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Daily Arsenal: S1-E118: Forecast Friday - Preview to Leicester away and our injury woes sink deeper
12 Plays17 days ago
In this episode we will be looking ahead to our trip to the King Power as well as discussing our trip away to Dubai and having a look at the football during the week! 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!
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Overview
00:00:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network. Hello everyone and welcome along to another episode of the Daily Arsenal Podcast. The only place to catch your daily fix of Arsenal where we eat, sleep and repeat talking all things Arsenal. Brought to you on the GSPM Podcast Network. I'm your host Jamie Patterson and today I'm going to be flying solo. So sit back and enjoy the next half an hour of what I have to bring to you.
00:00:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
So in this episode, we will be looking ahead to our trip to the King Power as well as painfully discussing our trip away to Dubai and also having a look at the football during the course of the past week. Now, as always, guys, if you want to get involved with any of the dishhar topics discussed, please do get involved through our social media, which can be found in our show notes.
Leicester's Struggles and Arsenal's Form
00:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Saturday lunchtime. Arsenal travel to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester City. So let's give a little debrief on the two teams here. So, currently as it stands, Leicester are sitting 18th in the Premier League table, whereas with Arsenal, they are sitting second. Now,
00:01:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Leicester's form in the last six games. They've only won one. Yes. One game. And can anyone guess who that one win came against? Yes.
00:01:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
For those of you that guessed it within the seconds, they beat Spurs and they beat them at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, winning 2-1. I mean, I still sit here and think to myself, how? I mean, just how did Leicester do it? But do you know what? ah The fact they beat Tottenham just says it all. Absolutely says it all. Now, in doing my research,
00:02:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
for the for this podcast. I had a look at a website called Web Pages and it showed me a form table of every team that had played the last six. Take a guess where you think Leicester finished in that form table. Bearing in mind they were sitting 18th in the league And for those of you that guessed bottom, they are bottom of the form guide according to web pages. Now, before I talk about Arsenal, let me just quickly run you through some other stats I found. Leicester's last home win, home win at the King Power was an FA Cup win against QPR winning 6-2. And that was in the third round of the cup,
00:03:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, their last Premier League win, Premier League win, came on the 3rd of December 2024 as they beat West Ham 3-1. Now, before I just look at the Arsenal side of things, I do just quickly want to highlight a few players for Leicester and The thing is, going into this game, I do believe that there's so much for Arsenal on the line here. But again, you you look at the, you know, the so-called, everyone says never, you know, never really put your trust in the 12-30 kickoffs. Now, personally, I think Leicester have found it quite difficult during the course of this season. ah You know, they didn't have rude van Nistroy at the start of it and
00:04:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think with Rude, he's really, he had it, he's, it's difficult with him because the thing is we've just had the January transfer market and you would think surely for for a club like Leicester who are fighting relegation, they would need to try and stay up. I just think with, with the backing that he's had probably not been the best, but you look at the players, they've got the likes of, of course, you know you'd mention the likes of Jamie Vardy, then you've got, um indeedy, James Justin, you know um Stefan Mavididi,
00:05:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
some some good quality players. Jordan, are you to so ah to say the least? And the thing is with Leicester, they have, you know, they've gone to, they've gone to the likes of Liverpool, for example, taken the lead at Anfield bearing in mind, but they've just not been able to sustain that lead. And again,
00:05:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I kind of predicted in my ah in my relegation that Leicester would get relegated. And I think now as we're coming into, you know, February going into towards March, can't believe how quick February is even going at this point. I just yeah, it's going to be an interesting one for Leicester. And I mean, if things don't change for them, it is not looking too great for Leicester realistically. I mean, the fact that Again, like I mentioned before, one win in the last six, bearing in mind, this is the last six Premier League games they've played. um And from that, beating Spurs, you know, Spurs at the minute, this season's not really been the greatest season for them. um So, and I still sit here laughing at Spurs because who doesn't as an Arsenal fan.
00:06:16
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But I think, for Leicester, it's going to be a very, very interesting game for them, especially being at home as well. So they'll really want to turn up and really kind of show the home fans that you know they can try and you know maybe cause Arsenal a little bit of distress.
Arsenal's Injury Concerns and Squad Depth
00:06:35
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But we will have to see. Now,
00:06:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's look at Arsenal's form in the meantime. So, when I was looking at the web pages form guide, Arsenal, I don't understand how, but Arsenal are top of that form guide, winning four, get four of the last six games, which involved beating Brentford, Banter FC, oh, sorry, I mean Spurs, Wolves and of course Manchester City. Now,
00:07:09
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I'll go on to Dubai a little bit later on because it's a discussion that's meant to be, it's a discussion that I'm sure if I had the boys with me, they would be, ah I'd like to know what their opinions would be, but I think their opinions would be probably very similar to what mine are. And the thing is, I mean, i when I was doing my research before tonight's recording, I thought wow, Brentford, Brentford felt like a long time ago, you know, and I look at the team back then we had, and I mean, that was a pretty good team we had, you know, ah we had who I'm kind of thinking off the top of my head here. But you know, obviously, Havertz, Trossard, you know, Marino, I feel like
00:08:01
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squad is so currently just so depleted especially going into this Leicester game um but again I'll kind of speak about it in the second part about our trip to Dubai and the issues we we kind of face going forward but if we have a look at the reverse fixture I mean, wow, I mean, the reverse fixture was something else, wasn't it? I mean, a 4-2 win to Arsenal, a James Justin brace, a Trossard, and then just a Trossard Martinelli. And then we had Indeedee and Havart scoring goals for us in what was literally stoppage time. And I mean,
00:08:53
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I didn't watch the game. I wish I was at the game live because that would have been the atmosphere would have been absolutely electric there. But just the manner in the manner we won that game, you know, we love a good we were in a few of our games.
00:09:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
during the past few seasons, we've loved a good last minute goal to really rally us up. But I mean, that was some game. And I mean, James Justin, that that for some reason, I've spoken about James Justin um to a lot of my mates before. And even before Leicester were promoted, I actually said, you know, surprise, no one actually took James Justin before Leicester got relegated. I think he's a great player and kind of really showed it at the game at the Emirates you know but overall though it was a 4-2 win to Arsenal and I mean again I kind of sit here and I'm like wow Martinelli, Trossard and indeed the own goal and Haber scoring I mean was we didn't make we didn't make that game easy for ourselves put it that way and it wasn't our most convincing wins but as most people say a win is a win and
00:10:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think going into this weekend's game, it is going to be really, really interesting looking at the injuries that Arsenal face, looking at who's going to be that front three. You know, obviously no haberts. Saka's still out. Martinelli out as well. Jay Zeus out.
00:10:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
gosh ah you know the front line's really looking quite quite bleak actually um and squad depth I mean kind of said it to the boys at the start of the season but I think our squad depth I said that our squad depth would be fairly tested um but I didn't think it would be in the attacking front I thought it would be in the defensive front that we would really have our defense tested by injuries but Again, a lot of Arsenal fans are going to be sitting here saying, well, what if, you know, it's going to be the what ifs, you know, what if Arsenal had gone out and signed a striker? We could have maybe avoided a situation like this. And, you know, I've had a few people tell me about Arsenal's summer transfer business, because, again, didn't bring a striker in, but brought in the likes of Califuri, you know, and Michal Marino. And again,
00:11:29
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you know for for a while now Arsenal fans have been crying for a striker and for me I've sat here i and I've seen people say well it seems like the fan base is quite divided because a lot of people are angry with Arteta and the other half are just angry at the Cronkes and for me I can see the thing is I would be more I'd show my frustration more towards the Cronkes because at the same time the crockets will sit there and be like well we've actually done our part by investing into our tetta you know so maybe for them they've thought well okay well how can we invest again and for our tetta i know he says that he's disappointed but midway during the market he was also talking about how arsenal uh you know they're active in the market but we're trying to look for
00:12:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
in in other words the perfect striker in Arteza's eyes but unfortunately it wasn't pulled off this January and I just think at the end of the day now going into February's fixtures I mean we've got some really interesting games coming up and the the squad is going to be tested and We're going to need everyone on board. We're going to need all our players ready and raring to go. um The one concern that I just have is Ethan Wanyeri. I love him, great player. I think he's really developed well into this Arsenal team and he's really matured well under Michal Arteta. The only concern I just have is that we just don't burn him out. You know, you can kind of see it in soccer a little bit where
00:13:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
we have we have burned him out a little bit but he still managed to continue that same consistency and that brilliant performances but again it just seems like for us now we just need to just kind of look after Wanyeri and also Mars Lewis Skelly as well. I can't forget him as well. I think those two players that we really need to look after and really kind of assess their minutes and make sure that they're not getting overworked because you know despite going out of you know the Cabal and you know despite us being in Champions League and you know going out the FA Cup
00:13:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
the next few The next few games ahead are going to be very testing, but again, only time can tell.
Advertisement Break
00:13:59
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00:14:17
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Arsenal's Dubai Trip and Player Condition
00:15:03
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Oh, okay.
00:15:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, okay. Technical difficulties, but I've saved them. I've saved them. Welcome back to part two of our forecast Friday. We've just discussed about Arsenal and Leicester during, ah in this upcoming ah game for this weekend. Sorry, I'm starting to kind of lose my words here a little bit, but let's have a look at Arsenal's trip to Dubai.
00:15:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yes, it has been something else. It really has been something else. Now, if we look back to last year's trip to Dubai, it really worked out well for Arsenal. We came back. We were scoring goals. We were winning ah again. We were, we were beating West Ham and, you know, and we were beating, yes, I know there were West Ham and Sheffield United, but we were making stadiums empty by half time.
00:16:06
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But I feel like now, as we now, the boys are back from Dubai, may I just confirm? um And let's just, my my general consensus is it's ah it's been a frustrating week for Arsenal fans. And it's funny because in I think in like one of last week's episodes, before even confirming about Arsenal going away to Dubai, I remember sitting on here and I said to the boys, all right, you know, we've got a week off. Why don't we just go to Dubai? I'm sure, you know, we can ah I'm sure we can get some good warm weather training out there. Well, I really feel like them words have come back to bite me. I'll be so honest with you.
00:16:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
um It's, it seems like it's just ah really come back to bite me. And ah let's just get to the, let's just discuss it. The big talking point. Yes. Losing chai habits for the season. The one thing I don't get is it's a hamstring injury, a hamstring injury that has left habits out for the season. Now, when I first heard that habits was out with a hamstring injury, I thought, oh, okay, might be a bit like Martinelli. You know, it might be one of them where he, you know, he'll be out for a month. We are going to miss him. I don't know about JD on the other hand. I don't know if JD would miss him as much, but, but I just think, you know, I just thought, all right, well him and Martinelli could come back together, you know, and we can continue on in March, continue on in April and continue on in May.
00:17:51
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But then, I didn't want to believe it. When I started seeing reports from ah from David Ornstein, from the Athletic, and he was saying about how he could be out for a season, I was like, nah.
00:18:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm like, no, I don't want to believe it. And I know, and to be honest with you, I've been a, ah you know, from the start of the season, I've really, you know, ah my my opinion on Kai Haberz has been, yeah, I think he he's he's all right, give him a chance. And now my perception of Kai has slowly started to change. I'm not on the same level as JD yet, but, you know, it's not been it's not been comfortable watching Kai on the ball at times.
00:18:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the fact that we've now lost Kai Havert for this season alone is damaging. It is really damaging because I was really hopeful that we could come back from from Dubai and just, you know, try and find that form that we had from last season where, you know, we could go to teams, really go and take on teams. And, you know, the fact that we've, you could say had a break for a whole week, you know, no f FA Cup action. You would think that we'd be, i'm I'm really hoping that we are fit and ready and the boys are relaxed.
00:19:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's just, it's so upsetting to hear. And the thing is, again, it goes back to what if, you know, what if Arsenal had gone and signed a striker and so on, you know, I know I'm repeating myself here, but it just, I do sit there and think to myself, who, who now do we just turn to? And again,
00:19:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
you look at the the attacking options we've got, they are now starting to slowly become quite dire because of ah again, as I've mentioned, the players that we're missing and the players that are fit, which I've not said, is Sterling Trossard and Ethan Wannieri.
00:19:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And going into this weekend, we I think we all pretty much know that it is going to be a front three of Sterling Trossard and Wanyeri. Sterling on the left, Ethan Wanyeri on the right, Trossard in the middle. Unless, listen, I'll tell you, if you are listening, maybe, you know, maybe you might want to give Kieran Tierney a little role at the left wing. I mean, I'm, you know,
00:20:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I wouldn't mind trialing it out for one game, one game and one game only by the way. um But yeah, I mean, if we're going to be talking realistically, all jokes aside, it would be Sterling Tross and Wanyeri. And the thing is, I mentioned it on the last podcast with the boys, which is the fact that sterling Sterling's had, well, he hasn't had a proper run of games, but he has had a mini run of games, which I've realized.
00:20:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I just, we all know that we're not gonna be fast running to Chelsea to be like, right, we're gonna sign up permanently off you. We're not doing that, I can tell you that. But the concern I, it's again, the concern I have is I just hope that we can just keep these three fit. Another concern I also realised going into one other game um Is the Chelsea game we won't have sterling for that Chelsea game. So we will be down to two two attacking players I don't know how Arteta is gonna even think of trying to Play his normal formation. I just don't I don't know who you can but play further forward You know and especially against Chelsea as well. I don't know who you can play further forward but
00:21:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's look at some positive news from Dubai and for me, it's seeing a photo of Ben White and Pacaya Saka travelling to Dubai.
Match Lineup and Player Recovery Strategies
00:22:01
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Now, look Arsenal fans, let's not jump on the bandwagon here, let's not get too overexcited because if any if any Arsenal fans are seen in the back pages,
00:22:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
in the photo um of Bukayasaka you can see the um the scar from the operation so I mean let's be honest I don't expect him back till maybe late March earliest probably I'd say late March early early April at best and Ben White from what I've been hearing in reports could potentially start on Saturday however I wouldn't rush him back. I just don't think I would rush him back just yet. Only because we don't... i The concern I have is, and I never i will never forget this, is when
00:22:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
we had part a couple seasons ago it was during lockdown and I'm sure you guys will know what I'm talking about but it was when we were coming back from lockdown we were in lockdown sorry and it was the North London Derby we went away to Spurs part a was parte had come back from injury and arteta had thrown him straight into the mix and before we knew it parte got injured that's the only concern i have with ben white but at the same time credit due where it's due i've got to give it to urian timber now i know this season i have said that timber has tend to drift out of position a little bit and he does get to he does seem to be sucked up a little bit
00:23:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I've got to give him his credit because he stepped in really well since Ben White's injury. And again, I would like to see timber just given a little bit of rest just so that he can rest properly. I would like to hope that the trip to Dubai has helped him in a way to get that rest he needs. But again, if I'm going with a starting 11 this weekend and I'm looking at my right back, I would still continue using timber.
00:24:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
potentially maybe bring on Ben White as a sub in the last 20 minutes, 15, 20 minutes, just to get him into the flow of things. If we, just for example, if we are 3-0 up against Leicester in the second half, I'd bring timber off and bring Ben White on just to give him some minutes just to get his fitness back up. But I wouldn't be quick to get him into that starting 11.
00:24:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And of course with Saka, again, and like I said with Ben White, once he is fit again, I wouldn't be quick to just get him back into the flow of things. I would like to just slowly ease him in. But again, only time can tell and let's hope, fingers crossed, that we can just try and survive this period unscathed because we just can't afford any more injuries please i'm literally begging please just let's not have any more injuries anyway on that note let's take another break and when we come back we are going to be taking a look at the week's football
00:25:20
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Weekly Football Match Highlights
00:25:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
network every club oh useful oh Okay, I don't know what it seems to be going on but Welcome back to our third part and we will be looking at the week's football that has taken place now For all football fans everywhere this week, I don't know about you, but this week kind of felt like a World Cup where we had a game on every day so we start off with Monday night and the FA Cup Crystal Palace winning 2-0 against Doncaster with with goals from
00:26:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh my gosh, this is embarrassing here. From Daniel Munoz and Justin Deveni, taking them into the fifth round where they will be hosting Millwall at Selhurst Park. Now that is going to be some game. four Surely that has to be put on TV. That is going to be a really, really good game in the fifth round.
00:27:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then we look ahead to Tuesday night's football where we had the Champions League and the FA Cup. So, and let's talk let's just take a look at the FA Cup because Exeter, I mean, what a performance from Exeter, especially against an informed forest side who are doing so well in the Premier League, sitting in the top four, bearing in mind,
00:27:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
and just unfortunately it wasn't enough for Exeter to win on penalties but you know what credit due where it's due they played amazingly well Joe Whitworth in goal for me I mean personally I think he was my man of the match because he pulled off some unbelievable saves And then we had the Champions League knockouts with PSG beating Brest, 3-0. Juventus winning 2-1 against PSV. Borussia Dortmund going to Sporting and winning 3-0 against Sporting Lisbon. And I mean the game, the one game that everyone had their eyes on. Real Madrid against Man City and Real Madrid winning 3-2.
00:28:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
In the last minute of the game, thanks to Jude Bellingham, I mean, what a game that was. i that On Tuesday night, I was kind of really mixing between the FA Cup and the Champions League, but I was kind of watching the the f FA Cup game a bit more than the Champions League game. But from ah from what I saw on the highlights, I mean,
00:28:42
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I thought, my gut was telling me maybe City could do something here but I didn't rule out the fact that it is Real Madrid. Real Madrid have been really good this season in La Liga. They've been playing some great football and even in the Champions League, I know they've not been that great in the Champions League as we've known them to be in previous years but I mean the fact that they went to City and won 3-2 at City was unbelievable.
00:29:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
and now City have got it all to do at the Bernabeu, so that will be really, really good. Wednesday night's football, we had, again, Champions League football, we had, I mean, the results from Wednesday night, wow, some really ah surprising results. Club Bruges winning 2-1 against Atlanta. Great result for them. Benfica winning 1-0 against Monaco. ah thought I thought that game would be quite close between the two.
00:29:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But for me, Firenord. Firenord at home beating AC Milan 1-0. Now that is a good result for Firenord, especially being at home, but it's now going away to Milan to see if they can try and hold that lead and maybe even further strengthening that lead. So we've got some really cracking games going on in the Champions League, I must admit. And of course,
00:30:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can't forget about my beloved Celtic. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be losing 2-1 to Bayern Munich, but I must say, when Nicolas Kun scored, I just thought, oh my goodness, this could be it. But then I was like, hold on a minute, stay humble, compose yourself.
00:30:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
still a long way to go and then when I got when I heard heard that the goal was ruled out I thought ah okay well I really like that Celtic performance um really really good good game and i you could tell once once that goal went in, once Celtic had scored, the home support was just unreal and the pressure that Celtic put was really good. Very unfortunate not to get another goal because I do believe they were fortunate to at least finish the game all square but I mean going away I mean now this is going to be a big test for Celtic going away to Bayern Munich to the Allianz Arena and just trying to get a result will be huge so all eyes on that game and then we've currently as I'm recording on Thursday night we have currently got Europa and Conference League currently being played
00:31:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
um but there are no English teams as they have all qualified for I don't know if it's the round of 32 or if it's the round of 16 because I remember like previous years when you've had like Europa League and you've had the group stages you've had the round of 32 then the round of 16 and then in Champions League you've had the round of 16 so I'm not sure how it's working out in the Europa League but all the English teams have qualified for the next round, which is actually, when you look at it, it's actually quite good because at the end of this season, if we could get, if English, if the Premier League could get a fifth qualifying spot for the Champions League, I mean, that would be, that would be so good.
Podcast Conclusion and Preview
00:32:11
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Could you imagine, you know, you have your top four and then someone finishing fifth and then potentially um whoever finishes sixth would get
00:32:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Europa League whoever finish and say like if one of the boys in um One of the big boys in the in a top four go and win the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup Then opens up another I believe it opens up another conference league spot or another Europa League spot I'm not 100% sure but but I mean next season if if we were to get a fifth European spot that would be a big. That would be so big. And it and I mean, the Premier League is so good as it is, but just imagine that fifth spot. It would be so, so good.
00:32:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
But anyway, that is it for today. What did you make of my solo performance? I would love to get your thoughts. Let us know on socials. And as always, make sure to go and show us some love by supporting and subscribing to the GSPN network for all things Premier League, WSL, Serie A and more.
00:33:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
As always, you can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, by searching Daily Arsenal. Now, tune in to Monday's episode as we reflect over our performance against the Foxes. My name's been Jamie Patterson and this was your episode of Friday Forecast. Have a good day all and goodbye.