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Episode 113 – Arsenal suffer first-ever defeat against PSG in Europe! Champions League Semifinal Review
18 Plays9 days ago
It wasn’t the best game for this season’s Gunners. Mikel Arteta’s side failed to leverage home advantage as they narrowly lost following Ousmane Dembele’s early strike. Now, Arsenal must regroup and regain focus before their return leg at Parc des Princes in Paris. Who disappointed the most? Who can be the savior next week?
Join Michał Czarniecki as he discusses the first leg of the Champions League semifinal with Nick Bird and Viktor Plevnes. Tune in and enjoy!
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Transcript
Introduction and Hosts
00:00:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the latest sir installment of the Daily English Premier League podcast brought to you by Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Mikhail Czarniecki coming to you from California.
00:00:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
i am joined by a very nice American edition from Chicago, or or should I say from heaven, because you've got so much white light in there. It's Victor, how are you, man?
00:01:07
Viktor
good I'm perfect, man. How about you? Yeah, it's a pretty sunny day in Chicago.
00:01:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh...
00:01:11
Viktor
It's amazing.
00:01:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, and oh for just one second, you came back from heaven to Chicago for a second.
00:01:16
Viktor
yeah
00:01:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But now you're back in heaven. and Which is, i do not think I do not think this is what I can say about...
00:01:20
Viktor
There we go.
00:01:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, there you go. Being in heaven, I do not think I can say the same thing about our
Arsenal vs PSG Match Analysis
00:01:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
next guest. And he's going to be our main point of contact and in terms of Arsenal criticism.
00:01:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or maybe whitewashing. Who knows? Who knows what's going to happen? It's Nick. How are you?
00:01:38
Nick
depressed, drained.
00:01:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Depressed. Oof.
00:01:41
Nick
At least it was a sunny day, I had a nice walk earlier, and my bank account is richer for not having got a ticket.
00:01:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oof.
00:01:44
Viktor
Yeah.
00:01:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, goodness me. So what we're going to talk about now, I think it's pretty obvious. ah You guys, you're going to listen to it before the semifinal between Barcelona and Inter.
00:02:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So right before you have that show, we can talk about what happened yesterday. And yesterday was a real heartbreak for the Garners, really, at the Emirates, because...
00:02:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah To be honest, the game was, I wouldn't say that it was one-sided. I guess the first half for the Gunners, it was the half to forget, especially for Saliba and how many mistakes ah he made.
00:02:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But other than that, Arsenal, they put up a fight and that ball just wouldn't go in either because of the decisions of the Slovenian Referee group or just lack of luck or just Donnarumma being like in some great shape and Marquinhos just clearing whatever like would come into the box.
00:02:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nick, I'm just going to start with you. What is your general impression of the Gunners and how they like, like what what did they lack in this game?
00:02:53
Nick
we were bricking it the first like 20 minutes and i don't that that early goal was like it kind of killed the stadium before it even got going and then we got into it more towards the end of the second half like last 15 or so minutes you obviously have the goal like a minute into the second half which then takes three minutes somehow to get ruled out despite him clearly being offside after the semi-offside and it felt like the game just kind of like it felt like nothing really happened for the second half until final 10 like 5-10 minutes when PSG really should have got a second goal
00:03:39
Nick
It's painful. like We were just so so average. I don't even necessarily think we were awfully bad, but PSG defended incredibly.
00:03:52
Nick
i think their rotations, the front line was killing us, especially first half. I think after sort sort kind of sorting that out, we're fine but the intentions just weren't right for me like when players got the ball their intention wasn't to like open up and play forward and things are sort of just taking too many touches you will you that that yellow card from party that got him suspended looked worse every minute of the pass by which is why i kind of have some
00:04:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:04:25
Nick
hope for the second heart second leg still because he'll be back in, Marino should be back up top, Trossard does my head in. So think it will fit us more. Obviously, it's not going to be a particularly nice environment to go to and some players who couldn't get it done in quite a tame environment and tonight will be under even more of a spotlight going there.
00:04:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and just before we go to what's going to happen like a week from now, let's just return to the ah goal that actually Arsenal conceded and the goal scored by Usman Dembele. There's going to be a question for you, Victor, because um and there's a certain number that's going to sponsor this episode. This is number 120.
00:05:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And why? Because Ousmane Dembele has been involved in more attacking sequences of play, 120, than any other player in the UEFA Champions League this season. ah So bearing that in mind and looking at looking at how Arsenal considered that goal, Ousmane Dembele having all of the freedom in the world in the box, ah what do you think Mikel Arteta thought to himself after considering such a goal?
00:05:10
Viktor
You
00:05:37
Viktor
I don't know, but I can tell you one thing. This is a semifinal first game at home. you need to There are no away goals.
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Hmm.
00:05:45
Viktor
You got to start this game as aggressive as you can be. And Arsenal was the total opposite. So that the cost them the game. And if you can see that early, then the whole plan that you had earlier, whatever Arteta came up with, it it was down in the water.
00:06:00
Viktor
So... They did not show up today. That was that was a big difference. Saka didn't show up. Even though he's been rested for so many games, he did not show up today.
00:06:06
Nick
Thank you.
00:06:10
Viktor
and you could have been worse. It could have been better. But ah I would say the game is still open for the second leg, but they'll have to regroup and and start the second game very aggressive from the very start.
00:06:21
Viktor
PSG, for me, definitely the most, I would say, the best team that's left out of the four going forward. So I can see them going taking it all the way.
00:06:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
By the way, i just so i just got a hold and a hold of another trivia, which is actually pretty interesting. Like talking about them still having a chance is only at one goal, but still.
00:06:41
Viktor
Yeah.
00:06:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Only two teams have reached the Champions League final after losing the first leg of their semifinal tie at home. Do you guys want to take a guess of which which of those two teams are?
00:06:55
Nick
have no idea
00:06:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. okay Okay, one of the teams, they achieved it in the season ninety ninety five ninety ninety six And that would be Ajax Amsterdam. Okay, I'm just going to...
00:07:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's get that one out of the way.
00:07:06
Viktor
You should have told a year I would have guessed it
00:07:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, I'm sorry.
00:07:10
Viktor
but
00:07:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh've I've just ruled everything just out so quickly.
00:07:11
Viktor
i have I actually have a good memory. You guys were not even born. I actually watched that final. Ajax Milan. I watched it at my at my own bar with my dad.
00:07:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh.
00:07:20
Viktor
yeah
00:07:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
So good to story, man.
00:07:21
Viktor
i was ah i was a mil I was a Milan milan fan because of Savicevic and Boba, Yugoslavian legends.
00:07:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:07:28
Viktor
they but yeah But that Ajax team was sick.
00:07:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, there you go.
00:07:32
Viktor
Stacked.
00:07:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:07:33
Viktor
Stacked team. Yeah. Deserved.
00:07:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry for, then sorry for spoiling the party early then. And the second team, that's happened pretty recent times.
00:07:40
Viktor
Yeah.
00:07:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that happened in the season 2018, 2019.
00:07:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Semifinal, Champions League.
00:07:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Any guess?
00:07:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who could it be?
00:07:57
Viktor
Trying to think who was in the final that that year.
00:07:58
Nick
I'm trying remember. Yeah.
00:08:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
2019 Liverpool clinched the title at the end.
00:08:01
Nick
2019 was Liverpool Spurs. Alright. Liverpool beat Spurs.
00:08:06
Viktor
So then madrid Madrid beat someone in the semifinal.
00:08:08
Nick
Oh.
00:08:09
Viktor
Who did they beat in semifinal? Was it Bayern?
00:08:10
Nick
Was it Ajax? Is it Ajax again?
00:08:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nope.
00:08:13
Nick
Ajax.
00:08:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Guys, come on. This comeback, second leg at Amsterdam.
00:08:17
Nick
Oh no. Spurs.
00:08:19
Viktor
Oh, OK.
00:08:19
Nick
Yeah. That's what I meant.
00:08:20
Viktor
Yeah.
00:08:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
There you go.
00:08:20
Nick
I meant Ajax. I meant Spurs.
00:08:21
Viktor
yeah
00:08:22
Nick
Yeah.
00:08:22
Viktor
ah yeah
00:08:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I kind of thought that Nick would get it.
00:08:24
Viktor
Who would have taught? you
00:08:26
Nick
Yeah.
00:08:27
Viktor
You definitely caught me off of guard. Spurs? Come on.
00:08:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow. so So that just goes to show that your core memories are those that actually stay inside your mind. And this is that. And then the the stuff that actually happened recently just kind of, you know, goes away for some reason. Okay. So let's but let's just go back to the game. Because what you were saying there about the fact that like just Arsenal did not just, they did not show up at all.
00:08:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
um just Just the sequence, the the sequence of of of passes that actually led to the goal from the 4th minute of Dembele. There were 26 consecutive passes that consisted of this entire, like that consisted of the entire sequence there.
00:09:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that was the most by PSG in a Champions League match on record since the season 2003-2004. And once I'm looking at that, I just can't help but think, where was the the Arsenal midfield in this game?
00:09:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because yes, like Victor, you were like you already said that the entire team. did not appear at the Emirates yesterday. But in more particular, where was Martin Odegaard when he was needed, for example? I was just so surprised as to how inept he was in comparing Kvara Scalier. Kvara Scalier just could do anything on the wing. Mm-hmm.
00:09:42
Viktor
He's really fit. You can tell. Even towards the end, the last few minutes, the way he runs, it feels like the game just started. So big time player. That's a great sign-in for them. They can even score in the final to get to the final.
00:09:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:09:57
Viktor
Yeah, i mean, yeah, you you can tell that there's a big gap with not having Partey there and obviously having to play Marino, which is way less aggressive than him. And you need a player like Partey when you play a game against PSG.
00:10:10
Nick
i think I think you saw on that first goal as well like the dynamics of that midfield they I can only think of them playing together two, maybe three times this season and you saw on that goal there's
00:10:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:10:25
Nick
There's a pass from, I think it's Mendes. It just cuts through like most of the midfield which to Dembele, which is like kind of how they get that out ball. And then when Dembele's on the edge, Rice kind of gives it up because there's so many players coming back and Mourinho should have been back quicker in my opinion anyway he kind of just runs past Dembele instead of picking him up which is like a mental decision especially when he the ball gets past Dembele about half a second later so for me that first goal a little bit comes down to that but you mentioned Erdegaard we'll get on to speaking about individual players after the first ad break but he is under a ton of scrutiny
00:11:11
Nick
from from like the 30 seconds I looked at Twitter before joining the call he is not a popular player at the moment amongst Arsenal fans
00:11:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:11:22
Viktor
um
00:11:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
and to be and just like that victor we are now we're now at the times and nick as well we are now at the times where martin godegaard receives more criticism than jakub kivir in this entire season we're going to talk about individual performances actually we can talk about them right now because i think we've covered all of the you know general um general topics from the game and then and now we will be able to focus on the specifics
Sponsor Break and Arsenal Player Ratings
00:11:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
and personalities. But first, let's listen to our first ad, which is our awesome sponsor with awesome supplements.
00:11:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arsenal, you might need that one. That's Bionic for you.
00:12:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Exactly. Thank you so much, Bionic, for sponsoring our podcast. You are listening to Daily English Premier League Podcast brought to you by Global Sports Podcast Network. We are currently discussing Arsenal's performance in the very first leg of the Champions League semifinal against PSG at the Emirates.
00:12:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's get on to the details. Let's get on to... the individual performances. And I would like you guys to rate to everyone's performances on a scale from 0 to 10, with 5 being average, 10 being awesome, 0 being, don't know, probably not there at all.
00:13:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So, ah Nick, I'm just going to come ah to you with the proposal for a note for David Raya for this game.
00:13:23
Nick
That's six. He had that really impressive save from Douay. don't think there's anything he can really do about the goal. But I think there are times where he was playing too long at times when Trossard's up front.
00:13:40
Nick
There's nothing like nothing to complain about really, but he could have been a bit braver.
00:13:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, Victor, would you would you agree with this assessment?
00:13:51
Viktor
I mean, to be honest with you, everyone except for maybe a Rice, I would give a five on that Arsenal team tonight.
00:13:58
Nick
this.
00:13:59
Viktor
Yeah, there's nothing else you can say. As a team, they they did not start the game well, and they just transferred throughout the game.
00:14:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right. So not, mm-hmm.
00:14:10
Viktor
They created a few chances. They were good. Donnarumma made some sick saves. So that's that's a big moment. Those are some big moments as well. But overall, it wasn't enough.
00:14:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it wasn't enough. And I think that the the fact that we ah remain with a note of six, I guess, for David Reyes, because he really did not have that much to do, apart from three saves.
00:14:33
Viktor
Yeah. Yeah.
00:14:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah is yeah he he He did not have a Donnarumma-like performance today at all. So I guess six is very fair assessment.
00:14:39
Viktor
yeah
00:14:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Timber, Justin Timber. Nick, what? i sure It's not just Justin, Juri and Timber. I'm sorry, my bad. So your assessment of him.
00:14:51
Nick
like a 4. I think he like in a way dealt with Kvartoskeli, but like we were referencing with the referee, he made about 5 fouls in the first 30 minutes and should have definitely been on a card. like like In a way he dealt with Kvartoskeli, but I expected far more for him.
00:15:11
Nick
The way he's dealt with almost every win he's faced, he didn't have a particularly good game I don't think today.
00:15:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, to be honest, like just just before i give the floor Viktor here, maybe I will act a little bit as a defender, that like some defense for for Timber.
00:15:28
Nick
Thank you.
00:15:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Defense for the defender, haha. That he basically won all of his aerial duels in this game. ah But then again, he kind of lost possession 15 times. So I guess there's not much I can say to to defense Timber. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Viktor will come up with something.
00:15:46
Viktor
I mean, I was just looking as you were talking about the timber. I was just looking at Saliba and Kivir. And their stats and in a game like this, you you don't have a single tackle one. That's crazy for a center back. You have four clearances, one header, interception, recovery.
00:16:02
Viktor
And you have like two duels, one. And just one aerial duel one. So that's that's very a little for for like a semi.
00:16:08
Nick
I don't think... I mean, there's tackles I remember them making though, obviously.
00:16:11
Viktor
Yeah.
00:16:12
Nick
hit like
00:16:12
Viktor
Yeah.
00:16:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so there's nothing else you want to add about Timber's performance.
00:16:18
Viktor
No, not really.
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Okay, all right. So I guess we agree at what Nick said there. And speaking of centre-backs, to be honest, yes, it is ah criticism that Kivio and Saliba, they did not even have a lot of tackles and they were not super present and super active in the defence.
00:16:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But then again, just looking at those little details, I still think that Kivir had a far better game than Saliba.
00:16:44
Viktor
He did.
00:16:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Okay, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
00:16:47
Viktor
Yeah.
00:16:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mark for Saliba first, please. Nick.
00:16:51
Nick
Like a five. ah I don't think... Speaking about his mistakes, I don't think he... I really notice as many mistakes. And to me ah looking at our build-up as well, like, first half, when they were... Especially the start of the first half, they were suffocating us. And there were times where he could have easily been caught and kind of got away with it.
00:17:14
Nick
And he's bringing the ball out defence at times. Like... i think it was that bad. There's a massive ah block and tackle on Hakimi as well, which was huge in the second half, remember.
00:17:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Victor, like we were just, you just started saying that like the center backs performance wasn't ass as great as so anyone would expect. Yep, please.
00:17:39
Viktor
There wasn't anything sensational about it. they And they also didn't make many mistakes, I would say.
00:17:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:41
Nick
Nah.
00:17:44
Viktor
so
00:17:44
Nick
Yeah, that's kind of what getting at. There's nothing really...
00:17:47
Viktor
Yeah.
00:17:47
Nick
like they didn't They weren't at fault for the goal. they weren't like
00:17:51
Viktor
Right.
00:17:52
Nick
They didn't really make any egregious errors. like There were times where...
00:17:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
They positioned themselves appropriately during like those defensive actions.
00:17:56
Viktor
Yeah.
00:17:58
Nick
Yeah, like...
00:17:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:18:00
Nick
like this This game isn't their fault sort thing.
00:18:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
So not a lot to say.
00:18:03
Nick
like It's not their fault that the team couldn't do anything going forward.
00:18:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:04
Viktor
Right.
00:18:07
Nick
They did they essentially did their part in defence. Maybe not... as cleanly as expected from them at times but like it was a 1-0 game for a goal that wasn't down to them like
00:18:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I really think that there is nothing they they could do with the conceded goal. I mean, here, I guess it was the fault of the midfield players who just saw the threat in the box and they just decided to do like nothing about it.
00:18:28
Nick
yeah yeah exactly
00:18:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So, but we'll get to that. Jakub Kivior. And here I'm going to be advocating for him because I like the way how he was contributing in attack. I know that he's a centre-back and normally he's not supposed to, but then again, i think this is Mikel Arteta's style of play, where centre-backs, they are also active in those offensive actions, especially in set pieces.
00:18:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Keep your head that one header from the free... ah from the free kick, I guess, in the first half of of of of the game. Other than that, Kivior, he knew how to position himself properly. ah Yeah, he did not do anything spectacular, but in my opinion, he performed just teens a bit better than Celiba because Kivior was visible.
00:19:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
I could see Kivior fighting for for the for those balls in attack and and just just trying to construct something. Nick, would you agree with that?
00:19:23
Nick
Not entirely, but I think it's the same as Saliba. It's a 5, he didn't really do anything.
00:19:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, come on.
00:19:28
Nick
Yeah.
00:19:28
Viktor
He scored his goal for this season in the last game against Crystal Palace.
00:19:31
Nick
yeah
00:19:32
Viktor
He should have kept that goal for this game.
00:19:34
Nick
i mean
00:19:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, okay. So zero.
00:19:36
Viktor
sir
00:19:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
no Note zero.
00:19:38
Nick
that
00:19:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
He didn't score when he wasn't supposed to. No, but but okay.
00:19:41
Viktor
and i'll give him I'll give him a six.
00:19:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But seriously.
00:19:43
Viktor
Six or seven. He's fine.
00:19:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, yes.
00:19:45
Viktor
He was solid. He was solid. Coming in and this part of the season where everything matters right now and covering for Gabriel, he's having pretty solid season so far. Yeah.
00:19:54
Nick
yeah
00:19:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. But you know what? If we're giving a seven to Kivio... Okay, Nick. do did can Okay, I do not think that you agree with a seven for Kivio. What would be your mark at the end of the day?
00:20:06
Nick
I still think, like, I don't think he was that... I don't think he was noticeably different to Saliba from my perspective where I'm paying more attention to what Arsenal do, obviously, but I don't think he was that different. That's why I say a 5 as well.
00:20:21
Nick
I don't mind if you want to give him a 6, but...
00:20:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, compromise. Six it is. To be honest, okay, perhaps we were watching two different games because I really liked Kivir, how he was... how who's
00:20:32
Nick
I don't think, like, but, like... yeah I just ah don't think he was noticeably better than Saliba for example.
00:20:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
If we're talking about defense alone, yeah, I agree. But I'm talking about the overall contribution to the game. And I really
Player Highlights and Critiques: Arsenal's Performance
00:20:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
think that Kivir contributed more to the game than Saliba.
00:20:50
Nick
I think Saliba did the same things though. Saliba did the same things for me and I think our left-sided centre-back gets more license to go forward and around Myles Lewiskelly because he does come inside so think
00:21:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Okay. We're not going to agree on this one.
00:21:07
Nick
Yeah, we're not going anywhere with it.
00:21:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Six for Kivir. Let's move on.
00:21:09
Viktor
and
00:21:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's move on to... I think if we're willing to give Kivir a six, then what mark are we going to give to Louis Skelly, who was by far... who I think he was the best out of the defensive line.
00:21:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nick, your your thoughts on that?
00:21:21
Nick
Yeah. seven Seven or eight, to be honest. Like... Yeah.
00:21:26
Viktor
I'll go with seven.
00:21:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:21:28
Viktor
Just because of the way that he is at 18 coming into a big big game like this, showing that matureity maturity.
00:21:28
Nick
it
00:21:31
Nick
yeah
00:21:34
Viktor
So it's a seven for me.
00:21:35
Nick
one of the few players trying to drive us forward as well.
00:21:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
yep
00:21:37
Viktor
Yeah.
00:21:40
Nick
didn't have many opportunities to drive through the middle, but when he got the opportunity with space in front of him, he went and winning those fouls, as he seems to always do.
00:21:52
Nick
It's
00:21:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:56
Nick
quite detrimental to some of the other players that an 18-year-old was one of our best players.
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. All of his passes in this game were accurate. All of them, 23 out of 23, which is pretty impressive. Nine ground duels, 7-1 out of those nine.
00:22:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Expected assists, like even 0.14, as the stats say. So, yeah, I think I'm going to agree with you that like a 7 would be an accurate mark for Myles Skelly.
00:22:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
mark for my miles lewis scaly
00:22:29
Viktor
Yeah, his he's he's here to stay for sure.
00:22:32
Nick
Yeah.
00:22:33
Viktor
Yeah, that's a left back that's going to stay there for a long time.
00:22:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. and and And also, I think he...
00:22:37
Viktor
for it For England, I'm not saying that he's going to stay at Arsenal because most likely someone else a bigger in Spain will snatch him eventually or even even in England.
00:22:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, he's going to do it. so Obviously.
00:22:47
Nick
well
00:22:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Perhaps. But I think... Yeah, but you know what? I think I'm going to ask Nick here because Victor can chime in, of course, at any time. But I think like the performance performances of Lewis Skelly, and they ah present, and they that that's the showcase of a long way that Lewis Skelly has gone through being almost a liability as the left back catching red cards left and right to being one of the solid factors of that defense, right?
00:23:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
of that defense right
00:23:21
Nick
Yeah, i'd argue I don't think he was ever a liability. Some of the red cards were like bit stupid. The red card against Wolves just didn't red card, for example. The red card against West Ham was more of a red card.
00:23:36
Nick
Besides the point, like I mean, he's come Calafiori was supposed to be in that position and has taken that and it's going very difficult for him to get back in the team. like So to do that at 18, he's hit state for a very long term.
00:23:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. So ah props to Luis Skelly. So let's move on to the second line and let's start with the hero of a game against ah Real Madrid and the guy who tried to make some magic magic today, but it just wasn't to be because his um basically his his friends and then his teammates from the attacking line, they just did not deliver today. Dikland Rice, ladies and gentlemen. Nick, your assessment.
00:24:17
Nick
and i i think you see from him trying to drive forward from six, how him driving forward from eight will cause more issues. That's why quite hopeful for, or more hopeful for next week of a better performance than today. i think it took him a while to get going, but once he was getting going, even his switches to Saka and Martinelli to give them opportunities 1v1 were so accurate.
00:24:45
Viktor
I still think he was he he was still...
00:24:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
One of the bright spots and in midfield.
00:24:48
Viktor
yeah I would still have him as the best player for Arsenal today. after After the rough start after that. Yeah, he's the best player for Arsenal today. And the last few games as well.
00:24:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:24:59
Viktor
In the Champions League.
00:25:01
Nick
has been since December. Yeah.
00:25:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:03
Viktor
Yeah.
00:25:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Seven ground duels, won ah one successful dribble attempt, ah seven accurate long balls. ah He was that one bright spot. And yeah, I will definitely agree with with Victor here that Declan Rice was, again, like the best player for for Arsenal. So if we gave Lewis Skelly a seven, then I guess Declan Rice should walk away with an eight in that case.
00:25:28
Nick
yeah
00:25:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:25:29
Viktor
Yeah.
00:25:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you guys agree?
00:25:31
Nick
Yeah.
00:25:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. ah So we know we now know that we will not give any 9s or 10s today. We're going to be super strict. And that will take us to Marino. Yeah.
00:25:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
If he scored that goal, then I guess could talk about like so we could praise him ah even more. But unfortunately, he he actually was offside, and that was a fair decision by the VAR.
00:25:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Okay, I'm going to turn to Victor, just with some viy variety. So, Victor, what would be your assessment of Marino?
00:26:07
Viktor
I mean, I think for Arsenal, he's better ah as a nine. And we saw that today, scoring the goal. But unfortunately, because of partying out, he had to play center mid. Nothing really.
00:26:19
Viktor
This is not a game for him. e He's not that fast. He cannot cope with the PSG speed in the midfield. And especially once the ball goes to the wingers. So for me, Marino, five, five and a half max.
00:26:34
Nick
I was going way harsher I like a three I think a three I really like he was slowing everything down
00:26:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, OK.
00:26:37
Viktor
Yeah.
00:26:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
let's let's Let's hear it. Three.
00:26:46
Nick
And I don't think he drove us forward as much as Rice would be. It's kind of an unfair comparison. This is a 25 million player bought to be on the bench again compared to oh over a 100 million pound player. But it's the Champions League semi-final. You've not done anything this game.
00:27:05
Nick
And like Vidj was saying, next week when he's up front, I've got much higher hopes for him. But yeah, I don't think he helps us much at all today.
00:27:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow. Okay. So if Marino gets a three and for even his disallowed goal, then i really I'm really already feeling sorry for the likes of Martinelli and Odegaard because we might be brutal today.
00:27:20
Nick
oh We'll get to this. Oh,
00:27:29
Viktor
give him a two and move on give him a two and move on
00:27:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:32
Nick
man.
00:27:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, yes. Let's get him into it. Move on. Okay. Martin Odegaard, ladies and gentlemen. ah what The weakest link to like last night and and and in the midfield of of Arsenal. Kvaraz Kelya just did whatever he wanted on that side of the pitch.
00:27:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Okay. He did not receive any help from his teammates on that side either. But still, like I think you expect way more from Odegaard. Isn't that right, Victor?
00:27:58
Viktor
Yeah, absolutely. When you have your captain with that performance, then you can't expect you win your team to win. So that was a letdown on his side. Hopefully he can regroup and next week we see a different other guard.
00:28:12
Viktor
But for now, he can stick with it too.
00:28:14
Nick
Yeah, this is...
00:28:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, so joint with joint with Marino in that case. Okay. ah Okay. Nick, your thoughts.
00:28:21
Nick
This is like a one or a two. this is so This is unacceptable. i You're the captain of the club and therere commentary, or at least for our coverage, are almost talking about Rice as if he is the captain already.
00:28:35
Nick
And that's essentially what a fanbase wants as well. like These are unacceptable performances, almost have been since he's come back. from injury and there's reports maybe he's not fully rehabbed from this injury but like at some point you've got to give us something you've got one of the best wingers in the world next to you like create something please and it wasn't even didn't even feel like he driving us forward and playing through sort of like his second phase as much as you kind expect like this
00:29:14
Nick
is not like i said earlier he's not a popular player amongst Arsenal fans at the moment yeah because he's like Martinelli's been good in the past like month or so sorry like whereas Odegaard's not doing anything for us at the moment
00:29:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
so even So he's the they even like less popular than Martinelli, is what you're saying?
00:29:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, actually, I expected the lowest marks for for the for the front line.
00:29:39
Viktor
Amen.
00:29:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so let's get to it.
00:29:42
Nick
no
00:29:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's get to Gabriel Martinelli. um Before I ask you, Nick, about um your assessment of Gabriel Martinelli of this game, let me just say that that one shot from the third added minute...
00:29:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
at the second half, which gone super wide. I think that that that just summed up the entire performance of Gabriel Martinelli and almost the entire ah Arsenal front line.
00:30:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was just shocking. Like in such in such situations when PSG did not allow you a lot of freedom in midfield, when you are on the edge of the box and like guy like Martinelli, I really think that he should have done better there.
00:30:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that was just one example of other than that, just... subpar performance really Nick your thoughts
00:30:29
Nick
a three like i think he was significantly better than trossado will probably get on to now it's like yeah like he has that massive chance in the first half it's a really good save from donnarumma but it's also an element of like he's not getting any service like marino's not giving him anything urdgaard's not giving him anything the best thing he the second best thing he got was from saka moving to the left side and
00:30:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
mm-hmm
00:30:57
Nick
putting that cross in that he almost reaches. Like, I don't fully put it down to him, but he's got to try and exploit Hakimi pushing forward more for me.
00:31:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. Victor, your thoughts?
00:31:10
Viktor
Yeah, same pretty much. I couldn't tell anything different than what Nick just said.
00:31:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right. So, okay. So let's just go slightly ah quicker. So Bukayo Saka now. I think out of this front line, he was basically the savior ah and and in terms of the like the savior. ah He would be the savior if he scored a goal for Arsenal. But like he really was another bright spot aside of Lewis Skelly and Declan Rice.
00:31:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nick, your thoughts on Bukayo Saka?
00:31:45
Nick
like a seven just because he was the only person like trying to do anything it had especially that second half of the first half he was like pushing everything forward so yeah I mean we know how good this guy is like it's not really a surprise when he plays well in these games anymore and even when even when he wasn't particularly ah his best which is again similar to Martinelli down to not really getting enough service like Yeah, I've always got faith in him to pull something bag, even if he didn't today.
00:32:23
Viktor
What do you do with him over the weekend now that you know this tie is still wide open?
00:32:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
well
00:32:28
Viktor
You have Saka who came back from a big injury. This is his first 90 minutes game in a while. He hasn't played in the Premier League. Do you rest him fully over the weekend or you just give him 30, 40 minutes or even more than that?
00:32:39
Nick
we'll probably get rested. imagine we'll retain a lot of the team. Because, I mean, we got and we've had nothing to play for in the league since for months, so it'll probably be Warneri there again.
00:32:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:54
Viktor
They probably still want to clinch second because you still get a little bit more money than you would get for third.
00:32:54
Nick
Or Sterling, who is...
00:32:58
Nick
Yeah, but I don't think we're massively concerned about that at the moment.
00:32:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:32:59
Viktor
And you want to get that done as soon as possible. Yeah.
00:33:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not to mention that technically Arsenal could still drop out of Champions League. Technically. I'm im just i'm just saying it as a mathematical probability.
00:33:11
Viktor
Yeah.
00:33:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So ah not not everything is settled in in the league yet. So Bukayo Saka, nice performance for but for him. Of course, like it would have been better had he, ah I don't know, created assist or performed.
00:33:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
um but but But then again, the entire team. did not deliver and that brings us to leandro trossard uh before we move but before like i let you assess him let me just say that marquinhos did not make the live very easy for him uh on quite the opposite by the way marquinhos is the first player to make 75 clearances of the champions league this season i think that leandro trossard met a like he hexily He was in for a big car crash against such a block like Marquinhos, who is, I think, right now one of the best center backs this season in Europe.
00:34:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Would you agree, Nick?
00:34:07
Nick
I mean he's set up for failure.
00:34:11
Nick
He's a winger really, playing up front.
00:34:15
Viktor
Yeah.
00:34:15
Nick
like And he doesn't really help himself either. like He massively overplays stuff all the time. For me he was like a 2 out of 10.
00:34:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:34:23
Nick
He was just useless. This is why strikers are big physical players now. It just didn't help us at all.
00:34:34
Viktor
And he has been a great form. That's one thing. That's the thing that he got going for him. And also the part that party was missing. So he had to play as a number nine.
00:34:44
Nick
Yeah, exactly.
00:34:44
Viktor
So you're playing out of position. You're in form. But in a game like this.
00:34:48
Nick
I would say he's played striker enough to play better there now. As much as i say he's set up for failure, like you've got to do something.
00:34:53
Viktor
Yeah.
00:34:58
Nick
like we saw We've seen with Havertz and Trossard essentially interchanging at 9 before. Even doing that with Marina would have been better than what he did today, which would be largely anonymous.
00:35:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, so I said that Marquinhos' remark is sort of ah maybe, I don't know, saving grace there for Fulandre Trussard. But no, even that did not stop our relentless pundits from burying him to the ground. Okay, and i really let me just say some quick word about the substitutions.
00:35:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Maybe we shouldn't say anything about Ethan in one area because he did not get ah enough minutes for us to assess him. ah But the substitution for Timber... Ben White, what can we say anything about his performance there, or not enough data?
00:35:47
Viktor
He's slowly coming back to his form, but yeah.
00:35:47
Nick
No, I actually have more to say about Wuneri. Sorry.
00:35:52
Viktor
these are This is definitely a good experience for for a player like him.
00:35:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again?
00:35:56
Viktor
For an 18-year-old kid to come in on the stage this late into the Champions League, that's going to go far for him.
00:35:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:36:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK. um Nick, your thoughts?
00:36:07
Nick
have more to say on Warneri than White. I think Warneri showed him, what, five minutes more than Odegaard did or came? like The little bit where he kind of dribbles across the box and i for me he should shoot rather than pass off to Martinelli who sky it like you said earlier. but and He's more likely to drive us forward than Odegaard is at the moment. It's just about trusting his kind of lack of physicality at the moment.
00:36:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
Arsenal's Second Leg Strategy Discussion
00:36:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, and just like that, we have gone through the entire Arsenal team, which which played against PSG last night in the Champions League semi-final in the first leg.
00:36:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there's always a second leg, and we're going to get to that after this.
00:37:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you, Zencastr, for allowing us to use your ah platform to produce and to make such ah great episodes just like that one. Hopefully you're listening to Daily English Premier League brought to you by Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:37:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we discussed the general topics of the of like the first like general bullet points taken out of those the first leg at the Emirates. We talked about individual performances. So now all that is left for us to do is to discuss the reverse tie, which will happen next week at Park the Prince.
00:37:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I'm just going to start with Nick. What has to change in terms of personalities and in terms of Mikel Arteta's choices? for the Gunners to have any fighting chance whatsoever to turn the tide in the Verva.
00:38:15
Nick
I don't think it's particularly complicated. I think it's just going back to what our starting XI is at the moment with Partey at six and Rice at eight, Mourinho up front.
00:38:27
Nick
At the end of the day, we're very thin generally. We've done particularly well to even get to this position. But with that lineup, it's a one goal game. like We've kind got to take inspiration from our women's team who went to Lyon at the weekend with one goal down and beat them 4-1 to get to the women's Champions League final.
00:38:44
Viktor
you
00:38:51
Nick
also So take some inspiration from the women's team going to Paris next week.
00:38:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, so it is doable is what you're saying. and Yeah, that is a good point that Thomas Partey will be back after his suspension. ah So question to you, Victor, then. ah Who has to step up in terms of ah the players that you saw last night?
00:39:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who needs to step up at Parc de Prince for Arsenal to make a difference?
00:39:19
Viktor
Odegaard, he needs to be the captain that Arsene needs to have.
00:39:21
Nick
That's not happening.
00:39:23
Viktor
That's for sure. You need Saka, but most importantly, you need to have that intensity in the first 10 minutes. Because if you get killed in the first 15, 20 minutes, when you play away, then it's done.
00:39:37
Viktor
So I don't know how are they're going to regroup mentally, but that's the way to win the game.
00:39:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Absolutely.
00:39:43
Viktor
If there is one positive...
00:39:47
Viktor
I mean, they needed to win anyways. It's no away goals, no nothing. Just losing 1-0 at home. It's still game is open.
00:39:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep. The game is open and that is just one goal.
00:39:58
Viktor
If it was 2-1 or 3-2 and it was away goals, it would have been a different story because in the back of your head, you'll have like, okay, we need to win by two. But now it's completely open.
00:40:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's absolutely open and that's why there is still a fighting ah chance. So, um any predictions?
00:40:14
Viktor
PSG, one last thing. be it I mean, Arsenal need to do what Liverpool did in against PSG. Remember, birthday they won away.
00:40:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:40:23
Viktor
And then PSG turned around ah away.
00:40:24
Nick
No.
00:40:25
Viktor
So now Arsenal has to do the same thing.
00:40:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I guess that that is actually an interesting point. So, Victor, if you say that Arsenal is to do the same thing that Liverpool did at Park de Prince, then are we in for the 90 minutes of suffering?
00:40:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
What do you think, Nick? Is is is this going to be 90 minutes of just ah pay like the Arsenal parking the bus and hoping for some counterattack?
00:40:41
Nick
no
00:40:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or are we going to see ah creative and proactive Arsenal?
00:40:52
Nick
No, I think you can't go there and part of the boss down. I think just have be more proactive, similar to how we played against uh Real Madrid especially in the first leg and it's far different because this PSG side defends so well I don't think they're getting enough credit that well they defend as a team so it's not gonna easy but I think like I've said this whole podcast I've got faith we can turn this around because I
00:41:25
Nick
We kind of said it when we had four Arsenal fans and Ishan after that we knocked out Real Madrid. With being in Real Madrid, no disrespect a appear to PSG of just being us, but kind of what's PSG in terms of European legacy after you've been to the Bernabeu and
Predictions for Barcelona vs Inter and Conclusion
00:41:45
Nick
won there? so These players shouldn't be as afraid as they shown they like seem to be today, especially the start of the game. so
00:41:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, accolades do not play football. Players do.
00:41:57
Nick
No, but there's like there's a there is an aura about playing Real Madrid, definitely.
00:42:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, of course, of course.
00:42:04
Nick
And I don't think that's the same thing playing against PSG.
00:42:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean... that is a big achievement to to defeat Real Madrid in a knockout tie in the Champions League. But what's going to happen next week, we're just going to have to wait and see.
00:42:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
One last thing we could before we go off the air here. at Today, the second semifinal Barcelona Inter, who have you got? ah Victor?
00:42:30
Viktor
I'll go with Barcelona only because Inter is not in form. They've lost like three in a row.
00:42:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:42:37
Viktor
But again, it's a semifinal and they're still Italians, so you never know.
00:42:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:42:42
Viktor
But Barcelona is probably flying right now after winning the cup like that. But also you could see some gaps in their game, mental gaps. And again, i am not 100% sure that Barcelona is going to go through easy.
00:42:56
Viktor
Might not even go through it all. So it's a big advantage.
00:42:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well.
00:43:00
Viktor
It's a big advantage for Inter that they they play the first game away. So.
00:43:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, so we're just going to have to wait and see. Nick, your predictions one last thing before we go off the air.
00:43:11
Nick
I said Inter could do Barca when we were predicting it last time, so I'll stick with that as much as Inter haven't been good, especially in the last three games. Hopefully they can hunker down for my prediction, 0-0, take it back to San Siro, steal it sort of 1-0.
00:43:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so that is going to be one ah one heck of football chess is what our ponders predict basically. So that wraps it up, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for listening to daily English Premier League ah podcasts. Thank you for listening to this episode.
00:43:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Thank you, Nick, a devoted Arsenal fan for joining us. It's been a pleasure. Thank you.
00:43:50
Nick
Thank you.
00:43:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, thank you. And Victor, of course, ah right from heaven on earth, which is called Chicago, Illinois. Thank you so much, Victor, as well.
00:44:00
Viktor
Thank you.
00:44:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you. And me from California, from some normal-looking office. So, thank you. Subscribe, follow, please leave a like if you enjoyed this episode, and we will see you and hear you at the next one.
00:44:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you so much, and we'll hear you in the next one. Bye-bye!