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Daily Arsenal - S1 - E139: Ipswich preview, one teams fate could be decided by FT!
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In this episode we will joining up with GSPN Daily Ipswich for our crossover episode as this weekend could decide the fate of both sides depending on results, so we will discuss Ipswich’s season so far and how Arsenal come into this game after their midweek Champions League win! Now if you want to get involved with any of our topics discussed please do get involved through our social media, which can be found in our show notes in the description.
Host: Rob
Guest: Craig Matthews & Jamie Patterson
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Transcript
00:00:01
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network.
Introduction to the Crossover Episode
00:00:10
Speaker
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Ipswich. And it's not just the Daily Ipswich today, is a crossover episode looking ahead to the weekend. So it is also an episode of the Daily Arsenal for you guys as well.
00:00:22
Speaker
Both of which are brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. The only place to get daily daily content on every single Premier League club, roundups in multiple languages and all your women's football news as well.
Schedule Changes and Guest Introductions
00:00:36
Speaker
As mentioned, it is a crossover today. we We flipped the days around this week. We've done the preview yesterday and the crossover today. So you've got myself, Robbins, in the Ipswich corner and joining me. I've got two gooners coming in fresh from their superb result in the Champions League in midweek that I'm sure that they'll happily talk about when we get on to it. But firstly, Jamie, how are doing, mate?
00:00:59
Speaker
Yeah, all good. still Still really basking in the and the in the Madrid win. i mean... who who you This is probably the best time to become an Arsenal fan now, really. Yeah, it's up there. Somehow I've so of've let them have double the numbers on me, even though we're the home team on this podcast. We've got Craig here as well. are you doing, mate?
00:01:22
Speaker
I'm good, mate. How are you? You alright? Yeah, doing as well as you can be when you're just waiting for relegation to be confirmed, I suppose. Oh, yeah. So we'll get on towards go go to that later on. We'll we'll start with the positive
Arsenal's Champions League Victory Discussion
00:01:35
Speaker
side of things. Let's say Arsenal, you guys are the away team this week. and So we'll talk about you first. And there's only one place to start really, isn't there, after the last week or so of football. that it's ah It's a game that not many people would have given Arsenal much chance in going into it.
00:01:54
Speaker
And then even it felt like the whole build-up all week was everyone expecting a Real Madrid comeback, even though that there's any other team you'd have said, 3-0 was game over, but because it's Real Madrid in the Champions League, he just assumed it was going to happen. But went through, and not only that, beat him at the Bernabeu as well, which takes some to.
00:02:13
Speaker
a Like you said, a fantastic week to be an Arsenal fan. I'll ask you first, Jamie, sort of How does that... I mean, even have client has heart on it with I kind of touched on it with the guys from the from the daily English Premier League pod.
00:02:28
Speaker
And the thing is, right, there was so much... Like, from the Madrid camp, there was so much talk of Remontardus And, you know, it was just every every word I kept hearing was Remontadus, Remontadus. I'm like, OK, we'll see. We'll see.
Injury Impact on Arsenal's League Performance
00:02:45
Speaker
Fortunately, Remontadus wasn't meant to be. So, you know, it's it was a great result. And, you know, especially for us Arsenal fans, we, you know, we've not probably had the best of seasons.
00:02:58
Speaker
You know, we've had a decent season. You know, most likely we'll finish second in the league. But... We've kind of said it, myself, Craig, anyone from the from the GSPN Arsenal guys have kind of said it is, you know, it's the third season now that we finish second to either the champions, but it's when will Arsenal get their time to kind of really...
00:03:22
Speaker
break through and show like the whole of England and the whole of the world, actually, that, hold on a minute, you know we can finish as champions of the Premier League. you know We've got a great squad to do it with.
00:03:35
Speaker
It's just, we've been really complacent at times. And the thing is, a lot of Arsenal fans will sit here and say, oh, but you know it's injuries and it's this and it's that. But the thing is, even when you've got these injuries,
00:03:50
Speaker
we should still be playing pretty good football regardless of whatever situation gets thrown at us, really. Yeah, definitely. that There's been a bit... There's been a bit fair... More than a fair share of injuries to deal with, but the better teams, like you say, they they'll click on and do that. But the big loss was obviously Saka and Craig. Obviously, he's back now and he's put a superb shift into that game this week. How, like... How massive is that for him to...
00:04:17
Speaker
trying to end the season strong in what's left of the Premier League as well as the Champions League? think it's good for I think it's very good that he ends the season strong because he was such a key pair for us before he got injured and then a serious injury.
00:04:30
Speaker
ah was a bit worried when he got injured. I said, is he going to come back the same player? Is he going to come back a little bit? Not to say it would be fair enough the injury, but he's come back. He scored two goals in four or five games. So you have to say that he's back in form now.
00:04:46
Speaker
All they need fitness and they should be fine. Yeah, so that's the thing. anding Everyone, those few injuries can just derail you if it comes to certain players. And so Saka's certainly in that category.
00:04:59
Speaker
If you'd gone up and down every single team and picked the key the key player that you you can't afford to get an injury to, Arsenal's one would have been Saka, wouldn't it? but Oh, yeah, absolutely. Yeah.
00:05:11
Speaker
So obviously the Champions League has been fantastic. That's going to be your main aim now, isn't it? Like I say, it could literally be this weekend if the title gets confirmed. It's sort of the same way that we have and sort of like the chances of staying up. You know you're not going to do it at this point, but there's still that little... While it's mathematically possible, there's that little bit in your head. You're just thinking, we can't, can we? But yeah, that's going to be So what...
00:05:35
Speaker
Do you know what, rob Just quickly, if it makes you feel any better, right? we Me and the boys, at the very start of the season, we've done Premier League predictions. Craig, I don't know, what was your what was your bottom three prediction, if you wrote if you can remember off the top of your head?
00:05:49
Speaker
think it Wolves, Southampton... It wasn't Ibtric. I thought Ibtric would be like,
Ipswich's Struggles and Potential Relegation
00:05:56
Speaker
just like, you know, like the last, the second to last, the fourth team in that position, I thought they were spare.
00:06:02
Speaker
Honestly, I thought you guys were spare. I looked at your manager, looked at some of your players, I thought you've some quality players there. And I thought you guys could stayed up this season. I didn't predict you guys to go down. Honestly. Yeah, same here. I had, for me, I had Southampton Bottom, Leicester, Wolves, and then Ipswich to literally scrape it but on the final day. And the fact that we're sitting here talking about you guys potentially getting relegated, it's it's a shame.
00:06:33
Speaker
Yeah, so we'll get onto it more later on, but say yeah there's been signs there at certain points, but it's just, there's not been enough quality at either end of the pitch for us. And then I suppose that's almost in a way that not to the same extent, and I say about lack of quality, but that's probably been a bit of the problem that you guys have had in the league because we spoke all this, it's all well and good. Obviously the Champions League has been fantastic. And if you go on and win that, then no one will care about the other competitions, will they? But actually in the league, it's a couple of disappointing draws in the last couple of games with the Champions League clearly taking the priority. So is there a little bit of worry in your heads that
00:07:11
Speaker
that you might go to Portland Road and have another little slip up? the The one thing for me, and I don't know if it's the same for you, Craig, I kind of stressed it a little bit. I've stressed it a little bit on ah on a few podcasts, is, you know, fair enough, the Premier League title, you know, look, Premier League title pretty much done and dusted.
00:07:34
Speaker
But for me, it's now just trying to solidify second second place because you've got Forrest, who you know no one really expected them to really perform well and be where they are in the Premier League table.
00:07:49
Speaker
And then you've got that cluster of clubs that are just battling for the Champions League spots. For me... There is a worry because I also look back at the reverse fixture and the reverse fixture was what was it? It was only 1-0. It was only literally 1-0 to Arsenal, wasn't it?
00:08:06
Speaker
who You know, Ipswich had their chances and the thing is... you look at You look at the team you guys have got. De Lapp, Hutchinson, and then you've got you know the Loneys in... Who have you got? Cito. In Cito, yeah.
00:08:24
Speaker
You know, so realistically, it's going to be a good game this weekend, regardless. I don't like to look at like the promoted teams and think, oh, you know what? It should be a walk in the park. i You know, I'm always fearful.
00:08:38
Speaker
Always fearful. I think... this weekend's game, it'll be it'll be interesting. And, you know, I think being on the being on TV, I think it will be, you know, I think you guys will really put on a good show here.
00:08:53
Speaker
Yeah, mean, I hope so anyway. we we could do We need a couple of home shellings to see the season out because yeah that's the other thing. Like I said, it's it's a very similar to Luton last year where there's been signs of quality, but I wouldn't believe shocking home form is is the main reason why there's not been enough points on the board by the end of it. But I do wonder, I wonder what the team's going to be like after a grueling game like that at the Bernabeu as well. I'm sort of hoping a few of the big names get benched, but be fair, there's quite a few big names missing at the Emirates game. We lost that one. Yeah, exactly. That was quite funny, that one. To be you, our concern also is, for us, we've also got a game midweek against Palace, I believe. Oh, of course you do, yeah. Palace then Bournemouth, isn't it? Palace then Bournemouth, yeah.
00:09:41
Speaker
positive the bomb here That's it. yeah so bo Yeah, so that's this weekend. But for Arsenal, I think the priority, again, will also be looking ahead to... ah We'll be looking ahead, really, to um so that a Palace game at the Emirates because, obviously, Palace are participating in in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
00:10:01
Speaker
So it'll be an interesting... It'll be really interesting to see how squad rotation will will play its part this weekend. and I would like to hope that we can still... put a reasonably strong enough squad out there, you know.
00:10:15
Speaker
But again, the concern I have is, obviously looking back to the Brentford game over the weekend, you know, we put a... We didn't put our strongest out there. But for me, I just sit here and think, well, what's what's height what are we going to expect on Sunday, really? It's going to be so unpredictable, especially after the buzz and the hype of ah of Madrid. it should be It's going to be an interesting one to see what Arteta does for for Sunday's game.
00:10:43
Speaker
obviously Yeah, I mean, obviously... Sorry, Craig. Yeah. yeah say sorry i saying as well so i cra yeah I think put our French players out on Sunday. Like, when Eri never played yesterday, maybe Sterling and Trossard. Do we have to play Sterling?
00:11:04
Speaker
we do. Well, you could I wouldn't want to i would always start tackling a game like that. go think Of course. Some of the French players can get some minutes here and there. I would admit some match,
Sterling and Arsenal's Squad Dynamics
00:11:16
Speaker
obviously. I would admit some match on Sunday for that game.
00:11:19
Speaker
but that game So Sterling's probably going to score when I said that, because when I remember ah reverse game, I did the crossover of the two Joshers from your pod. and Oh, yeah, yeah.
00:11:32
Speaker
One of them, can't remember which way around it was, one of them was telling me how much he hates Havertz and he shouldn't be in the team. The other one was telling me how much he hates Havertz. That's Oh, that's JD straight off the bat.
00:11:43
Speaker
ah Yeah, then yeah the other one was saying how you think the crossover is rubbish. Yeah, so you've got JD Havertz and Josh Vins. He absolutely despises Trossard. Yeah, yes I remember that game. And then we lost and it was Trossard setting up Havertz.
00:12:02
Speaker
So now that's happened, so... stern Now he's said about Sterling, he'll probably will probably lose and Sterling will score now. Me and Josh Vince kind of covered him on a Tactics Tuesday episode. It's just that his confidence has been so depleted.
00:12:17
Speaker
And, you know, him coming to Arsenal, you know, everyone thought, oh, you know what? In his announcement video, everyone thought, oh, right, you know, we're going to see something a bit more different from Sterling. And, you know, Arteta's got this...
00:12:30
Speaker
like label as you know a manager that can revive players' careers, but unfortunately it's just not quite happened for Sterling. Yeah, so he's not looked very good at all, has he, when he's played? but as i he's not He's been in a position where he's not had to play very often.
00:12:48
Speaker
Exactly. yeah Even with all the injuries in there, he's fallen he's quite far down the peck and all, so I don't think we'll see him in this game. Maybe, like I say, if you go Craig's route and you rest and you rest three or four players just to make sure they're ready, then go down that way with it, then maybe you'll get a game. But I don't think he will. And to be honest, like you were saying, think I'm enough of a realist to admit that whatever squad Arsenal put out is probably ah going to be enough to beat us, especially at home. But we'll have a quick break there.
00:13:19
Speaker
but right I think we've done enough of praise in Arsenal now, think. We'll let it go the other way around. I'll have to field all the dodgy questions I've got to ask about You asked me about relegation and all that sort of, what's all gone wrong. i've but I've put it off long enough that after we have a quick break to him, one of our sponsors, I'll let you quiz me on all things of at Ipswich from this season. Sounds good.
00:13:42
Speaker
is unique and global sports podcast network has partnered with bionic the world's most personalized supplements baynic provide one hundred per cent tailor-made supplements designed to deliver precisely what your body needs at exactly the right level We are back for the of crossover. Looking ahead Arsenal's Portman Road on Sunday afternoon.
00:14:07
Speaker
for forty percent off your first month's subscription by iny don't settle for off-the-shelf solutions made for just anybody get what's right for you right now we are back for the second part of today's crossover looking ahead to arsenal's visit to portman road on sunday afternoon And I'll hand the floor over to Jamie and Craig.
00:14:32
Speaker
but I've quizzed you for part one, so I'll let you quiz me for part two. What do you want to know about Ape Switch going into this game season so far? Whatever you want to know. you know what? i I would love to get your thoughts just on on the season so far, really. Because the thing is, for me and Craig, we both had we both had Ipswich as a team that would stay up. We looked we we saw the squad and we saw Kieran McKenna. And we both said, actually, that Ipswich probably looked quite favourable to stay up.
00:15:03
Speaker
Despite, obviously, s everyone talking about Premier League experience that Leicester and Southampton have had. we actually thought a
Ipswich's Attacking Challenges
00:15:12
Speaker
lot different. We thought, despite the experience, we actually thought, looking at your squad, you know, you've you've brought through the likes of... Who have you brought through? You've brought through the likes of Sammy Smoddix, and then, like I said, Amari Hutchinson.
00:15:29
Speaker
I think the loan moves for, like, in CISO, think... oh within Ciccio, he had one great shot against City for Brighton and it's just, he's been so like hyped now.
00:15:43
Speaker
It would have been nice to have seen more from from him. But yeah, for you, where where do you think it's kind of gone square for you guys? The big thing is we just don't score enough goals for what it is.
00:15:59
Speaker
On paper, the attacking options are so good, but the lap aside... It's just not been goals there. Yeah. So we've got, what, think we've got 33 all season. How many games have we played? Like 32, something like that. Something like that, yeah.
00:16:14
Speaker
Just about a goal a game. When you compare that to like Wolves who nearly got 50-odd. and so That's why I say I always compare it with Wolves. And you think how important the lap's been for us. And that's what set us apart from Southampton and Leicester, even though the points gap isn't that big.
00:16:30
Speaker
But there's someone who, ate that there's that gap. double-figure goals striker which you need down the bottom. Then I look at that, if you look at stats, pretty much on the same stats as DeLapp is Stran Larsson at Wolves and they've got him on top of that. there so they've They've got that double-figure goal striker that you need to have a chance at the bottom and they've also got another fantastic player on top of that. which this i wish that's what we That's what we don't have, that we've got DeLapp who can score the goals but
00:17:03
Speaker
When I look at those three that play behind him, the list of names, like you say, you've got Hutchinson and CISO, so Schmodix when he was fit, Broadhead's a very good player whenever he plays, always puts a shift in.
00:17:15
Speaker
Filagene came in in January. that like There's a lot of talent there, but barely got they've they've probably got about 12 goals between them all season or something. Schmodix has got like five of them on his own. He's been injured since February. Yeah.
00:17:30
Speaker
ah that's just not that's but That's where the big problem is for me is that we've never nailed down a set three there as well, which I think is part of the problem because you know if they're going to get the inter interplay and everything clicking together when you're playing a different three every week.
00:17:44
Speaker
But that's where the problem area has been for me, mainly in that from that side of things, is that those three is that we know we're in mid-April now. There's like five games left for the season. and I still couldn't tell you what the best three is.
00:17:58
Speaker
And there's not a no-one's like set themselves out as a start as a star candidate like, and consistently been scoring goals. ah Everyone in there has got like two or three, which so for it at a thirty two in a 30-odd game season, to only have a couple of goals is a the next the next like put and the next players pushing for goals besides the lap is where we've come short. or i say Like say, you compare to Wolves and you've got Cunha on like 14, Strand Larsson on like 12. That's it, yeah. we have We have the lap on like 12.
00:18:29
Speaker
But then it drops down to like five with Schmolligs and then it's like two or three for every player under that that we just haven't. Pretty much. So we've not scored enough goals and we're not very good defensively either. But that's the thing is, first half of the year we actually were.
00:18:43
Speaker
It was just the lack of goals. And then second half the year we've been found out defensively as well. And that's where the form's were really tanked off. And that's why the gap is as big as it is now. And like say, it could literally be this weekend it's confirmed and it probably will be because...
00:18:57
Speaker
It's if Wolves and West Ham win and we lose. We're playing second in the league. they've got One of them's got Southampton, the other one's got Man United. They'll probably both go and win that relegate us this weekend. so But then at least when it's confirmed at least say it stops a little bit of hope in the back of your head, I suppose, when it's finally confirmed, you just start planning for next year. It's the way I've got to look at it at this point.
00:19:19
Speaker
Yeah, of course. Another thing I must ask is, at the start of the season, you know, i look back to maybe Forest, when they first were promoted,
00:19:31
Speaker
they kind of went along that line of, you know, bringing in, you know, they brought in quite a lot of players on loan. Do you kind of wish that Ipswich maybe have you know, from when you guys came up, do you wish you kind of used the promotion money to kind of go out and spend it on players just to help you survive and get through that first season?
00:19:56
Speaker
don't know really, because I've come out both windows saying how well we've done But then it's just something hasn't clicked there.
Transfer Strategies and Need for Experience
00:20:05
Speaker
thought some you... quite surprised that... Yeah. Go on.
00:20:08
Speaker
sort of So we had a strong squad that obviously it was a... There's going to be difficulties there when you come back to back like we have done because there's players that say literally the start on XI on the opening day was like nine of our league. was like five or six of the League One squad in there. but So it was always going to be a struggle to adapt but like In the summer, I said we've had a good window. I'm excited to see how they get on.
00:20:32
Speaker
In January, i said we i so I said we had the second best window besides Villa when we spoke about it the time. And then it just hasn't clicked again. it seems really good on paper, but just not coming together somehow.
00:20:44
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, again, quite surprised at Philogene because... He has spoken so much about being such generational talent.
00:20:57
Speaker
And it just seems like we've just not seen a lot out of these Ipswich players, have we? No, yeah'll so that's been the frustration. that i say they he's play lot And actually look really sharp, to be fair. but We've said that. and So it's nice for him to get off the mark for goals against Chelsea. that Because he's been...
00:21:17
Speaker
the brightest spark since he's come back from injury, definitely. But yeah, Philogene, again, he's in that category with a lot of our squad that he probably needs a season in the Championship again to then come back up, having had that year's experience on top a bit of confidence. Because that's what we've had. We've come up with a lot of confidence from last year, but no experience whatsoever.
00:21:42
Speaker
People like Hutchinson and players and even like Clark, who we've signed. So I think another year back down, most of them stay. They have some good years there. you can come straight back up, then they've had a year's experience as well.
00:21:54
Speaker
I think maybe the second time round, if we could give it a better go. So what was it what also was your best result the season for Hitchcock then? I know, I feel like the Tottenham game for me was your best result at home and you beat them.
00:22:08
Speaker
That was your best result of the season. But mean, what's your best result of the season so far for Hitchcock? Yeah, that one for me. Just because it's The significance of it been it being the first one of the season as well.
00:22:20
Speaker
we hadn't We were sort waiting for that first win. We got 10 or 11 games in. We were one of the only teams that hadn't won yet. To then go away in a game like that and get a result was fantastic. To be honest with you, Tottenham were... Around that period, Tottenham were just dishing out wins to teams that were just struggling because Palace were also in that boat as well.
00:22:40
Speaker
Tottenham went and dished them out a win. and Same went for you guys. Another question I really want to ask, and it's to do with your recent form, actually, because you look at your recent form...
00:22:52
Speaker
And, you know, to come up against like Bournemouth and go and beat Bournemouth, you know, not a lot of teams can say that they've gone to the vitality as well. The fact that you've gone to the vitality and beaten Bournemouth, you know, where has this sudden kind of energy come from now to start going on a little run here?
00:23:14
Speaker
is it To be honest, i think it's just desperation. It's got to a point where like we can't afford... We were nabbing the odd draw here and there and we were trying to take the positives from it. But yeah we've got to a point where we couldn't take that anymore.
00:23:28
Speaker
It had to go. be like After the national break, we had those couple of weeks. It was like, we've got to come flying out of this. We've got a massive week. Because Bournemouth was... They're very good at home, but it was a very winnable game. because i I said it all week leading up to it, that they don't like those sort of games. so The run of the mills, you're supposed to win this game. They like being the underdog.
00:23:49
Speaker
i felt confident we could get something and we did. And then obviously leading into walls where we desperately needed to win and we didn't in the end. But I think it is just that we're hitting that point where we we can't really afford to take draws anymore. And it's about winning games that, like i said, that sense of desperation, I think has pulled us over the line a couple of times.
00:24:09
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. It's a real shame that it's kind of like been now where you've started to string together a decent little run here. Where do you think the season could have gone a little bit better for you guys?
00:24:24
Speaker
yeah done there's There's a lot of areas really. there's It's a lot games we've thrown away I think as well from poor defending not taking chances. There's a lot of games where we've played well and not got a result that Early on, like, sorry, let's say at this point in the year, like, with had that desperation to get the points, that hadn't been there.
00:24:47
Speaker
Earlier on in the year, we sort of drawn games we should have won, or we've lost games, we should have got a draw in silly points, which at the time in, like, October, November, you're just thinking, oh, well, loads time to go, we'll we'll take the positives from the performance and go on to next week, whereas whereas now you're looking back and thinking, and actually, that was a chance to really get some early points on the board and better off our position by the time we come to this late point, but benefit of hindsight, I suppose. I think we've sort of known from quite a long time in this season, really, that we came in with confidence. We've sort known from around Christmas that there was that golfing class, really, that was probably going to cost us. And that's become apparent as Wolves have hit form at a good time and we haven't, really.
00:25:33
Speaker
Yeah. i so sorry They've gone past West Ham now as well. They weren't even in it. That's it, yeah. And I also think that Wolves, you know, coming up against Wolves at home, that was really the game to really stamp your authority and kind of just boost that chance of of survival. And, you know, it was an all or nothing game, really. Yeah. I mean, that's the that's the other big problem. I mean, I've said that that's the big problem about three or four things, but these massive games...
00:26:03
Speaker
we don't go and get results in, especially at home. no I'm thinking like, oh, we had a tough run of games and we played Southampton at home. We bigged it up all week. Biggest game of the season. We need the confidence. We lost 2-1.
00:26:17
Speaker
Leicester at home earlier in the year, were 1-0 up and threw it away in stoppage time. Everton at home at the time, they were terrible. We didn't turn up. We lost 2-0. West Ham away again was a very winnable game at the time. We didn't turn up and lost 4-1.
00:26:32
Speaker
no Wolves and Molyneux where we beat them is the one exception. Every other big game we've either played all right and not got a result or we just haven't turned up at all. and It's all like so well and good getting. they They're good for memories, going to Spurs and winning and beating Chelsea at home. But it's those sort games where we have to go and get results that we haven't been. And that's where you lose direct points, which you can't wish. A lot harder to get back while then trying to go and pick up results against other teams.
00:27:01
Speaker
Yeah, no, of course. Absolutely. I think we'll pause it there for a second. does don't know if you've got anything else you you want to ask me, but we're going to need to have a quick break now to hear from one of another one of our sponsors. And then when we come back, we'll be diving into the game itself on Sunday and we'll see sort so how well how we expect each team to take it coming into it.
00:27:23
Speaker
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00:27:42
Speaker
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster. and We are back for the final part. of today's crossover episode between the Daily Ipswich and the Daily Arsenal. So let's let's go into the game itself, lads. to know we've spoke a lot about seasons so far and the big thing to talk about in context of this game is something we we we've touched on already, I suppose.
00:28:08
Speaker
And that's the team news because you've had a big game Wednesday night. You've got another game that you probably see as more important in midweek against Palace that I know no games are easy in the Premier League, but it's...
Managing Squad Strength and Priorities
00:28:21
Speaker
course.
00:28:22
Speaker
So, obviously, this is a game you sort of think that you could afford to rotate and still go and get a result in. So, you expecting wholesale changes, Jamie?
00:28:34
Speaker
Again, like I said earlier on in the show, it's really difficult because how do you... You know, yes My concern is just trying to bridge the gap away from Forest and the teams in the bottom, and the teams in the top four, in the top five now, should I actually say, because ah fifth spot's now a Champions League spot.
00:28:55
Speaker
But yeah, I think... I would be really careful with who you who you start. I think you definitely drop certain players. So like, for example, Saka, I wouldn't dream.
00:29:06
Speaker
I wouldn't even dream start. I'd give Ethan Waineri a full 90 minutes. Like Craig said, give certain players that haven't had much game time an opportunity to go out there and shine.
00:29:18
Speaker
I think you you just that's the best thing you can do, really. It's the best thing you can do. i mean, can't. Yeah, that's all I can that's all i can say.
00:29:30
Speaker
Because the next few the next few... This is where Arsenal's squad depth, or this is where now the squad's really going to be get tested. Because, you know, Ipswich Sunday, Palace Wednesday. Then we've got... I don't know if we've got... I don't think we've got a game, Craig, if I'm right. I don't think we've got a game the following weekend before we then host PSG at the Emirates. So... Yeah, think it's... yeah If I'm right. So, you know, I think game week 34 for us is a blank.
00:30:01
Speaker
But again, I think the squad is just going to be really tempted at this minute. And I think it's just going to be one of them things where Arteta is just going to need to play smart and just really try and balance out the squad with obviously the thought of, you know, Palace on on the Wednesday night and then obviously Ipswich then the following, sorry, Real Madrid the following following week.
00:30:25
Speaker
Yeah, that'll be interesting to see what it is really from that side of things because, don't know, because it's not like you're building up, it's not like the Real Madrid game is this coming Wednesday.
Competitive Edge and League Implications
00:30:37
Speaker
The fact it's just gone, you do wonder whether you'll keep it a fairly similar. but Because it is it is a big game, I suppose, because you sort of accept, like, accepting that Liverpool will probably go and win the league now, they even though it's still mathematically possible for you. Of course. think it would result in You want to stay in it as long as possible, don't you, at the same time? Yeah, absolutely.
00:31:01
Speaker
If you come and lose this game, they can win it that afternoon. in the In the game after that. The same as our case, like we know we're going to go down, but we want to pick up some wins because we want to stay in it as long as possible.
00:31:13
Speaker
just to drag it out. You don't want to be relegated with five games to go. You want to drag it out. ah because then compete ah Like I said to Craig, I was saying it to Craig, but I feel like this Premier League season has just not been the same.
00:31:26
Speaker
You know, ah bottom three is pretty much all sorted. You know, Premier League champions have already been sorted. The only thing that's really made this season quite entertaining is the race for Europe and that's it.
00:31:39
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it's never interesting for a neutral, is it, when things are wrapped up with five, six games to go or even earlier and in some cases. But say technically, it is a big game, this, at both ends of the table. because Absolutely.
00:31:54
Speaker
say it could swing, i would depending on other results, it could confirm relegation or it could confirm the league title, depending on which way it goes. That's very true, actually. That's very true. So this weekend will be a really interesting weekend.
00:32:08
Speaker
Yeah, it's strange one to say. I think from our point of view, team-wise, we played very well against Chelsea, even though we capitulated at the end. But i think as soon as we conceded the goal straight after half-time, we all knew we were getting a draw, best-case scenario at that point. But yeah think in terms of performances, there was a lot of good individual performances in there. so I'd expect to see 10 of the 11 from that Chelsea game. I think De Laat will come back in up front for Hurst.
00:32:36
Speaker
Other than that, I think you'd see that same XI. Maybe Jack Clark would swap out on the left as well for for that over a broad head or somebody like that, maybe. I don't know.
00:32:47
Speaker
But i wouldn't we finally sort of got to a point where we're not making loads of changes between games, which is far too late. Yeah. It's something I've moaned about all year, that you look like Forrest, who will just play the same team every week if they're all fit.
00:33:02
Speaker
and oh good that's Yeah, that's so true. we We will religiously make two or three changes what for what feels like the sake of changes. We'll follow up, we'll have a really good game and you think, right, go and put the same 11 out.
00:33:13
Speaker
And we then, we won't. We'll make three changes and then we'll lose that game. That's the classic one. i is We got that fantastic point 2-2 against Villa. And then the following week, we made like three changes and got beat 4-1 by West Ham.
00:33:27
Speaker
And you just think, what why are you making those changes if you have a good result? you've got to follow it up and maintain that momentum. And we finally seem to have been, like say, Bournemouth to Wolves was unchanged, which was the right thing to do. then there's a couple of changes sprinkled in after Wolves, between Wolves and Chelsea, because there wasn't as much pressure on the game and players give chance, players a chance to rest and everything. But I think you play like that against Chelsea, those players on the pitch deserve a chance to go again the following game. So I'd like to see, know, I,
00:34:00
Speaker
I can't see Dillap starting on the bench two games in a row so I'd like to see the other 10 get given another run out hopefully but what's I say hopefully also like let's talk about Arsenal being able to rotate and get away it the quality of Arsenal I don't think we can afford to rotate and get away with it we need to be a full strength to get something from the game regard regardless of who and ends up putting out on your side but Yeah,
Hopes and Atmosphere at Portman Road
00:34:23
Speaker
of course. i'm i'm hoping new I'm hoping your eyes are elsewhere, ultimately. That's where that's where we're pe switch side of things we're hoping. We're hoping you're looking at Palace or you're still thinking about Real Madrid and you don't actually come and turn up for this game. We'll see how it goes.
00:34:36
Speaker
To wrap up, can I get a score prediction from both of you? I'll go to Craig first. 3-1 Arsenal win. Give us a goal, I'll take that. Do do you know what? For me, I'm going 3-0.
00:34:49
Speaker
three nell Yeah, I prefer Craig's one. yeah move There's some confidence on our side of things. i say that oh Our own preview yesterday, i was I wasn't on it, but I was listening to it from one of the clips from the end of it about the score predictions. I think there there was a 2-1 Ipswich win in there and a 1-0 draw, I think. So I'm not sure where that blind positivity has come from. Do you know what? It's probably...
00:35:20
Speaker
It's probably to do with the fact that obviously the last couple of results, you know, the last couple of results you've had have ah have been pretty decent. You know, you look back at the Bournemouth game, you look back at the Chelsea game, you know, them kind of games will give you that confidence boost, especially being at Portman Road as well.
00:35:37
Speaker
You know, Portman Road. will be, you know, especially for this game, it will be huge because, you know, Arsenal are coming into town. You know, I know that I think back to Liverpool first game of the season, you know, atmosphere was absolutely rocking 12.30 on a Saturday afternoon.
00:35:56
Speaker
So I'd expect the exact same when we go to Portman Road. The atmosphere will be rocking. Yeah, I think there's all i think suppose the other there's that classic thing in there that,
00:36:07
Speaker
when teams just step up once it's too late, that, you know, you get relegated, then you win in the last three games of the season after you can't already get the points back. I mean, maybe that's one of the things. I mean, we were saying this the other day, we take it at this point that we've had, what was it, six wins to celebrate all year in all competitions, something like that.
00:36:27
Speaker
But if we end in the season with a few wins, even if it's too late and just to cut it just cuts the gap down, we take it this point. A few results to celebrate in there that, A point at Stamford Bridge should have been that, when he was 2-0 up, also, it feels a bit disappointing. and yeah thats on but so We get a result in a game like this, it's a memory to take. If if if this is a one-and-done season and we don't come back up for years, I hope it's not. Whenever you get results against some of the bigger teams, there's something to save us. so Hopefully, we we put a shift in. us so
00:36:58
Speaker
I'm not sure I can commit to saying it, like the other guys did on our preview the other day. do think ah do think I fear on what the score could be if Arsenal turn up and hit form, really. But fingers crossed, like, so we can get a result out of it.
00:37:14
Speaker
like like i say What have you got on the score prediction?
00:37:19
Speaker
I feel like I've got to go for something positive. I'm two on one on my own crossover I'm hosting. But I feel like I've got say something. There's a comfortable Arsenal win, like you two said, that um'm gonna represent I'm going to represent the rest of the pod and I'll say we'll nick one or draw somehow. you' drawn You've drawn your last two games one because you've been focused on other stuff. so We'll see if we can get the same again.
00:37:44
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. I hope so anyway. I'll take whatever results we can get between now the end of year to put it together. We'll see. Yeah, definitely. That will do for today's crossover.
00:37:58
Speaker
Thank you, lads, for joining me. It's been a pleasure to have you here on on the Daily Ipswich episode for this. Pleasure being on Lovely stuff. And make sure for any of our listeners, make sure you go and check out the Daily Arsenal. And any Daily Arsenal listeners listening this as well, make sure you come over and check out the Daily Ipswich as well.
00:38:16
Speaker
And on both of our socials as well. sure There's lot all sorts of stuff going on on both of those. But thank you, Jamie. Thank you, Craig. We'll be back with you on our respective podcast next week. But until then, goodbye.
00:38:35
Speaker
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