right now, you give me PSG's midfield and you give me Real Madrid's midfield, I'm sorry, I'm more scared of Real Madrid's midfield, in my opinion, than I
00:44:44
Chino Onwuka
So Chukru, I like direction you're going. Before we move on to where, because I do want to talk about that, let's I want to make sure we we get to these so that we don't get too wrapped up in this.
00:44:56
Chuku
Okay.
00:44:57
Chino Onwuka
Let's talk about the other quarterfinal ties as well before we get to the the future matchups because you know I think like we've we've had some quarterfinals where some years where the quarterfinals were just maybe one or two good games, but some coordinations. I think like every quarterfinal matchup over both legs turned out to be great ties. Even even the even the two matchups where we thought you know there was a clear favorite over the others, like they all were were very riveting
PSG vs Aston Villa Quarterfinal
00:45:28
Chino Onwuka
games. So want to throw it out there to to talk about to talk about those games as well. We can start with PSG, since we want to talk Arsenal PSG.
00:45:40
Chino Onwuka
I think coming in, you know i had mentioned that I feel like Aston Villa can give them a tougher series than what people think because of how physical they play how direct they can be and you know that that directness with the way psg can be set up with psg are an amazing team coming into this they had just been thrashing teams left and right that due to that they became i think they along with barcelona became the the joint favorites for the champions league and so nobody was giving villa a chance but i just thought you know psg do have certain but vulnerabilities and i thought
00:46:20
Chino Onwuka
Aston Villa, you know, had the type of setup to be able to to take it to them and give them a game. I did think PSG would end up winning it. And, you know, we saw that play out. I think, you know, we speaking of, we saw some amazing goals in the quarterfinals.
00:46:36
Chino Onwuka
You know, that first, like every goal that PSG scored was a bagger. Different types of goals, skill, technique, finishing, team play.
00:46:49
Chino Onwuka
And so I think after that first leg, everyone wrote Villa off and then Villa come in and, you know, there was all this Remontada talk, Remontada talk. Villa are the team that actually tried to do the Remontada. Dortmund tried to do the Remontada and, you know, even saw some of that, you know, in in the Europa League as well. So I think Real Madrid was just all all the juju that they were trying to do. It it just went to other teams. So, you know, any any any thoughts on PSG Villa?
00:47:18
Emeka
You know, you touched on it. Just to echo your point, this quarterfinals, even in Europa League, this is what European football is about. This is football heritage, as they'd say.
00:47:31
Emeka
Great matchups, great goals, great teams. just There's something magical about the Champions League. I miss Like you said, we were in the wilderness for four years. This is what I miss. I miss these big nights.
00:47:43
Chino Onwuka
Not four years.
00:47:44
Emeka
Not four years.
00:47:44
Chino Onwuka
I i said 40 years because it was actually my
00:47:48
Emeka
You it's actually four years, but... Yeah, it's probably only four, actually.
00:47:50
Chino Onwuka
like, no, it was more than four years.
00:47:53
Emeka
You're right. But that's...
00:47:54
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, more than four years.
00:47:56
Emeka
I don't want to go My brother's talking a hot take. Honestly, not too hot. But I won't go in there because that's for... We got two weeks to talk about it. But right now, let's talk about the last matches.
00:48:06
Emeka
Man, Aston Villa, take a bow. If I could pull up a Villa fan and be like, five years ago, you won the championship. And now you're in a quarterfinals banging out with PSG.
00:48:21
Emeka
Life comes at you fast. and life it was It was just a great, great matchup to watch. PSG have been, the i feel like, everyone's surprise team. They lose Mbappe, write them off. They just, so many ballers.
00:48:36
Emeka
Kravodana, Dembele, Barcola, Desmond Dwey, Destiny. you know, Neves. They just have so many people. But why I i believe a little bit in Arsenal can do it, because that second leg showed me what I've It's a random heart take i've had, but I've always strongly believed it.
00:48:54
Emeka
Marquinhos is the most overrated player, I think, in in modern 2020. People who don't watch French League just put him up there because he's got amazing FIFA stats, and think one best center backs in the world. I've seen so many collapses where this guy was at the center of it.
00:49:11
Emeka
And as soon as Villa scored that second goal... It wasn't even a shock to me that they would come back because I've seen PSG collapse so quickly. Even Brazil collapsed so quickly.
00:49:22
Emeka
And I hate to put on one player, but I'm to put on Marquinhos a little bit. He's not mentally strong. Who is mentally strong is Donald Roma. When he made that transfer to PSG, the guy was getting slandered.
00:49:35
Emeka
Donald Roma. They have Kelo Navas. Why they need him? This is why you make that signing. Because this guy saved them. Villa had all the momentum in the world. They made it They're pressing.
00:49:48
Emeka
He pulled out two or three amazing saves. and And that was let the momentum ride out. That's what people who watch stats don't understand. I want to keep who saves things in the big moments, like Courtois, like Allison, and like Donna Roma. it's when You might let it go in here, there, whatever, but that one-on-one, when it's the game's on the knife edge, I need a keeper I can trust in those moments to build my team out.
00:50:13
Emeka
Or when we're just getting overrun I need a keeper I can believe in. And Donnarumma is up there with those big names. I've seen him bail PSGL with just some heavenly saves.
00:50:24
Emeka
And he bailed them out. But just the fact that I even say in the sentence, bailed them out from Aston Villa. Just, Europeia Emery, man. Like, give them credit. If you're a Villa fan, even if you you lost, you got to come away with just pride for your boys. Like,
00:50:41
Emeka
Down 3-1 first leg. And then down two goals in 28 minutes in the second leg. Nine out of ten teams just collapsed there. They say, you know what, man? We gave it a try. that we you know One step too many.
00:50:55
Emeka
Villa had some dogs in them and almost pulled a comeback out. So big, big props to them. And again, I'll send it for nice week. All I can say is PSG. Bring it on.
00:51:07
Emeka
Bring it on next leg.
00:51:09
Chino Onwuka
Chuku, do you anything to to add to PSG Villa?
Arsenal's Strategy Against PSG
00:51:12
Chino Onwuka
pi giilla
00:51:14
Chuku
Watching that like you know that particular series, I mean, it lived up to the hype for sure in terms of the action both ends. And you know that second leg at Villa, like you know it exactly in terms of why what it looked like, and that was with Villa chasing the game, leaving a lot to, you know, like, leaving themselves quite, you know, spread in the back, pause, but, you know, like, basically, you know, there was a lot of space that, you know,
00:51:51
Chuku
PSG could exploit. And basically, you know, it it it led for an made for an exciting game, that's for sure. You know, lot of goals conceded, and this is one of the reasons why I guess I'm so kind of like confident in terms of Arsenal's ability to at least make it to the finals is because I'm looking at this PSG team and yes, Donnarama has, you know, definitely helped. He made some some made some pretty crazy saves.
00:52:24
Chuku
He's done lot of good work in terms of for his club and country, you know, but with the way this PSG team plays, like it fits right into our hands in terms of the openness the the their willingness to play open football, there are going to be a lot of chances that I think Arsenal will be able to exploit for the wingers, as well as also...
00:52:55
Chuku
we're just a much better defensive side than Aston Villa. Aston Villa, like, at end of the day, like, Aston Villa, man, when they're playing certain guys, like, Paul Torres, I'm so sorry, man.
00:53:07
Chuku
Like, yo, I feel like if this guy's name was, i don't know, Paul,
00:53:13
Chuku
I don't know, Paul something, the point is,
00:53:15
Chino Onwuka
tell you later.
00:53:16
Chuku
There we go, Paul Taylor. Like, this guy is not that good, bro. I don't do not see the hype around this guy whatsoever. Like, the brother, in my opinion, stinks.
00:53:28
Chuku
But that's neither here nor there. The point is, like, even the first leg, when I seen them subbing Disaster Class, I fall back. I'm just like...
00:53:39
Chuku
Bro, like, these guys, I know my my timber will not let that happen. Let's just put it like that. I know certain guys in those positions aren't going to falter the way that I've seen Villa falter and book in both legs. And it just, like I said, you know, Villa, you know, they can they can, you know, put their, you know, they can feel great about how far they they they came and, you know,
00:54:10
Chuku
where they got to. i definitely think the defense let them down, but, at the end of the day, you know, they they they made it to the quarterfinals of the Champions League. That's crazy enough as it is, you know, I definitely think that's not something to poo-poo for Villa as a crazy accomplishment.
00:54:29
Chuku
And, you know, they they they look they looked like a good team. They looked like a good team. But they just didn't have enough. And PSG showed, you know, just enough quality quality to see them see themselves through.
00:54:44
Chuku
And, Yeah. Although they have quality in attacking positions, I just think... Arsenal are going to show themselves to be the better, well-rounded team.
00:54:57
Chuku
And we're going to come away with... um'm I'm confident. I don't know about y'all, man. I'm already thinking about the next round, man. I'm confident we're going to beat PSG.
00:55:08
Chuku
I mean, like the truth is, like how can you not feel confident after beating the reigning champions? both legs. Like, respect to PSG, but you're all in Madrid, and i mean, i think, you know, i'm I'm just excited to see how how that matchup plays out, and nor to Arsenal's defense, you can see when we're in the Champions League,
00:55:38
Chuku
say what you want to say about our season, you know, throughout the year, but in the Champions League, we have played some of our best football this year in that tournament.
00:55:49
Chuku
And it's not, I don't think it's a coincidence that, One of the reasons we're playing our best or we see ourselves, even when we've struggled in the league, the reason why we see our club come in and still play or look like a different side when it comes to this competition is that the teams in this competition are not teams that typically like to play the low block.
00:56:15
Chuku
They are more expansive teams that leave themselves open because they're actually trying to play football in the sense of trying to do something offensively. And I just think that just sits up well.
00:56:28
Chuku
sets up well with this Arsenal team. And I think, you know, PSG are going to fall right into our hands. Only team, like I said, that's left as scary, in my opinion, that their style of play could oppose ours and make for a more difficult game would have to be, obviously, Inter Milan.
00:56:50
Chuku
But we'll worry about that when we get there. At the end the day, As far getting to the finals, PSG being the next obstacle, I just think it plays very well to our hands.
00:57:03
Chuku
And yeah I'm really looking forward to that matchup. So we should see let's see how we'll see how that goes.
00:57:10
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, i like you know you've you've talked about the matchup. you know I think this is you know a matchup that's favorable for Arsenal just due to the way that PSG plays and the way they set up.
00:57:23
Chino Onwuka
you know They also play a a high line and you know with some of our players coming back into form with Martinelli being back in form with Declan sort of expressing himself more, sort of being able to drive, I think we can hurt teams more a little bit and You know, we've already played PSG before. You know, they weren't in the form that they are now in now, you know, to be very fair. but But, you know, we've shown that, you know, we can play against them and control them. That's what we need to do. We have to be able to control them because for all that said and done, even though we do have ways that we can attack them, they do have an amazing team that midfield
00:58:07
Chino Onwuka
can control a game and they have an array of attacking talent. You know, they didn't have KK back then. So I don't know what different dimension he'll play. I don't think Ousmane was playing, you know, as a striker during that first one. So, you know, as long as the team can keep, can play the same way they did against Madrid, you know, I think,
00:58:32
Chino Onwuka
we're in good shape.
Arsenal vs PSG: A Cautious Hope
00:58:33
Chino Onwuka
I think we have a good chance of making it to the final. I don't, um've been hurt the last two years in this season. Has been an amazing ride. We've talked about this. It's been some of the most and enjoyable seasons I've had, especially in my adult life, but I don't know if I could take any sort of another heartbreak, so.
00:58:58
Chino Onwuka
I'm trying to keep my feelings and emotions in moderation. You know, Chukwu has made certain statements, you know, certain statements, you know, that's in the deep recesses of my mind, you know, I allow myself to to go there, but I keep it, I keep it back there because, you know, I'm trying to, you know, you know what they say, protect your heart.
00:59:19
Chino Onwuka
I'm trying to protect my heart, but I think it should be a good game. I just, you know, at this stage with the four teams that are left, I don't think any gain is a a guarantee. I think it's fair to say we have a good chance, but
00:59:35
Chino Onwuka
PSG, yes, they have their frailties, but we've seen how they can hurt teams. We've seen what they
00:59:41
Chuku
Hey, you know, I don't mean to interrupt you, man, but I'm just going to say, bro like, after beating a defending champs in Real Madrid, I just don't know how, again, I'm not saying you need to go to to step to this point, but by the way, but I'm just saying, I just don't know how you can't, as an Arsenal fan, can't feel, like, gassed about your chances of getting to the finals.
01:00:07
Chino Onwuka
but no Like I said, feel confident we can win.
01:00:08
Chuku
But, I'm
01:00:09
Chino Onwuka
I feel confident that we can beat them over two legs, but it's just we're going to have to, again, I don't think it's going to be, okay, we're just going to show up and win.
01:00:17
Chino Onwuka
We're going have to, again, put in, everybody is going to have to put in a 10 out of 10 team performance to to make it. Like, yes, we've seen the fairies they had, but let's not forget what they did to Liverpool over two legs.
01:00:37
Chino Onwuka
Let's not forget what they did with Liverpool over two legs. we Yeah, we see what the... you know, history will show what the scoreline was, but we all watched both games against a a Liverpool team that people had as the favourites for the Champions League.
01:00:53
Chino Onwuka
They're dog-walking us in the prems, and see what they did to Liverpool. So it's just it's just that caution the back. I'm trying to keep things in balance. I'm definitely gassed. It's not the way I was feeling going into Madrid.
01:01:05
Chino Onwuka
I think we have a good chance, but I just want us to be guided. Emeka, your thoughts?
01:01:09
Emeka
you hu The last time we were this far in the Champions League was 2009. Like my brother said, 16 years ago,
Inter Milan vs Barcelona Preview
01:01:18
Emeka
we hadn't moved back to Canada yet. It was a different time in our lives.
01:01:23
Emeka
And I remember at the time thinking, we have no chance to win anything. yeah It's a miracle we got this far. i had zero faith we'd win the semifinal. had zero faith and anything would happen.
01:01:35
Emeka
He's gassing it up, but... there's There's a lot. there's a big part of me that does think we can win it. then And that's all I want to feel. It's just, I think we can do it. and And the Champions League final this year is May 31st.
01:01:49
Emeka
That's my 30th birthday. I'm going to be in Vegas at the time. It's the world. The universe is setting me up for something special. If I'm sort of in the final. But we will deal with that when we deal with that.
01:02:02
Emeka
For now, the teams that we might have to face if we get there the other side of the bracket, Barcelona and Inter Milan, those are both serious teams. Like Chinon mentioned, the Real Montana, everyone's hyping up Real Madrid. It might have been Dortmund. I gave Dortmund zero chance in the second leg. Zero. i was I even put the game on. I said, it's it's a wrap.
01:02:24
Emeka
I kept checking the score. like, Gourassi's going to win the Champions League Golden Boots. I don't think people have deeped that. This guy has, I think, 14 goals in the Champions League. Obviously, the expanded thing is different. But props to him.
01:02:39
Emeka
You don't see many 30-year-old strikers getting get the transfers and and excelling. Barcelona-Inter Milan is going to be a matchup. matt And I've been hyping up Inter Milan the entire time because...
01:02:53
Emeka
the or We've seen Arsenal Champions League all season. The toughest game by far we had was against Inter Milan. It gave us nothing. Just dark arts. If they were dark arts FC, who go out to Inter Milan and play.
01:03:03
Emeka
You see dark arts. And Barcelona, offensively, the ah ah elect the the team, I think most this year, have been smacking teams up. Rafinha, don't know what got into him this year.
01:03:14
Emeka
The brother just turned into an elite production all of a sudden. Lewandowski, 37 years old, still banging goals left and right.
01:03:22
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, I'm amazed to hear that.
01:03:22
Emeka
And...
01:03:24
Chino Onwuka
He's got 40 goals for the season.
01:03:26
Emeka
you're going to probably win the European golden boot Lewandowski. Like it's Lewandowski and flick combination.
01:03:29
Chino Onwuka
Wow. Wow.
01:03:33
Emeka
Hey, well, yeah I might go down as one of those manager player combinations of all time. And the only star boy that might be a bigger star boy than soccer. Let me know.
01:03:44
Emeka
I've, I try to watch as much. Like I said, I was much the league as I can. This kid, I hate that it's a part of me, but there's a part of me that always wants to be contrarian and be a hater.
01:03:56
Emeka
So when someone gets all the hype, I'm like, they ain't even that good. And especially, you know, as an Arsenal fan of Sakai, when I'm hearing people say this guy's better than I'm like, get out of here, man. What are you talking about? The star boy.
01:04:07
Emeka
When you watch Lamal play, It doesn't make sense to be 17. It just doesn't make sense. Like, forget the numbers. Production. Just watch him play.
01:04:18
Emeka
The composure this man has. I think, man, this boy has. The finish he had. Anyone who plays football. I one of those i think Amin's goal is one of those, like, if you play football, if haven't played football, ball you'll know.
01:04:29
Emeka
Because if you play football, you know that 99 out of 100 people side-foot that finish. And if he did that, the defender is stopping it. But to just toe-poke it like that is something you expect from a veteran, like a 40-year-old veteran, to do that kind of finish.
01:04:46
Emeka
It's a natural thing.
01:04:47
Chino Onwuka
i I think Yamal is the second best 17-year-old of all time. in football history, 17 year old, because I can make it like, Yamal, he's another player I've watched since he was 13. People were saying he was the next Messi and all that.
01:05:07
Chino Onwuka
For him to live up to the hype and do it at this age, because people talk about, you know, what Messi and Cristiano became, and I'm not saying that Yamal's going to get to that level, but they weren't doing this at 17.
01:05:22
Chino Onwuka
The only other guy who is produced at this age, at this level is Pele. And that was what, in the sixties when TV was black and white. So this kid is unreal.
01:05:36
Chino Onwuka
He deserves his flowers. I ain't gonna say a word of hate to him. It's frightening to think about what he can continue to do, you know, with health. God willing, and once he fully grows into his body, once he gains some man strength, because again, he's 17 years old, he's a kid.
01:05:54
Chino Onwuka
Once he adds a little bit of power into his game with the guile and technique and vision and intelligence that he has, Dios mio, Dios mio.
01:06:05
Emeka
1000% like it's like it's it doesn' it make When you watch him play, its to me, the what surprises me the most is the passing. Most young guys, when they come up, they get they come up because they're amazing dribblers and have amazing pace.
01:06:21
Emeka
Those are usually two ways young wingers burst into the scene. He has both, but the passing he has, it just, all I know is if I ever have a kid, I'm flying him out to Barcelona.
01:06:36
Emeka
I need Lamin to baptize his kid, pass on the juice. Messi baptize him. He baptizes my kid. We get the next Nigerian Messi generation. Don't worry. We'll make it pop it.
01:06:47
Emeka
and like, as much as I, you know, God willing, Arsenal get past, PSG next round. Whoever we play on the opposite leg, PSG, I mean, Barcelona, Inter Milan, is going to be a banger because Inter Milan, the dark arts I see from these guys, I've seen Arsenal play against many teams in the Champions League this year.
01:07:10
Emeka
Inter Milan's got to be up there as the toughest game we've seen. Just the defensive solidarity they had, just everything. And I can't wait to see that matchup for Spain, Italy attack versus defense is just, is just a perfect, like I said earlier, at this is what the European football is, what champions league is about.
01:07:30
Emeka
I'm so excited.
01:07:33
Chino Onwuka
All right, so what what what's your, we're we're probably going to revisit this and and probably dive into it a little bit more, but or the early call, who who you got in that leg?
01:07:44
Emeka
I think it's funny. I didn't realize this point until Ari said it last week.
Future Arsenal vs Barcelona Showdown?
01:07:48
Emeka
Champions League finals getting held in, I believe, in Paris again this year. Either way, it's going to be a rematch between Arsenal and Barcelona from 2006. 20, 19 years later,
01:08:03
Emeka
fire i know i know heartbreak so that You talk about repressed memories? That is the most repressed memory of my life, I promise you. i I have never watched replays of that game in the 19 years since it happened.
01:08:15
Emeka
That's the one game never seen a replay of. I think we rew right we right some wrongs. Our soul is wrong.
01:08:20
Chino Onwuka
i've ah've thought I've thought about it, I've thought about the all the narratives, the story, and I'm like, it better be because if not, like the football gods owe us something.
01:08:33
Chino Onwuka
They owe us a lot. They owe us a lot. Like, yo, I don't care how cliche that script is, write that in ink.
01:08:44
Chino Onwuka
or blood like let that be the script let that be how the story ends that needs to be because oh man oh man that is good I just feel like inter is gonna be able to stifle and like in the suck like you you've mentioned it and mecca and Zagy is such an amazing coach that's not getting his flowers I just feel like you know we talked about how PSG showed some vulnerability
01:08:53
Emeka
you
01:09:11
Chino Onwuka
Barcelona also showed some vulnerability, and I just feel like Barca probably have the better... I don't know how to say this, the better team, but Inter has the stronger team. That doesn't even make sense.
01:09:31
Emeka
I think you said Brussels are having the better players and to have the best team.
01:09:31
Chino Onwuka
Same beast, but Inter...
01:09:36
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, something and something along those lines. You guys know what I mean. And I just think that they're just going to frustrate and grind their way past Barcelona. Because Barcelona, they also have some demons that they're trying to exercise when it comes to the Champions League. And I think Inter is just going have enough know-how and nuance just to just to squeeze by them.
01:10:00
Chino Onwuka
Chukwu, your call on that series, that tie?
01:10:05
Chuku
I think it's just reading the stars, man. I'm sorry to say it, but Arsenal-Barcelona speaking to me, man. I think the guards got something to say.
01:10:16
Chuku
They got something to say about that dirt that the referee did to us way, way back when.
01:10:21
Chino Onwuka
mother I mean, the restaurant was...
01:10:25
Chuku
When they gave us that red card, that I still feel was unjustified.
01:10:26
Chino Onwuka
think that was legit.
01:10:30
Chuku
But you know what? It is what it is.
01:10:31
Chino Onwuka
The offside goals was a problem, but...
01:10:32
Chuku
Let's not run back.
01:10:38
Chuku
Listen, I'm not trying to bring you... but Let's decide the points.
01:10:43
Chuku
Look, there was some poor refereeing. Things didn't go away. it is what it is. That was, you know, again, over decade plus ago. So we're going to let that one slide.
01:10:56
Chuku
We're going to let that one go. But for real, though, I just think this year, your mom, like ze you think you were saying earlier, man, that this guy, has to be in the top three best 17-year-olds of all time, hands down. The brother is doing some things that just don't even make sense.
01:11:16
Chuku
Rafinha is on a class of his own, having a wonderful year. Lewandowski still popping in goals at age 37. like Pedri, not spoken of enough, enough but he's doing his thing.
01:11:34
Chuku
You know, like, yeah, Barcelona, man, like, they're they're... They've been clicking. They've been clicking this year, man. And as much as Inzaghi has gotten in those boys in Inter to play, you know, very, very nice defensive ball and they've been, you know, winning games, you know, all all year, i just think Barcelona just hit in form at the right time. And I think they just got...
01:12:03
Chuku
too much foul firepower on offense that I think is going to be a situation where offense just happens to just be better than de the defense.
01:12:14
Chuku
And yeah, I see Barcelona going through. And I've already told you my feelings about Arsenal PSG. I 100% feel confident that we're going to show where the better team.
01:12:27
Chuku
in that matchup. And it's going to be, you know, a rematch of Arsenal-Bastona. And I think this is the year that, you know, we get our revenge. I really do.
01:12:37
Chuku
And, you know, it's going to be a crazy summer if this happens.
Arsenal's Injury Update
01:12:42
Emeka
Oh, it's correct.
01:12:44
Chuku
You know, we're going to be in Vegas.
01:12:44
Emeka
It's correct.
01:12:47
Chuku
ah ah i wonder to When it's time for the... right Is that correct, bro? Vegas, you win. Okay, okay. Okay, so yeah, it's going to be a crazy, crazy time.
01:12:59
Chuku
I'm sure regardless, we're going to have plenty of drinks, you know, flowing that day because, yeah, the nerves are just going to be skyrocketing, but I honestly believe, like i said, I really do believe this is our year, and it's funny I say that with all the injuries we've gotten so far, but Man, if I could...
01:13:19
Chuku
I don't know. Were you guys hearing any words? was hearing some small possibilities of Havertz returning back if we made it to the finals.
01:13:23
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, it looks like Yeah.
01:13:28
Chuku
I don't know. I was hearing something, some rumblings. I don't know y'all were hearing the same things I was hearing, but the fact that there's a possibility, I'm just saying, man, Havertz in the finals, in the one game against Barcelona, like, that would be insane.
01:13:36
Chino Onwuka
Look look hard you all look up look how y'all are excited to have Haberts back. I remember what y'all were saying about him just before he got injured, but Haberts makes the heart grow thunder.
01:13:45
Emeka
Hey, who's y'all?
01:13:45
Chuku
oh i mean, I wouldn't even know how to...
01:13:46
Emeka
Who's y'all?
01:13:50
Chuku
Hey, Hey, look.
01:13:53
Emeka
Marino is my nine.
01:13:56
Chuku
Hey, man. Say whatever you want to say. The fact is, Avers is our nine, bro, and we could use all the firepower.
01:13:59
Emeka
you know Marino is my nine. Until the season ends, Marino my number nine. throw season end but eagle by different
01:14:06
Chuku
yeah Are you saying with a healthy Avers, you're still taking Marino over Avers?
01:14:11
Chuku
Oh, brother. What is wrong with this guy? What a deflection.
01:14:14
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, that's right, really.
01:14:15
Chuku
Look, either way, it is what it is.
01:14:16
Chino Onwuka
I want everybody everybody back.
01:14:17
Chuku
I'm just saying we could use we could use all the help we can get.
01:14:19
Chino Onwuka
Let's give Arteta his choice of selections.
01:14:21
Chuku
And having the options of Marino and Havertz, we'll take that will take all with choice is all I'm saying.
01:14:35
Chuku
So, yeah, man.
Manchester United's Europa League Comeback
01:14:38
Chuku
Bless him.
01:14:42
Chino Onwuka
some tournament that they play on on Thursday night, but there were some other quarterfinals going on as well.
01:14:46
Chuku
Amen.
01:14:48
Chino Onwuka
United Beyond, I thought I was going to be tuning in for the last five minutes of a a successful hate watch. And I saw something that, you know, brought some PTSD in my heart, which is, you know, the ghost of former...
01:15:09
Chino Onwuka
Fergie time showed up again for United in that, you know, for those of y'all catching up, United it was up Then Leon equalized, they choked it, Leon equalized back to 2-2.
01:15:24
Chino Onwuka
Then Leon got a red card, you know, squeaked it into extra time and then somehow went up 4-2 in extra time with about five minutes left, wherein United scored
01:15:34
Chuku
Thank you.
01:15:37
Chino Onwuka
A goal to make it four three another goal in the 120th minute to tie it up, and then another one in extra time to win the game.
01:15:49
Chino Onwuka
It was just a madness. And, Mecca, I'm going to go to you for this because I think you were you're watching everything live.
01:15:55
Emeka
You were watching it.
01:15:56
Chino Onwuka
Like, bruh.
01:15:59
Emeka
hu You know, I think we've never said a good word about Man U the entire time we had this podcast. For good reason. They've been trashed. I'll give Man U people some flowers today. That was one of the best 15 minutes I've seen in my life.
01:16:14
Emeka
I don't know what I'm able to say. How many times do you see four goals scored in the fifteen half of extra time? Because when it was 4-2, thought it was over.
01:16:25
Emeka
said, laka zet, laka. Hit the penalty. I thought it was done. And a guy who I personally slandered so much. Casemiro won the penalty and made two assists to win the game.
01:16:39
Emeka
Flowers for him.
01:16:39
Chino Onwuka
No, that is like, here's something to think about, you know, the, I think though the real Madrid Ramon Tada lies within the players and Casemiro brought that to the team today. Like that is, he had the spirit of Ramon Tada within him.
01:16:55
Emeka
No, 100%. I fully agree. i People say, and we joke about Madrid Black Magic, but Madrid's Black Magic, they have great players. And great players make great plays. And Casemiro, as we pass it, to lead the football for the football leaves you, as Carragher would say, he's still a champion, and he's still got that belief.
01:17:16
Emeka
And Leon did a generational choke, but I got to give the players credit, Bruno Fernandes, the only man United player who can hold his head up high this year.
01:17:28
Emeka
Casemiro out there. And man like Harry Maguire. It always cracks me up when a team is chasing the game and they throw a center back up there because they're like, he's big.
01:17:40
Emeka
He can win headers. It works. It works. They put Slam head up there. Hey, man, it worked.
01:17:47
Chino Onwuka
No, United would definitely be a lot better if they played Harry Maguire at striker instead of Holland and Xerxes. Like, guaranteed.
01:17:55
Emeka
one
01:17:57
Chino Onwuka
Because every time they do that, he actually, not everybody, he scores a lot of those times. Like, that is not the first time I've seen them chuck him in there and he's done something.
01:18:07
Emeka
He... I fully... like Not really laughing, but, like, it's it's so true. Like, Hoyland can't control a ball to save his life. Xerxi thinks he's midfielder.
01:18:18
Emeka
At the very least, Maguire stays in the box, and he's a target man. He wins headers. Like... He won them this game. He was just in there. Casemiro found him, bullied the poor little defender, put his big head on that ball, now they're going through.
Premier League's European Standings
01:18:34
Emeka
Hey, people, last year, I remember the slander the Premier League was getting from everybody. this is the best league in the world.
01:18:40
Emeka
two Premier League, there's a real chance to have six Champions League teams next season. is The Premier League is back up right now. That's all I can say.
01:18:48
Chino Onwuka
And you know what? Just speaking of Harry Maguire, I think there's one guy who didn't give flowers flowers to when we're talking about the CL matchups, and that's Rashidi, Marcus Rashford, yeah, what an amazing performance by him in that leg to to almost carry Aston Villa back.
01:19:11
Chino Onwuka
For the life of me, don't know why Emery subbed him, but you know me, me and me and Emery, we don't see eye to eye on a lot of things. But yeah, sorry, just a quid ad lib there to just give Rashford his shout out. He's been in amazing form since he went on loan to to Villa.
01:19:27
Chino Onwuka
So, Chuk, could you have anything to say about the Man U-Leon game before we wrap this up?
Controversies and Decisions in Man U's Game
01:19:33
Chuku
Nothing to add other than I'm just disgusted, man. I thought it was going to be a sweet, sweet, you know, sweet hate watch. But, Brock, oh, man.
01:19:44
Chino Onwuka
The only thing that can give them is that they were down a man.
01:19:46
Chuku
I just don't get it, man.
01:19:47
Chino Onwuka
That's the only... I didn't watch the full game, so Mecca will tell so
01:19:48
Chuku
How do you go up two zero in extra time and somehow you don't even get it to the penalty, bro?
01:19:57
Chuku
But, man, i never know, you know, there were. I watched, and even that down-a-man thing was actually some of the most, like, horrific, like, calls I've ever seen.
01:20:05
Emeka
yeah Yeah, I saw. i saw
01:20:08
Chuku
Like, the brother, they've been to, man, I don't know if you've seen videos. I'm like, I'd see, you're watching in the game.
01:20:13
Emeka
I'm a believer in you don't do it by second yellow.
01:20:15
Chuku
Did you see it? You saw it, right?
01:20:17
Emeka
You do it if it's a yellow card.
01:20:17
Chuku
No, I'm not sure, like, is that a red card?
01:20:18
Emeka
It was a borderline yellow, but I respect it.
01:20:20
Chuku
Is that second yellow? Does that really warrant a second yellow?
01:20:21
Emeka
It was borderline. It was borderline, but hey.
01:20:24
Chuku
I was...
01:20:27
Chuku
I'm giving yellow to me, bro. Like, the guy did
01:20:32
Chuku
So you're telling me right now, we're giving yellow cards for my defender or midfielder or my player, I should just say. Because my player is running behind the the the attacker.
01:20:43
Chuku
They're both chasing the ball. And because as the attacker is running and you're trying to follow right behind him, his leg... goes up and hits your leg as you're just trying to run and he falls because of that that's a yellow like what are we doing here man like what do you want why is that video again what you want to do
01:20:56
Chino Onwuka
I honestly feel like because of Emeka's background with law, I think he always, is his natural tendency is to side with with the law. like Sometimes Emeka, I don't think you even realize it. like This isn't even slander, but i think like i've thought about it like I think because of your legal background, you always try to see give the law the benefit of the doubt sometimes.
01:21:19
Emeka
Which is hilarious. Hilarious.
01:21:22
Chino Onwuka
I heard about it. I haven't seen it yet. I've been staffled at work, so I'm looking forward to fully.
01:21:25
Chuku
But I'm going to... I mean, I'm actually going to say... I mean, you know, did you see... it Did you watch it?
01:21:30
Chino Onwuka
I've seen what I needed to see, but I've not seen the red card incident yet to on.
01:21:30
Chuku
Did you you see it?
01:21:35
Chuku
be Please do not favor after this.
01:21:38
Chuku
please do me a favor, see that, and then obviously so take sidebar this. I want to just hear your honest opinion whenever you have a chance. You know, we can talk about it in the group chat because I'm just, I'm curious to your opinion on this because, bro, I watched that live and I was sick.
01:21:55
Chuku
I couldn't believe you got a second yellow for like for that but that nonsense. But obviously, yeah, that definitely played a part, but regardless of that red card, I don't give a damn. You were up... two goals, being a man down in extra time, second half, it's not just the beginning, it's the second half of an extra time, you mean you tell me you can't hold close up shop for 15 minutes,
01:22:24
Chuku
15 minutes. If at that. 15 minutes. But you know what? Here's what it is, man. You know, credit to United. if They pulled through, regardless of it being a one-man down.
01:22:37
Chuku
They found a way to get three goals. And, yeah, congrats to them, man. i mean, I'll be sick if United win a Europa League. But, fuck, man, like...
01:22:49
Chuku
both United and Spurs in the and and and the semifinals. You hate to see it, but I just hope neither of them win.
01:22:57
Chino Onwuka
I think Atletico beats United, but I think Tottenham are going to the final.
01:22:58
Chuku
At this point in time, my only prayer, I hope, is Nico Williams and Athletic Club. That's the hope. That's what we got to to so to hope concede.
01:23:11
Chino Onwuka
United play Pogaro.
01:23:11
Emeka
Yeah.
01:23:11
Emeka
honor
01:23:12
Chuku
That's sad to hear.
01:23:12
Chino Onwuka
Tottenham play Bodo Glimps.
01:23:14
Chuku
That's sad to hear. But United play the ball.
01:23:17
Chino Onwuka
This always hurts me because I remember when
Europa League Paths and Team Prospects
01:23:21
Chuku
Next round.
01:23:21
Chino Onwuka
United won the Europa League and the teams that they played to get it to win it.
01:23:25
Chuku
Man, that's nasty.
01:23:25
Chino Onwuka
Then I remember the few times we were in it, we were playing.
01:23:27
Chuku
Well, you know what? I
01:23:29
Chino Onwuka
It's now at Let's Go Madrid and them that they're giving us. Like, like, you like, like, like how? Like, you know, balance.
01:23:40
Chuku
can't imagine. It's disgusting, bro. It's disgusting. I can say this, bro. If United beat Bilbao, I hate to say but they might actually win Europe.
01:23:52
Chino Onwuka
At the very least, though, if it's a United Tottenham final, I'm leaving there with something.
01:23:57
Chuku
If they beat Bilbao, I don't want to think about it, but if they were very do, man...
01:24:00
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:24:04
Chuku
Nah, you're looking at it as a win-win in that department, but for me, that's a lose-lose because it means i've going have to deal with one of those damn teams wouldn wouldnt not just winning into the cup, but also weaseling their way to champs leagues when I've been making fun of them all year in terms of their pole position in in the league.
01:24:16
Chino Onwuka
I know. I know.
01:24:22
Chino Onwuka
I thought we were getting one more out today, but I think Tottenham for sure is making it to the final.
01:24:26
Chuku
So I don't want to even even think about it, bro.
01:24:29
Chino Onwuka
Somehow.
01:24:29
Chuku
I just want both of them knocked out at the semifinals and let's go for them.
01:24:30
Emeka
You never know.
01:24:34
Chino Onwuka
The baddest Tottenham have been is Bodo Glitz.
01:24:38
Chuku
Well, you never know, man.
01:24:39
Emeka
you never know.
01:24:40
Chuku
You never know, man. You never know. You never know, man. Let's not give this...
01:24:46
Chuku
Hey, man. Hey. You never know, man. You never know, man. If I told you Porto was going to win the Champions League...
01:24:52
Chino Onwuka
Sure, but at least Porto has had European pedigree and at least that was Champions League.
01:24:54
Chuku
in 2004 or whatever the year they did it, you probably would have still been saying, hell no, it's not a chance. I'm just saying.
01:25:05
Chino Onwuka
No, but they're regular Champions.
01:25:11
Chuku
Have Porto won the Champions League when they did it? so
01:25:19
Chino Onwuka
Are we trying to compare...
01:25:19
Chuku
They're into a regular and and in the in in European football, though.
01:25:20
Chino Onwuka
but anyway i don kind of leave but it's not my bullet is a see portal
01:25:23
Chuku
Like, let's act as if they have not been in Champions League and Europa before themselves. No!
01:25:31
Chino Onwuka
yeah even
01:25:31
Emeka
yeah
01:25:31
Chuku
But that's the point.
01:25:32
Emeka
you
01:25:33
Chino Onwuka
but not
01:25:33
Chuku
so
01:25:34
Chino Onwuka
i of get above in sala
01:25:37
Emeka
I saw Spurs lose to a team in Croatia whose manager was in prison.
01:25:37
Chuku
Look, it's the size point.
01:25:38
Chuku
I don't know what I'm saying. this Anything can happen, man. We've got to...
01:25:41
Emeka
So anything is possible far I'm concerned.
Celebrating Arsenal's Success
01:25:45
Chino Onwuka
Okay. All right, boys. I think we're going to wrap it up there. Again, it's been, you know, for, it's been a great week. Arsenal fans all over the world, if you're listening, like, enjoy this moment, you know.
01:25:58
Chino Onwuka
It's been a rough go for last couple of decades as Arsenal fans.
01:26:00
Chuku
Thank
01:26:02
Chino Onwuka
And for for those of us who have stuck true with the team, you know for for better for worse, you you deserve this moment. Don't listen to what anybody says. Take this moment for you.
01:26:13
Chino Onwuka
Enjoy it. you know One of the things that I've seen, which has gotten me a little bit emotional, is watching videos of... you know, kids that have grown up in this generation who are huge Arsenal fans and seeing their reactions, watching the game and seeing them celebrate. Like, I love it for me and I love it for them that they can be young and have those beautiful moments and I hope they never have to go through the pain, some of the pain that we experience. So, Arsenal fans, again, enjoy it.
01:26:42
Chino Onwuka
Barcelona fans, enjoy it. Inter Milan fans, enjoy it. PSG fans, enjoy it. Top four of the Champions League, which means you are the four best teams on earth really if we're keeping it a buck.
01:26:55
Chino Onwuka
It is a great time for football. Long may continue. Long may continue for your team, but especially our team. And we will see you here to discuss it more on another episode of The Love of the Game.