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Arsenal Falter in Title Race, Superbowl Review + NBA All Star Recap
13 Plays1 month ago
Superbowl & End of NFL Season Review
- Does it change your opinion on Maye or Darnold?
- Are Seattle favorites next year?
- Takeaways from the NFL season
- Bad Bunny Half-Time
Title Race Crashout
- What’s wrong with Arsenal? Can it be fixed?
- Are City the favorites?
NBA All-Star Recap
- Was the new format a success?
- Is All Star Weekend still relevant ?
Game of the Week
Tottenham vs Arsenal
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Episode Milestone
00:00:11
Emeka
Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 48 of Love The Game Podcast. Two away from 50. gotta do some special episode for number 50. Maybe we'll do a live stream or something. Maybe it'll be a shirtless episode. Who knows? But anyhow, two away. Recording this in the evening of February 19, 2026.
00:00:29
Emeka
twenty six A cold, chilly, very cold evening. But we're here to warm you guys up with some hot takes, as always. Joined by the man making the magic happen, my man Chinna.
Chinna's Health and Setting the Scene
00:00:40
Emeka
Chinna, how do you keeping warm right now, man?
00:00:43
Chino Onwuka
Honestly, it's a struggle. you know, your boy's a bit under the weather right now, but there's no no no load management on this part. So, you know, strap up strap up the laces, pull up the socks, and we move.
00:00:55
Emeka
Hey man, we trying to win every game.
00:00:55
Chino Onwuka
yeah i will feel I do have a hot cup of tea with me right now, so hopefully that'll help me get through it.
All-Star Break and NBA Headlines
00:01:03
Emeka
hot cup of tea and a hot take, man. You're right, no tanking, no days off. We try to win every podcast over this franchise. And not to do that always, you know, we got the man in the middle helping us out, my brother Chinon. I mean, Chukwu, Chukwu, how you doing, bro?
00:01:15
Chuku
Yeah, what up, what up, man? Good to be back. Good to be back with the gang. You know, we got a lot to discuss. I'm looking forward to, you know, today's pod. And, you know, let's get cracking, man. Let's do it.
00:01:26
Emeka
Yeah, big episode. You know, we took a little All-Star weekend and break ourselves. You know, we're All-Stars on this podcast, but, you know, better late than never.
Super Bowl Recap and Reactions
00:01:33
Emeka
We got a lot to talk about. You know, you're having the NBA. There's headlines all over the place we might discuss.
00:01:40
Emeka
I'm sure people listening to this podcast are waiting with bated breath to hear us all talk about some recent results in North London. But to start us off with, it's the first time a recording since the big Super Bowl season.
00:01:53
Emeka
My New England Patriots story has come to an end. i mean, by now, you've probably seen all the highlights and broken down the analysis. I have not because I refuse to see a second of that game since. But we all watched that Super Bowl together. i mean, 10 days later, guess I'll start a future. now well What do you take away from the Super Bowl? Just the game, the commercials, the performances? like well What do you think the Super Bowl What's your first thing you think of?
00:02:20
Chino Onwuka
First of all, I just want to give you a shout out because I could not do what you did. For those listening, we
Seattle's Victory and Defense
00:02:27
Chino Onwuka
watched the game at his place. he's He's a Patriots fan and there is no way my team could be in a Super Bowl and be losing like that and I'm watching it with other people. Nah, could not be me.
00:02:42
Chino Onwuka
Not only did he have to watch through halftime, but even when the result was clear that they were getting... rubbed He still had to sit there and watch because he had guests over.
00:02:55
Chino Onwuka
He had to sit there and watch the postgame. He had to sit there and watch the confetti fall. He had to sit there and watch the interviews after...
Patriots' Season and Future Prospects
00:03:04
Chino Onwuka
Honestly, shout out because you handled that with a lot more grace than I ever could. So just want to start off with that. But anyway, back to the game. Really, my my overarching take is that the the best team won.
00:03:16
Chino Onwuka
And the best team won pretty convincingly. you know you know On this pod, I had argued that Seattle had you know the best defense by far in the NFL. I know some people were throwing out shouts about Houston, Denver, but...
00:03:29
Chino Onwuka
To me, they were they were in a separate tier. In fact, they had a historic defense. If you look through the history of the NFL and, you know, the the real Super Bowl to me was their their matchup against the Rams and they they they took care of them as they had in the regular season. So just a dominant defense. You know, the one fear was how was Sam Darnold going to handle a big
Super Bowl Entertainment Debate
00:03:52
Chino Onwuka
game? But he did what he had to do. He took care of the ball, wrote the defense,
00:03:57
Chino Onwuka
They made some timely running plays and just did what they had to do to to win the game pretty convincingly. So that that was my hot take. you know For the Patriots, valiant effort, a big turnaround from last season, you know a wonderful ride in the regular season, but some of the warts that sort of got masked over during the regular season.
00:04:20
Chino Onwuka
started to show themselves during the playoffs. They managed to squeak through, but it just wasn't enough for in the biggest game of all time. And now, you know, just end it is, you know, it's one of those things where, and Emeka, I know you and I talked about it is, it's really hard to get there again. Obviously, they have really good building blocks in Drake May, Christian Gonzalez, Mike Brable, but it's really, really hard to get there. And so now the work begins in you.
Quarterback Performances and Future
00:04:50
Emeka
I appreciate your noting how I handled that. You're not wrong that if I was by myself, I'm turning that game off third quarter. But yeah when you see a team win six Super Bowls, you tend to you can take the L's. I will never complain about the Patriots. thathow what Before I go on a rant there, I guess I'll turn it to you, Chico, with a simple question.
00:05:09
Emeka
Was the Super Bowl good? Like, just as a pure viewer, you're neutral. Was it good for you to watch, or was it one of the worst one of the worst worst star Super Bowls from entertainment value, I guess, is what I'm asking for.
00:05:22
Chuku
I mean, won't go as far as saying were Super Bowls, but I mean, as far as a competitive game, I mean, I think it's safe to say, yeah, like the game was pretty much wrapped up, you know, by like third quarter. Like, yeah. So, I mean, look, for me, i just think one of the biggest takeaways from the entire Super Bowl, I would say i personally,
00:05:47
Chuku
enjoyed the Bad Bunny performance, even though I didn't know understand a lick of what he was saying, just the production behind you know behind what the the whole performance
Team Dynamics and MVP Debate
00:05:55
Chuku
and what it meant. you know The fact that we had, to for the first time, because of a Latin performing in the Super Bowl,
00:06:04
Chuku
We got to see, you know, how, i guess, politics played a part or plays a part in in the in the game that we love. As, you know know, Trump and, the you know, his team had their own quote unquote Super Bowl halftime, which, funny enough, we also, you know, he also managed to put on when we know were watching the game at your place. I just think...
00:06:26
Chuku
Overall, as far as like what was the game that was played, yeah, you know, nothing great to, no nothing too great to write home about. Gina said, the best team, you know, won.
00:06:38
Chuku
And I mean, for the most part, that's what we look for. You know, we typically like seeing, you don't know about y'all, but bob I'm just speaking in general. I personally like seeing the best team win. That's just how I how you know how i like view it. And I mean, heading into the Super Bowl matchup, I felt pretty you
Expanding MVP Awards Discussion
00:06:52
Chuku
know confident in the in the Seahawks. They've proven by far to be the best team that was left between the two.
00:06:59
Chuku
And you know it it wasn't really shocking. but To me, it wasn't really shocking because was more impressed on how Drake May was able to know get that like receiving core which quite frankly was led by Stephon Diggs, who, to be fair, has been, you know, has has had his ups and downs overall. But, I mean, when your best receiver, you know, has, you know, there's a stat going around. i remember people talking about Diggs having more baby mamas than,
00:07:30
Chuku
yards caught in the Super Bowl. I mean, that tells you everything you need to know, right? So I think, you know, overall, I won't say it was the worst Super Bowl I've ever seen, but definitely as far as what was played on the on the field, it was a tough watch if you're pass fan, that's for sure.
00:07:47
Chuku
But for me, i enjoyed every minute of it, you know? I enjoyed it
00:07:49
Chino Onwuka
As a longtime Patriots hater, it was very enjoyable to me.
00:07:53
Chuku
Very enjoyable, exactly. you know So I guess you know overall, I can't complain. you know I got to see a wonderful production performance of Bad Bunny and see the Pats lose.
00:08:04
Chuku
So for me, it was a big win-win. So i I'll leave it at that.
00:08:10
Emeka
i mean anytime people are seriously arguing for a punter or kicker to win Super Bowl MVP, yeah, They've been worse for sure. Nothing will beat Pat's Rams. That's the worst football
Arsenal's Performance Struggles
00:08:22
Emeka
ever seen in my life.
00:08:23
Emeka
I wouldn't say this one was great. Obviously, I'm biased. My team lost and they sucked all day and they had no chance of winning. But again, when the punter and kicker are like leading it, it was come on. But I will say for me, it became so clear. And I and i will be i have proof of this and on record. from All year, I was saying that Seahawks were the best team in the league.
00:08:44
Emeka
Best team in the league. I was so confident about it. And the entire time, I never thought the Pats had a chance. So then the game starts, and then I'm like, maybe, you know, like and then instantly hit me like there's chance they're going to win this game. They cannot block this pass rush for anything.
00:09:01
Emeka
And you know what? I'll give you know props because earlier in the season, me and him kind of argued about the Seahawks and Texans defense, and I was definitely back at the Texans defense. I saw my team go up against the the Texans and the and the Seahawks.
00:09:16
Emeka
The Seahawks defense is by far, i okay, by far better strong, but it's dominant. Like, this is, i just wish they had a better name because the dark side is a terrible name. But, you know, they deserve this.
00:09:28
Emeka
About to ask all game long. Yeah. I mean, I got nothing to say because, again, I'm a Pats fan, and and I was just – it is what it is. We'll talk about bad money later, but just on that point, I guess – and I'll turn to you on this.
00:09:44
Emeka
Are the Seahawks – you said it's hard to get back with the Patriots, and I definitely agree. If you tell me right now, I do not believe the Patriots be in the Super Bowl next year. But would the Seahawks be in the Super Bowl next year? Like, are they the primitive favorites, in your opinion, to be the best team in the league next season?
00:09:59
Chino Onwuka
I think it's a lot harder to be sort of that perennial Super Like, I think there'll be a contender, but I think the teams that we've seen, you know, make it to the Super Bowl consistently, you know, if they get there multiple years in a row, are teams that have elite upper echelon quarterbacks.
00:10:18
Chino Onwuka
So obviously we've seen it with the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, but even going back to you know your your Denver Broncos, your your Buffalo Bills back in the day and your San Francisco 49ers, those guys had elite offenses, the best quarterbacks in the league. And what history has shown me is that that's sort of the the setup where we see teams get there consistently.
00:10:42
Chino Onwuka
Are they going to be good next year? I really believe so. but then you know you never know what you're going get from the offense. And you know another reason, to your point, and why i said it'll be hard for the Patriots, it also has a lot to do with the AFC and the teams, and more specifically, the quarterbacks in the AFC.
00:11:03
Chino Onwuka
This playoffs, we didn't have Patrick Mahomes. We didn't have Lamar Jackson. We didn't have Joe Burrow. Odds on, One or a couple or all of those guys are going to be in the playoffs next year. And that makes it really hard. Now, Drake May could be one of those guys. But again, every round in the AFC is like, you know, a kaiju fight. So that's part the calculus there.
00:11:27
Chino Onwuka
ass part of the the the the calculus there
00:11:31
Emeka
about you, Chico? Do you think the Seahawks are Super Bowl favorites for next season?
00:11:37
Chuku
I'm just of the belief that if you win the Super Bowl, you deserve to be the favorite headed into the next season. And i mean, I hear what you're not saying about like having a star quarterback and, you know, let's not confuse Sam Darnold as being anywhere near the top echelon of quarterbacks in the league at the moment.
00:11:55
Chuku
But at the same time, he's no slouch. You know, he's
Arsenal's Recruitment and Defense
00:11:58
Chuku
proven to me that he's, you know, with the backing of a strong defense that I don't see going anywhere next season. I definitely can see see them possibly making it back to the Super Bowl.
00:12:10
Chuku
You know, because again, like the weapons they have, they ain't going anywhere. Unless something happens over the offseason with Kenneth Walker, which I'll be one to definitely monitor. monitor But for the most part, I do see most of their, you know, most of their main guys still staying. So,
00:12:25
Chuku
Yeah, I can i could easily see them being running back. Obviously, it would be difficult for sure because, you know, in the NFC, there's a lot of tough competition coming up. But as of right now, I have to to definitely list them as one of the favorites or the favorite as of right now to prove otherwise.
00:12:44
Emeka
No, fair enough. i I think they're the, you know, like you said, we're all agreement. They're the best team this year. But NFL is is not for long. Like, it's there's a reason why when my channel was giving out a list about multiple, you know, Super Bowl winning teams, there's two teams in the last 25 years. It's literally the Pats and the Chiefs that you can say the same core won more than two Super Bowls because it's hard to do.
00:13:07
Emeka
It's the hardest sport to win multiple rings. I will stand on it. Single elimination in the playoffs just makes things so complicated. So, yeah. They could be the best team, and then week three, Sam Darnold, you know, twists his ankle, and then they go seven and nine and go make the playoffs. Like, it's just one of those sports because there's only 17 games.
00:13:27
Emeka
The sample size is so small, anything can go wrong. They play in such a, you know, crazy division. Three teams could easily win 13 games, i wouldn't be so surprised about it. So, yeah, I'm with you guys. i You know, coming into next year, i think I'd just by default have them as, like, the best team again, but...
00:13:45
Emeka
break the Super Bowl, ask me ask me after week 10. But, you know, Juno did say the best teams, the most teams to repeat have elite quarterbacks. And we had two, you know, interesting career timeline of the quarterbacks that were in the Super Bowl this year. Obviously, Drake May, second year, borderline MVP season, like one first played the one first place vote away from winning MVP out of nowhere.
00:14:08
Emeka
Sam Darnold, his fifth team, first quarterback to win the Super Bowl after being on five teams. I think that's the record, which is kind of impressive. now got cut last year and now is, you know, ascending and winning a Super Bowl. And I guess I'll start with you, Chiku, like just the Super Bowl alone. So coming into the Super Bowl, you had your opinion.
00:14:26
Emeka
After the Super Bowl, did your opinion change on either Drake, me, or Sam Donald as a franchise QB moving forward?
00:14:33
Chuku
No, not really. Like I said earlier, I was very impressed with Drake May. Like, I mean, I feel like the average viewer who doesn't really follow you know NFL too like often, I would challenge folks to kind of name me who no the the weapons that Drake May was throwing to. mean,
00:14:55
Chuku
After Stefan Diggs, I feel like a of people are going to find it pretty difficult to start naming some of those other options. And for me, for him to take that team, yes, I understand during the regular season, they probably played one of the softer schedules, no doubts.
00:15:10
Chuku
But he still took that team you know to the Super Bowl. And I just think, no and what year is he again, Drake May? This his, what, third year or second
00:15:20
Emeka
Second year, bro. What do mean third year?
00:15:21
Chuku
Second year. so Second year. You're doing this in your second year. I just think you get better weapons around him. I know he had a poor showing in the Super Bowl, poor performance-wise, but I just think it was a matter of just needing more as far as better weapons around him and the receiving group, and I think he might be able to do more. So for me, nothing my my opinion on May hasn't changed. I still think he's on the rise and he's know on his way of becoming one of the top-tier quarterbacks that we have in the league. And with Sam Darnold, I mean, look, Sam Darnold, I feel like people are sleeping on the on the resurgence of his career. Let's not act like goes this all happened just out of the blue this season.
00:16:05
Chuku
like He was showing signs last year when he was playing for the Vikings, and I was still surprised when the Vikings didn't keep him. like Quite honestly speaking, if I was the Vikings, I would have definitely kept Sam Darnold, even though I just understood they drafted him. the young kid, JJ, or or, yeah, JJ, or whatever his name is, a I mean, respectfully, the way the numbers, like, there's certain things, you know, sure, you have a plan as to, you know, who you draft, and you want to kind of, you know,
00:16:32
Chuku
build up you know you' the person you drafted. But when one of someone like Sam Darnold performs the way he did last year, for me, it's hard to just let that go, in my opinion. But they did, and that was to the Seahawks' benefits. And look where we are we're at we're at now.
00:16:48
Chuku
Seahawks got a Super Bowl, and Sam Darnold has a ring. So I just think both of them showed two different sides. But for me, the Super Bowl didn't, you know, I guess, change my opinion on either one of these guys. Like, you know, Sam Donald is a quality, you know, starting QB in the league and, you know, playing it with behind one of the best, if not the best defense.
Arsenal's Title Contention Prospects
00:17:17
Chuku
He was able to, you know, win his one his ring. And Drake May in his second year took a team that, you know, overall, They're no slouches. They have a good defense as well.
00:17:30
Chuku
But, again, for me, what stands out is the fact that, again, that receiving core, man, they didn't really help the the young kid out too much, apart from the addition of Diggs. And i just think it showed itself in the in the biggest stage. And I just think, if you know, as time goes on, the more weapons, if you can get some – extra weapons you know to to provide some help i definitely think he can blossom to show even more quality down the road so yeah these are two quality qbs we're talking about here so opinions have not changed on either one
00:18:04
Emeka
Chenna, have your opinions changed on either May or Adorno after the Super Bowl?
00:18:09
Chino Onwuka
Not in terms of their talent. I will say for Darnold, I mean, he was he was the third overall pick. You know, we saw what he was able to do last year. So I'm i'm impressed because we knew he was talented. I'm impressed in that throughout the playoffs, he was able to do what he needed to do to get his team to win a championship. You know, the thing with him is as talented as he is,
00:18:32
Chino Onwuka
He has, you know, what we use in in in in football parlance, the the bozo gene sometimes, and he was able to keep that in check. So it just shows to me that on top of his talent, he's matured now. So, you know, is he the best quarterback in the league? No, but he has proved that he's the type of quarterback that you can do well in the regular season with, check.
00:18:51
Chino Onwuka
do well in the playoffs with Czech, and now win a Super Bowl. So that's really impressed me. And on the Drake May side, you know, I guess I won't repeat what Chukwu said. You know, they definitely do need to get him more weapons.
00:19:03
Chino Onwuka
you know Would I be surprised if the statistics regress a little bit next year? No, I won't because you know they're going to be playing a a tougher schedule. Teams are going to be ready for him now. And so it's it's it's it's a game of chess and checkers. you know you You get better. Defenses catch up. And then can you overcome that? So that could happen next year. That could take a longer year. But I have no doubt as to the the talent and the tools that Drake May has.
00:19:29
Chino Onwuka
You know, it might not show up in the stats, but I'm sure if you watch the games on a down-to-down basis, Drake May is going to be who he is and will probably get better because he he's so young.
00:19:42
Emeka
All I know is when the history books are written, Drake may have 330 combined yards and two touchdowns and just, you know, you know, everything else. Yeah. I mean, listen, I, I'm literally recording this wearing a Drake made Jersey.
00:19:54
Emeka
I love the guy. i never at any point believed were had any chance of winning this game. So it is what it is. I knew, you know, there was this warning signs were there all post-season run. And I was saying, Oh yeah, it's just the weather, just the weather.
Arsenal's Expectations and Challenges
00:20:11
Emeka
it It was a belt to ass performer, and I hope he learns from it and learns that you don't have to always hit home runs. You can take the easy stuff. You know, again, I'm talking about receivers. I'd settle for a left tackle.
00:20:23
Emeka
That's all to say. I'd settle for a left tackle. But, yeah, for what – I never thought the Patriots that even come close to this. So the fact that we get shellacked in the Super Bowl, like, I'm not going to change on Drake, man.
00:20:35
Emeka
For Darnold, I can't lie. It did change my opinion a little bit because, like Chino mentioned, He has the Bozo gene. We'll talk about that later on for other sports. But he has the Bozo gene, and I guess I just kept thinking at some point it's going to rear its head. All playoffs, I was offered in the assumption that, okay, at some point he comes back to being Sam Darnold.
00:20:55
Emeka
He didn't. And big credit credit to him recognizing the type of game it is. He quickly realized that the Seahawks are so much better. The only way they lose is if he messes up.
00:21:06
Emeka
So we intentionally changed how he played, was more conservative, ran more, didn't try to force throws as much. And that's what you do as a quarterback. You see the game that's being played. My defense is so much better.
00:21:16
Emeka
Why am I risking it? Meanwhile, Drake Nick kind of felt he had to force things, and then it made him to hold the ball off for way too long and get smacked and turn the ball over. So props to Sam Darnold.
00:21:27
Emeka
Props to the Seattle Seahawks. like Just a great season for them. I've thought a few times I'm so confident in a team being the best in the league. Like Chukwu said, it always feels nice and right when the best team in the league wins the Super Bowl. just like this is This is fair.
00:21:44
Emeka
Before we move on, mean, you know, offseason is long. Free agency and draft. I'm sure we'll talk about football at some other point and in the future. But before we reminisce, if we didn't follow up on what my man Chuku mentioned with the Bad Bunny halftime show, I want to clarify...
00:22:01
Emeka
I have two TVs. So I put the Turning Point and thing on, the second TV on mute, just to laugh at it. Let me tell you, between the two halftime shows, only one had certain Latina Nia shaking.
00:22:12
Emeka
So I knew which one I liked. But I guess, you know, we have Chico's thoughts. I'll give your thoughts, you know. How did you like the the Bad Bunny halftime show? Was it up there for the best halftime shows you've seen? Or did the Spanish kind of make you go, ugh?
00:22:25
Chino Onwuka
No, me gusta, me gusta. Hablos español un poquito, so i enjoyed it. Was it the best performance? No. To me, the best one I've seen live is Beyonce. She literally shut down the stadium. So that's the best performance I've seen live.
00:22:46
Chino Onwuka
But Bruno Mars, I really enjoyed as well. So Bad Bunny, it was good. It was good. You know, i was definitely, you know doing some cha-chas, some busting some some some salsa out there, but yeah, it it was a good performance. Yeah, I think, you know, i look, you know, we as people of colors, Negritos,
00:23:09
Chino Onwuka
we we've we've seen how important it is to get, you know, chance for our story to be told on stage and have hundreds of millions of people see whether they understand it or not, hate it, love it.
00:23:20
Chino Onwuka
Just getting that representation is important. And considering everything that's going on in the United States and in the world right now, you know, I'm sure there's a lot of people, you know Latinos, who you know that moment really meant a lot to them for for Bad Bunny to do it in the way he did.
00:23:36
Chino Onwuka
And even in spite of everything, for him to still preach a message of love and unity. you know Even shout it out to Canada, from Calgary, Alberta, you know shouted us out. I think that was pretty cool. so you know Sometimes not everything has to be for you.
00:23:51
Chino Onwuka
It was for a large segment of people who I'm sure really loved it. From what I saw online, they loved it and I enjoyed it as well.
00:23:59
Emeka
You already know Canada. That was my takeaway from that. we We're claimed. but but Bat Bunny claimed me, man. So it is what it is. I'm surprised they didn't put subtitles on.
00:24:10
Emeka
That's the only thing I'll say. I'm surprised they didn't put subtitles on. Just, you know, whatever.
00:24:13
Chino Onwuka
True. True.
00:24:16
Emeka
Kendrick last year, after I got that, that was a show when that was made for me. And I love that point. You know, it's so beautiful. want to reiterate it. Not everything has to be made for you.
00:24:28
Emeka
You're not the only consumer in the world. There are millions and millions of people who got Bad Bunny Show resonated with them. Same way the Kendrick Show resonated with me. And couldn't remember, people were losing their minds about it. And I just kept thinking like, this has been going on for 50 plus years. There's going to be shows you. going be shows for somebody else.
00:24:46
Emeka
This was their turn. Hey, doing what the guy got there for the people. And, you know, celebrity cameos and on on other things. And I cannot emphasize, not since the Shakira halftime performance. Have I you know seen with some shaking on national television? And I salute it.
00:25:02
Emeka
That's all I will say. I salute his service there because I was thoroughly entertained. And you know what, Caucasian friends? I bet next year we're going to get like s Sabrina Carpenter. We're going to get some pop singer generic. We've had our fun.
00:25:15
Emeka
But hey, Jay-Z's still picking the show, so who knows? But either way, I totally enjoyed it, and I really enjoyed the production value. That was my takeaway, because last year, Kendrick kind of made it from being just a straight concert to having like a storyline and Bad Bunny doing the same thing. The bar has now been set for future acts, and I think it's going to be a repeated thing from now on, which I'm here for.
00:25:36
Emeka
You have the stage for 12 minutes. Do something with it. Like, don't just stand on the stage. Tell a story. makes It makes it hype. It makes it replayable from years down the line. So whoever comes up next year, hope they keep the tradition going.
00:25:49
Emeka
Make it a spectacle. Make it a show. Play for the crowd at home and not the crowd in the stadium. That was what i people heard on Twitter, and I so agree with that. There are 70,000 people in the stadium, and there's hundreds of millions watching you at home.
00:26:03
Emeka
Play for that audience. So I hope next year's shows do that. Before we move on, any final talks from, takes from the Super Bowl, NFL season, halftime show moving forward? Before go on to Saturday talk conversations?
00:26:17
Chuku
I think we can go on. I got i don know nothing about more to add. So, yeah.
00:26:23
Emeka
Eugenio, anything to add?
00:26:25
Chino Onwuka
No, like you said, I'm sure we'll you know it's good get into offseason draft, free agency. We'll talk more about it. But I know there's a lot more we want to cover this episode. So let's get it.
00:26:36
Chuku
Well, I guess I got one one thing. I got one thing, I guess, just before we move on, I guess. I mean, how do we all feel about Walker winning the MVP? Do you all feel like was the right choice?
00:26:50
Emeka
I radical, radical take here. I think they should treat Super Bowl MVP like a fantasy thing where it's offensive positions and then defense general. Because some Super Bowl, every time a Super Bowl happens where the defense should win it, it's hard to win it because there's so many people and it's so connected that they just default to an offensive player.
00:27:11
Emeka
I was glad he wasn't defaulted to Darnold because usually they just give the QB. Walker deserved it. But let's be real. The real best part of the Super Bowl was the defense. And I just would to resolve it because it's like, I could be this guy could be this guy. I would honestly just treat it like fantasy and the defense should win Super Bowl MVP as a collective.
00:27:29
Emeka
That's my hot take.
00:27:31
Chuku
No, I'll take it a step further. I mean, what about, like, I mean, what do y'all think of of, instead of having just one Super Bowl MVP, there's something on a word for, like, you know, best offensive performer, best defensive performer of the Super Bowl.
00:27:49
Chuku
What do you think about that? that Is that to maybe maybe too radical, or does that make sense?
00:27:54
Emeka
I mean, yeah, but sometimes you don't deserve an offensive. Like, what if the Super Bowl's like We're to give a defensive guy. I don't know. just I mean, look, if they changed it, I wouldn't be mad at it, but I just feel like, hey, man.
00:28:10
Emeka
it Give it the guy who deserves it. But like I said, my guess my stance is most times when the defense deserves it because it's just spread, they just default to some random offensive guy like Edelman in the Patriots year this year, Kenneth Walker, I guess. But I'm a mar defensive MVP as well, I guess. do have to to them?
00:28:29
Chino Onwuka
Nah, I approve your message. I think there's some some pretty intriguing suggestions between the two of you, but, you know, like you said, like, there could be occasions where if it's 55-48, which defensive player could get it? Someone could. Maybe someone has a bunch of sacks, but maybe someone doesn't qualify. Or if it's a 7-3 game, maybe no one on offense qualifies. So...
00:28:50
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, I think maybe there's a standout defensive player that could get it, but if not, and it's just a whole team effort, then I think it makes sense to be able to just name defense or hell, even special teams or or O-line and give them an MVP.
00:29:05
Emeka
Yeah, I just feel like because some positions in football are so collective that they just can never win.
00:29:06
Chuku
Thank you.
00:29:10
Emeka
Like, the Ohio will never win a Super Bowl MVP. But because, like, usually it's QB, running back, and wide receiver because they're the only positions where it's individual. You can actually, like, stand out.
00:29:22
Emeka
Whereas if I'm a really good cornerback, If my other cornerback sucks, then no one even cares about me. They just target him all game long. So if any unit deserves Super Bowl MVP, if for every time it was appropriate, give to the def defense of Seattle the Super Bowl. Because Mike, what a standout, like Witherspoon and Wosu. I can go on and on. like just Man, they gave my boys hell. That was not a fun four hours to watch. I'll say that. But...
00:29:48
Emeka
but No, yeah, fair point. I'm almost surprised at that, hey, look, if I'm Disney, why not, man? More people come to Disney World. So it would shock me if they change it up. Well, our again, we mentioned the draft and free agency. We're going to talk a lot about NFL in the future. But last on this podcast, we talk about the real football, worldwide beautiful sport.
00:30:12
Emeka
our loved, beloved Arsenal. In the title race, this this season, i was hoping that, you know, it ends on a positive note so we can kind of look back as chronicle a journey of an underdog team rising up to the end. And maybe trying to will it into existence. But alas, what I feared has happened, and now we're recording this podcast following a week where...
00:30:35
Emeka
Scored first against Brentford and conceded a goal. You know, respectable 4-0 in the FA Cup. And yesterday 2-0 up against the bottom of the table wolves and just fell apart. I mean, where do we even begin with this?
00:30:51
Emeka
I'll start with you, Chukwu. As an Arsenal fan right now, just simple question. What's wrong?
00:30:59
Chuku
Man,
00:31:02
Chuku
I don't even know where to begin. don't even know where to start. Like, you say what's wrong but i mean i if i had the answers i mean i feel like you know i should be getting paid you know uh you know a big salary you know because right now i'm just i'm i'm just lost for words i mean i'm still trying to process what has gone on not just not just this past game like don't get me wrong i feel like the past game against wolves was like the camel that broke you know It was the straw that broke the camel's back, I should say. Sorry if I was saying it wrong. But, yeah, I think it's just a combination of, like, a lot of things, man. Like, I just i don't know what's going on. I don't know. I really want to hear what you guys got to say about it. But I just don't know what's wrong with this team. Because, like, we were talking about earlier how we were kind of, you know really impressed with,
00:31:54
Chuku
the squad depth that we have, you know, the quality of players we've signed brought into the team. I know we have our, you know, bickerings when it comes to certain signings, like, you know, Yoko Reyes of the world. Yeah, we understand all he's not really, you know, lit the world on fire since his arrival. And, you know, we we're testing out this new, you know, Saka in the cam position.
00:32:19
Chuku
im Quite frankly, I thought I actually was a fan of it. you know I know we had our side conversations about it you know in the group chat. But like i thought I thought it was working. Things were you know things were looking good. And i obviously got hurt. And then I got subbed off. Hopefully, it's nothing serious. I refer to Saka. But i just I just don't know. and I don't know what's going on. like like For a team that, again, you know we've scored as many goals as we've scored as a team.
00:32:47
Chuku
our football has to be one of the most, like, boring footballs. Like, I don't know what we play. what If not for set pieces, like, I don't know where we would be, you know, in the league, honestly speaking. I know this is something that has been a narrative, you know, pretty much most of the entire, you know, season.
00:33:06
Chuku
And, you know, granted, look, We've kind of just been not really touching on it too much because, look, when you're winning games, it is what it is. We're not too too concerned about it. But now I'm just starting to just take a look and it's like, man, if we're not scoring goals from set pieces, like, what are we doing for the most part? it's It's pretty rough when it comes to a lot of our open play chances. And I'm starting to just question the tactics. You know, I know we've had conversations of, like, you know, in the past regarding, like,
00:33:37
Chuku
Why do we have so many of our like defensive quote unquote, you know, players so high up the pitch? You know, we have the you know attacking players, you know, sitting deeper. We're not really seeing too much, you know, ball progression as far as, you know, like guys creating chances for others and, you know, strikers really. running to space and finishing and open play.
00:33:59
Chuku
Like, these are all things that these are things that we're not seeing consistently enough. And I'm just wondering if it's something to do with Arteta's tactics. Is it something to do with the players' regression? Like, someone like Eze, I thought was going to be a an absolute game changer for our team.
00:34:17
Chuku
All of a sudden, I don't like i don't know what – I barely recognize this this player. you know I barely recognize what I'm seeing on the pitch. And don't even get me started with some of our household names that, you know, obviously, you know, I've been on i've been on a couple players in the past, you know, Odegaard being one of them, Martinelli being the other, which, funny enough, Martinelli is a funny funny case because, I mean, you know, we've also had those conversations of, like, you know, Martinelli in the league, absolute, like – Useless.
00:34:49
Chuku
Marnelli in cups, an absolute star. I just, I don't get it. Like, I just don't get this Jekyll and Hyde situation that Marnelli got going on this season. And, you know, it's just, it's just frustrating because this is the most, like I said, this is the most stacked team we've seen as far as quality of individual players in the, in the Arsenal squad at one time.
00:35:13
Chuku
Yet somehow, we're playing one of our worst attacking football, at least from open play. Part of it, obviously, I have to say is, you know, how teams play us for sure.
00:35:26
Chuku
Cause you know, most teams, especially in the league tend to sit back. I mean, there's no surprise that, you know, as far as, know, some some of the better performances we've had with open play possession and goals have come in, you know, in champions league, you know, competitions and other competitions where teams actually play out a little bit more, but,
00:35:47
Chuku
Man, like we need to be able to adapt. like We got to be able to play our football and, no again, be able to beat teams with various setups in the league. And this is what we care about. like There's no world we should be dropping points.
00:36:05
Chuku
to one of the worst sides that has ever played in the Premier League in this Wolves team. It's just embarrassing. So I don't know where we go from here. Like, we have to just pick up our heads. And I really, really hope, you know, our, you know, Ateta figures this out. Like, the players, you know, come together. need to do whatever they to Make the prayers fast. I don't know what, at this point, I will take anything. Because we cannot, and I repeat, cannot,
00:36:34
Chuku
afford to fumble this lead. Like, we kiss we just can't, man. Like, we're not even in March, and we had, we're going from a 9.5, nine points know, lead to, no, we're going to be possibly down to two if Man City win their next game.
00:36:49
Chuku
And it's like, how did we get here? But, again, like I said, you know, this is just something that, again, I'm really struggling to find the answers. I'm really curious to hear what you boys got going on or what you guys got to say about it because, as for me, that i have been speechless the last 24 hours. I just don't know where to go from here. And, yeah, it's iss it's a struggle. It's a struggle, boys.
00:37:12
Chuku
I don't know.
00:37:14
Emeka
I'll let you not go because I know he has a lot he a lot to say, but I'm with you. I don't know. The Brentford result, I will say, didn't hurt me as much because I truly believed Brentford were the better team. And it was one of those where sometimes the Premier League is hard. Like, I was happy to come away with with a draw.
00:37:34
Emeka
It did to reveal to me though, the issue of when you don't create that many chances, the ones you miss hurt so much because Martinelli in another life scores of his left foot and we went, we, you know, we steal that game away, but I was like, you know, it happens.
00:37:49
Emeka
The Wolves' result was just inexcusable. Just inexcusable. Again, Martinelli, if he scores, a simple chance. We go 2-0 up first 20 minutes. Maybe the tenor changes. But even then, we went 2-0 up regardless.
00:38:03
Emeka
And Arteta can come out and you know and he can say, i don't tell them to sit back. But it happens too often. And he's in too much control of the team. that I don't think it's like they just do it by themselves.
00:38:17
Emeka
Clearly...
00:38:17
Chino Onwuka
i will I will just pause that on that because a reporter, I think it was Sam Lee, came out and said that during the second half, Arteta kept urging them to keep the ball and pass the ball and control it. And he was frustrated because they were not doing what he was telling them to do.
00:38:37
Emeka
Then fair enough then, because yeah great he always comes out and says, like, I don't tell him to do this. I don't tell him to do this. And it just it keeps happening. So I have to only, you know, Hawkins Razor, and I hate to, this is a team I love, but my takeaway from the Wolves game is they lack the minerals. I asked what I saw. I asked what my honesty hand to my heart.
00:38:59
Emeka
That was a vibe I got watching that game. I thought the moment got too big for them. They got nervy. They collapsed. They conceded a wonder goal. Although i am curious, you guys, there was there's a thing going around that the reason why we quote-unquote keep conceding these wonder goals is because Raya's a shorter keeper. He just can't reach these things. I realize it's harsh because that was a fantastic strike.
00:39:20
Emeka
But, hey, what do I know? 2-1, and then we just, you know, our pants. And we get nervy, and we're just all that. And then 96-minute, just against Wolves.
00:39:33
Emeka
You know, we're talking over the table and we're time wasting, faking head injuries, doing all this against Wolves. Only for the 90-50 minutes, the Bozo Gene to reappear. Off to off podcast, Chinon and I once, you know, like a month ago, we had a conversation about how I was saying Gabrielle is one of the few players I can remember who defeated the Bozo Gene. Because once it's terminal illness. When you get it, you can't. Chinon astutely pointed out,
00:39:59
Emeka
has he completely defeated it And I was like, yeah, you're right. And then I just, that's all I kept thinking about when that happened against Wolves and just for no reason at all. Look, unless there's a microphone on the pitch, I don't know if there's a shout.
00:40:12
Emeka
I have to assume there was. Maybe there wasn't. Who knows? Either way, unavoidable, like, oh, such an avoidable mistake to concede then a comical own goal where it bounces off five people in the post and whatever and we draw two-two. And it's just...
00:40:28
Emeka
I'm just speechless. I mean, there's so many things I want to talk about. I'm going to let you not cook on this because he's been calling out for this much longer than I have. I've tried to be optimistic. We're top of the table. like More true by to remind myself, listen, we're top of the table. And I keep looking how crap I see Man City look. And I keep telling myself, okay it's not yesteryear city maybe. But yeah, optimistic can only go on for so long because the results have been shocking for over two months now.
00:40:55
Emeka
But I just want to say... We spent 130 million pounds on two attackers. One is a donkey. The other has been ghosting now for three months. it's when We're not Man City. We're not Madrid. We're not PSG. When we spend that kind of money on two attacking players, one of them has to hit.
00:41:16
Emeka
we can't we We went 0-2 on Eze and Jokerez. I hate to say with Eze because it's early and can turn it around, but just judging off this season, I feel like he, it's not been, it's peak, bro.
00:41:29
Emeka
And somehow, despite buying an absolute donkey in Jocarez, his backup is even worse. I don't know how it's physically possible that Jesus is worse than Jocarez because Jocarez is terrible, but somehow he's worse because whenever he comes on, it's like we're playing with 10 men.
00:41:45
Emeka
I don't understand it. The team got nervy. He can't hold the ball up. He can't run. And we're just whatever. And I have, yeah I need you to check me on this, Chino, because i trust your opinion and you're smarter man than me.
00:42:00
Emeka
Zubimendi is, I think, the best signing we not think he is the best signing we've made. Like, Noah, someone signed him. He's the best signing we've made. There's a thing I've been noticing now and it's sticking with me and I need you to tell me if I'm crazy or not.
00:42:13
Emeka
For all his talents and profile, What I was understanding, what we would we're going to get with him is a regista, a deep line controller, tempo setter.
00:42:25
Emeka
And I don't know if it's just the prim infecting his brain or maybe i just, I'm not going lie and say i was watching associate dad games, but you know, I was hyping up the goals he's scoring. He goes, he gets forward it all the time. He scores goals.
00:42:37
Emeka
which is I never thought that happening. On the flip side, he hides from the ball. When these big moments in these big games, when I want my best players to get on the ball all the time and control things, I look to him and he's he's not there.
00:42:51
Emeka
And we play these basketball games and we can't control it. And I'm thinking again, in my mind, I'm not going lie, thought we were buying parallel region. I thought buying a long-term regen. thought I'm buying a guy with the, with the pausa to control the game. I just don't see it from him.
00:43:06
Emeka
And he's one our better players. I want to blame it on him. But when we play him and rice, that's we know. That's not rice's game. So I thought we bought Zuby to cover that. Now he's going, becoming more box to box, crashing forward. And I just see so many times we just lose control of games.
00:43:22
Emeka
We never strangle teams and kill them. We just lose control. And, I mean, maybe I just inscribed the profile to him that he doesn't have, but we spent $50 million on him. And so now, you know, all these signings, we spent all this money.
00:43:38
Emeka
And, look, he's been fantastic. i don't want to make a smirk it, but I've just been noticing it happen now in these big games. And also, thanks to him, he's been overplayed because I tell you how much we big up our squad depth.
00:43:50
Emeka
He has five or six guys he refuses to rotate. It is what it is. Zuby is one of them. He has played every time he's healthy. He's played. Meanwhile, we have Norgon on the bench collecting dust is what it is. And I'm worried we're going to overplay him and he's going to get either hurt or lose his effectiveness. Anyhow, I've ranted for long enough. Chin off. The floor is yours.
00:44:09
Emeka
Arsenal. What's wrong.
00:44:14
Chino Onwuka
just I'm just going to chuckle because honestly, i'm I'm willing to let y'all cook on this because I have been speaking on some of the underlying issues I've been noticing since since January, maybe be mid-December. And, you know, a part of me doesn't want to be petty, but I got...
00:44:32
Chino Onwuka
I got scoffed at really when I was bringing those things up because what I was hearing back is, oh, well, we still won the game or, well, Man City suck we scored three goals. And I'm saying like, that's fine, but this is not the form.
00:44:46
Chino Onwuka
This is not the performance of a team that will win the title. So if we keep just banking on, oh, we got the points or if we keep just looking at other teams, it won't matter if we are not playing well because that will eventually catch up to you.
00:45:02
Chino Onwuka
and four And I did not want to be right, but unfortunately, we've seen that bear out over the last couple of games. I think what in the last seven Prem games, we've only won two. That is that is not title-winning form.
00:45:18
Chino Onwuka
That is not title winning form. You know, people talk about, oh, Man City aren't what they used to be. Well, we have not been, apart from a really hot November with Marino up front, surprisingly, you know, it's not been too pretty.
00:45:33
Chino Onwuka
So i think you guys mentioned a lot of things and, you know, I don't even know where to start, but, you know, one thing is the recruit recruitment. i i spoke candidly about my thoughts about the recruitment and, you know, it's not even that i I'm smart. is I read from people who are a lot smarter than me and I've sort of learned some things from them and how they see the game and, you know, learn through that. And i spoke about Yoca Rez.
00:46:03
Chino Onwuka
And the thing, what I said is, look, I will swallow it as long as he helps us get get us over the line. Because if it doesn't hit, and I said that, it will be a disaster. It will be a millstone on our neck.
00:46:21
Chino Onwuka
Even as a as much as I love the guy, he said, hey... Let's be real. He's a 27-year-old. So this is not the type of... As much as I love him, this is not the profile that would have been my first choice because he has to hit. you're spending that money on a 27-year-old player, he has to hit.
00:46:41
Chino Onwuka
I still think he'll come good, but he has not so far. So it starts there. The recruitment has not panned out. Now...
00:46:53
Chino Onwuka
The way we are playing, you know, just just quickly because I don't want to spend too much time. This is similar to what I talked about in the NFL. You know, you you make a tactical innovation, teams catch up.
00:47:07
Chino Onwuka
So we saw it after our first season where we, you know, with Jesus and, and Zinchenko, and it was brilliant attacking football teams cut up.
00:47:21
Chino Onwuka
We struggled for a bit. And then what was the catalyst putting Havertz up front. And then we went into another gear and last year it was the injury. So we didn't really see anything, no, no tactical innovations, or we didn't really get the chance to see if we had solved that this year.
00:47:41
Chino Onwuka
It's clear that, you know, whatever it is that we did that brief November period with Mourinho up front, teams have sort of, at least in the prem have sussed out and we do not have an answer for it. Or the answer that we've come up with is not effective.
00:47:56
Chino Onwuka
There are two issues I have, three issues I have with how we play. One, the profiles in attack and maybe even fullback. I have mentioned several times I constantly see starting lineups of Yokarez, Maduweke, and Martinelli, or Jesus, Saka, and Trossard.
00:48:19
Chino Onwuka
And I think those, that combination, those combinations are unbalanced because you have either three runners, so no creativity, no puzzle, no one that can control the game, or you have all controllers and no one who can push the the defense back. So to me,
00:48:39
Chino Onwuka
Fine if you have Yokores. It is what it is. We're short on Talonat Stryker. Should be a combination of Saka and Martinelli or Saka and Madueke or Trossard and Madueke. You get the combinations I'm talking about. And even now fullback, you know, I think it's too much when we have Timber and Hencapie.
00:49:04
Chino Onwuka
What worked really well early in the season is when we had Timber and someone who could actually do something in the final third from that position in Timber and Calafiore.
00:49:16
Chino Onwuka
Timber and Hencafie is too much. So if it's in Hencafie, play Ben White on the other side. I think that provides more balance, different ways of attacking. So that's one issue. Two- The positions, you know, we talk about how we're not able to attack through the middle. We're not able to attack between the lines.
00:49:34
Chino Onwuka
Who are the players between the lines when Odegaard isn't there? It's Declan Rice, you know, either Hincapie or Calafiore or Timber. Okay, sure, those are the spare men who are open. And if I'm the defense, good. Have those guys taken on the half turn. They're not going to do anything, or most of the time, they're not. I'd rather it be those guys in those positions than Chausard or Saka and Odegaard. So...
00:50:01
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, we have a lot of possession. Yeah, we're threatening in their box. But, you know, Rice, he's a box crasher. But if you pass it to him on the half turn, you know, for a lot of his qualities, you know, that's not the strongest part of his game. And so we don't have a balance of those guys in those positions either. So that is something that needs to be tweaked.
00:50:20
Chino Onwuka
And then last but not least, this thing that we seem to do where we so even though it's not pretty, we managed to score first. And for some reason, whether it's fear or, you know, nervousness or just,
00:50:40
Chino Onwuka
I'm lost for the right words, but we just start to sit back and retreat. And yeah, that is a strong part of our game, but I don't think we're doing it for the right reasons. And we have been heavily punished for that. You know i saw a stat where the 19 goals we've conceded in the Prem have come off like 2.99 XG, which is crazy.
00:51:02
Chino Onwuka
But we've allowed ourselves to be in that position by... Playing in a way, there's some like, look, if you're Anfield away, Etihad away, Bernabau away, yeah, okay, that makes sense. But not Wolves away when you're 2-0 up. So I don't know what is going on.
00:51:19
Chino Onwuka
You know, so many things have happened. Like Chukwu said, it's really hard to to pinpoint what it is. Is it the fact that, you know, we haven't had our best controller, Odegaard, available for a lot of the games? It'd be really interesting to see, you know, those games where we sort of push back, you know, how many of those have been games in which Odegaard's been there at the end of the game, you know? So those are the three issues. To your point about Zubimendi, I sent you guys those Billy Carp articles, those long reads, because he's one of those guys where he does an amazing job of actually grinding through the tape and...
00:51:53
Chino Onwuka
you know, profiling these guys. I remember when we first started talking about Zubomendi, I wasn't that enthused about him because he wasn't a sexy player. And then i read I read his article, which broke down a lot of the things about Zubomendi that I wasn't really aware of because it's really, really easy to typecast people. Oh, he's a Spanish six, so you think of Busquets, that type of player. But it touched on how one of his his talents is...
00:52:21
Chino Onwuka
you know, when you pass him the ball, he doesn't lose it. And the statistics bear that out. There's this stat I've seen going online on sort of loose touch Raider ball recovery and Zubomandi is the best in the league. They talk about his aerial parent prowess.
00:52:37
Chino Onwuka
Zubomandi wins like pretty much every aerial ball. It's it's crazy. And how he's he's not a Busquets, but he's a player that just keeps things ticking along and is and is just solid in that area. So...
00:52:50
Chino Onwuka
it can be one of those things where when we misprofile a player in our head, we expect things and, and, and he's not that, you know, you know, I'm sure in this moment, probably,
00:53:03
Chino Onwuka
you know, defensively, I think he's, he's been good, but some of the, the ways, you know, number five was able to wriggle out of tight spot, tight spaces, tight spots, and then pass it between the lines, you know, we don't have that.
00:53:17
Chino Onwuka
So, And I think he's been overplayed. Norgard can definitely play more minutes. So think there's a lot to do with the players and they're not performing well. You know, sometimes during this period, you need your superstars to bail us out.
00:53:30
Chino Onwuka
We have not had any superstars this season offensively. So there's that. I think the coaching staff needs to figure something out. They've, hey, look, they've coached a team that is still first in the league.
00:53:44
Chino Onwuka
still competing on four fronts. But, you know, like Chukwu mentioned, this is probably the most talented team that we have. And I don't think we've maximized that or that we've maximized the opportunities. Now we're in a position where, look, people talked about what happened 22, 23, you know, butlers. I never believed that. And even now, I still won't use that term because we're not even in March yet. So can you bottle something when you're not at the tail end of the season? But...
00:54:14
Chino Onwuka
You know, NES Persians, people want to cast to Arsenal, the team, and I want to make this clear. Y'all haters want to talk. We're not on the field playing, so what sort of grinds my gears is when you sort of try to attribute some sort of quality or characteristic to me or Arsenal fans when we're not the ones playing. I think that's really rude and I won't stand for that. But if they want to say anything about the team or the players right now, I think they can because it's really been been really disappointing, the trend that we've seen.
00:54:49
Chino Onwuka
Now there's still time to... to to get back on the horse. And that starts with a big game, the North London Derby this weekend. But it's looking peak. If you look at some of our fixtures compared to City's, you know, City seems to have an an easier fixture list. So look, I've backed the boys. I trust them. I think if there's any team that can do it,
00:55:13
Chino Onwuka
In my head, my confidence is in them, but they haven't proved it out. And it's unfortunate that this season has become, like Emeka talked about this wonderful story and journey. The way this season is to me, a Premier League title won't be the culmination of a beautiful story anymore.
00:55:30
Chino Onwuka
A Premier League title is a last resort for us to still believe in this team or for, it's a last resort for the players and I'll say for the manager because Regardless of if we win some Cubs, and I think we'll be happy, if we don't win the league, then we will all feel a certain type of way at the end of the season.
00:55:49
Chino Onwuka
And even if we do, depending on how we do, might be a thing of like, oh, thank God. Like, thank God we did it, rather than, oh, I'm so happy.
00:55:57
Emeka
Listen, by any means, this mine. I haven't seen us win a title in 20 plus years. Like, I get what you're saying, but I still celebrate it if we win. If we win. I just want to go on quick tangent rant on idiots on the internet. Because words have meaning. And i hate this uselessness of you latch onto a slander word and you use it inappropriately.
00:56:22
Emeka
We have bottled one Premier League in the last decade. 2022-2023. We had a seven-point lead in February. We ended up being behind by six.
00:56:33
Emeka
you know you you You know, fairness, bottling in February, whatever, I don't care. That is the only time you can use that phrase. Because the next year, we were chasing City and Liverpool. Let's not forget Liverpool, or Dr. Top of the League in January. We were chasing them the entire back half of the season.
00:56:52
Emeka
How can you bottle something you never had? And then last year, we were never even first. Liverpool were first the entire year. So I don't get this whole bottling thing. We bought, quote unquote, bottled one league. One. 22-23.
00:57:06
Emeka
Every other year, we weren't even first. So i this year, fair. You could argue that if we do lose it, it'd be considered a concert of bottling. But I just, words have meaning. I don't know. For some reason, that really bothers me. People are like, oh, they bottled for three years in a row. What are you talking about?
00:57:23
Emeka
We won over first last year at all. so
00:57:25
Chino Onwuka
and And people don't know their history because even 22-23 season, we were never expected to win it. You know, what everyone kept saying was, oh, you know, City, I can see City coming back. So if you expect City to come back and win it, then how did Arsenal bottle it if what people expected to happen happened?
00:57:45
Chino Onwuka
And people will never remember again, and that's what happens when you win.
00:57:52
Chino Onwuka
think United with how many games had a 15 point lead and Arsenal ended up winning the title. That year that City won the title with Aguero, United had a huge lead and fumbled the last couple of games, but nobody talks about that.
00:58:04
Emeka
you
00:58:08
Chino Onwuka
If you really look at the bleeds they had and at the time of it, those were, in my opinion, if by whatever term people want to use the for the B word, those were bigger bottle jobs than being ahead in February and the better team coming back to win it.
00:58:24
Emeka
yeah The Aguero season, I will always contend, is the most underrated and biggest bottle you have seen. They were up by five with two, three weeks left. Like, insane to choke that lead. But, man, you media, man. People don't cover it. So, anyway, we're going off to – it's a wrap to have because I just – words have meaning. Like, there's plenty to insult Arsenal fans from. Don't just make up stuff.
00:58:47
Emeka
But – Well, we're getting ahead of ourselves. I will say we are getting ahead of ourselves because at least as of recording this, even after the Wolves result, the bright minds of Vegas still have Arsenal as the favorites to win the Premier League.
00:59:01
Emeka
By substantial amount too. Minus 167, aka odds-on favorite, to win the Premier League. And I go to you, Chukwu, as Chin and I have been talking for a while. Do you think that's fair? Are Arsenal still the favorites or is the same old story and Man City going to come storming back to win the league?
00:59:18
Chuku
I really want to say it's fair, but I'm sorry. After what I've seen against Wolves, I'm sorry, man. I'm so i'm really starting to lose hope, boys. i mean maybe yeah keep Because, bro bro, I don't know. Like, every... Bro, like, all I can just replay just how does that goal go in, man?
00:59:43
Chuku
Like, do you know what kind of... I want to say when i say the goal right I'm talking about, obviously, the tying goal for Wolves. Like, and just it just feels like this year, we just get so unlucky with some of these, like... like i'm just just Just think about it. Like, the Wolves' goal...
01:00:02
Chuku
Aston Villa one, where the ball just somehow and but bounces everywhere, and then somehow Buendia is the one that gets the ball, and gets it gets know it it just goes in.
01:00:13
Chuku
The Sunderland one. bra bro like feel like some of these goals just piss me off, man. And I mean, look, I don't know if y'all play. I try to equate it to, you man, you guys don't play FIFA enough, like ultimate team. But like if you ever play Ultimate Team, FIFA, man, like there's this thing called Weekend League, bro. It's like one of those things where like guys sweat to play this like once a week, every weekend.
01:00:35
Chuku
You know, there's this like, I guess, like 15 game tournament. And like, for some reason, like everyone, when I, play I get the most frustrated when I play because it's like everything, you know, you set up your team to, you know, to to play this Weekend League tournament, whatever. And like,
01:00:50
Chuku
For whatever reason, you just get some of the most craziest bounces that just go your opponent's way. And it's like, you've been playing this game all week. You feel confident. you you you know you You've been know playing you know your other mini competitions, the ultimate team. And like you're feeling good good about your team.
01:01:08
Chuku
You enter this weekend league, and all of a sudden, the pressure starts. The pressure comes. And you start conceding some things you just don't understand. That's how I've just kind of been feeling... like this this year, this season, with some of the goals we've conceded, man. Like, I just don't know. i don't i Sometimes I almost feel like there's a curse. There's a curse on us, bro. Because there's no way this story repeats itself year in, year out. As far what I mean by repeat itself, want be clear.
01:01:33
Chuku
I'm just talking about we have this good start. And then for whatever reason, i imagine not when just this recent... I'm talking about Arsenal over the over the years, the the decades.
01:01:44
Chuku
Like, its just the story of always... playing well, doing well but just up to up until Christmas break, and then somehow falling off a little bit in the you know during that beginning part of the second half.
01:01:56
Chuku
And then next thing you know when things already kind of you know got out of the way, we start turning it up again towards the very, very end of the season. And it's like, I don't know, man. Like, i guess to answer your question, bro, I'm sorry, but At this point, I will put Man City as favorites with with the momentum there they have at the moment.
01:02:18
Chuku
The incoming, signings, the performances I've been seeing from they're their their January signings in Semenyo and Gehi. I really think those two are huge, very huge underrated signings that I don't think... I mean, they've been spoken about, but in my opinion, have not been spoken about enough because I'm seeing Mark Gehi having...
01:02:40
Chuku
like Match winning performances as far as like what he's been able to add to that defense. He's been one of the better center backs all year. Man City just get up, just pluck him and insert him right into their starting lineup.
01:02:53
Chuku
No problem. Semenya has been one of the most informed forwards all season. Somebody I was, I really wanted us to get somehow. Masi, you know, we signed Eze, they signed Semenyo, and look at what Semenyo has been doing for them.
01:03:10
Chuku
It's almost like night and day. Like, I just, I don't know, man. I see all that to say. i see the way things are going, and I'm not liking this one bit at all. I want to be proven so wrong, but I feel like the only way we can win the league is...
01:03:29
Chuku
Havers has to be healthy the entire year. And just healthy. I mean, healthy, fit, and like ready to play week in, week out. No rest. like just we like We just need we need something consistent up top. And right now, we don't have it with our two forwards in Yoko Reyes Isus.
01:03:46
Chuku
And we've looked... the best, at least in open play, when I've seen Havertz in the mix, playing with her as the striker or more recently playing as like that you know right cam or know right forward move through the position, whatever it is.
01:04:04
Chuku
We need to – like, Havers has to be here. Otherwise, if if we're going games, you know, trying out this Saka at the 10 and Havers is not getting minutes and not able to stay healthy, I just think it's going to be one seasons where, again, we we falter and we just don't see it through, man. I don't know.
01:04:20
Chuku
But as of right now, if you're asking me if I feel confident that we should still that we should still be the odds-on favorite by Vegas, I'm sorry, but I really don't believe that's the case because – Right now, we're just, our form has been And like, like I said, the only way I see this changing is having key important players.
01:04:40
Chuku
And my key important players, again, I repeat, Kai Havertz might really be our savior. That's, it's come to that, boys. It's come to that. And that's how I kind of look at it at the moment.
01:04:51
Chuku
I may be wrong. Don't get me wrong. I may be wrong, but... That's just kind of how i'm feeling at the moment, you know? So, yeah. Kai Havertz, man. We need that boy back.
01:05:04
Emeka
App just makes the heart grow fonder. I'll say, you know, it's testament to Arsenal's quality. We made Pep spook and buy Africans. But, you know, I'll take the wins when I can get them. um'm I had to look it up during the recording just to confirm. But I was shocked that we're still considered favorites because, listen, I've been optimistic all year long.
01:05:25
Emeka
I'm trying to talk myself into this not being typical Man City, but you nailed it. Those signings, man. Like, Semenyo and Gahey just addressed their two biggest concerns. Now they're getting guys back fit. Diaz is back.
01:05:38
Emeka
You know, Rodri's back. called Nico Gonzalez is back. They're looking like an oil machine. And I just keep... What I saw in that second half and against Wolves, it really looked to me, and i hate to always I hate to be the guy saying about passion and mentality, but it looked like a team that was scared. It really felt that way to me. It looked like a team that the moment was too big for, and they just collapsed to themselves. And if you're doing that in February against Wolves, what's going to happen
01:06:11
Emeka
You know, in March and April. Now, saving grace, two years ago, this team stunned me. And they, you know, that's I hate the word bottling. Because two years ago, I saw this team go 16-1-1 in the second half of the season.
01:06:24
Emeka
When every game was a must win. That takes minerals. That takes mentality. The majority of that team is still here. that The spine of that team, the coach, they're all still there.
01:06:36
Emeka
So I know they have it in them. This is a team that went to the Bernabeu and smacked up Real Madrid. They have it in them. And I can just hope and pray that we're just in a dark spell. Arteta loves these stretches where we just look useless for a month.
01:06:52
Emeka
But I'll give him credit, much as I wish they didn't last so long. When he gets over them, they tend to be good stretches. And I just hope by the time we figure it out, it's not when the league is already gone and we're winning meaningless games. Let's bring this energy out earlier and give it a good go. And i want to see that 61-1 dream again. But, yeah, again, to keep it short, I was stunned that we're were not favorites. And if I a i was a betting man, which I am,
01:07:18
Emeka
i'm not I wouldn't be a lie if I said I tossed a couple shekels on Man City on those off just because I thought that was insane. But in the future, not again, you're the man who's been seeing this happen for months and months when I was bit delusional and trying to be blind.
01:07:32
Emeka
We are still the betting favorites to win the Premier League. Do you think that's accurate or not?
01:07:38
Chino Onwuka
What we're going to have to do is do something that we, eat even throughout this four-year brilliant run, to do something that we haven't done where we have to go away to our competitors and beat them.
01:07:54
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, we beat Man City last year, but that wasn't a title decider. For me to feel confident that we can still, you know, get it over the line, it's now come to the point, you know, before I was sort of, you know, chill with the fact that, hey, we don't have to win that game. And Mecca, I think you'd mention it as well. But now we have to beat Man City at the Etihad for us to sort of get that favorite tag back, in my opinion.
01:08:22
Chino Onwuka
Because look, there there could be a chance where, you know, even with this, let's say, you know, we win the North London Derby and, you know, Man City could you drop points against Newcastle.
01:08:22
Emeka
Oh my god.
01:08:33
Chino Onwuka
That's a tough game. My opinion won't change, right? Because that's what's happened. People have been forming their opinions solely based off of results rather than looking at, you know, the actual performances and what's happening. My opinion won't change. But the only thing that would change that for me is if we go on and beat City at the Etihad.
01:08:53
Chino Onwuka
We have to.
01:08:54
Emeka
wo there's we we all fiction on We're a month away, but on that point, what if we beat City in the League Cup Final? Convincingly. Would that change your opinion?
01:09:06
Chino Onwuka
i would be happy, you know, some people here might not be because they don't rate the leak up. I'd be really happy. But. you know That's why I've told you guys haven't really cared about some of those Champions League games because my number one focus is the Prem and what you do in those other games and tournaments doesn't matter because you don't get those three points added to the Prem. So even if we beat Man City convincingly in the League Cup, brilliant. I will love it. I will celebrate it
01:09:39
Chino Onwuka
we still have to beat them in the Prem. it It doesn't do anything for winning the Prem title if we beat them in the League Cup final.
01:09:46
Emeka
Man, interesting. For me, I want us to beat them in the final. Not only for the trophy. Trophy is nice, don't get me wrong. It's just for the mentality. like I think a we we really need to mentally believe we can win the league. And maybe I'm not professional, but my logic is if we win the League Cup, players can, get they did they bleed. They're mortal.
01:10:07
Emeka
We can actually do this. Whereas I truly, truly, my heart of hearts, I'm not going to lie to you guys. I think we lose the League Cup final, we lose the league because we just lose all belief. I was about to say the exact same thing.
01:10:17
Chuku
I promise you, I was about to say the exact same thing. Exact same. If we lose that, that is a must. If we lose that League Cup final to Man City, it's over. It's over.
01:10:30
Chuku
Bro, it is so done. Because, bro, I feel like mentality is such an important thing. Right now, the mood in the locker room is one of just... despair and just like bro the i can't even imagine what like is going on in the locker room because i was you guys here see any notes article or any notes about like declin rice having a fallout with ezzy is it is it even the last game you saw that
01:10:50
Emeka
Yeah, i saw. Rice has been beefing with a lot of teammates. This isn't really getting most coverage because he's an English golden boy, but Rice gets very frustrated
Pressure on Arsenal for Trophies
01:11:00
Emeka
with his teammates. And I'm just leaving it at that.
01:11:03
Emeka
He gets very frustrated with his teammates.
01:11:04
Chuku
It's not looking good, man. It's not looking good, bro. Like, bro, like, when Declan Rice, because, again, Rice came here to win, to win trophies. different how does What does it say if we're bringing in, like, again, top talents like Declan Rice?
01:11:21
Chuku
And somehow, every year... Well, not every Let me say every year. But, you know, we bring in top talents, right, like Declan Rice, and we're not able to still get the edge or, know, get where we need to be as far as lifting or winning trophies.
01:11:34
Chuku
How long can we sustain this? At some point, players are going to fall out with, you know, with themselves or... start to lose faith, and it becomes a bigger problem. like this is Like, this season, we need to get over the... Can you... I can't... Listen, I cannot imagine if we go an entire... This entire season, and we don't live to one trophy... That would be a like catastrophic. It would be... Bro, I don't even know what to say. but I don't want to even think it I don't want to believe it. And I'm here to tell you... want to believe if we came out the season and we only got the League Cup, that's an absolute failure, in my opinion. That's just me personally. i don't know how you boys feel. i'm very curious to hear your thoughts on that as well.
01:12:17
Chuku
But... To go the entire league and, sorry, the entire season and not win a single trophy this season, this particular season we're having, it would be catastrophic for team morale. Like, I don't know where we would go from here.
01:12:30
Chuku
So, I really hope I'm wrong, boys. I really hope we get nope get all shit together. But, man, we need to we need to win something. Like, we need to start winning something, but Like, we have been too good of a team over the last...
01:12:43
Chuku
you know, couple of handful of years to not be carrying or not have lifted a single trophy apart from the FA Cup that we won and that was in Arteta's first year. I don't want this team to be recognized as a team that couldn't get it done, man. Like, at some point, we just we just have to put our big boy pants on and and, like, see it through. Like, you know, like, I don't know what else you know what else to say or what what else we need to do, but, like, bro, we just got to see it through. Like, at some point...
01:13:11
Chuku
We can't just be finishing second and not have anything anything of note to show for it, you know? Like, yeah, don't know. I just think yeah this is this is this is a big year for Arteta, man. i And mind you, I say all this to say, even if we don't win the league, I don't know. Again, I'm also curious about you guys' his opinion on this.
01:13:28
Chuku
But I still would not be Arteta out. I still would not be Arteta out. But, man, we're getting closer, man. We're getting... I'm getting... This is the... how Let's just say, if we don't win the league this year, or if we don't win a trophy this season, this would be it will be the closest I've ever been to being out.
01:13:49
Chuku
But i'm no stood I'm not there. I'm not there yet. But, man, like, we need to start winning something, man. We we need to win something. And that League Cup is going to be a huge, huge final because, again, like you said in Mecca, it's just about getting that, you know, that mindset, like, back on track because the boys need to start to believe again. Like, you know, i was like, if we're not believing, then what's the point of even playing these games, you know? Because, again, like, these are – we put ourselves in a position where we're competing in all fronts.
01:14:21
Chuku
All four competitions. There's no way we can't see it through. We got to at least see it through with one. In my opinion, we should be at least seeing it with through with two. But even just the one at this point, I'll take it.
01:14:33
Chuku
So I think it all starts, all begins with the League Cup.
01:14:34
Emeka
Hey, I'll take one. I mean, my stance on it is I'd rather win the League Cup than win nothing. Like, yeah, it's the Mickey Mouse trophy, but it's still a trophy. And it's unconscionable that we get this far. We don't win anything. Like, that's just not feasible.
01:14:52
Emeka
Win something. Even the League Cup I'll take. Win something. Now, obviously, the Prem is what we want. We've been dreaming about 20-plus years since we've last done it. And what I am dreading is if we don't win it, they circulate a nonsense graphic where it's like days on top of the league and it's Arsenal 250 and Man City of like five. Like, can't see that. I have been...
01:15:15
Emeka
i can't i can't i can't see that i have been as delusionally optimistic, I would say, just be out of necessity, because I just can't bear to finish a second four years in a row. But even if we crash and burn and finish a second,
01:15:30
Emeka
I can't be Arteta out. I just, I can't.
North London Derby Importance
01:15:33
Emeka
I don't know. I realized that my brain is, I've been blessed that my football, I'm a Patriots fan and obviously an Arsenal fan. What do those two things have in common? They both, for formative years, had coaches and managers who were there for 20, 30 years.
01:15:48
Emeka
I'm just used to giving guys time. It's just what I'm just predisposed to. So unless Arteta, the wheels fall off, I mean fall off. Like we finished second this year and then we finished like,
01:15:59
Emeka
12th or something next year. like i That's what it would take for me to be art ta out of doubt. But I do agree with the sentiment that is real. If we don't win this league... questions will be asked. And even if we do, honest honestly, that you know, even if we do win this league, I think questions should be asked of a lot of big names in this team.
01:16:17
Emeka
I don't want to say, start talking about it now because my brain is on fire and and it's clouded. But yeah, I'll just, it's peak to say, to say the least. Any, any, any thoughts on the trophies, you know, like would you,
01:16:32
Emeka
yeah I guess I'll ill i leave it open-ended. Any thoughts on the on the trophies we could win this season and what the minimum expectations are?
01:16:40
Chino Onwuka
Again, I've expressed my opinion. i want us to first win in the final. Let's win the League le Cup. Then we play, you know, Tottenham the North London Derby. Let's win that game.
01:16:54
Chino Onwuka
We play City at Etihad. Let's win that game. it's It's one game at a time now. will I don't think we're in the stage where we can... we can really start to put if and or does it. It's one game at a time.
01:17:07
Chino Onwuka
Every game is a final. So let's let's win those. Let's win the League Cup. let's Let's win on Sunday. Let's win the Prem games. Then when it's time for the League Cup, let's focus on that. That's my view. And you guys know me. I'm i'm i staunchly support, you know, Mikel and the job he's done. But if we don't win the league, you know, and Mikel, like you said, questions will be asked. And then the thought is, will the players still be with Arteta? I think that's the most important point. And that's what they're going to have to gauge is.
01:17:38
Chino Onwuka
Will his message still get across if they don't win the league, if they don't finish the job? Because if they don't as good as he is, then that's when you have to start looking at other options because it won't matter if if the players start to tune him out.
01:17:55
Emeka
I hope we don't live in the world that we have to have an episode discussing that. I'll just leave it at that. You mentioned you know every week is a cup final, and that's the mentality we have to progress in.
01:18:07
Emeka
The first one of those, coincidentally at our lowest moment, we go away in North London Derby to good old Tottenham Hotspur. Languaging in 16th. I forgot about y'all.
01:18:19
Emeka
A mere five points ahead of eighteen place West Ham United. Fire Thomas Frank. Your arrest, you know, your watch has ended. Secret agent, top gunner Thomas Frank.
01:18:31
Emeka
I have so many a few Spurs fans in his life. The pain he caused them. My goodness. I've never been more wrong about a manager managerial hiring than I was with Frank. Alas, we go up against them with the new manager bounce away.
01:18:46
Emeka
both teams I think it's fair to say both teams need to win this game. And usually when that's the case, it's a boring draw. But this is one of the few North London Derbies where I actually think if there was a draw, both teams would be just like would be disappointed.
01:19:00
Emeka
They need to win. We are in terrible form in the league. They need to win. They need points. They're fighting for their lives right now. I guess i'll I'll kick it off.
01:19:11
Emeka
I've been optimistic all season long, and I'm not going to stop now. Give me 2-1 Arsenal win. Saka and Matawake, or Saka and Trossard, we just scammed something. As bad as Arsenal have been, my goodness, Tottenham have been worse, especially at home.
01:19:28
Emeka
Chinna, what's your prediction?
01:19:30
Chino Onwuka
2-2 draw.
01:19:32
Emeka
Chico?
01:19:35
Chuku
Holy, did just hear 2-2 draw? God. yeah You know, if if that happens, we're done. We're done. No, no. We're done. Like, if Arsenal right now at this stage, because understand, 2-2 draw means Man City win both their games. We're were were second. We're behind we beyond my City.
01:19:56
Chuku
If that happens, we're we're we're done. We're done. But I said that to say I just can't see us. i can't see us dropping points, man. I'm sorry. Give me 2-0. yeah this is I understand this is going with my heart and not my head.
01:20:11
Chuku
But, you know, at this point, excuse my language, but it, man. I need to see us win. So 2-0. Let's go. let's go
01:20:20
Emeka
I hope we're – again, this is the rare time. I actually think that every they need to win. Usually I'm happy with a draw away. They need to win. And same can be set for Spurs.
01:20:30
Emeka
And hopefully that leads to a great game. I am worried that it's going to be a boring draw.
01:20:34
Chino Onwuka
Just so you guys know, I picked the draw to break the curse because we all know what happens when we all pick the same result.
01:20:35
Emeka
Well, not
01:20:41
Chino Onwuka
So hopefully the reverse drinks works.
01:20:41
Emeka
for the Super Bowl. Not for the Super Bowl, sadly.
01:20:45
Chino Onwuka
I'm talking about with Arsenal.
01:20:45
Emeka
Yeah.
01:20:46
Chino Onwuka
I'm talking about with Arsenal.
01:20:47
Emeka
i know whatever I hope you're right though because we need to win this i God we need to win this
01:20:54
Chuku
Like, we cannot not win this, bro.
01:20:56
Chuku
Oh, bro. We need to win it.
NBA All-Star Weekend Relevance
01:20:59
Chuku
i was buy as we better need people to
01:21:00
Emeka
I shouldn't imagine what the vibes are going to be like next week there might not be an episode next week I i mean agree with you listeners there might not be an episode next week if we don't win this game but it is what it is we'll get there
01:21:10
Chino Onwuka
if we don't yeah If we don't win, either we're not recording or I'm i'm not i'm not touching that subject. We can go on to talk NBA All-Star tanking discourse. That's it. That's all y'all going to get.
01:21:23
Emeka
Well, you're going to get that right now this episode. But yeah, I just said, just warning people, just warning people, like betting on the results on Sunday, check your podcast feeds. Anyhow, we we're recording this the weekend, week after the NBA had took their annual All-Star break.
01:21:41
Emeka
A lot conversations have been had in the media about All-Star Weekend and Tankett in general. I guess I just keep a show of hands and this listener of the people on this podcast. Did any of you watch the All-Star Weekend? Just a simple yes or no.
01:21:56
Emeka
Did you watch anything on All-Star Saturday? Chukwu?
01:22:01
Chuku
Hell no. I didn't see a single All-Star Weekend event. I could not care less. So yeah, no.
01:22:09
Emeka
Did you watch anything, Chukwu?
01:22:11
Chino Onwuka
I did. I did. I watched i missed the three-point contest, but I watched the, I don't know what they call their new skills competition, but I watched that. I watched the dunk contest and i I wasn't going to watch the All-Star game on Sunday, but I said, let me just put it on just to see what's going on. And it ended up being really entertaining. So I did.
01:22:34
Emeka
I did not see a single second of All-Star Saturday. And only i heard, i came up the All-Star game. i was like, I'm old. have a job, a reality of life. Only to find out that this is the first year the All-Star game was actually good in a while.
01:22:46
Chuku
Thank you.
01:22:49
Emeka
Then I tuned in for the last game, with last 10 minutes, and it was terrible. So, overall, yeah. And I guess, you know, the the popular conversation has been, can anything be done to fix All-Star weekend? And because you actually watched it, I guess I'll start you, you know.
01:23:05
Emeka
do you need Do you feel there's a need to fix the All-Star weekend? Like, do you have to be – if you're a commissioner, will this be a priority for you? Or is it just kind of like this point, it is what it is?
01:23:16
Chino Onwuka
So here's here's what I wanted to talk about with regards to this topic. You know, people have talked about how the All-Star game has dropped down. The All-Star game was way better back in the day. They're blaming it all on LeBron. And here's a couple of things I want to say.
01:23:31
Chino Onwuka
Go back and watch old All-Star games. Like, we were all there. They weren't game seven of the finals.
01:23:39
Chuku
Thank you.
01:23:39
Chino Onwuka
They were exhibitions. People were doing throw the ball off the backboard. going to catch it, do a windmill off dunk. That doesn't happen if people are playing defense. So let's be real about what it was.
01:23:50
Chino Onwuka
I think there's a lot of revisionist history as to as to what the All-Star game was because people get older and get brouchy and everything was better back in their day. Then the people blaming LeBron, here's what happened. If you go and watch those older All-Star games, when LeBron was young, when he was coming out trying to establish himself, he was going hard in those games. He was winning MVPs.
01:24:14
Chino Onwuka
And that's generally what happens. The young guys who are in the All-Star games, they're trying to make a name for themselves. They're trying to establish themselves. And they're the ones that are going hard. A 36-year-old Michael Jordan, he doesn't need to go hard in the All-Star game. He needs to save his knees.
01:24:30
Chino Onwuka
A 40-year-old LeBron, like I think people don't think about it. like LeBron has been way past the age people retire. So for the last seven years, people have been expecting him to be putting this effort into the All-Star game when he's been 33, 34, 35.
01:24:50
Chino Onwuka
That's not his job.
01:24:51
Chuku
Let's keep
01:24:51
Chino Onwuka
it's It's the job of the young guys to come and do that. So Unfortunately, what has happened is usually when the old guys are just chilling, the young guys are supposed to come in and and do their thing.
01:25:03
Chino Onwuka
But because the game has changed, what used to be guys doing alley-oop dunks to themselves and and windmills is the way the young guys have shown themselves is shooting from the logo.
01:25:16
Chino Onwuka
People are so skilled now that when you don't play defense and it becomes an exhibition, it just looks uglier than it was before. You know, what was the one where Jason Tatum scored 40 something points? Like it was the same bad defense, but the style has changed. And when the game's not close, there's no, what would happen is, okay, if it was fairly close by the fourth quarter, that's when people would try. So I think there's all those factors. Now I watched all of this game and here's what made the difference.
01:25:46
Chino Onwuka
Wemby was trying. Wemby was trying. He was saying, if you step into this lane, I will swat your shot. So that means players then had to play actual decent offense to because they didn't want to get embarrassed.
01:26:01
Chuku
Thank you.
01:26:01
Chino Onwuka
And then on the other end, you didn't want Wemby yamming on you every time. So then you actually saw guys defending screens, trying to wall up the paint for Wemby. And then now it's not just Wemby. You have Ant who says, and we all know the type of personality Ant does. this Ant was someone where, you know, like previous years, oh, the OGs aren't trying. So,
Player Efforts and All-Star Game Evolution
01:26:23
Chino Onwuka
okay, screwed. I'm not going to try it. But then he sees somebody else trying. Ant's like, huh, I'm still Ant. Like, you're not going to punk me. So then Ant starts trying.
01:26:32
Chino Onwuka
And then that changes everything because when you're when when leaders try, people follow. So, you know, the rest of the young guys on that, I don't know whether they were stars or stripes, they started trying. Cunningham was trying. He was playing defense. Jalen Duran was trying. Scotty Barnes was trying. So you actually got the young guys doing their thing.
01:26:51
Chino Onwuka
And then the way the format was where it's just 12 minutes, it it immediately puts you in the fourth quarter. So it keeps things close the whole time. And so... Then you had Kawhi trying to show up for his hometown fans.
01:27:04
Chino Onwuka
So I think those three guys, a lot of shout out to them.
01:27:06
Chuku
Thanks.
01:27:08
Chino Onwuka
The fact that they tried, and I think you have some young guys with a different mentality, you know, Cade Cunningham for sure. And, you know, the them Detroit Pistons boys, you know, they have different mentality as well. I think just some people adding some competitive juice changed the game. And it was, you weren't,
01:27:29
Chino Onwuka
You're not counting on LeBron. Like, what does LeBron care? Like, his legacy's solidified. Even Steph. You know, Steph at this age, he's just going to bomb threes. Like, he he's trying to protect his ankles.
01:27:42
Chino Onwuka
The guys who came after LeBron and Steph and KD... that's your Jokic and that's your Lucas. And those guys don't care about the all-star. So I think really, if there's, if there are people going to put out fault for how it's degraded, it's those are the two best players. And those guys don't try in the all-star game, but when B will try and if aunt sees people, someone coming at him, aunt is going to try as well. And, and Kauai showed out. So I think that made a big difference. It wasn't about, you know, USA versus the world. Although I think that plays a big factor,
01:28:17
Chino Onwuka
But if it was USA versus the world and it was Luka and Jokic leading the team, nothing would have happened because those guys don't try.
01:28:18
Chuku
Thank you.
01:28:25
Chino Onwuka
It's the fact that you had three ascending two us ascending stars, one established guy, they actually tried. And then with that format, that led to competitive games.
01:28:38
Emeka
I mean, you you literally nailed every single point. Like, no notes. I was going to reemphasize some things you said there. Like, one, and it's so true, back in the days, people not trying led to dunks because that was people that's what people did. They drove in. No one was playing de defense, so you drive in and dunk.
01:28:57
Emeka
Now, people don't play defense. I pull up from a low goal three. And the truth of the matter is threes are boring to watch. When the guys just walk in unprotected and pull up from 50 and then they take 23s, it's boring to watch. So I get why people who didn't like the All-Star game.
01:29:14
Emeka
and But again, though, this rose-tinted thing, I've watched every All-Star game from when I was 8 to when I was 29. What always happens is no one cares for the first three quarters.
01:29:24
Emeka
And if by chance the game is somewhat close in the fourth, then they'll lock in. If the game is a ball in the fourth, then they never lock in. The game is just terrible. And we only remember the years when just by random variance, it just happened to be close in the fourth quarter. And then guys tried.
01:29:41
Emeka
I think, like you said, and it was not the Team USA and the World thing, even though that was a nice little gimmick to have. But I think what really happened is they made their smart decision to have it just be only fourth quarters. We played 12 minutes.
01:29:56
Emeka
By default, youre you have to try. You can't just give away possessions. There's only so many of them left. And I hope they keep that in, and I would like to see them. If they need a fourth team, think two years ago they did it, have the rising rookie rising challenge team, one of those guys, be the fourth team.
01:30:12
Emeka
because they're young and they will try. So I think that you know there's some tweaks there. But honestly, overall picture, I don't care about the All-Star game. I'm a grown man.
01:30:23
Emeka
All-Star game is for kids. The All-Star game also was back in the 90s and 80s
Dunk Contest Impact and Memories
01:30:27
Emeka
before a League Pass. You only saw your local team. So when if you're living a young kid growing up in you know Los Angeles and you're watching the Lakers, you never got to see Michael Jordan play. So you turn into the All-Star game. Oh, damn, yeah Michael Jordan's on my TV. This is great. 2025 now. We have Twitter. We have YouTube.
01:30:47
Emeka
I can see any team in the world play whenever I want to. Why do I care about the All-Star game? And, like, finally, shout out KD for calling people out, people blaming him and LeBron and Curry.
01:30:57
Emeka
Blame Jokic and blame Luka because they have never once remotely cared about the All-Star game. I'll appreciate when we bring in the fire. I hope it continues. But I really don't care. It's the All-Star game. And i it it makes me laugh how hard Silver tries to fix it.
01:31:14
Emeka
I don't... More power to you, man. I mean, maybe grew up watching it or something. I don't know. Because to me, the All-Star game, this year doesn't make them pick teams to get the guys the accolades. And if they replaced it with a 2K tournament or even one-on-one, I wouldn't care.
01:31:30
Emeka
Like, it is what it is at this point. I'm a grown man. It's not for me. But again, like we talked about throughou the podcast, not everything is for me. people our Fans have been the one who wants to watch it. More power to them.
01:31:41
Emeka
And I got 8 million viewers. Hey, some people watched it and clearly it was working. So all this talk about nothing. I guess before we move on, Chuku, any thoughts about the All-Star Game, which I know you didn't watch?
01:31:52
Emeka
I guess I know because you didn't watch, asked this question to you. What would have to – is there anything that can change that would get you to watch the All-Star Game next year?
01:32:02
Chuku
Players taking it more serious as far as, like, actually competing in... not Not even the All-Star game itself, but I'm talking about, like, for example, like, the Slump Dunk Contest, man. Like, bro, like I didn't even recognize some of the names that were even in.
01:32:16
Chuku
Like, who was that guy that won? Is it the Miami guy that won? Or am I? i don't even know. i That this does just goes to show. i can't when like When I can barely recognize participants that are in these contests, referring to more the slam dunk competition, it's like, what are we doing, in man? i don't know. At this stage, I don't know what needs to be done.
01:32:37
Chuku
I mean, well, I mean i mentioned like players actually wanted to, like big-name players wanting to participate may help, but I don't see that no happening with a lot of these guys viewing it more as a chance to know rest their bodies and prepare for a second half and know playoffs and whatnot. So I just don't see anything changing, at least overnight, at least in the next two years here, that's going to have me tuning back in to watch what what they got going on. I'm not trying to see Drewski throw the guy's passes. I'm not interested in all that, man.
01:33:13
Chuku
I'm just not. So, for the most part, I think just going to bow out from the All-Star game. It's not for me. I don't find any interest in it. And it is what it is, man.
01:33:24
Chuku
It is what it is.
01:33:26
Emeka
I'll say the slam dunk contest is one of the things that actually, like, I physically can feel how much I've aged and become a curmudgeonly old man. Because as a kid, I'm going be honest and vulnerable on this podcast.
01:33:39
Emeka
Two of the coolest things I saw as a kid were, one, Dwight Howard put on a super ball cap Superman cape, ducking the ball. Superman is in the building from Kenny Smith. And then two years later, I think it was Blake Griffin jumping over a car.
01:33:54
Emeka
And I'm sure if those exact same things happened to my 30 year old self, I'd be like, man, that's corny as hell. But 13 year old me, was running over Superman is in the building.
01:34:01
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:34:06
Emeka
like So, hey, that's what it is, right?
01:34:09
Chuku
That gives us memories, core memories.
01:34:09
Emeka
now give us that
01:34:15
Chuku
You think it's corny, but I think compared to what we have going on these days, having big names like Dwight Howard in the competition, those are real up-and-coming guys like Aaron Gordon.
01:34:28
Chuku
Nah, man. That's what we lived for, man. That's what I lived for, at least. like Seeing guys like that coming in a season.
01:34:33
Chino Onwuka
here's Here's the thing. Here's the thing.
01:34:35
Chuku
Yeah.
01:34:36
Chino Onwuka
What the dunk contest has been has been a launching pad to stardom. Like, yeah, we knew those guys, right?
01:34:43
Chuku
Exactly.
01:34:44
Chino Onwuka
But that, that you know, Blake Griffin was a rookie. Maybe people knew about him, but Blake Griffin wins that dunk contest. And maybe the diehards know who he is, but then your neutrals now know who Blake Griffin is.
01:34:57
Chino Onwuka
You know same thing with Dwight Howard. So, again, we look at it with old man eyes, right?
01:35:00
Chuku
Aaron Gordon, I'm telling you.
01:35:03
Chino Onwuka
and So I think, and I heard this, and I think this was Zach Lowe and Bill Simmons talking about this. They should make it mandated that, you know, this is something that the top rookies and sophomores have to do.
01:35:17
Chino Onwuka
Get Cooper Flag in there. Get Vijay Edgecombe in there. Guys who, they're people that we know and then that can launch you into a next level because look at all the guys from the last recent things that it happened to.
01:35:29
Chino Onwuka
It all launched them to another level. Vince. Yeah, Vince was big, but Vince became big. Vince became who he was after he won that.
01:35:37
Chuku
Vince became Air Canada man.
01:35:37
Chino Onwuka
is
01:35:40
Chino Onwuka
Yes, Jason Richardson. Dwight Howard, Zach Levine, and Aaron Gordon. like those So I think some of these young players, like and i'm part of the reason I watched, honestly, is because I think last year I had Steph Castle and this year Carter O'Brien. a A lot of people now know who Carter O'Brien is, and He's been balling on the Spurs recently, but now, you know, when his name comes up, people say, hey, oh, I remember that guy from the dunk contest. So I think a lot more, look, I think we're past the point where the big stars are going to do it. you know, people talk about LeBron never doing it. Maybe people fold his lead, but, you know, Zion never did it.
01:36:18
Chino Onwuka
As someone as competitive as Anthony Edwards has never done it, John Murat never did it. So whereas back in the day, Kobe did it and that sort of, you know, pushed him up. So, you know, rookies, sophomores, VJ Edgecombe, Ace Bailey, Cooper Flagg, those are the type of people that the and NBA should try getting, you know, into the dunk contest.
01:36:44
Emeka
kind I could not agree more.
01:36:45
Chuku
Honestly, you know, that's an amazing shout.
01:36:45
Emeka
Honestly, you know, that's the main thing.
01:36:48
Emeka
Yeah, could not agree more. you know what? I'm going to go on my soapbox little bit here. I think it's a generational thing with the rise of social media. People think people are scared to care and try because if you try, you put yourself out there and people make fun of you.
01:37:01
Chino Onwuka
Facts. Facts.
01:37:04
Emeka
And I'm going to soapbox to say, in this ADHD attention-starved generation, the real dirty secret is, no one's going to remember we're in like a week. Jalen Bar was in a dunk contest two years ago.
01:37:16
Emeka
yeah and I cannot tell you a single dunk he did. He didn't win. Guess what? Who cares? Like right now, two years later, who remembers Jalen Bar was in a dunk contest? What is the downside? If I'm v you know what I'm saying?
01:37:26
Chino Onwuka
I didn't even remember that, so good show.
01:37:29
Emeka
got some point finals MVP.
01:37:30
Chuku
That's a really good shout, yeah, for real.
01:37:32
Emeka
He was going to contest two years ago. People don't remember because no one cares. And if I'm VJ Edgecombe's agent, I'm begging him to do the dunk contest. Do many endorsement deals we could get if you kill it?
01:37:43
Emeka
And if you suck, you're just going to be a meme on the internet that's going to be forgotten in know two weeks when something else happens. So, yeah, I'm going to get my soapbox and say, kids out there, it's cool to care.
01:37:54
Emeka
It's all right, man. You don't have to be nonchalant. Try things. You never know. and You know I am I guess it's I was like I was doing this or whatever but then reminiscing about you know Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin and Vince Carter and all that like that is a childhood memory core memory of mine I'm not gonna lie me and Chukumah watched that Dwight Howard dunk contest together and like I always have a solid spot for him but of Superman stuff Nate no kryptonite and all that stuff like we remember these things years and years later because it's fun so I want to see... i hope you're right, Chenon. They force these big names to do it.
01:38:29
Emeka
Just do the dunk contest. Who cares, man? in the worst case, bring Matt McClung back, man, and they can do it again. At least he's a good dunker. Who knows? Anyway, mean, the All-Star game, is it is what it is. It's the biggest thing the news. The second biggest topic, tanking. We'll save that for another week. We'll manage that one. Let it simmer for a while and and see what the machinations that these owners have tried to conduct for it. But... you know Thanks for rocking us with this podcast episode. And as always, now we're trying to end up with a shout out of the week.
01:38:59
Emeka
I'll kick us off. My shout out is till to the an honest man in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, sir Sir Duncan the Tall, Dunk of Flea Button. If you're not watching and I have the Seven Kingdoms,
01:39:12
Emeka
You're missing out. And last week's episode was or cinema. I know the Westeros ESPN Twitter was a blaze after that Trial of the Seven. I know there were some takes being being thrown out there. Is Alien a fraud?
01:39:25
Emeka
Is Maker the real MVP? Who knows? But absolute cinema. Shout out my man, Sir Dunk the Tall.
Episode Conclusion and Shoutouts
01:39:31
Emeka
You know, watch A Nine of the Seven Kingdoms. It's hard recommendation. Chico, you got a shout out for us this week?
01:39:39
Chuku
Honestly, man, I'm not going to lie. I ain't got no shout out of the week this time around, man. I'm going to pass it on to my boy, Chinna, man. This Arsenal week has just depressed me so much. i am I haven't had time to think about that stuff, bro. I'll yeah i'll be frank. so Chinna, I pass it on to you, man.
01:39:57
Emeka
All right, you know, take us home. have a shout of the week.
01:40:00
Chino Onwuka
Two things. One, you know, just to to touch on what you said, just shout out HBO. I mean, they're on a generational run right now. If you're not on, if you don't have an HBO subscription, you know, find a way to torrent it because at least for me anyway, HBO, they're they're my number one. Right now we've got a slate of of the pit industry and the night of the Seven Kingdoms, three episodes every week. I love it.
01:40:28
Chino Onwuka
But I just really wanted to, you know, hear the love of the game. We talk about sports, but we also talk about pressing issues. I just really want to call out, you know, something that happened this week. With the, and I guess I'll for now put it as an alleged racist abuse that Vinicius received. And it's not the first time he's happened. And I just think at all levels of the game, something more needs to be done.
01:40:53
Chino Onwuka
It's 2026 and these things are still happening. Players should not have to be subject to this. They need to enhance the protocols. They need to do what they need to do so that people who do this are caught and convicted and punished accordingly, whether that be the player, whether that be the club, whether that be the fans. like This has to be stamped out.
01:41:19
Chino Onwuka
No player should ever have to hate Vinicius, love him. no No human being should ever have to go through something like that. That's all I got to say.
01:41:31
Emeka
Well said. and In the words of Mbappe, dance on, Vinny Jr. Dance on. Thank you for joining us this week on the Love of the Game podcast. Again, we'll see for recording next week.
01:41:43
Emeka
Come on, you Gunners. Thanks for joining us, and have a good week, man.