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Daily Arsenal - S1 - E150: Arsenal secure another season of CL football!
8 Plays9 days ago
In this 150th episode we will be discussing our final home game of the Premier League season against Newcastle on Sunday as it ended in a 1-0 win to Arsenal, with champions league football all but secured we will discuss about the changes that needed to take place to go to the next step. 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: Jamie Patterson
Guest: Rodney Gooden
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction and Newcastle Game Excitement
00:00:00
Rodney Gooden
Thank you.
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome to the Daily Arsenal podcast, the only place to catch your daily fix of Arsenal, where we eat, sleep and repeat talking all things Arsenal.
00:00:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brought to you on the GSPN Podcast Network, I am your host Jamie Patterson and I am joined by Mr Livewire himself on what is our 150th episode.
00:00:30
Rodney Gooden
Mm.
00:00:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
This fiftieth episode this
00:00:35
Rodney Gooden
Mm.
00:00:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
madness.
00:00:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I'm joined by the one and only Rodney Gooden. Rodney, how are you keeping on this one hundred and fiftieth episode?
00:00:36
Rodney Gooden
It is.
00:00:39
Rodney Gooden
ah Hey, hey. I'm good.
00:00:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
just special to
00:00:43
Rodney Gooden
I'm good. I'm feeling special. You know, I'm feeling very relaxed as well.
00:00:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mark, the 150th episode.
00:00:47
Rodney Gooden
but It's nice to kind of be here.
00:00:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes. mark the hundredth fiftieth episode
00:00:52
Rodney Gooden
Oh, especially.
00:00:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
you
00:00:52
Rodney Gooden
And it's especially nice to mark the 150th episode on a high note because honestly, going into that Newcastle game, nervy, right?
00:00:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes
00:00:59
Rodney Gooden
But what we've done achieved greatness, you know, or at least as close to it as we can get for rest of the season. But yes, cementing second place, making sure that the last two games of the season are considerably less nervy than they could have been.
00:01:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah.
Securing Champions League Qualification
00:01:11
Rodney Gooden
And finally, making sure that Newcastle could not do the quadruple on us because Jamie, I was scared.
00:01:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah goodness me.
00:01:17
Rodney Gooden
I was scared.
00:01:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, we couldn't afford that because that was a worry.
00:01:21
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, some of those Raya double saves?
00:01:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was a worry in my head.
00:01:23
Rodney Gooden
oh
00:01:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
or
00:01:26
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, yeah, we came close.
00:01:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Salt being rubbed in the wounds.
00:01:30
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, no I know, I know.
00:01:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Salt really being rubbed in the wounds if that was the case.
00:01:33
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, yeah, it would have been, but thankfully not. Yeah, thankfully we turned it around.
00:01:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, absolutely. But yes, as Rodney mentioned in this episode, we will be discussing the result of our final home game um against Newcastle on Sunday as it ended in a 1-0 win to Arsenal with Champions League football
00:01:43
Rodney Gooden
Yes.
00:01:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
All but secured.
00:01:54
Rodney Gooden
Yes.
00:01:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
We will also be discussing about maybe the potential changes that need to be taking place ah going into the summer, as well as reviewing the Premier League results from game week 37 over the weekend and also during the week.
00:02:02
Rodney Gooden
yes
00:02:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
But as always, guys, if you want to get involved with any of these any of the topics discussed on the show, please do get involved through our social media, which can be found in the show notes in the description.
00:02:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, Rodney, simple.
00:02:25
Rodney Gooden
Yep.
00:02:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
1-0 to the Arsenal against Newcastle at home.
00:02:30
Rodney Gooden
Yes.
00:02:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, before before going into this game, what were your thoughts?
00:02:36
Rodney Gooden
ah Honestly, i was nervous. I felt the the last couple of pictures that we've had, you know, Liverpool game coming up. Newcastle. I'm, you know, I i feel Southampton, I'm fairly confident because we've done, you know, done a madness to them over the course of the season.
00:02:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:51
Rodney Gooden
But looking over the last four, it was Bournemouth, Liverpool, Newcastle and Southampton. And knowing that we needed at least three points from those games, or I think it was about four points from those last three games.
00:03:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Rodney. um Sorry, Craig mentioned, actually, it was four points to secure qualification.
00:03:06
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, four points to secure qualification. You're thinking, OK, well, of those four teams, two of them are considerably weaker
Reflecting on Recent Matches
00:03:13
Rodney Gooden
than the other two. And then we go to Bournemouth we lose. And I'm thinking the next game is Liverpool.
00:03:17
Rodney Gooden
And even then, Liverpool, you saw what happened. 2-0 down. all right We fought well to come back, but 2-0 down.
00:03:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:23
Rodney Gooden
feel a diabolical mess.
00:03:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you know?
00:03:24
Rodney Gooden
And then who's the next team you're playing? A team that have beaten you three times across all competitions this entire game.
00:03:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Newcastle.
00:03:30
Rodney Gooden
I think all across the entire season, we scored zero goals against them. This is the first one.
00:03:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, gosh.
00:03:35
Rodney Gooden
right That's what I'm saying. So I had limited confidence. It would it would be ah great exaggeration to say that I was hopeful going into this game.
00:03:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, absolutely.
00:03:43
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. That was it.
00:03:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:03:45
Rodney Gooden
I thought, yeah, you know what? And you can already tell that with some of the moments that we'll get to later in the game as well, certain players to blips and focus, blips and concentration. And you just knew that this is not Arsenal on their top form.
00:03:56
Rodney Gooden
This is not Arsenal with something to play for. I felt that if anything's going to fall apart, it could be the last two games towards the end of the season. One where you're starting to see, yeah, maybe a couple of little injury scares cropping up as well.
00:04:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:04:06
Rodney Gooden
Blips and concentration too. Again, i don't know if you heard, but Timber's due for surgery.
00:04:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I've heard that.
00:04:11
Rodney Gooden
Recently as well. Right. So this is what I mean. You know, players who've really been fighting to get things over the line. Yeah. They're starting to kind of stumble. but
00:04:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, kind of glad it's, you know, I'm kind of glad we're coming towards the end of the season now and it's like, okay,
00:04:24
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Because they can rest.
00:04:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
One more game, one more game over the line.
00:04:27
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:04:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then it's like, well, OK, now we we can go and rest, go and actually get proper rest without having to worry too much about another game coming up or, for example, the Club World Cup or another competition.
00:04:30
Rodney Gooden
And then it's done. to stress. Yeah.
00:04:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
The only thing is there is um we have got an international break coming up.
00:04:45
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:04:51
Rodney Gooden
We do.
00:04:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's also, but for a lot of players, it's going to be, OK, well, coming to the end of the season now, you know, go away to my to my home homeland and just play play football and then try and use however many weeks off to then recuperate, really, if anything.
00:05:09
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. To relax, to recover. Yeah. And get ready for preseason. Yeah.
00:05:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. And trust me, ah lot for us for us football fans, we we think that this time will will be so long, but for players, it will go so quick.
00:05:25
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:05:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Really quick.
Rodney's Spontaneous Game Visit
00:05:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
To be honest with you, luckily, this was really weird for me, right?
00:05:27
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:05:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
When I mean so last minute, for me to get a ticket, someone gave me their ticket so last minute,
00:05:38
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Yeah, I can tell.
00:05:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
i
00:05:40
Rodney Gooden
i was surprised when I saw the pictures in the group chat of you at the game. I was like, oh, okay.
00:05:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
i I'll tell you the story of how that happened.
00:05:46
Rodney Gooden
How did he smack that?
00:05:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
So after I finished playing football with Craig, actually, and I was literally, I was on my way back and then was like, okay, cool.
00:05:47
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:05:52
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:05:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought to myself, cool. I'm home at a reasonable time. An hour, you know, an hour till kickoff. get home, have something to eat, can sit and watch the football. Then my mate calls me up and is like, ah hi, mate. um I'm basically still working and I'll be honest with you.
00:06:13
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:06:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just don't think I'll be able to go to the game. Do you want my ticket? i was like, yes.
00:06:17
Rodney Gooden
Of course.
00:06:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
like, yes, of course. Last game of the season, I'm not saying no. Last like home game of the season, I'm not saying no.
00:06:21
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Last home game of the season. Yeah, yeah, of course.
00:06:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not saying no.
00:06:24
Rodney Gooden
but Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:06:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
No way. So it's like, he was like to me, oh, well, how far are you from the Emirates?
00:06:26
Rodney Gooden
Needs to be done.
00:06:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm like an hour away, but I can literally go now. So he was like, okay, cool. Email me over his ticket. I'm now like, I've dropped all my stuff off.
00:06:39
Rodney Gooden
Of course.
00:06:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Quickly had a quick bite to eat. I literally left. And I kid you not, I just about made it into the Emirates as North London for Forever was playing
00:06:48
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:06:52
Rodney Gooden
ah
00:06:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I tell you what, though, wow, that first half was real heart-in-the-mouth moment.
00:06:59
Rodney Gooden
Oh yeah. Oh, quite a few. Yeah.
00:07:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
The one the one point i really want to bring forward, and I'm sure this was a key point for you, was how was ah there was a lot of open space and a lot of green space for Newcastle to run into.
00:07:09
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Yeah.
00:07:15
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:07:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again, you you speak about laps of concentration, what Why do you think maybe the players have kind of fallen into that lapse of concentration?
00:07:26
Rodney Gooden
You know what? I think I'll put it on Sure. There's one argument for these are the standards. You know, we we need to make sure that we close out the season with every player having lightning focus. And this is kind of the idea that we have as a club.
00:07:38
Rodney Gooden
But I would argue that in the last couple of games, this is where you're most likely to see it. These players have been playing thousands of minutes. You know, they're tired, they're exhausted. They can see the holidays in sight as well.
00:07:49
Rodney Gooden
And you really do need to get them to knuckle down and hold on when it's been a difficult season, a disappointing season, you know, and
00:07:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:56
Rodney Gooden
These last games, they're not nearly that much. They're not, you know they're not as exciting as they could be. There's nothing really to play for outside of locking in second place, making sure you don't drop, you know, making sure that we actually qualify for Champions football and then finishing on the season as as high as it could possibly go, having lost out in the Champions League, the Premier League, the FA Cup, the Cameron Cup, having lost out in all of those.
00:08:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:13
Rodney Gooden
and so I think it can be a bit difficult when you know you've got little to play for and these players are kind of shattered and tired. But that's what I seem to be seeing.
Analyzing Defensive Lapses
00:08:21
Rodney Gooden
It just seems that the focus just isn't quite there in the way that it might have been if there were still either something to play for or earlier in the season.
00:08:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah.
00:08:28
Rodney Gooden
One of the things that we talk about is how much open space there was. Well, also... There were also many, many kind of mistakes in terms of distribution as well. I mean, I'm looking at Raya. Raya had so many heroics this game that it might be easy to overlook the fact that several of those chances came from his own mistake.
00:08:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:44
Rodney Gooden
I remember a ball.
00:08:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:45
Rodney Gooden
I remember a distribution, right? A ball going out from the goal key kick straight to Sandro Tonali, right?
00:08:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:08:52
Rodney Gooden
Straight to Sandro Tonali, which ended up, but I think it was a scuff shot from one of the Newcastle forwards.
00:08:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:58
Rodney Gooden
It might have been Wilson, but it ended up being a double save. You know you see one where he's reaching his arm back and desperately trying to swap them.
00:09:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then there was one where palmed it away.
00:09:04
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, he's got to form it away. And while that was dynamic and entertaining and you're happy for the recovery and his reflex is definitely on point. While it's lovely to see that, if his distribution was just a little bit more focused, if he was just kind of a bit more locked into that one, you wouldn't be making that mistake in the first place, putting your defense under pressure, and then having to do superhero acrobatics on to save the day.
00:09:24
Rodney Gooden
And so this is the thing. I think it was lovely to see Raya, for one, acrobatics on full display. Lovely to see that his reflexes are still, you know, sharp and to a razor-fine point.
00:09:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:34
Rodney Gooden
But many lapses of concentration from David Raya over the course of that game, which made for many heart-in-your-mouth movements, which... You know, it's not unfamiliar, but I was hoping we would see it less.
00:09:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Goodness me, as if we've not had enough of them this season.
00:09:42
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:09:45
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, yeah. we've We've had a few with Raya, but I still love him.
00:09:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, absolutely. i agree. I do think, though, that is maybe something he's got to change to his game a little bit. i just the The one thing I really like about David Ryan is the fact that once he has the ball in his hands, he wants to release players as quick as possible.
00:10:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
But don't think...
00:10:06
Rodney Gooden
He really does, yeah.
00:10:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
If he just had maybe took and a second longer, just one second longer, just look and be like, right, Saliba's free. or okay
00:10:18
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:10:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay You know you know i mean? i was going to say yeah guy I shouldn't use Saliba as an example because he's also been a bit prone to making a mistake in the back.
00:10:22
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:10:24
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Point to lapses of judgment. Yeah, too. But,
00:10:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, you know, look, if it was you know if someone was in space or someone was making a darting run and they know and you know that maybe that player, say like a Ben White or a Saka, could dart that run and just run into clear space, you know, sometimes just a second is all you need to just to ping a right pass.
00:10:39
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:10:45
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:10:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
But like you said, it it happened more than once.
00:10:49
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:10:52
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. But i think I think I do have to give credit to Newcastle because I saw what they were doing in the midfield there.
00:10:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
It happened more than once.
00:10:58
Rodney Gooden
And you could see Bruno Gimaraes and Sandro Tonali were making sure that Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard were not ideal pass targets for Raya, which meant that he's...
00:11:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:07
Rodney Gooden
which meant that okay he's got difficult lines that he's got to choose. He's either going further up to the wingers, Martinelli and Saka. And then don't forget, yeah, Newcastle's high line at that back.
00:11:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:11:16
Rodney Gooden
You know, I said, you've got Fabian Scher and Dan Byrne, who aerial monsters, like they will win those duels. So long balls over the top.
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:11:23
Rodney Gooden
I absolutely love our wingers. I'm thinking that first, that first instance of trying to take the ball down when you're being contested by these two lumps at the back, difficult. So, So think, yeah, Newcastle made Ryder's work a bit more difficult. I do feel that I wish he had, as you said, taken a bit more time because you realize that the ideal pass targets are currently being marked, but you can tell.
00:11:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:11:40
Rodney Gooden
he wants to release it quickly. You're looking at the go-to targets for a goal kick. They are Thomas Partey. They are Martin Odegaard. They're not free. Okay, you're forced into making a mistake because you want to take it quickly. He's not holding it back and taking that extra time that he needs to to find the ideal pass target.
00:11:54
Rodney Gooden
And then you get a distribution error. Exactly what Newcastle want to force.
00:11:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:11:58
Rodney Gooden
And now there's an attempt on goal, which we now have to scramble to save. So, yeah.
00:12:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, absolutely. just Actually, good good point you make there, right? Obviously, I know that the philosophy at Arsenal that Arteta is, well, not even Arteta, actually, but going back to Unai Emery even, but playing out from the back.
00:12:06
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:12:13
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Yeah.
00:12:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, in a situation like that, if you know that your go-to players that you would normally pass to are being marked out of the game, would you then think to just go long?
00:12:23
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:12:26
Rodney Gooden
You could, but you've also got to think about the dynamic in the game as well. it's like, okay, first of all, how accurate can you ping that target?
00:12:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:32
Rodney Gooden
Second, who are your wingers being marked by? Again, it's a different game if the wing backs on that particular side, or at least the people marking your wingers, you know, are smaller, less good in the air as well. You might be looking to put that short ball, but if you're dealing with a team that's pressing high, yeah, sometimes even playing out from the back can be difficult.
00:12:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:48
Rodney Gooden
I think it can be quite frustrating because keepers need to make those split second decisions on how to how to play out from the back, whether it's going long or playing out from the back and making it quickly under pressure. And that obviously yeah kind of forces errors and can make mistakes here.
00:13:00
Rodney Gooden
And we saw with Rye in that game, he got it wrong a couple of times. But it's true. I think sometimes with ah would a block like Newcastle's where you know that when you get past that halfway line, they want to go to a back five and there's limited space.
00:13:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:13:12
Rodney Gooden
You know that the reason Rye wants to play it quickly is because we have to get them on the transition. Chances are, if he's got the ball, it's because of a failed Newcastle attack, meaning that back five are probably in position yet. So I can see why the mistake is happening.
00:13:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:23
Rodney Gooden
yeah You want to play it quickly so you can get them on the transition. But if the ideal players are not being marked properly, there's a distribution error and now we're on the defensive again. I like where his head's at. But again, it just requires a little bit more focus, little bit better positioning as well. Maybe even some better runs from players in the Arsenal midfield to try and kind of break past their marks and make themselves into ideal targets. But it is what it is.
00:13:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, absolutely. Another thing also, we we go back to, again, Newcastle kind of pressurising the Arsenal defence and running into that clear space.
00:13:47
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:13:54
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:13:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
why Why do you think we... Do do you think we we we enjoy inviting the pressure on Because... I noticed it and when, when where where I was sat, I just noticed that players were really, like the Newcastle players were really attacking so and really running into so much open space.
00:14:11
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:14:15
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:14:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why do you think we were not closing down that space?
00:14:20
Rodney Gooden
No, why are we not closing down that space? i I think it's difficult. like in in When it comes to...
00:14:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
do you think ate Do you think maybe Arteta's like maybe changed the philosophy a little bit or maybe tried to tweak with something?
00:14:26
Rodney Gooden
play
00:14:33
Rodney Gooden
I think maybe it could be playing out with tactics from the back as well. But I feel that maybe it's a situation about trying to mind and maintain that possession and not making the kind of gut-busting runs. you know I think one thing I did kind of see was, know if you noticed, but when Saliba came off, Saliba was staying back in the majority of that first half to try and make sure to nullify the threat of Callum Wilson at that point.
00:14:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:52
Rodney Gooden
But then when he came off and Calafiore came on him and Kiwio were running forward a bit more and making sure that they were closing that space, which I think ultimately led to the turnover that led to the Rice goal as well. So sitting back can be a bit more of a defensive move, but I felt that that might have been tactically the wrong moment.
00:15:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:07
Rodney Gooden
You know, I feel that you really have to look at the Newcastle squad and realize that we were blessed in the fact that Alexander Isak had the groin injury and wasn't playing. which meant that Callum Wilson, again, props to him, but not quite on the level that Isak is. So that sort of defensively sitting off, you know, waiting, making sure that you're constantly behind and in front of him. Yeah, you don't really need to.
00:15:26
Rodney Gooden
So we could have been a bit more aggressive knowing that there was a weaker attack there. So I felt that definitely in the first half, that might have been it. Leaving that much space because you're worried about a Newcastle attack, wanting to make sure that that back line is kind of there ahead, not closing those distances because you might be a bit nervous, you know.
00:15:40
Rodney Gooden
But...
00:15:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:41
Rodney Gooden
Ultimately, moving into the second half, I think we realised that this is a team that needs to press high, press quickly, and get them on as many breaks, loose pulls, and transitions as possible. And that's ultimately how we went about winning into that first goal.
00:15:53
Rodney Gooden
And I don't know about you, Jamie, but I saw after that first goal, we seemed a lot more comfortable after that.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely.
00:15:58
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:15:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:16:00
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:16:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
we' In the meantime, we'll quickly take a quick break and we in the next part, we will go on to talk about the goal from Declan Rice as well as just the chances that Arsenal were then creating going into that second half.
00:16:04
Rodney Gooden
we
00:16:09
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:16:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, join us for the next part.
00:16:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello there and welcome back to the second part of this Newcastle review. I am here with the one and only Rodney Gooden.
00:17:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now Rodney, going back to what we were just talking about earlier on, let's let's go into the second half and we'll talk more about that Declan Rice goal. I mean, what I mean, first of all, I've always said this.
00:17:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't care what anyone says. And yes, we we have that chant about him. We've got the man for half price. We honestly have, haven't we? How good has Declan Rice been for us this season?
00:17:32
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, yeah, he really has. He's he's been immense, you know, absolute workhorse, absolute unit. He's really taken that number eight position and made it his own to the point where I don't even know if I want to see him back at six. You know, I thought that we lost a little something when we had that PSG game and it was him in the first leg there.
00:17:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:46
Rodney Gooden
I know that he can do it. I know that he's definitely a solid option. I love his defensive capabilities, but what he brings to the Arsenal squad going forward, i absolutely love. And I think, yeah, this was another one arriving late on the edge of the box.
00:17:58
Rodney Gooden
First time finish and absolutely what a strike too. Incredible.
00:18:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it was in, thank goodness, where where he scored was in my end as well. And I was ah just up close and personal.
00:18:08
Rodney Gooden
Oh yeah. Up close and personal. We love to see it.
00:18:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And just to see that first time finish, I was like, wow, what have I witnessed?
00:18:14
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, you know, Declan Rice, as you said, in the number eight role is just unbelievable, isn't it?
00:18:24
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Yeah.
00:18:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I believe also there was a stat flying around this morning, I believe, where I think he has more goals and assists at Arsenal than he did in his West Ham career, I believe.
00:18:24
Rodney Gooden
He really is.
00:18:36
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:18:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
or so I don't know.
00:18:39
Rodney Gooden
Fair enough.
00:18:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
i can't remember exactly. Don't exactly quote me for it.
00:18:43
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, yeah.
00:18:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm sure there's a stat flying around where... um Declan Rice has basically got more goals and assists at Arsenal than he did at West Ham or something.
00:18:54
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:18:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And honestly, what a player.
00:18:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
What a player he's turning out to be. And I mean, part of me wouldn't be surprised if he goes on to go and score again against Southampton on the weekend.
00:18:57
Rodney Gooden
That's true.
00:19:05
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:19:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:07
Rodney Gooden
He seems to be on top four. Yeah, he seems to be on top of which is nice because I remember, do you remember at the start of this season, you know, I think he came in late to pre's or he missed preseason or whatnot.
00:19:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:18
Rodney Gooden
And so his first couple of games, yeah, he missed preseason.
00:19:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he missed it.
00:19:21
Rodney Gooden
Even he admitted his first couple of games in the Arsenal shirt, he felt like he was still shaking
Securing Second Place and Future Improvements
00:19:25
Rodney Gooden
the rust off. That was his preseason, you know, so his performances weren't there in the very beginning. But think once Declan Rice, once the engine gets active, yeah, yeah, I think he's well on track, save for injury. Yeah, well on track to maintain a quality performance.
00:19:38
Rodney Gooden
throughout the rest of his campaign. And that's exactly what we've seen.
00:19:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. And the good thing is now for Arsenal, as I mentioned, we've got Champions League football.
00:19:48
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Yeah.
00:19:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
how How much of a relief is it now knowing that second spot's secured, Champions League's all sorted with?
00:19:53
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:19:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
We know now, mathematically, City cannot catch us, which is such a relief.
00:20:00
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:20:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
But how is that feeling for you, knowing that we'll end the season second and the fact that we've earned Champions League football for another season?
00:20:07
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:20:09
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, I mean, I won't lie. Like, there's definitely a touch of relief there. It means that the other clubs can't banter us about potentially being second for all season and losing that position of second, and especially not to City, who, remember, had fallen off at the beginning of the season.
00:20:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:23
Rodney Gooden
So to be overtaken by them at the very end would have been incredibly frustrating, especially because we were nowhere near winning the league with Liverpool just running away with it so early on.
00:20:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yes. Yeah.
00:20:31
Rodney Gooden
But I will say that while it is nice to make sure that that's secured, excellent to guarantee another season in Champions League football, we can all as Arsenal fans go into the next season looking forward to what we do in that
Squad Depth and Injury Management
00:20:41
Rodney Gooden
campaign.
00:20:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:20:42
Rodney Gooden
Still a bit disappointed in the fact that this is all we have to play for at this part of the season. I would love for us to be going into a Champions League final.
00:20:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
a
00:20:50
Rodney Gooden
I would love for us to be going into, well, a similar situation is what we did last season where it's down to the final day. Imagine all lives on the Southampton game, knowing that if we get the three points, it could be the title.
00:20:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And do you know what it is as well? is I really wish we were sat here because obviously Liverpool have to play Palace.
00:21:07
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:21:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's like i would have sat here heavily relying on Palace to to go and work a miracle at Liverpool.
00:21:08
Rodney Gooden
Imagine that. Yeah.
00:21:16
Rodney Gooden
Imagine that. and given Palace's form this season, it wouldn't even be too far to think, would it?
00:21:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, no.
00:21:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah be ah I'd oh, I'd sat, I would have sat there probably.
00:21:21
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, it would be.
00:21:23
Rodney Gooden
I'd give it to them. Yeah. ah Imagine that all we needed was Palace to have a draw with Liverpool and we needed to beat Southampton.
00:21:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
would have been
00:21:30
Rodney Gooden
Imagine that was the situation we were going into. yeah How exciting would that be? And that's what I mean.
00:21:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
been useful.
00:21:35
Rodney Gooden
This week, I'm very happy that we've secured second place. Very happy that we've secured Champions League football. Very happy that the best thing that our rival teams can say to us is the second again, ole ole, not worse.
00:21:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, absolutely.
00:21:46
Rodney Gooden
but but Not worse. Yeah.
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. No, you couldn't have said it any better. i think, don't get it twisted, it would have been great.
00:21:51
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:21:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, we we had a good start to the season. Unfortunately, injuries have plagued us. And i I'm not using that as an excuse.
00:22:01
Rodney Gooden
True.
00:22:04
Rodney Gooden
No, no.
00:22:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
the The one thing I will use as an excuse is but the mentality. I just think with...
00:22:10
Rodney Gooden
Okay.
00:22:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, when you've got players out, you expect players to kind of step up. And I feel like, I don't know, i felt like for me, the the players' mentality was, oh, well, players are out injured.
00:22:22
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:22:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, okay, what are we going to do? And it's like, I kind of appreciate the fact that Mikel Marino's had to kind of like, you know, do a job up front and he's done relatively decent, actually.
00:22:32
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:22:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, you know ah no one expected him to go on the run that he went on to get a brace against Leicester, to go and, you know, perform heroics against Madrid and and all sorts. It's, you know, it's been all right.
00:22:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And the thing is, great news for Arsenal fans. Great and ah not great news if you're JD.
00:22:54
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:22:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
is the boy Havertz. I saw him in the flesh and I thought, as soon as I saw him jog past me, I was like, oh, JD's going to be happy, isn't he?
00:22:58
Rodney Gooden
like
00:23:04
Rodney Gooden
ah ah
00:23:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But...
00:23:09
Rodney Gooden
I mean, yeah, it's true. Love him or hate him, all right? That's our current number nine and is a better choice up top than Marino, you know? So this is it.
00:23:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely.
00:23:16
Rodney Gooden
i
00:23:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
LAUGHTER
00:23:16
Rodney Gooden
I, for one, was happy to see him back, you know? I know I can't say the same for all Arsenal fans.
00:23:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
but but ah
00:23:24
Rodney Gooden
ah
00:23:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I absolutely agree.
00:23:25
Rodney Gooden
But it was it was nice because I think originally he was projected to come back for preseason. That was how bad the hamstring tail looked.
00:23:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:31
Rodney Gooden
So it was nice to see that, okay, there's potentially two games left of this campaign that he's actually fit for, he can play for.
00:23:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:37
Rodney Gooden
So nice to get a little bit of a bonus.
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
How would...
00:23:39
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:23:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
The question is, how would you manage Kai Havertz going into this game of the season, actually? Would be willing to give would you be willing to give him Would you be willing to give him maybe an hour on the field and then bring him off? Would you be willing to give him the night full 90?
00:23:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
How would you play him?
00:23:57
Rodney Gooden
I think when most players come about from injury, how I like to do things is say, okay, whoever's been covering your shift for the majority the season, they'll play an hour, 70 minutes, and then you come on there and play the last 20.
00:24:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:07
Rodney Gooden
At this point, it's really just about shaking the rust off and building back up to match fitness as well. So... Yeah, I don't know if I want to see him start, you know, and then have a repeat of the same injury in the same way that for Saka.
00:24:18
Rodney Gooden
I think when Saka came back after that hamstring, there was the same situation. I think it was Ethan was playing for about 70 minutes and Saka came on for the last 20, but then happened to score in that same game, which was incredible.
00:24:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly that. ah Unfortunately, it's really, it has been so, and I mean, literally so unfortunate that, um you know, we've we've not seen, we haven't seen the best out of our players from injury.
00:24:28
Rodney Gooden
But yeah, yeah. No,
00:24:40
Rodney Gooden
no, no, I don't think we have.
00:24:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, Odegaard, unfortunately, Saka to a small extent. Yeah.
00:24:46
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. even Even Timber, as brilliant as he's been, you can tell that certain parts of this campaign, he's been carrying knocks and scrapes and he's been out for periods of time as well, taking off as a precaution, missing certain games entirely.
00:24:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:57
Rodney Gooden
I said, it is what it is. It happens.
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do know what i I don't know what it is, but I partly think it comes down to... i think players have just been carrying injuries.
00:25:07
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. But, Jamie, we've got to think about why they're carrying injuries.
00:25:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know...
00:25:10
Rodney Gooden
And I think this comes down to the schedule fixtures or the fixture list for this Premier League campaign. The fixture list for most teams who are in the top four of their leagues are always going to be cluttered.
00:25:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes
00:25:20
Rodney Gooden
You're going to have domestic cups, European cups, the league campaigns as well. Squad depth.
00:25:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Can we also talk about the additional two games to the Champions League as well?
00:25:25
Rodney Gooden
That's how you protect from those injuries. no Squad depth. Yeah. Exactly. The Champions League fixture format has now changed and now every team is playing more games in that campaign. That means more minutes. And when you look at Arsenal's injury record, what have we seen over the course of the season?
00:25:40
Rodney Gooden
At least three players with the exact same injury.
00:25:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:43
Rodney Gooden
Middle of the pitch, uncontested, falls down, clutching a hamstring. That's not because of a bad tackle. and That's because it's just too much. It's overwork.
00:25:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, it's either that or or, dreadful enough, the ACL injury.
00:25:51
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, true, true,
00:25:56
Rodney Gooden
yeah true true you know.
00:25:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, if it's not the hamstring, it's the ACLs.
00:26:00
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, look at Jesus.
00:26:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they can be season-defining. Season-defining.
00:26:03
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, absolutely. Rodri, you know, Gabby Jesus as well. So this is the thing. So I do feel that you need a good, robust squad, good 25 players. You need to rotate because every player will feel the strain. Every player is at risk of getting injured every game he plays. So if the same key players keep getting injured and that's been plaguing our entire campaign,
00:26:21
Rodney Gooden
then we need to think about what rotational options we can bring in. And when you're looking at our bench versus PSG versus the PSG bench that they had, you can already tell that there's improvements that the squad could make.
00:26:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yes.
00:26:30
Rodney Gooden
You can see the talent that they can bring on, but also the quality of players that they can bring on. When you're looking at our bench and realizing that the best 11 is currently out there on the field and you've got a bench full of kids, academy players, okay. and That's at one point where we need to go right.
00:26:42
Rodney Gooden
Changing that will stop our players from getting injured on a more regular basis. Then there's also a question.
00:26:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, absolutely.
00:26:48
Rodney Gooden
There's also the question of the training staff. There's the training staff the Arsenal training grounds too because I keep thinking back to that Mikko Moreno shoulder brain.
00:26:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:26:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, no.
00:26:58
Rodney Gooden
When I'm looking at Big Gabby, I'm looking at Big Gabby Magalese, right? I'm thinking, what did you do bring this fat shoulder?
00:27:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, yeah, what do you do to this poor man? And you know what the worst thing is?
00:27:07
Rodney Gooden
ah
00:27:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
It wasn't like it was it wasn't like, oh, it was two, three training sessions in.
00:27:09
Rodney Gooden
see
00:27:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was your first training session.
00:27:14
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:27:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
shit
00:27:15
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. It's hilarious.
00:27:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're literally.
00:27:16
Rodney Gooden
You know?
00:27:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, I mean, goodness me. Memorable training session for the wrong reasons.
00:27:21
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's very true. So I think you do have to have a look at what's going on in training as well. And I know that you have to train with the intensity of a match to perform to a high standard in that match, but maybe certain sessions we can dial it back a little bit because i've been a few there's been a few freak accidents and we want to avoid those, but it's okay.
00:27:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:37
Rodney Gooden
I trust Arteta the staff. I'll chalk those up to anomalies, but Looking back at what's been happening with the campaign too, I do feel, yeah, robust rotation and squad dev will hopefully mean that next year, yeah, we have less of that.
00:27:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely.
00:27:49
Rodney Gooden
Less kind of issues where, yeah, we're having same kind of niggly injuries take out the squad. And then, of course, with situations like when Odegaard, when he went out, that one, I mean, that's just international duty. Same argument, I guess, about the fixture list.
00:27:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:00
Rodney Gooden
is's more opportunities, but that's just unlucky. Yeah.
00:28:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, absolutely. You are absolutely spot on there.
00:28:07
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:28:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But in the meantime, we're going to take another quick break. And then when we come back, we are going to do a quick review of the weekend can and midweek Premier League results.
00:28:11
Rodney Gooden
e
00:28:18
Rodney Gooden
a
00:28:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello there and welcome back to this third and final part where we will be discussing the Premier League fixtures, Premier League results, sorry,
Premier League Results and Implications
00:29:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
from the weekend's games and with the author with also the two games that have taken place midweek as well.
00:29:04
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:29:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
As you know, Arsenal... ah Winning 1-0 against Newcastle.
00:29:15
Rodney Gooden
one
00:29:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great result for us. Putting us solidifying second spot into Champions League football.
00:29:22
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:29:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
No Izak. No Izak as well, which I didn't mention. But do you think if Izak had played, do you reckon it might have been a different story altogether?
00:29:32
Rodney Gooden
I think whenever Ysak plays, it could have been different story altogether. there's only been a
00:29:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's so true.
00:29:36
Rodney Gooden
yeah doesn't There's only been a couple of games this season where you've either seen him shrink or not be able to come up to par like in in that Newcastle squad. And considering the amount of bullying I saw him deliver to Saliba in the last couple of fixtures, yeah, I mean, you know, Ysak's a problem.
00:29:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah.
00:29:51
Rodney Gooden
but There's a few chances early in that first half where you're thinking if it had been Isak not Cannon Wilson at the end of it, yeah, it could have easily been a different kind of story.
00:29:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely.
00:29:58
Rodney Gooden
But it is what it is. I thought it was definitely a boon, and we were quite lucky there that he wasn't on the pitch because it could easily be a different game. But, yeah.
00:30:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:30:05
Rodney Gooden
Oh,
00:30:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then also from from them ah from the other games that we had also, i forgot to mention, we also had Friday night football as well.
00:30:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah with Goodness me, it just gets funnier and funnier for for Spurs and United, doesn't it?
00:30:13
Rodney Gooden
ah yeah.
00:30:20
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:30:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Spurs, yeah, Spurs losing too nil to Villa and United losing 1-0 to Chelsea.
00:30:20
Rodney Gooden
back to back yeah yeah hilarious that I know exactly no forward momentum going into that final not a single win to pull and take into that final nah
00:30:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yet there's a Europa League final just round the corner.
00:30:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh my God. Please. Please, United. Please. we i i don't Living in Highbury, don't want noisy neighbours.
00:30:46
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:30:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
i just I can't afford to have it.
00:30:49
Rodney Gooden
I've said the same thing, you know, I'm a, I'm a, you know, innocent bystander in all of this one, but if I had to choose, yeah, if I had to choose, I go, yeah, cool.
00:30:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Can't afford to have it at all.
00:30:57
Rodney Gooden
Give it to United because that Spurs lock, you know what they're gonna do they're going to going run around and say that they've had a better season than us, even though they're currently, how how many losses in the league, Jamie, Jamie, how many losses in the league?
00:31:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, don't even want to think of it.
00:31:07
Rodney Gooden
I just, I just want you to say it. want the audience to know exactly how many losses they've had in the league.
00:31:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah what What is that? Isn't it like 14 or 15?
00:31:13
Rodney Gooden
No, no, I think it's higher than that. Yeah.
00:31:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh my...
00:31:15
Rodney Gooden
And it,
00:31:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hold on.
00:31:16
Rodney Gooden
In the league? Tottenham?
00:31:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hold on. In the league.
00:31:18
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, in the league.
00:31:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let me check the league table right now.
00:31:19
Rodney Gooden
how many how many How many consecutive league losses is it, Jamie?
00:31:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hold on. my...
00:31:22
Rodney Gooden
Exactly. Exactly.
00:31:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh my god! 21. And...
00:31:27
Rodney Gooden
It's 21 losses in the league. And yes, they can still take home a trophy. Does that make their season better than us?
00:31:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Nope.
00:31:35
Rodney Gooden
I don't think so.
00:31:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
but right Can we also...
00:31:36
Rodney Gooden
But it is insane that they would still pick up silverware off the back of those performances.
00:31:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And also, right, right you know you know how in the Premier League we say that the 40-point mark is safety?
00:31:45
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Yeah.
00:31:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just note, right, if United and Spurs lose over the weekend and say if Leicester, Ipswich, Southampton were doing much better than they were, right, Spurs and United wouldn't even make the 40-point mark.
00:31:52
Rodney Gooden
They won't make it.
00:31:55
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Yeah.
00:32:02
Rodney Gooden
I know, know. We've said this is this is relegation form. Unfortunately, the three teams that came up this season happen to be the same three teams going right back down.
00:32:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
for the second season in a row.
00:32:11
Rodney Gooden
And the difference... Yeah, for the second season in a row, and the gap in points is still too much.
Season Recap and Future Speculations
00:32:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:32:16
Rodney Gooden
But if they didn't exist, we know who's getting sent back to the championship.
00:32:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah.
00:32:20
Rodney Gooden
Europa or not.
00:32:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely.
00:32:24
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:32:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh my gosh, I couldn't even imagine. I couldn't imagine it. But from the other but the other games quickly, it finished, Brentford 2, Fulham 3, Leicester 2, Ipswich 0.
00:32:33
Rodney Gooden
Okay.
00:32:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
What?
00:32:36
Rodney Gooden
I saw that. Yeah, Jamie Vardy, 200th goal. Yeah.
00:32:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh my goodness, yeah, we have to, ah to and the thing is, I believe, what a legend, I mean, I'll never forget, first first season with Leicester in the Prem, what was it, 11, scored 11 goals in the first 11 games for Leicester, breaking breaking a new record, I think was held by, I don't know who it was held by, I can't remember, but
00:32:41
Rodney Gooden
but Club legend.
00:32:45
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:32:49
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:32:55
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Unbelievable record.
00:33:02
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:33:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
what I mean, what a record. And I believe, don't quote me if I'm i'm wrong on this, but I think Vardy has said that he doesn't want to play the final game of the season because it means he would finish the season on 200 goals.
00:33:08
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:33:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think it's a rounded number of appearances as well.
00:33:19
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, yeah.
00:33:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's like he he actually said, yeah, I think he said that you'd but he'd rather be, he'd rather just be, he didn't want to play.
00:33:21
Rodney Gooden
He's just saying, keep me on the bench. Yeah.
00:33:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
He just said that he didn't want to play at all just so he that he could keep the stats
00:33:28
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:33:31
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:33:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:33:32
Rodney Gooden
Keep 200. Yeah.
00:33:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
keep the stats as they are.
00:33:35
Rodney Gooden
No, fair enough.
00:33:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
So look, fair play to Vardy, fair play.
00:33:38
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:33:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then it also finished West Ham 1, Forest 2, Everton 2, Southampton 0 in Everton's final game at Goodison Park.
00:33:42
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:33:49
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, final game before the moving to the new stadium.
00:33:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Final game.
00:33:52
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:33:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great, great stadium. And the good thing is, it's not being knocked down actually.
00:33:54
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. but what um Was it for us, though, was it a great stadium? Because I feel like our track record at that stadium was atrocious.
00:34:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, dear.
00:34:05
Rodney Gooden
A lot of Arsenal fans, JV, say Goodison Park was cursed for us. I don't know. Good for them. Sure.
00:34:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:34:10
Rodney Gooden
can't say I was happy about seeing a fixture there.
00:34:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, gosh. It was... ah going Going away to Everton was always intimidating.
00:34:19
Rodney Gooden
Always nerve-wracking, yeah.
00:34:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just hope that when we go to Everton's new ground, I just hope that we can just stand the authority.
00:34:29
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:34:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Stand the authority and get a win.
00:34:30
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Yeah, I just need the first one to be a convincing win, you know? They can start being difficult after that, otherwise we'll feel the curse continues.
00:34:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:34:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, no. Oh, no.
00:34:39
Rodney Gooden
We're not doing that.
00:34:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, we're definitely not doing that in the slightest.
00:34:40
Rodney Gooden
ah
00:34:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. um On top of that, Brighton on Monday Night Football, we had Brighton 3... Oh, my gosh. Brighton 3, Liverpool 2.
00:34:51
Rodney Gooden
Liverpool too. Yeah.
00:34:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bearing in mind, you know what's do you know what's a crazy stat, right? And I only found this out from the commentary team last night on Sky Sports, is they've only picked up one point since becoming Premier League champions.
00:34:56
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:34:59
Rodney Gooden
Another one.
00:35:06
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:35:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was against us.
00:35:08
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:35:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why? Why?
00:35:12
Rodney Gooden
I know, I know. That's it. can tell. Foot's off the gas. Yeah.
00:35:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, dear me.
00:35:15
Rodney Gooden
but
00:35:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, for Brighton, though, that is, that's huge, actually, for Brighton.
00:35:18
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:35:21
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:35:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I don't, I think they're still in the mix for Europe, for europe I believe.
00:35:22
Rodney Gooden
I know. Yeah. Especially because they came back from behind in that game as well, didn't they?
00:35:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
They did, yes.
00:35:28
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:35:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
They were 2-1, they were 2-1.
00:35:29
Rodney Gooden
I thought that was another stat as well.
00:35:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:35:31
Rodney Gooden
I go, that was incredibly rare for Liverpool to lose a game after being ahead or taking an early lead.
00:35:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:35:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
00:35:36
Rodney Gooden
yeah oh Yeah. Almost never happens.
00:35:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, it actually does not. It's rare, isn't it? Really rare.
00:35:41
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:35:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then we're currently recording this on a Tuesday night um and we've had two games in the Premier League with Kevin De Bruyne's last home game at Man City, where it finished City 3, Bournemouth 1.
00:35:45
Rodney Gooden
Hmm.
00:35:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
one
00:35:58
Rodney Gooden
a
00:35:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
realistically, it should have really been 4-1, shouldn't it?
00:36:01
Rodney Gooden
oh
00:36:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And De Bruyne, I mean, De Bruyne should have scored, shouldn't he?
00:36:06
Rodney Gooden
yeah He also arguably should have scored in the f FA Cup final too. I don't know if you saw his attempt, but it was a lot better than Doku's final attempt, I'll tell you that much.
00:36:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. o
00:36:15
Rodney Gooden
oh who who Hearts in the mouth!
00:36:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
By the way, and by the way, before we actually announce the next scoreline, a big, a huge, huge congratulations to Crystal Palace.
00:36:27
Rodney Gooden
Yes.
00:36:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're beating Man City in the FA Cup final 1-0.
00:36:32
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:36:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, what a game.
00:36:33
Rodney Gooden
Incredible watch. Well done. First major trophy in the history. Oh, it was ridiculous.
00:36:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
00:36:40
Rodney Gooden
What a season.
00:36:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
on And I mean, Europa League football next season at Selhurst Park under the lights.
00:36:46
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:36:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
That will be an amazing watch. I cannot wait. Cannot wait. That is going to be really good. can see that being really good. And speaking of Palace, on the other hand, finished Palace 4, Wolves 2.
00:37:04
Rodney Gooden
both
00:37:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
By the way, our former boy, Eddie Nketiah, grabbing a brace.
00:37:08
Rodney Gooden
oh
00:37:10
Rodney Gooden
Love it. I guess data the defense is in trouble.
00:37:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brilliant.
00:37:14
Rodney Gooden
I can't hate Eddie. I love that for him.
00:37:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. And bearing in mind, right, tonight, Glasner made quite a few changes.
00:37:18
Rodney Gooden
yeah
00:37:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
He...
00:37:22
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:37:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah ah Mateta didn't start... ah Chill... um Sorry.
00:37:29
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. Yeah.
00:37:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mitchell didn't start... um Who else? Joel Ward playing his final home game in front of the Selhurst crowd as he looks... As he's looking to finish...
00:37:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um his ah his career at Palace, I believe. I don't, I highly doubt him. I highly doubt him going to another club. He is Palace through and through.
00:37:53
Rodney Gooden
e Yeah, I saw it on a school shoot.
00:37:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And yeah, Chilwell, another one. You know, they've made quite a few good changes. Chilwell getting on the score sheet tonight as well.
00:38:02
Rodney Gooden
I saw that. i remember getting notification. What's that? Chill out?
00:38:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:38:05
Rodney Gooden
Ben? Yeah.
00:38:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. and And of course, the man himself, Eze, just what a player he is.
00:38:12
Rodney Gooden
No, of course. Absolutely insane.
00:38:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
but This guy just finds them at any given opportunity and...
00:38:16
Rodney Gooden
I know, I know. I love it so much. I would love to see us put an offer, but it is what it is, you know?
00:38:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. ah I'll tell you what, though. i think for Palace right now, they i don't i just don't see any of their players leaving. I don't see any of their big players leaving.
00:38:30
Rodney Gooden
Yeah.
00:38:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think...
00:38:31
Rodney Gooden
Well, I think now that they've got, yeah, what's it, European football now?
00:38:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now they've got Europa League football, I think they will relish the opportunity to stay at Palace.
00:38:34
Rodney Gooden
I said, yeah, okay. It's going to be difficult. Yeah, no, they're going to want to build a more robust squad, you know, not lose any key players.
00:38:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, absolutely.
00:38:41
Rodney Gooden
so
00:38:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. You couldn't have said that better. But what i mean just to see Nketiah score, that that's nice. It's just so good.
00:38:50
Rodney Gooden
Yeah. You know what?
00:38:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I like to inform Arsenal players pretty well.
00:38:52
Rodney Gooden
It's so nice. Even even in the Carabao Cup, even the Carabao Cup quarters when he scored the header to make it 3-2, I said I still can hate it.
00:38:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know what? i When i was I was at that game...
00:39:00
Rodney Gooden
Because it was a majestic header. yeah Yeah. See, we should have seen each other after, yeah. I had no idea.
00:39:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know.
00:39:06
Rodney Gooden
Yeah,
00:39:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
know. I was sat there that game and I was like... Where was this Arsenal? Have you never done this at Arsenal?
00:39:14
Rodney Gooden
I know, know. It was a majestic header, man. The way he leaped.
00:39:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great header.
00:39:18
Rodney Gooden
And then also, I love the celebration. Running back to the Palace fans and doing this. Talk about there's still time.
00:39:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:39:24
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, yeah.
00:39:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. You know, too cold.
00:39:26
Rodney Gooden
Oh, that was cold. I love that. Yeah, I said, fair enough. Watch out.
00:39:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:39:31
Rodney Gooden
It had me rethinking the sale for a second.
00:39:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:39:33
Rodney Gooden
Yeah, I don't
00:39:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, honestly, that has been that's been the roundup of the Premier League fixtures from Game Week 37. We have one more, one more weekend of Premier League football before an international break and the and the Champions League final and then pretty much no football till till August.
00:39:57
Rodney Gooden
know.
00:39:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
What are we going to do with ourselves, Rodney?
00:39:59
Rodney Gooden
Just... It's going be just transfer speculation and anxiety. That's what it's going to be.
00:40:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yeah, absolutely.
00:40:05
Rodney Gooden
That's all the summer is.
00:40:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course it is. Of course it Whatever it is, yeah. We're just waiting for Fabrizio to get the here we go tweet. That's it.
00:40:12
Rodney Gooden
Exactly. Waiting for Fabrizio Romano or David Ornstein. That's it.
00:40:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, of course. Standard. Absolutely standard. But guys, that is it for us today. Have you liked what we've had to say? If so, we'd love to hear your thoughts on social media.
00:40:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Make sure to go and show us some love and and support by subscribing to the GSPN Network for all things Premier League, WSL, Serie A, World Cup and more. As always, you can find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify by searching Daily Arsenal.
00:40:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've been your host, Jamie Patterson. As always, he has been the amazeing the amazing Rodney Gooden. Have a good day all and take care.
00:40:50
Rodney Gooden
Thank you.