Extra-time with James Benge - Pressure on Berta + Chelsea preview

0:00Hello everyone, Charles. Well, see you. Welcome back to Inside Arsenal. Welcome to this week's episode of Extra Time. As always, I'm joined by James Benj of CBS Sports to have a good old chat about Arsenal. Look ahead to Sunday's game against Chelsea review the transfer window and other bits and pieces in between James. Good to have you back mate. How you doing? Yeah, I'm good. I'm relieved. We made it. Another transfer window done. That's good. Obviously we made it out of it alive, which sometimes actually feels like an achievement. Yes. Yes. It is behind us. There's some window gone slam shot as I like to say. So of course we're going to talk about that a lot in today's show, sort of final reflections from the pair of us on the window. We will look at some of those big, big game against Chelsea two teams going into it on the back of two wins from two in the Premier League. Of course, big big game and the MRS will talk about that. Got lots of questions from you guys as

1:00well. Thank you as always for sending those in. But this is the first time that we've spoken since the window did shut. Not really anything in terms of income in from Arsenal from the last time we spoke, but outgoing. Obviously there has been some some movements. So how do you sort of look back on the window? How do you assess it from an Arsenal point of view? What was your what was your sort of immediate thoughts when the when the 11 o'clock deadline passed on Monday night? Yeah, I think Tuesday night. So Tuesday night. Yes. Just feel like a while ago. I understood the disappointment of supporters. I would this is what I would say. Because look, they tried for the best on the market and they didn't get it. And the worries that Arsenal have sort of hampered themselves at least a half a season. And I think the big kind of question actually is, you know, in January, with the money to buy, you know, as I understand it, they kind of have the money to go and buy. Do

2:02any deal that they think is the right deal to to change this team to find what they're looking for, which is the player that wins a Champions League final. Yeah. Like, I understand that that's hard to do. And I kind of think over one window, I can kind of make allowances that it hasn't happened. But I think, you know, seeing Gabrielle J. Zusco and seeing Fabio Villera go had me sort of with these two thoughts. Since 2022, have Arsenal bought an attacker deliberately an attacker. So we can kind of park Chi Havards because they bought him as a midfielder. Have they bought an attacker that they could realistically have thought would have had the impact that Gabrielle J. Zusco had? Like at that level of changing the team because they've done that with so many defenders, plenty of midfielders and they've not, they've not tried, I don't think, within attacker. And then the Fabio Villera side of it as well. There's also been so few sort of kind of swings that you know may not pay off, that you know that Fabio Villera may be

3:07too light that you know that Malik Fafana. And I was told, when Malik Fafana's name came up, those that were skeptical about it, the example they gave was Fabio Villera. And they said, you know, actually you think that 30, 40 million is nothing, but we could be stuck with this guy for five years, like, well four years, like we were with Villera. Because it falls at three. However long, hard to and hard to shift and all those things. And I understand it's really hard, but it's been four years and they're, Arsenal haven't pushed on in attack. And they haven't really, I mean, Martin Ellis, the other example of this, they haven't built that made their own style, haven't found someone at that bargain level and pushed them on. And they haven't gone about, bought the guy they knew would change things. They're kind of deliberately like deep in the squad without improving the 11 in that, in that area of the team. Now, that's not just Andrea Bert, so that's Edu too. That is Richard Garlic and Tim Lewis and the Crunkies. But the big picture to me,

4:07I think is quite disappointing, even if actually I think this window was fine, like the big picture is for too long now, Arsenal have sort of let these prime years of Erdogard, Saka, Gabrielle, Rice sort of not be fully realised. And is that going to cost Arsenal in the Champions League? I think if they don't address that squad in January, it will cost Arsenal in the Champions League. What I don't think there's any doubt is there when you look at the teams who you would predict are going to be there, are thereabouts in the Champions League this season? When you look at their attacks and you compare them to Arsenal's, that Arsenal certainly look on paper the weakest of those Champions League contenders at the top area in the pitch. And I share your frustration. I'm pretty sure, well, I'm not even pretty sure, obviously wasn't the plan at the start of window to end the window like this. Things have gotten wrong in the window. And I think the one thing on it is, are you talking about Malik for final that? I'm really happy they didn't do that. Like really happy they didn't do that. Because for me, there's no point in doing that. There's one

5:11that's, you just could see what was going to happen with that one. If he was going to come in, it was going to come in. He was going to be thrown in, given to me, Kala Teta said, there you go, we got someone on the window. I said, it wasn't going to fancy him. He wasn't going to use him very much. And then you could have been stuck with him. And so I'm glad they didn't do that route. Go down that road. And I do think they've probably still got enough to get him through a till January or even the end of the season. Again, there was a big caveat that everyone stays fit. You need to stay fit in that attack. But I do share the frustration of it's just another window that's gone by. And I thought you sound really well there when he said that that sort of that brilliant midfield they've got the fantastic defense they've got still hasn't really been given the attack that they kind of deserve that would make this team so good. Like so good because they've got arguably the best certainly the most stacked midfield in European football. But you know, right out there, one of the best midfielders in European football, we know how good the defense is. It's tax it goes up against anyone on the planet right now. But you still got that

6:14same attack where you're just looking at it and thinking where the goal is really coming from in this team where's a real sort of danger from out wide. Certainly on left hand side coming from is it going to all have to go down the right again another season of sort of predominantly going down the right. So you do just have that sort of frustration of us. Another window that's passed us by without us being able to do what we wanted. I suppose the issue is is sort of playing Devils advocate here from an Arsenal point of view. They'll be looking at it saying okay, well who should we have signed? We tried to get finishes. Couldn't get him. We tried to set get out of res. Couldn't get him two players who would have definitely improved Arsenal a lot from an attacking point of view. So where else should they have gone? I mean, I'm sure there are players out there that improve this Arsenal attack. Absolutely sure there are. But and you would hope that their recruitment team certainly has identified those players as well. So I mean, do you do you look around at any of the other business that's done from an attacking point of view? Certainly across the Premier League and look at it with any envy. They're players there. The

7:17other slide that's who we should have got that would have improved us that would have taken us to the next level. It's right on the board line. Barker. Yeah, that's the one that I look out with a slight tinge of jealousy. I'm still not convinced he's going to be unbelievable by the way. But he's certainly the profile of play that I look at. And I'm just like, I'm going to lie to him. I don't think he's worth that money by any means. I don't need to do anything to suggest he's worth that money. How is he worth two times the amount that Kebra might not be worth? I don't see what he's done in his career that makes him worth that. But it is the market, all that sort of stuff. And he was potentially, potentially there to really attack and try and side. So I think I agree. I think he's a one that I look at with a sort of slight twinge of jealousy. But it's not massive. I'm not like that was definitely the guy. It's just a slight tinge of jealousy. Yeah, I think the other thing that I mean, Barker may well struggle at Liverpool. And then everyone will sort of say to you, oh James, what you said back in September that Arsenal should have gone and signed Barker. I think the thing I would really want to remind everyone is Arsenal right now over the last

8:22six, seven years under Michaela Teta. I've done a very, very good job of improving footballers and bringing players in, giving them a role that they understand and allowing them to develop such that Leandro Trossard goes from good Premier League winner for a good Premier League team to player who makes big contributions in Champions League games and kind of scores the winning goal in a title race. And so I think we will probably see some of these players that Arsenal have been licked with and they'll flop because I look at Liverpool and I think what on earth is your plan? What is your plan here in possession with no fullbacks, no right winger, how are you going to get the best out of Barker? But that doesn't mean that Arsenal couldn't. And I think that is the sort of thing that hangs in the back of my mind right, even lesser players. I've like, yeah, but I think if you put them with Martin Erdogard, Ricardo Calafiori, Bruno Gimmerois, they could look quite good. They could look better than whoever Arsenal ended up plugging a gap with on the left wing when

9:29Erdogard says, well, happens when Solis gets injured or what happens when Erdogard gets injured. I've been following Arsenal for long enough to know you're asking them wrong question. Question is what happens when Erdogard and Solis get injured. That to me is that I think the frustration is almost that Arsenal don't back themselves to take good players and make them great in attack. That is, and they've done it with Sacka. There was like a path that was nearly there for Martinelli. Maybe he didn't get injured in that second title season. Martinelli might have gone on to be, you know, the guy that means you don't have to go and buy another left winger. They can make players better. You can go out and sign players and improve them. They're going to do it with Solis. I think someone like Barker could have been well-class at Arsenal. Wouldn't surprise me if he's not Liverpool. Wouldn't surprise me if he is. Yeah, I agree. He's the one guy that I look at and think maybe that's the one that we might regret. I do think he could have made it a little bit harder. It seemed like Liverpool

10:32basically got a free run at him. Maybe we could have challenged him more, but obviously they felt that the money just wasn't there. Morgan Rodgers, again, I'm going to get close up for you if him on Sunday, obviously, was I still look back at the failure to sign Rodgers. And I wasn't, again, I wasn't overly disappointed at Arsenal with signing, but... Tell you what... Oh, yeah. I look at what... No, Rodgers. Oh, Rodgers, yeah. But I look at what transpired after that in the window and I kind of feel like everything that happened from an attacking sense or didn't happen from an attacking sense. It also sort of stems back to the failures to get Rodgers. That was the guy that they really wanted. That was a guy that spent a lot of time before the season ended last season positioning themselves too signed. They felt like they were going to sign in Rodgers. Like you said, felt like he was going to sign for Arsenal. And then for it not to happen for them to wait to wait to wait and then they end up getting the player stolen off and by Chelsea, basically, when the market went crazy. I think from that point onwards, they were left scrambling a little bit in terms of what they were going to do. I think they were so confident that Rodgers would be their player that then it was like,

11:33what would we do? Market opportunity, Venetius. Let's go for that. All that sort of stuff. Do you think it also stems from Rodgers? When Venetius didn't happen, it was looking at the market, thinking, well, what else is there for us to do now? How do you rate the window? What was your, I gave it a six out of ten. What would you give it? Yeah, I think six. We have to acknowledge that the defence has improved a lot. The midfield has improved a lot. It's not disastrous window. It's not disastrous window. I think those two signers are brilliant. I think when you look at the squad, what they've done in the windows, I think it's a stronger squad, but it is just that one big gaping hole in the tack that's been left when you're relying on players not to get injured now. It probably shouldn't be the position that the champions should leave themselves in. The sales are quite interesting as well. I mean, numbers wise, it's awesome. I've had some of this for sales for a long, long time. I was about 125 million give or take around that mark that they've ended up bringing in.

12:36There's some quite good sales in there. I mean, Jesus is wow. You've got a team to pay money for Gabrielle Jesus. What's the move for Gabrielle Jesus by the way? I'm so happy for him to back. Yeah, yeah. I think Arsenal did a good deal there. When he had wages into that, what Arsenal are going to save in that year of Gabrielle Jesus with the transfer fees? Fantastic. Fantastic fees of business. I don't think the Martin L.E. one is, I don't think it's one to overly celebrate, but I don't think it's a terrible deal. I'm glad it's got a six in front of it now rather than a five. I'm not. I was certain it was going that direction. Trossard. Okay. I mean, what was about 125 million? I'm sure the cronkeys will be sitting there fairly fairly satisfied. I do think though that I feel like it could have been done or should have been done earlier in a window. They said, I was again, you know, I talk about the sort of panic towards the end of the window once the in terms of the attack once Rogers hadn't happened and where do we

13:37go from here? I also think if you'd have sort of done the fact that we had to wait basically to deadline day to get the majority of those sales for the big players over the line, I don't think that really helped with what they could have done in coming to us. And, you know, we go back to some of the things that didn't happen in the window, but bubbled along. If the sales get done early, Miles Lewis-Skeller doesn't have that weird week. I heard that Christian mascara was offered out by intermediaries. What was offered by intermediaries? That may not be by Arsenal. Yeah, I heard that Arsenal was sort of oh, sorry, very clear. The intermediaries suggested that they might be able to help clubs do a deal for Christian mascara. Yes, look at whether the interest from that interested clubs came from in that and sort of piece together some other things that happened together with Saudi Arabia. There was Saudi interest in mascara. There were clubs in Saudi Arabia that thought that they might look at getting mascara. They've not progressed it, I think it's

14:43the reality is Arsenal started getting the money from elsewhere. But, like, you know, it's kind of going back to what you say isn't it, Charles? Because you've not got everything done quickly, you end up like doing, yeah, being reactive and going down paths that even if you don't expend a lot of energy, any energy is wasted. I mean, we, you and I, last week maybe diluted ourselves on Hullian Alvarez. But we don't get to kind of have those conversations at a club to club level, do we? And it sort of felt like Arsenal because they'd not got Rodgers and because they've not got Venetias just kind of ended up in this situation where, oh, we've got to keep the Alvarez option open. Alvarez has got to be open. And, you know, looking back on it now, there's never a chance. We were wrong. I thought there might have been something emerged for that, but it was never going to happen. That's a waste of energy and a waste of whatever energy you put into it. So, yeah, I think this window speaks to the value of getting

15:45the important stuff done quickly because otherwise you get to August 31st. And then then it is like, no, we shouldn't actually do anything. Should we? Because we can't. And we're going to hear from Mikhail tomorrow. Obviously, we'll put on a bit of a front, you would imagine in front of the cameras and he's not going to sit there and absolutely blast everyone for the club not being able to do some of the business that they wanted. But I'm sure sort of privately he's very, very frustrated at what's happened in the window and he's looking at his options and training now from an attacking point of view and thinking, how have I suddenly gone from having Cross-Aid here, Martin Elie here? We know that he was, or it sounds like anyway, that he was fairly reluctant to sanction the Ethan Rineri deal as well. Kevin O'Jaseus has gone and suddenly he's sort of looking at his Got Crystal Solace and that's about it. Can't be happy with that. Internally, do you think what do you think the view is, or do you think the view will be on Andre Bertad? Do you think, you know, obviously this time last year has been held as a hero. Do you think he's under, he'll be under some pressure now? He's

16:45certainly under pressure from, I say the fans, but certainly from social media. Hey, they're still fans. They're still fans, absolutely. So from the fans, there's certainly pressure from fans because there is the feeling of frustration of Arsenal having done what they wanted to do with this window. And I mean, it's not even that they haven't. It's clear Arsenal haven't done what they wanted to do this window. That's clear for everyone to see. So do you think, sort of, internally, the club are going to be looking at it and reviewing the process and and Andre Bertad might be facing some fairly awkward questions? They have to be. If we kind of run down the list of transfers they've made under, it ends under Andre Bertad. Kepper, you can't count Supermendi. That was done before he arrived. Madoukai, Yokarez, Ezra, Muscarea, and then from this year we've got this year who have we got? Have I blanked on this? Solis, Gimmaris, Conzer. So you've either bought, done the easiest thing in

17:49the world. And you know, you talked to people in recruitment who've worked in Arsenal recruitment and they've said, well, we love to have been in a position where we just got to go to our Premier League rivals and said, here's 50, 60 million quid, give us your best pair. Easy. If you and I were given Arsenal director football, big problems ahead for the club, but I think the one thing we could do right is go, oh, tell you, this Bruno Gimmaris is quite good. Should we go and sign him? In fact, should we call up some of our agent friends and sort of try and get them to do a lot of the legwork for us? Those ones are easy. Muscarea and Solis look like good interesting pickups, but the sales out have not been great. The kind of game changing, starting 11 talent is maybe only Bruno. It's not like this was supposed to be the moment they sort of get that elite front office talent. I'm not seeing it. I'm seeing someone that's done fine, but

18:50given the money that's been available to them, I don't think it's an incredible job that's been done over the last few years. And I kind of will never be that impressed by a sporting director just but picking up the best of the Premier League and getting those players to that's not that. It's not elite, you know, recruitment, is it? Yeah, he was certainly held as a hero last summer, but last summer was not as you said, it's not a particularly hard job for a sporting director last summer when you don't even have to worry about sales. It's just like you go about 250 million pounds here, go out and spend to strengthen the squad to it as it's in a dev. He did it really, he did it well. He got the deals done that one asked what the health asked to win the league. So it's a success. No doubt about it, but was it was it the toughest of jobs for a sporting director? I wouldn't say yes. I think this summer was obviously a lot harder. He had to worry about sales. He was under pressure to generate sales. Those sales were directly linked with income ins as well. And the players you wanted to sign were sort of real top level players who were going to be a much difficult deals to do in Arsenal and able to really get those done for an attacking sense anyway. So I think it was a much

19:51harder job for him. I do think he's under pressure. I do think he'll be under pressure, especially not just from the way the window went, but in terms of the sort of final, the final way the window looked, but I think some of the how the dealings sort of took place as well and the way some of the deals were navigated, I don't think left a massively good impression certainly on players and targets on agents who are working for those players on rival clubs as well. So don't think relationships are the best in the market at Arsenal right now between some of the other clubs in the league. And I think the way that Andrade Berters sort of operates is directly linked with that. So yeah, I do think he's under pressure. Do I think it's the end of Andrade Berters? I've seen a lot of people saying, oh, he's going to be sacked. You know, I don't think that happens yet. Don't particularly look at it and think that Andrade Berters has got a massively long shelf life at Arsenal. I'd be surprised if he's sort of a long term sporting director

20:54and I'm just wondering if you have a long have a lot of churn anyways, you know, they don't tend to last that long at clubs anyway. But I do think he's under he's under pressure under after this window because it is impossible to look at it now and just think it's what they're asking to achieve. They've certainly left themselves sure. I don't think what we 23 and at 22 minutes in it feels like we've been really, really negative about it at the moment because I mean, Arsenal have still got this unbelievable squad that has been built like an embarrassment of riches. You look at the Aspenville game on Monday night and you look at the players who came on and you look at the sub-bench, look at the players who can't even get onto the sub-bench. It's an unbelievably stacked squad and Berters played his part in that. But you and I, Charles, have followed this team in this club from the days of, you know, we remember the last time Arsenal were title challenges and title winners. We remember what happened every year. It was penny, it was you've got your title. Sorry, you don't have to wait. No more. I'm trying to remember who came in in

21:582002. Who was there any signings in that season after they won the second double? Yes, Laman was the young, he was the invincible, he was the young. He was 0304. No, no, no, he was, yeah, because Simon retired in 03, didn't he? So, yeah, it was so Laman was the, and that was the only sign in that summer after 03 was Laman, which to be fair, help me. Did it help in that season? But, the last three was C gone Gilbert, I mean, Gilbert, great, sorry. But like, you know, that year after winning the double, it was you keep a hold of who you've got and you don't really push on and that kind of means you can't, could have been a dynasty, but they didn't push on in that year. And we sat there with Josh Kronke and May and kind of said it would be different. You know, this is something that Arsenal have not done in the lifetime of anyone watching this show. I'm certain of it. If you were alive, the last time Arsenal retained the league,

23:02congratulations at you're using YouTube at your age. And while I think Arsenal was still in the league, it's really frustrating to see this moment of, right, this, this prime opportunity to go and achieve all the things that Arsenal supporters have never seen and it's, it's not been maximised. So what? What should they have done then? Who should they have signed? I think because a lot of people watching this will probably be disagreeing with us who are thinking why be inside negative about it. We'll be saying, OK, then what should they done? Who should they have signed? So we've spoken about Barclay, I suppose. But obviously the area that they really wanted to improve was left wing. They've got Ezra, as a, who someone said to me today, if Ezra hadn't signed last summer and signed this summer, so it was Martin A. Trossade out, Solis Ezra in, would the vibe be completely different now? And I thought that was quite interesting because I think it probably would have been,

24:05because Ezra would have been signed on the, you know, who'd have had another season, you say, Crystal Palace playing on the left hand side, playing really well. The whole reason Arsenal signed it was because he played on the left hand side of Crystal Palace and played so well that he was one of my sort after players in the league. So they do still have Ezra and sort of say the assigned solace who does look like a very handy player as well. So what else should they have done? You know, we're complaining, we're saying that you should have done more, but I think it's important to the internet, OK, so what could they have to try for finishes couldn't get it, couldn't get him. He was that, you know, I'm undeniably a game changer, level razor, whatever on the left hand side of the attack. But when he fails to get him, what else do you do? Well, you go back earlier, Gordon, I know everyone sort of at the time was like, oh, he's rubbish, but he wasn't. And you can see that now for Barcelona, where he's doing great stuff at Barcelona, and I know it's easier in La Liga. Kind of look at the kind of players that PSG went and got Verantoro's, Mika Gertz, I think I've pronounced that correctly. I'm Piyush, who I know is more right than that.

25:06PSG seemed to be very good at like kind of taking a bit of a flyer on a Deseret duet, whoever else is great, but you know, Deseret duet now is one of the best forwards in the world. Do you think anyone sort of quite adamant that level before he signed? Well, he was linked to us, wasn't he? He wasn't. I remember speaking about him in the video, and again, I suppose I was saying the same thing. I was like, oh, it looks good. Pretty raw, probably. Maybe a project sign in that sort of type of thing, and then fast forward two years, he's one of the world's best. Yeah. I don't... Maybe that guy isn't Malik for Farnabar, but I don't think there's then no one in the world that you can sign. You have kind of signed with a view to a flip, if that means Quarrett Scalia comes along. But haven't they done that with Solis? Didn't he signed two of those in the same summer? Is that why they signed Solis? But then it was like a K after that, now we need to go and get the, we'll be talking to Vinny or someone like that. Do you want to sign two of those in the same summer? But this is, is this not the age we're in, we're in the age of player trading, where a guy comes in

26:10for two years and it does fine and is flipped. You know, oh, my, my moush, probably not as bad as people think at city. And yeah, you maybe a bit... I think last look at it sort of bogged down with the players they have, there's not churn and not having churn is potentially really effective. But you know, it's the sort of the guys around like 18th, 19th, 20th in the squad, could they be a bit more churny? Could it be we go and get Farantore's for this year and we'll see what we have to do next year if an opportunity presents itself? I know and I look, you know, I know this is really hard and we should say, I think almost kind of, I go to almost every bit of business and I see the logic and I wouldn't, I wouldn't have not sold Martinelli. I think that's a really good bit of business hastener done and I understand why they'd say they're really happy with the the window. Just think, you know, the further I get from it the more I think, the very least you kind of got an ace January, something should happen in January. It's, you can't tell me now in the years

27:13where we've seen some men go to city and nearly help, you know, help them in the league where Farant's Kelly goes to PSG. You've got to kind of try and find someone in January because we know that they've got the opportunities to do that. They've got the opportunity to do that now and they haven't had that for a while though. They didn't have it last January. They couldn't do anything in light. You said, see, you could at nearly, nearly one of City the Lee and there's no way that Arsenal can really go into this January and and and not at least try to do something you would think because they're clearly there as the opportunity there to do it. You know, people have talked about, I think we've got questions and we'll come to them and a minute but people have mentioned, you know, Croupy coming back from injury, what around sort of October, what time, I would Rodrigo, Rao, we coming back from injury around that sort of time as well, I have a couple of months in him maybe potentially it could be on the market. So there might be options out there. You know, Cavakalia, PSG, can you really put the groundwork in behind the scenes if we can't get out of the way. Cavakalia to do something is that what Arsenal now need to do is like,

28:13hey, this window shut, we didn't get our real targets here, we wanted to raise a level. Can they do kind of what they did with Declan Rice to spend a year now behind the scenes making it so that whoever they really want, there is no one else that they're going to turn to at the end. You know, you're not going to be in a Morgan Rogers type situation where you allow yourself to get to do the groundwork and then and then miss out, you know, they they put in so much work and I know there was a different sport and director doing it at that time, but with Declan Rice to when Man City did come knocking, there was no change of heart, there was no, you know, it was like, no, I'm going to ask you know, and can they do that with someone else that they really want now, is that what they have to do when it comes to really improving the attack next summer or January is to really put the work in now to make it, you know, just impossible for someone to say no to them when it when it does come around. Chelsea, should we talk about Chelsea then? On Sunday, obviously, a big big game. Will you stand for bridge? I was. For the Bryant game. What a game. Yeah, mad game. I don't know how I will see some how managed to let Bryant and back into that game. I've flicked on it three

29:16years. I just thought, my God, this is going to be actually walking apart for Chelsea. Then yeah, it's brilliant game from that point on. Fair play to Bryant and for Dragon themselves back off the floor. Gonna be real interesting one on Sunday, isn't it? I think McKell speaking tomorrow, we're going to see Morgan Rogers come up against Arsenal on Sunday. Obviously, that Chelsea attack that looks so so fluid and impressive in the way that they operate. But they do can see girls, I think scored seven, conceded five in those first two games now. They're going to want to prove a point. I loved the guy Sackar after the Villa game when he was asked about Chelsea and he was just like, well, we'll see on Sunday, won't we? So Arsenal are going to want to prove a point there. Champions, this is the first real sort of big game that they've got against rivals this season in the league. It's just going to be a really good game, I think. Really interesting one to watch. Really fascinating blend of styles as well. I don't know how much. And like, you know, Javier Lons, I was asked about this after the Brighton games. Two games where they basically had about 30% possession. 26% against Brighton, 26% of the ball. I don't know how much

30:19of that is if I had a front three of Javier Pedro, Col Parmer and Morgan Rodgers, I would be like, they just need to get the ball, get the ball up to them quickly, let them move quickly. Don't worry too much about kind of the classic Alonzo like, we'll we'll build place lowly. We're not going to move until our rest defenses set. It's kind of, you know, if you do that against Ezri Conzer and Gabrielle, probably not going to get as much joy as you did against Brighton's backline and Brighton's midfield and, you know, Tekken and Rice just will slam those counterattacks down before they've even started. Can Chelsea play that way? But equally, you know, this isn't Arsenal with Timber and Celeba. Maybe there's a bit of vulnerability to the counterattack there. And, I mean, also, I look at the way that Chelsea line up that back, seven back eight. It's not incredible. It looked, they did not really know from what I saw kind of how to stop Brighton getting to quite dangerous

31:24positions and then Brighton wasted those positions. It really struck me that there was a lot of possession for Brighton and what if I'm sure everyone that's listening and watching knows, if I say the Urdegarde position, you know what I mean. And again, if it's Diego Gomez and that position, that's one thing if it's Martin Urdegarde and that position, that's another. They might be without Kaisado. Of course, they were without Fernandez and without Limine Kamara. I think they could be very vulnerable in defense. But I'm certain they will test everything Arsenal have with that with that counterattack because that front three is electric. Chai Pedro looks like as good as good as he's such a good player. He's such a good player. I know everyone turns in. He knows that I'm potentially signing a player from Chelsea because we've done it so many times. But my god, if Chai Pedro was a possibility, which could be these knocks, he signed another contract. But if he was, that's the one player over anyone else in that Chelsea team that I would have in an instant. I think he's, I think he's great. I really, really do. And they do look great in attack. It was very, very fluid. Imagine Morgan Rogers is going to want to prove a bit of a

32:27point maybe. I don't know exactly. Like you said, he's certainly feels disappointed that the time he felt like he was going to get to Arsenal didn't happen. I think in my field, I mean, they've left him so short in the field. The way that deadline day unfolded for them is not ideal in terms of certainly getting them through to January anyway. You know, you sort of look at that midfield and we'll see if Chai Pedro's fit on obviously came on and went off very, very quickly against Bryson. But if he doesn't make it and now Enzo has gone, they didn't get Kamara in. He kind of looking at midfield. They were lying on the La Vieira. He's played about 190 minute game in four years and probably I don't know. Is it Barca or James? I'll maybe be on the game. I'm going to stay started on Sunday and you wouldn't do that again. Well, because they started in midfield on Sunday. Yeah, he started in midfield. Pedro in the netto right wing back. Hato was a sort of left wingback that was sort of a centre back. Well, like a sort of left back kind of DM weird stuff. He got forward, he got forward well set up. Yeah, Pedro got out in the netto. Yeah, yeah, he did win it when there's sort of turnover.

33:31But like a lot of the time he was like drifting in as a DM and so on. Yeah, kind of a similar to Villa. I do wonder if we'll say that Arsenal found a good moment to meet Chelsea. I know everyone thinks they're flying but five goals can see it against against Fullham and Fullham and Brighton says there's there's more on the abilities there. Yeah, it's really interesting. Really interesting. What do you think Michele's going to do? I mean, the latest updates from training in Skyward down there today, the cameras were down there today and Sam Blitz of Skyves reported that there was no more scarer who obviously went off in the second half against Astor. They're replaced by Ezri Conzer. Michele did say after the game he was fine and he went off and there's a precaution. But he's certainly down on his on the floor holding his hamstring before he went off. Or they was out on the pitch afterwards looking okay, but no training for him and no training for Bruno as well. Obviously came on had a really good camera against Villa. He'd been out before that with again, it was a hamstring for Bruno. Was that the issue before

34:34Astor and Villa? Yes, it was hamstring. Yeah. So no Bruno Arsenal sort of saying sort of load management is key with him at the moment. So that doesn't necessarily mean that there's any sort of you know, the injuries come back or anything like that. He hasn't had a setback there. It's more they're saying load management for Bruno. So we'll see if he's involved or not. If he is, what do you reckon Michele do? I think there's three positions in that team where Michele has decision to make. So I think Conzer starts. I think Conzer starts with Michele. And I think he would have anyway. I think he would have anyway. Yes, even if from a scariff fit, I think this would be the game that Conzer comes into. And then in the field, it's like, is this after the cameo for Bruno, do you, is it MLS out Bruno in? And then it's on the left. What do you do? Solace or or or as they're on the left hand side? So I think those are the sort of key decisions. So I would say if he's fit, I think Bruno starts this game. Yes, I think it's Bruno

35:36Rice and Ode to God if Bruno's fit. I thought Bruno is really good against Fiddle when he came on. Just it's just 20 minutes short, sample size obviously, but you can just see the difference he brings to the team. And although we sit here and we've talked a lot about the failings in attack in terms of the transfer window, I do think that Bruno is going to is going to improve Arsenal's attack up from last season massively. We saw that in just short 20 minute cameo against Sastor Villa. So I think he comes in and then it's what you do at left hand side. Do you give Solace another go or do you bring has that in? Without a good second off when he came on against Fiddle? I know that Michaela Hatteta would certainly acknowledge that some of the defensive issues that Ezra has sort of displayed a left wing have been addressed. You know, he mentioned Matti Cash again having spent most of our season insisting that that Cash goal had nothing to do with what he stopped playing Ezra on the left wing for half a season. But if you think that Chelsea going to line up with someone like Pedro Netto who is just going to go, go, go and keep asking

36:37that question from wing back, then I think you probably go for Solace just for a little bit more defensive, you know, certainty, I think. I said that this morning. I said I think Solace will probably still start that game. And I don't I don't think what happening at Sastor Villa will be about thing for Solace. I think you kind of need that sometimes as a new sign in coming into a new league, you know, everything had gone so well for him up to that point. You know, barely put a foot wrong. He was being held as a new Alexis Sanchez. You know, everyone was obviously getting well ahead of themselves of him. But he had a really positive start and everything was going well. He must have been sitting there thinking, God, this is easy. Sometimes it's nice to suddenly have a bit of a reality check and he's been going, ah, no, it's not. It's actually really hard to play in a Premier League coming up against experienced Premier League players, you know, and Matti Cash gave a bit of a going over. But I don't necessarily that means he needs to just be immediately taken out the team after one disappoint. I think Michael was right to take him off at half time. But I don't think that necessarily means he needs to then take him out the team altogether for the next home game.

37:40You know, I think you could do Chelsea really real damage over on that left hand side. So I'm with you. I think I'd go Solace for this one. But I would I would go Bruno in midfield. If he's fit. No, as well. Off the left. No, he's not going to suddenly bring Matti on the right hand. He's not going to go mad away. Came from the cold on the left hand side. I'd like to see it. That's what we've not even talked about. You know, it's a freshly sub life for non-emadocating. Well, it's going to need to be you. We've all sort of all jokes aside. It's going to need to be. You know, it's a huge opportunity for Ezra as well. Like a massive opportunity for Ezra. It's like here's your chance to be a guaranteed star. I asked for now, make this position your own for a season. Basically, you're a, you know, suddenly. You sort of ended last season. You're looking at everything. Where does he fit in this team? Where is he going to wear his minutes? Going to come from like real proper minutes. Going to come from next season. Now it's very clear where they're going to come from. It's just up for him to make it. Make it impossible for Miguel to go with Solace.

38:41Basically, and if you're Ezra, you're looking at a guy new to the league. Had a spell here before not done very well. It will be when he was very, very young. But he's still looking at that. I think it's a huge opportunity for Ezra to, you know, guarantee himself loads of minutes in this Arsenal team, which is why he came here in the first place. It's a big opportunity. He's just got to step up. And if it went right, like we've talked about left wing and left wing and left wing. But if Ezra and Solace are good enough, you know, everything I've heard is that they just want to increase quality. Left wing looked like the natural position, but, you know, maybe then they end up looking at like the superstar striker that is an upgrade on Havoc and Yokores. And so yeah, I mean, Ezra has a chance to be like, what do you need? You left winger for me? That's me. And he looked great there for Palace. It's sort of tuck him inside. You could have Califuri going outside. You certainly could get in capiating that as well. So, the reason Arsenal signed is there was because of his performances on the left hand side for Crystal Palace. That's what made him one of my sort after players in the Premier League.

39:43It was a sort of slightly different system, different different ask from your left side of player, the way he played in that sort of front line for Palace. But it was predominantly left hand side play that did it. That's why he was so attractive. And that's what it was those performances that made Arsenal and so many other clubs wanted him. So, it's just up to him now to, you know, he's got such a brilliant opportunity ahead of him to do it, to just to make that position his own. So, we'll see how he gets on. But yeah, I still began Solis, I think, for this one. Okay, we've got quite a few questions. So, I'm going to go move on to some of these now and get these answered. The kicker, first of all, says Hey Charles and James, everyone is talking about Crupe in the January window, who I would love us to sign, they'd give me wrong. But in my mind, I'm more interested to see how Rodrigo recovers him a grid. And if they end up selling him in January, given they brought in Diamanday and resigned Vinny, just wondering what both your thoughts are on Rodrigo. Love the content. Keep up the great work. I think the thing with Rodrigo is obviously he's been out for so long. And even if he does come back in what?

40:44October, November, which I think is pushing it. I saw it was like it was the new year, only from reporters in Spain. But yeah, but even if it was early, you're then kind of reliant on someone who's been out for so long to hit the ground running. We know Hey Charles, it takes a long time before people get back. I don't really see him as a realistic January option. Unless you did him alone. Yeah, but do you want, I don't think that's, if you're asked, or when you're trying to do what we hope they're trying to do for the second half of the season, do you want to, do you want to sign someone on loan who you're basically going to have to drip fee back into the team because they haven't played for a year? I don't think that's really what you'd want from a loan. I think it goes somewhere else and kind of does an in-drick January loan. Goes somewhere else. No, he's great though, is it? I think you could do say Rodrigo on loan, crew, he permanent, flip out, you know, Yocca res assuming he's struggling.

41:44I wouldn't be like, I wouldn't completely rule it out because at least then, even if you're not going to get a great version of Rodrigo in that half season, if it's the best option on the market, you can at least have a look at him and say, do we think we'd then want him in? He's only, you know, he'll only be 26. Do we think we'd then kind of want him on a permanent, it's worked quite well before with Real Madrid players? Yeah, yeah. We'll see you back today, apparently, back on the pitch. Who? Rodrigo, like back, one-on-one training, however, but he's back on the pitch. So maybe I'll have a bit of a... So Tim, I say you could be about, maybe you ain't about sort of six, eight weeks away then, if he's back on the pitch. No, certainly want to keep an eye on because, yeah, did you see that? There was a great clip from Real Madrid's game the other day when they went on a counter attack and I think Bappé had a shot saved. And it was basically demand a Bappé and Videy. Yes, sort of. All running in the exact same channel. It was like the three of them were running after each other. It was just like, they all want to play in the exact same position.

42:45It did look very, very funny. Yeah, you had Rodrigo into the mix and it would look very, very crowded up there. So Stumpy Dog now says extra time, what do you both think are the two worst sales of the transfer window? I have my ideas, but I'd like to know your thoughts. I presume he is talking about Premier League as a whole here because I asked what did he exactly make a load of sales in the transfer window. So... Yeah. You got any ideas? I've got... I've got... I've got... It's quite hard. I've got two. Yes, I do have two ideas. I definitely have one. But I'd just look at and think, what have you done there? Why have you done that? Oh, and that... What was that one? Beto. Everton. They've basically just left themselves with Barry as their only striker. And I know that they thought they were going to get Balagan. It didn't happen. They kind of zirkecy sort of... But surely you get that striker deal done before you let Beto go.

43:47Surely to me, I just say, I look at that and think, Barry is going to get absolutely run into the ground there, Everton. They have properly left themselves short in this window. They look weaker than they started it. What a mess that that was. You know, the damage that they might have done to Balagan's career. And I mean, if I was Balagan, with part of it, I probably would have signed. Because right now, everyone thinks that Flow Balagan is kind of unemployable. Because of these rumors of a failed medical. You know, from what I heard, it wasn't failed. But the minute that gets out there and isn't immediately squashed, you've generated a lot of bad blood. And you've asked them seven and a half million pounds. But I'd also kind of put... And I took about better. I don't know. I said that he was going to become Arsenal's second record, highest ever sale, then. But still might still might still might. But I also look at it, sort of throwing in, you say, two-where sales. I've kind of put in giant there as well for them. Because you sold him.

44:48You didn't sign the player. You were trying to sign... The whole reason it was going to be you enjoy out, Roshalis and Interspers. That doesn't happen. So, I mean, Roshalis still might go by the sounds of it. They still might be an option for him to leave or see. But, you know, it's two terrible sales, I think, for them. Beto and Jai, it just absolutely weakens them massively from an attacking point of view. I hadn't considered easy with them. And I think they're probably better answers than what I have. The first one was a Luke of Uskivich. He by all accounts was brilliant in the Bundesliga last season. 21 years old. Might be one of the best young defenders in the world. And you sold him so you can buy a Yampal Van Hecker? Who I think is a good Premier League defender. And Hossin. And you've got, yeah, exactly. I would have thought you could go, right, we've got Soneci for free, we've got Mickey Van Deven. And then we can have Uskivich, you know. It looks like Van Hecker or Star. And Soneci will be the guy on the bench. I just don't think there's enough of a difference there that I wouldn't be like, yeah, I'll have Uskivich

45:50as the third centre-back who probably play a lot. But I don't think you, if you get a player that's supposed to be that good in the team, you don't sell him so that you can then basically give all the money to Brighton for an older player who's good but not great. The other one, which I think might be quite contentious, but I thought was just unnecessary. Was City selling Roddry? I know that that is an incredible amount of money for a player of his age that wasn't that great until the World Cup. But you've lost Pep, you've lost Silver, you've lost Stones, you've lost a lot of players from that, you know, and then there's everyone that's gone in the years gone by. You've lost an awful lot of like that old man city identity. And I think the value that Roddry would have brought in terms of kind of being a guide to Ellie Anderson for a year and to Bawadi to Enzo Fernandez as well, he clearly needs a bit of a clip around the year.

46:52I just wouldn't have done that deal. I would have kept Roddry, I'm Man City. You know, money to me is an abstract concept. Yes, we know they're brilliant. I've generated more sponsorship revenue. kept Roddry and been a better team. Well, I for one delighted that they sold Roddry. I don't even know he'd have come back so petty about everything. That energy should have been harnessed. Yeah, delighted to see the back of him, I have to say. So thank you very much. Stumpy Dog, there's our answers to that one. Tim now says there seems to be a lot of fans already hanging their hope on signing Crupe. Borma for have already been concrete on not selling their best players. They're hardly going to get him fit and selling immediately after when they want him back fit themselves. We hung our hopes on Alvarez so we obviously need alternative targets in January. Who else should we be looking out on the left wing and on strikers realistic targets that will can raise the level.

47:53I suppose we've kind of covered this already. Haven't we realistic targets that can and it's here? I don't know. I just I'll be watching him. I don't think that you could yet say he will. Could Kevin Shada really kick on at Borma Brentford? It was interesting the reaction online to the suggestion that Shada might be a target for us. It was certainly online. It wasn't overwhelmed. No, it seemed to be anyway. He's a good player. He's got that pace of Arsenal and LAC. Now he can score in the Premier League. He's proven that. We're interested to see what he does in another year's time. He's not there yet but could he become January? Maybe. I mean, Crupe. Crupe, I'm like half. If he hadn't got injured and I could see him for another half of season,

48:55I'm very close to being all in on Crupe because from what I saw last season, it's just one of the most impressive, impressive sort of debut breakthrough seasons I've seen. But I would just like to see him back it up with another six months this season to know that he's absolutely the real deal because he does look very, very special when he's finished an ability. He's outrageously good. Would you have to kind of make room for him in the squad? What I want to know is that I would want to know if I'm Andrea Bertha, so listen up, Andrea, if you are tuning in for this one. I absolutely want to know what the deal is with Cabat Skelly at the end of the season. I want to know, you know, the signed obviously goats and they got due, you know, I think Arsenal have to be. I really hope they are. They have to be putting the feeders out behind the scenes to see if there is a possibility that he

49:55might become available when they might let's do something new, PSG and him in the summer. I think he would be my, and I know it sounds so easy. It's like who do you want to come at Skelly? I could be the best left-winger in the world. But yeah, I would want to know what his situation is. And if there was any possibility, I'd be putting in so much groundwork. Very similar to what PSG did when he was at Nackely, so it made it when he did become available. It was only ever going to be PSG assigned. I would be putting a lot of focus into him and whether he would be available for me. Get one of them like, oh, May's houses, line that up. You know, take him to the West End shows. All this, I mean London's so much better than Paris. All these players that go to PSG, I'm like, May, I've been to your stadium. Yeah, London's so much better. Can you imagine living in Hampstead? Just, you know, quick commute to the training ground every day, but then on your days off, you get to wonder and that'd be ace.

51:00You're on the phone to get to the Quebec Skelly, that's what Andrea should do. I'm here, Andrea. Right, here's one. Then Brendan says, what would you have done differently to Arsenal and Ray Bertha, this transfer window? Please be specific. What would you have done differently? So I'd have bought Barcola because I don't believe that this player is going to emerge that is the clear, like, will win you a Champions League final. No doubts, no questions. You just can go and get him. I'm with you that I would will now spend the next year trying to convince Karate Skelly, but I just, I look around and I think this guy's not out there. It's not going to emerge. Venice is, players like Vinnie only come on the market, maybe once in their career. It's not every year. So I would have got Barcola. I also wouldn't have loaned that Ethan Renari right now. Do you know what you're saying? I'm happy with that loan. So there's almost this thing, okay, there's this thing I would have done, but that thing hasn't happened. You know, went on deadline day when I was where I wasn't, I wasn't buying anyone. I would have kept holding Renari.

52:02I know they've got the record clause. He just wouldn't have played. He just would not have played if he'd stayed here. I'd let Bar in a load of injuries. He would not have played it. After what happened to him last season, I don't think that would do him any good whatsoever. I don't agree with that one. I think that's a good line. Michele wouldn't have used him. He just wouldn't. You know, he wouldn't have done Bar in Bar in a load of injuries. What's the point of him sticking around to get your game in the camera or cut when it rolls around or the old minute here or there in the Champions League phase? It's just, you know, he could go to Dortmund, play Dortmund regularly. It's a fantastic club. I think that's good move. I suppose the one thing is Dortmund. I know want to sign him permanently. So maybe they fall in love with him and then offer you quite a lot of money. Yeah, I'm completely behind that. I just worry that the arsalan can run out of numbers in attack. Touch with that doesn't happen. Right, Pradipto has got it in touch. Now that the transfer window is closed,

53:04we know the squad. Here's a question for you guys. Our squad depth is the end-level teams. Could you predict the matchday squad for big game City Madrid? He's starting 11 and bench when everyone is fit and whom is this out? The thing is here when you sort of list this, this is your Madrid. Obviously the Champions League, you get 12 subs, don't you? It's 12. It's basically not. We assume it's 9 because it's boring otherwise. Yeah. So just doing it now. See, I did it. I've got it. Yeah, I know you texted me and showed 10 minutes of me and I didn't do it. Didn't do that homework. That was always this sort of person I was at school. I would charm my way out of getting away with not doing any of the work. I was quite good at that. People hated me for it. Okay, so I do my 11 first because that's easy. Yes, I bet you would probably got the same start at 11 I would say. Yeah, Raya, Timber, Celeba, Gabrielle, Califuri, Bruno, Rice, Saka, Erdogard, Solis, Havats.

54:08See, I've got, I've actually got Ezio on the left. I've got Solis on the bench. I know you end up with quite a lot of defenders quite quickly. You do. So I need to leave someone out. My bench at the moment, so I've left out Moscara. I don't have Moscara on my bench. Yeah. And I need to lose someone else. And I'm not sure who it is. I'm going to lose. God, it's really hard. See, I've got, okay. So there's no melee on the bench. Obviously there's no Moscara, but I, at the moment, I have 10 people on my bench. So it's basically, do I leave out? I think, I think you've got to have your careers. Got to have a striker. And I think you need to have Madaway, Kay and Solis. Yeah, I've got Madaway, Kay and Ezio. So I don't have Downman actually. I don't have Downman on my bench. Downman saw one that misses out for me. Yeah, but then there's still someone. So I want to do the Mendy Lewis Skelly or Marino have to miss out.

55:11One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. I got nine. I got Kepper and Kappy, Lewis Skelly, White, Zubimendi, Yokarez, Ezio, Madaway, Kay Marino. Have I missed someone from the squad? Come, sir. Okay, I'm taking Ben White out. Yeah, I was thinking maybe it's going to have to be Ben White, isn't it? Because then you can have comms like cover in the right back. Yeah, I think in the end, like with the bench, you've just got to maximize how many positions you've covered. And if kind of in a lot of spots there, you've got two guys to one position. You know, I think there will be a bit of a, I think there will be times when Lewis Skelly doesn't make the match day squad because Ezio, Madaway, Mendy's in good form as a midfielder. And you know, you've got in capiates by left back. So I also, I wonder about Yokarez. Clearly, Mick Elyther does not. Mad for him. No, but you need, you need, you know, he's going to have to have strike on the bench.

56:13Probably. I still feel like the Yokarez is, this is very similar to what we saw with Gabrielle when the Saudi links came a few years ago with Yokarez. I don't think, yeah, Kayle with, Mick Elyther was too impressed with Barcelona agent stuff. Yokarez in the summer. So I think he's potentially on the naughty step a little bit at the moment, but I don't expect that to carry on. What do you think about Mick Elyther? Really pushing the whole, give me as many sub-sets as I can stomach thing? Well, I can see why he wants to do it because it's just really, but I don't think it's fair, is it? It's not nice leaving those sort of players out. Is it? It doesn't do them any good. Like he said, it doesn't do their value any good, but it also doesn't leave their mental state very good. And if you do need him after that, you kind of want players who feel like they're involved. He's harsh for professional football and not to be involved. But I think there'll be other clubs in the league. I'll be looking at him thinking I'll boo hum again. Yeah. If I'm an Ipswich, if I'm Everton, if I'm full, if I'm about 15 clubs in this league, I'm going to not just, why would I do that? My thing would be you should be allowed to have,

57:16I don't know how you kind of practically, like literally in terms of space for them to sit, but you can name an unlimited number of academy graduates on your bench. Like you can have your, let's say, eight, seven, eight, nine, seeing your substitutes at anyone that's come out of your academy can be on the bench. I might also solve the old selling them for profit thing. Cool. Well, look, I think that's about it for today. And this week, thank you very much, as always, mate. It's been a pleasure. Thank you, everyone, for sending in your questions and your comment that appreciate those. We will be back at some point next week. Champions League next week, of course, gets underway, Natalie on Wednesday. I want to say Wednesday. That's right, isn't it? Yeah. And it's Tuesday Wednesday Thursday next week. So we may be recording Friday or Monday and whatever. Oh, of course, it's first week, isn't it? So it's a triple, triple header in the Champions League. Tuesday Wednesday Thursday, which is ridiculous. What is a point and do it that, especially when it in terms of the issues it causes later on down the line with your OPEAN conference league?

58:18But it is what it is. Anyway, so you have, we will be back at some point next week anyway. To record. And so thank you, everyone, for joining us. And cheers, mate. I'll catch you up, you soon. See you soon. Bye-bye.