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Daily Arsenal - Heartbreaking loss away to Villa!
15 Plays3 days ago
In this episode we will be having a therapy session after our heartbreaking loss to Aston Villa losing 2-1. Now if you want to get involved with any of our topics discussed please do get involved through our social media, which can be found in our show notes in the description.
Host: Jamie Patterson
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Transcript
Introduction to the Daily Arsenal Podcast
00:00:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Your daily soccer podcast with the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:00:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome to the Daily Arsenal Podcast where this is your one-stop shop as we bring you all the latest Arsenal news and views brought to you on the GSPN Podcast Network.
00:00:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm your host Jamie Patterson and It will just be me tonight, as I can only imagine.
Mood After Game Loss
00:00:39
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um You know, I'm not really surprised that it's only me tonight, to be fair.
00:00:46
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You know, i think the lads are are very disheartened. I mean, we haven't really spoken much about the um the game in general.
00:00:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I, fair to say, um have maybe somewhat recovered. Um, but yeah, this is, um, this is an episode I really didn't want to record to be fair, because i wanted it to be on a much lighter and a much more happier note.
00:01:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But guys, as always, we've got, ah we've got, the show's got carry on. The show's just got to carry on. So sit back and listen to me really get my feelings out there because in this episode, um this is going to be my therapy kind of session after our heartbreaking loss to Aston Villa losing 2-1. Jeez almighty. I still can't get over it. Now, as always, guys, if you want to get involved with any of the topics discussed on the show, ah please do get involved through our social media, which can be found through our show notes in the description
00:02:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't really need to kind of go on about the scoreline. You guys know what the
Fan Reactions and Social Media Engagement
00:02:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
scoreline was. If you know, I'm sure the majority of you listening and watching saw what had happened as we lost 2-1 to Villa.
00:02:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And um yeah, not, you know, as I've said to the boys before and I have, you know, I've said this on previous podcasts, but The 12.30 kickoff, you know, a lunchtime Saturday lunchtime kickoff can really define your mood.
00:02:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
It can be one of them where it is either going to be, you win the game, happy days. You're on for a good weekend. You're on for a great weekend. Draw, you know, fair enough. You you might think, you know what, a draw, i can I can compete with that. You know, it's not as bad.
00:02:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
i can still have a good weekend. But anything a lot anything worse, a loss, oh, yeah, that's it. That is well and truly it.
00:03:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you lose that 12.30 kickoff on a Saturday, that's it. You will not hear the end of it. And it's fair to say I did not hear the end of it. I had Tottenham fans coming for me. I had Chelsea fans coming for me. I had every fan you can think of coming for me.
00:03:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you know what I ended up doing? ended up putting my phone on D&D. put my phone on D&D and that was it. It was very quiet for the rest of the afternoon. um The boys, I mean, i can even read you some of the messages on the group chat, to be fair.
00:03:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, for example, um Rodney, I think Rodney must have put something up. um You know, the boys were quite, yeah, the boys were active when we were one, when it was one, one.
00:03:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then um Rodney was like, nah, I'm out. And then JD was like, I hate the 12.30 kickoffs. This is going to be a long weekend. Rodney was like, Villa, again? Seriously?
00:04:09
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And then JD was just like, nah, I'm annoyed. And then when we saw the Man City score, it was like, yeah, this weekend can just go from bad worse, can't it? um But...
00:04:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's um it is it was frustrating. It was a really frustrating game.
First Half Performance Analysis
00:04:27
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Bearing in mind, let's talk about that first half. Because in that first half, you've got to give credit.
00:04:35
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you got give credit ah You've got credit. sorry you know i thought they you know they had a couple chances here and there. um you know i looked like and even the starting eleven when i saw the starting eleven i thought oh you know what this should be a pretty good starting XI. You know, ben White, I thought, you know what? He had a good performance midweek. I was really pleased. I was really privileged to watch him midweek against Brentford. And I thought, you know what?
00:05:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fair enough. If it was me... I understand why he's being played as a right-back. I would have played him as a centre-back. I'd have maybe played Timber out in the right-back role. It's his stronger position, but I can kind of understand it. You know, after the fact that he's sat there and said, you know, you know, after the fact that he's had a great performance against Brentford, you kind of, again, why, you know, why ruin something if it's not already broken? So, you know...
00:05:34
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I can understand that in that sense. um But again, first half for Arsenal. I have to admit, there is one player I do want to talk about.
00:05:46
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And um I really wanted to speak speak highly of him was Odegaard. Because lot of people giving him a bit of a, you know, a bit of stick um online. And I just thought...
00:05:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I kind of just sat there and thought, why are we giving him stick? I thought that was actually, he had a pretty decent game. And you know what? There were times where I was seeing the best of Odegaard, you know, again against Brentford, a little bit reserved. And I'm like, why is he not shooting? But this time, you know, pulled off some really good shots. um The shot that really stood out to me was the was the one that would have gone top corner if it wasn't for Amy Martinez.
00:06:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And again, you know, great reaction save, great shot to try and put bend it into the corner with something else. So the question have for you guys is, do do you think maybe we are starting to see the best out of Odegaard? I'd love to know what your thoughts are, because I think for me, we are slowly seeing the best.
00:06:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are slowly seeing it. And I mean slowly. I don't want to get too ahead of myself because, you know, again, Coming up, we've got, um you know, we've got Club Rouge in the week, you know, Wolves over the weekend. um So it'll be interesting to see how it pans out for me. um But I thought Odegaard had a pretty good game, in my opinion. You know, solid overall, wasn't afraid to take a couple of shots, you know, got the ball working in that midfield.
00:07:16
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And I think it worked well for me. Yeah. One other player that I do want to talk about, Eze. You know, and I will stress this again. We had Trossard on the bench.
00:07:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
We had Martinelli on the bench. Two recognised left wingers. Why didn't one of them start? And I love Eze. Let's not get nothing wrong here. I love Eze to bits.
00:07:43
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But I think he is so much better off as that number 10 role. and um And I will continue saying this. And I know Odegaard's only just been back from injury recently.
00:07:55
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But I'd still start Eze. I would still start Eze over Odegaard for me. And I know that's going to be very controversial. And I get it. Odegaard's our club captain. But I feel like Eze creates more for me rather than Odegaard. And I get it. Maybe there is a little bit of of apprehension in the sense that maybe...
00:08:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is someone that is you know he's apprehensive in the sense that you know he's been injured a few times and maybe he just wants to be careful. Whereas Eze has a little bit of freedom to be to really express himself.
00:08:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
he hasn't had any he may i mean He hasn't had a major injury for Arsenal, but he's had the injuries here and there for Palace. um But he's still bounced back and really played well.
00:08:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
But for me, Eze on the left, I just don't think it works. I think you might be... This game, for me, I think this game was crying for an a Martinelli or a Trossard. And it was evident. It was really... And do you know what? Really evident in the equalising goal, which I'll talk about a little bit more a little later.
00:09:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we speak of Eze. And again, in the build-up to that Villa goal... with With Matty Cash running past Eze. No, I get it. A lot of you listening and a lot of you watching on YouTube are going to sit here and think, well, Eze's at fault for it.
00:09:26
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But I am going to put someone forward that I would like you to take into consideration. And that is Riccardo Calafiore. Because if you see his positioning for when Villa take the lead...
00:09:41
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Why is he taking up a centre-back's role? Surely, Hinkapie or um all Timber should be covering the box.
00:09:52
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You, as a left-back, should be covering the left side of that of of the field regardless. And for me...
Tactical Errors and Villa's Control
00:10:01
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A lot of people will sit there and i not I know I've been seeing some hate, not some hate, but I've been seeing criticism about Eze's defending. But you've got to remember, Eze is a left winger.
00:10:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I get it. Arteta likes his players to come back. And maybe Eze could have done a little bit better. But I still think Calafiore... For me, should have done a lot better tracking back or at least sticking to that left side because, excuse me, if that was Calafiore staying on the left side, I don't think that goal would have gone in.
00:10:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I really don't see that goal would have gone in. But look, you know, Villa go 1-0 up. And, you know, when we look back at previous games, you know, and especially going to a place like Villa Park, it's never easy to get a result.
00:10:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And for me, I thought, right, well, this is going to be now, this is going to be a mind shift. This is going to be a mentality game of who's got that mentality to now kind of pull us back to get that equalising goal.
00:11:06
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And again, you know, as the game went on, Villa grew a little bit more into that game. And I thought, well, could we maybe, could we maybe,
00:11:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
try and worm our way back into this game. My hope was that we'd get back into this game by halftime. The rest is history. And, you know, we can go into halftime, 1-0, the rest, you know, and hopefully go and claw it back in the second half.
00:11:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Villa just seemed to get stronger and stronger. And there were worrying times ahead. There were really worrying signs. um You know, Watkins had a good chance. I mean,
00:11:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Oh, I'm trying to think. There was a chance. And I think there was a brilliant save from Raya tipping it onto the bar, I think. I can't remember. I could be talking about another game. I could be wrong. But Villa were really good. And just the constant pressure. I think...
00:12:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Villa snubbed us out really in that first half where they could sense that if they draw Calafiore out, they'll get a lot of freedom down that left side. And whereas when you've got Hincapié and Timba playing together, they're not, again, they're not used to playing as a centre-back pairing. they're used to playing They might be used to playing, you know, on the pitch with one another.
00:12:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, I think going into this game, I would have done Timber right back. I'd have done Ben White centre-back along with Mosquera. We've seen him play as a centre-back and I don't get why we couldn't have maybe taken that risk a little bit. I know we're at depth.
00:12:51
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Our depth is being tested with injuries. um And thank goodness Arteta's got a side where... We can play the likes of Timber, Ben White, Calafiore, Hincapié.
00:13:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know You know, we can play players in any position and I'm sure they would adapt very well. um But... For me, it's just, for me, I could see Villa were getting a lot of a lot of joy down that left side. And I think, again, i've I've said this before in a previous pod where, you know, Calafiore seems to get drawn out really easily. And I do think Timber sometimes gets gets drawn out a little bit easily. But that left side has always been a weakness for Arsenal. And Villa really exploited us in that sense.
00:13:39
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So at that point, you know, 1-0 to Villa, I thought, well, can Arsenal really pull this back? And Villa were having chances and it was a real, it was a real test, real, real test. But, you know, we got to half time.
00:13:54
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What, you know, one nil down. I thought, well, you know what? There's another half of football to be played. If we can go out there and really kind of show something, maybe, maybe we could try and pull this game back.
00:14:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we're going to take a quick break in the meantime, and then we're going to talk about that second half. I want to give you my thoughts on that second half, because I really think Arsenal played really well. um But join us after this quick break. We're going to talk about that second half, and then um we'll we'll talk more about the equaliser as well.
00:14:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
So join us after this quick break.
00:15:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And welcome back to this second part of our therapy session where I hope you guys are enjoying this.
Second Half Improvement and Key Players
00:15:17
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You know, it's just it's I'm your host, Jamie Paterson, and it is just me tonight.
00:15:21
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It is me just tonight. um Really kind of, I want to get my feelings out there because, you know, it was a very difficult, very difficult weekend. um But let's talk, let's go, let's go on and talk about the second half where...
00:15:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Arsenal's approach to this second half was a lot better. You know, we were getting a lot of joy down down the wings. Trossard coming on really made a difference.
00:15:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he was having a lot more joy on the left. And again, it goes back to what I was saying earlier on in the show where I was saying maybe this game needed someone like a Trossard or a Martinelli starting over Eze. And I understand, right, Eze has great potential in the number 10 role and he has got the experience of playing down the left.
00:16:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But... Whereas with Palace, he was given a lot more freedom to be um to be a bit more creative down the left, as well as being in in the cam role. Whereas I think with Arsenal, it's I think he's struggling to kind of express himself in that left in that left wing role. And I think, again, we saw it with Trossard, who did really well, to be fair.
00:16:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, i you know i know others have, you know, obviously we go back to like the likes of Josh Vince. He'd be very critical of... ah of um of Trossard, sorry. um And do you know what? The goal for, you know, Trossard's goal, really well taken. You know, I couldn't be any more pleased. And again, kind of do sit here and think to myself, whether it was Trossard, whether it was Martinelli, if one of the two had started,
00:17:04
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It could have been a different story altogether. Really different story altogether. So, again, great goal, great finish. And, you know, beautifully taken. Really, really well taken from Trofsaad.
00:17:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I thought, oh, well, you know what? We've deserved this. You know, Arsenal had their chances. um You know, I really admired, you know, Odegaard getting a few shots off. You know, we were really knocking on the Villa door, but it wasn't enough to then get a response.
00:17:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, being one all, I thought, oh, brilliant. You know, i was, you know, sitting in the pub with my girlfriend at the time and, you know, I was really pleased. And I thought, oh, you know, I i had the the fire in my belly and I was just really, i was like, yes,
00:17:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
we're going to go and get this win now. Fingers crossed we'll go get the win. And then game went on and I thought, ah, you know, why not? let's Let's really try and pressure them. You know, let's try and get this winning goal and hopefully then we can make the subs needed.
00:18:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then i feel like some of Arteta's subs, i'm more there's more one sub that really concerned me. And for me, that was Trossard coming off for Martinelli.
00:18:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's really rare that I say this. And it's really rare that we know Arteta to do something in the sense that, you know we you know, he brings on someone and then brings the so brings the substitute player off.
00:18:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought, well, why? you know if You know, if someone like Trossard has bagged you a goal... surely you'd want to go on and, you know, have faith in Trossard to go and bag another goal or assist or do something. I might have maybe kept Martinelli on the bench. I am a very big lover of Martinelli, but...
00:18:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
i may I would have maybe saved him for Club Rouge. We're going away to Club Rouge on Wednesday night and I might have saved him for that game because then it means that we then freshen it up for Club Rouge. We then freshen it up for Wolves and and so on.
00:19:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, I wasn't really too pleased. not not to I wasn't really... i was quite shocked, if anything, that Trossard comes off for Martinelli. um Interesting subs made, I must say. You know, nice seeing Jokerez come on um for Mikel Moreno. I feel like, for me, i didn't see as much of... I didn't see much involvement with Mikel Moreno. And I feel like maybe...
00:19:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
With Jokeres coming on, I think he really struggled to get into the game. You know, I think Villa really had Jokeres locked down. And for us trying to play Jokeres in, it was just very frustrating for...
00:20:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
the the Swedish striker. And again, it goes back to an episode where I was talking about the best way you can unlock Victor Jokeres. And it is with an early long ball. That's where, if you look back to his time at sporting, you know, if you was to ping a long ball to him and he was to run into space, exploit the space, take a touch, cut in,
00:20:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
shape up and finish. That's the kind of Jokeres we saw at as sporting. And I think that's the best way to unlock him. And I think, and I'm still going to say this, but I don't think we've unlocked the best out of Jokeres. And that is why, you know, that's why the media talk about, oh, well, Jokeres hasn't scored an X amount of games. And, oh, but Jokeres has scored, you know, ah you know, so you know, 60 plus goals for, you know, for, you know, for for sporting and and so on in the season.
00:20:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just think, again, for me, we just haven't unlocked it. And I think on what I'm saying is the fact that the long balls through to Jokeres, if you can play him and he beats the offside trap, cuts in and shoots, different story, much different story.
00:21:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Would like to hope he starts. I really would like to hope he starts um on Wednesday night against c Club Rouge. I think if you if you can give him a full 90 minutes, give Mikel Marino some rest ahead of the weekend,
00:21:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
it would have been it It could have gone a long way. But we we'll only see. we'll We'll only have to see what happens. But, oh dear, we we have to talk about the the the the Villa goal, unfortunately.
Emotional Game Conclusion and Reflections
00:21:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
dear me. And put it this way, it was for every Arsenal fan, it was very difficult watching. But again...
00:21:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And a lot of Arsenal fans will agree with me on this. But where it went wrong, when you're in the dying seconds of the game, you know, it kind of goes back to to basics, really, to schoolboy defending. When you grew up playing football, your coaches always taught you, if in doubt, kick it out.
00:22:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I get it. But with Hincapié, there's been so much praise for him. But in the one game, he just he just he just got it wrong for me.
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Where he shouldn't have even kicked out for a throw. If he had just gone long to Emi Martinez, we would have probably settled for the draw. And that would have been it. And you know what? i wouldn' have i would have I would not have complained with a draw in the slightest. I would not have complained with it.
00:22:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then after that, bodies were thrown. Then the throw comes in. Bodies get thrown on the line. Everyone starts diving. No one stays on their feet.
00:23:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, I know everyone's talking about, obviously, Hincapié giving the ball away. But can we talk about players not being on their feet? Everyone slid. Everyone dived for the ball. Everyone just...
00:23:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
wanted to slide. No one stayed on their feet. And before you knew it, it was too little too late as Emi Buendia broke Arsenal hearts as he grabbed the winner.
00:23:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And at that point, my head fell to the table. I was heartbroken, gutted, speechless,
00:23:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, even after the game, I was fuming. I was so upset. I was i was a wreck. I was an absolute mess. And it's fair to say, i was with my girlfriend at the time and, you know, I didn't even speak a word. I couldn't even say nothing.
00:23:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And it was just so heartbreaking. For the rest of the day, I was so quiet. You know, we we walked from the pub into like... Into like...
00:24:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, the the main area and throughout the whole walk, I was just so quiet. I just couldn't couldn't even bring myself to say a word.
00:24:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, um you know, i was beyond heartbroken and really left speechless at that point. The issue now we have...
00:24:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
is let's let's look at the... like Actually, do you know what? Right, we'll talk about the positives in a sec. Now, this is the issue. We've got City now breathing down our necks. They are, I believe, quote me if I'm wrong, they're two points off us. Villa are three points off us.
00:24:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
I believe Palace, who are in the top four now... Let me have a look at the Premier League table quickly. I'm pretty sure Palace now are probably three points or four points off us.
00:25:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now...
00:25:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, sorry, I'm wrong. Sorry, I'm wrong. Villa were three points off us. City are two. Palace are seven off, but still besides the point. You know...
00:25:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is going to be tense. This is going to be very, very tense times ahead now. And this is where now, when we look at Arsenal's games, let's, you know what, let's have a look at Arsenal and Arsenal's next few games here, um especially in the Premier League, right?
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, I know we've got the Champions League coming up. I get that. So we have Wolves this weekend. We then go away to Everton. Obviously, Palace in the Cowbell Cup. We have Brighton at home on the 27th.
00:25:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Three days after, we then host Villa. Oh my gosh, would that be amazing to get a result against Villa at home? Before then going away to Bournemouth, having Liverpool at home on the 8th of Jan.
00:25:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then we do get... Then we've got the FA Cup coming up as well before then going away to Forest. But... In the mix of games, we need we now need to start winning. It comes to a point where we need to start winning games because if we do not...
00:26:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
it will be very difficult to, especially with City now, because we've all known City to have a knack where they have a very slow start to the season.
00:26:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But now as we come into December, the clocks go back now. That's it. City find a bit of momentum and the rest is history. So it's going to be very interesting times ahead as an Arsenal fan, but we've got to take each game one game at a time. And I think squad rotation is going to be huge.
00:26:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think for players now that are not getting minutes, for example, ah actually, Calafiore, for example, he won't be able to play against Wolves. So, Mars Lewis-Skelly will get an opportunity to start in the left-back role.
00:26:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who knows? Maybe Hinkapie might start in the left-back role. We don't know yet. um Still no news on Saliba yet. um I think Gabriel's still got another month out. You know, it really does show how much we are missing Gabriel and Saliba. Yeah.
00:27:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, <unk>re we're going to take another quick break because I think I've rambled on a bit too much here. um But um we'll we'll come back after the break and I'll continue to talk about the importance of Gabriel and Saliba as that centre-back pairing.
00:27:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So join us after this quick little break.
00:28:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Every club, every day. And welcome back to this third and um final part. i hope you're enjoying the podcast so far with your host, Jamie Patterson, taking you through the emotions, the rollercoaster ride of that heartbreaking Villa loss. But we're going to move on now. um We're going to talk about, obviously, we're going to talk a little bit about the importance of Gabrielle and Salih because it is it's it's come to my attention and I think it's come to everyone's attention, actually, that...
Impact of Missing Key Players
00:28:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
We have heavily missed Gabriel and Saliba together. but And even even individually we've missed them because, you know, it's always been that comfort, that comfort blanket for us of having, you know, if Gabriel's out, for example, we've had Saliba with Mosquera Saliba with Hicapie or Saliba with someone else and it still worked.
00:28:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But having both of them out has been significantly... You can really see the difference because, again, when you look back to Villa over the weekend, they saw that, you know, they saw, oh, well, it's going to be Timba and Hincapié.
00:29:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, they've never played as a centre-back pairing. This is our best time to take advantage. And they took full advantage. And for me, it'll be really good to see. i mean, I'm looking forward to having the both of them back. But I would really like to hope that Arteta uses this time to really get the likes of Hincapié.
00:29:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I mean, it's unfortunate that we've lost Mosquerito injury as well, because it would have been good. to start building a bond between Hincapié and Mosquera so that they can get used to playing with each other more often as a centre-back pairing. So that, say for example, next season, God forbid, and touch wood, if we were to ever fall in a position like this again, we could then turn to Hincapié and Mosquera where they've got games under their belt, they've got used to playing alongside each other and hopefully we wouldn't have to worry about being in in a situation like this.
00:30:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But going back, though, to um Man City, though, um it's going to be very interesting now. You know, every game now to Arsenal is going to be a cup final. You know, doesn't matter who we're playing against. Every game now is going to be a cup final, especially now as we're heading into this festive period. Now, games are coming in thick and fast.
00:30:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
For those of you that didn't watch the FA Cup third round draw, Arsenal are travelling away to Pompey. We're going away to Portsmouth, going away to Fratton Park, and I believe that will take place in the second week of January.
00:30:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And again, from now till even next month, we are going to have so many games to contend with. So hopefully, let's hope, fingers crossed, we can now start looking ahead to games, you know, and now for players that are really struggling for minutes, you know, you're, you know, you're Mars Lyskelly, you know,
00:31:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
even maybe Ethan Waniere, you know, players that don't get many minutes, be ready. Be ready and waiting because I guarantee you, during this festive period, we're going to need you.
00:31:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I really hope, you know, and i and I hear good things about both of them in training and I'd like to hope that, you know, they had great seasons last season for Arsenal and I really hope that they'll be able to step in and really come up to the plate where we need them because, know,
00:31:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Players like Rice are going to need a rest. Eze is going to need a rest. um You know, we have Norgard. You know, again, Norgard could have maybe been played this weekend. But,
00:31:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
this this The depth is there, but we just need to hopefully now try and rely on that depth, but also give players an opportunity to also start knocking on the door just to get Arteta thinking, right, you know what? We need to do this. We need to start doing this. We need to start doing that and et cetera, et cetera. So, yeah, it's going to be a very interesting couple of weeks ahead for Arsenal because we've got this week, we've got Champions League Prem. um Next week,
00:32:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is it next week? It might not be next week. But in two weeks' time, we've got Premier League Carabao Cup. um Then I think we'll have a midweek Premier League game.
00:32:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then we'll have um the FA Cup. along with a midweek Premier League game, um Champions League games. You know, we're going to have everything really thrown at us from now up to, you know, say mid-January-ish. And it's now going to be really interesting to see how this Arsenal team will be tested because, again...
00:33:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everyone talks about, you know, whoever's top of the league come Christmas goes on to win the league and so on. Fingers crossed, if Arsenal are in that position, fingers crossed we can go on and do one better. You know, we've had times where we've never really lived up to that standard being top of the league and we've always ended up bottling it. But i really like to hope that players that don't get the minutes will now get the minutes and be tested thoroughly um and will also be ready to step in when needed.
00:33:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:33:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Put this Villa game behind us now. And bearing in mind, before I do wrap up, right, if there is some if there is a slice of positivity to take out of this, right, Arsenal have only lost two games in the Premier League. We have, think about this, and really think about this, we're in December, we have not lost a game since mid-September, which is really good.
00:33:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
A really good record to have in the Premier League. And I get it. A lot of people going to sit here, worry about, oh, but City are breathing down our necks. And I get it. I understand that completely.
00:34:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we're still top of the league. It just now means that we need to just win our games and hopefully maybe and hopefully rely on City slipping up, depending on what their next few games are. I do know they go away to Palace.
00:34:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Believe, actually, that is next weekend. They go to Palace away next weekend. If Palace could get a result next weekend, and I know they've they've been playing some pretty good football, and I know that despite the injuries and despite them not having enough depth,
00:34:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
For them sitting fourth right now in the Premier League, if they could get a result against Man City, that would be huge for Arsenal. Huge in that post in that prospect. But we'll have to see what happens. So, yeah, big, big few weeks ahead coming up for Arsenal.
00:35:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I really hope we are going to be ready and raring to go. I believe we are. And we'll just have to take it one game at a time. But guys, that is it for us today.
00:35:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Have you enjoyed me? Have you enjoyed this solo episode? If you have, I would love to hear your thoughts on social media. Please get involved with any of the topics discussed on the show today.
00:35:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
As always, um you've been You can find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify by searching Daily Arsenal. You've been listening to the GSPN Arsenal podcast, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:35:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
The only place to find daily podcasts for your favourite teams a daily wrap-up, and every week, the road to World Cup 26. I have been your host, Jamie Patterson.
00:35:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you so much for listening to this solo episode. Have a good day, all, and hopefully for tomorrow's episode, I'll be joined by my Arsenal connoisseurs, and hopefully they'll recover from the weekend's loss.
00:36:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Have a good day, all, and take care.
00:36:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Your daily soccer podcast with the Global Sports Podcast Network.