Extra-time with James Benge - Arsenal's perfect start

0:00Hello everyone, Charles Watson. Welcome back to Inside Arsenal. Welcome to this week's episode of Extra Time. As always, I'm joined by James Benjer of CBS Sports James. Good to be back mate. How you doing? I'm very worth it. How are you? I'm very good. I'm very good. Good win last night to start off the Champions League campaign. It's been a good start this season. We can't, I mean, what literally what more could you ask for? You can't really. What'd it be nice not to concede a goal against Chelsea? That would have been nice maybe. Maybe it would have been nice if Man City hadn't won all their games as well. But other than that. Did you watch Man City against... God, who did they play? Coventry. No, I mean that one, but the Champions League won once again. Yeah, and I did watch that for work. Oh my God. They're so boring.

1:01Who? City. Oh, Lord. Is it going to be like a reverse season this season when everyone starts complaining that Man City are boring and Arsenal are good going forward? Quite possibly. Like if Brian Cheky doesn't do some magic stuff, it's also like slow and prodding. You know, feels a bit like football you've seen from five years ago. There's a, for some reason there's a full back in midfield. Just like as a central maternity. Oh, why? Okay. Yeah, I've seen quite a bit of City and I just don't enjoy watching them. That's, you know, the job is to win football matches, not to win neutral admirers. But God, God, terrible to watch. Well, can't say that about Arsenal this season. A lot of people did last season. Certainly can't say that about Arsenal this season. It's been a, it's been a thriller minute. I thought, I thought the Chelsea game at weekend was brilliant. We haven't spoken since then. I thought that was an a really, really absorbing game of Premier League football.

2:04That Arsenal deservedly won, but Chelsea did play their part in that game. And I thought last night was one of the most dominant away performances you'll see in the Champions League. School line didn't reflect that obviously, but easily, easily could of if people have decided to actually stick that ball between those two white things that sticking out the ground, which I asked them didn't manage to do last night, but still was a very, very good performance. I talked about that today show. Talk about some of the talking points. Obviously, Mike, no, to God. Fantastic. I waxed a little call about him in my show this morning. I've had lots of comments pouring in about Victor Yokarez. I know you wrote a piece about Yokarez in sort of after full time yesterday, which I do kind of disagree with you on. So we're going to talk about that. We'll talk about Sunderland as well. Really want to sort of pick your brains on what you think we can't do because they looked knackered last night when they came off. They live. You look like they jumped in a swimming pool. Some of them like Marino when he came off looked dumb. Oh, to God, could barely lift the player of the match trophy.

3:04He was given it. So I wonder what Michael was going to do. Pretty short turn around for that Sunderland games. We'll talk about that. And we've got some questions as well. So thank you very much to all of you who took the time to send those in today. We'll go through some of those later on in the show. But first of all, just to talk about the game last night. Then as we are still. Is it is still pretty pretty relevant only last night? Really good from Arsenal. I was watching it and I was thinking, you know what? It's just how far will Arsenal come, I think, in the short space of time or relatively short space of time that they've been back in his competition still. To be able to sort of go away to a decent team. And really assert yourselves like that now, you know, it's a proper sort of they just look like a proper elite and we know they are that but it really was apparent to me yesterday watching that game was like well, they're absolutely dominant here in a really tough way game. Yeah, because it's one thing to be like an elite team and it's another to hold yourself like that. And I think before the Madrid, the two Madrid legs in the year they got to the semi finals.

4:11Is that right? Was it the semis? Yeah. Yeah. I think, you know, kind of that experience before then I don't think Arsenal kind of held themselves in that in that team even though they were because they were, you know, going toe to toe with man city for titles going toe to toe with Liverpool for a while. And that, like it's incredible how much that becomes a switch. And like you say, they just since then they've just clicked they they rock up at these difficult places to go and in like we should say. And so it's really challenging circumstances for elite athletes who are used to kind of everything just flowing and used to nice set rhythm for the day and when you go on a European trip you land nice and early because you've got to get in bed because you've got to get an early night sleep. Probably there'll be someone doing fireworks outside your window. You know, all those things sort of can add up to a bit of discombobulation and we know like, you know, these athletes are finally two machines. I was looking at this going or when they pulls given all that travel disruption the day before and given the fact that this is still a team without.

5:14Celeba and without timber and that I tetter rotated I was like. I think they'll win but it will be tough I think it wasn't it was only tough in that they made it tough for themselves. I've seen so many sperm chances for for expected goals which I think and away team in the Champions League do I still have that up eight times in the last eight years and away team has just got for expected goals. Normally that's buying and normally they're playing someone that aren't on paper as good as Napoli. Yeah, I saw it was this sort of open play XG which was about 3.8 or something like that was the highest XG club have got away from having the Champions League since like 21 22 or something. Could could well be true that I mean as you brought that up open play XG right now for this team is incredible like all this sort of I mean actually one thing I think is really not well is the set pieces threat hasn't gone and asked not getting called for set pieces for set piece files. But like this no one's kind of having to worry about that because in open play terms they are as good as they've ever been 11th in the Premier League for set piece XG not great not great.

6:27I bet you as soon as Arsenal score a set piece goal this season everyone is going to be talking about like they literally haven't even scored one yet. No one's mentioning the fact that doing all this from open players soon as they score an open set piece goal is going to be here we go again Arsenal set pieces blah blah blah you know they've now won 13 games in a row in the league phase in the Champions League. Does surprise me that's incredible consistency at Champions League level really really that record is going to be really tested as we go into this one because obviously got around with Dre had to go by Munich away which one of the toughest games you can happen to Champions League. So it's obviously going to be very testing I would I'd be stunned if they managed to keep it going that much longer but even so 13 in a row in the league phase is it's incredible consistency at Champions League level. And we should say really this is this result is really valuable like you say Real Madrid and by Munich to come I don't think they'll end this on 20 in a row. But I think they could maybe be like 18 19 wins from from their last 20 games and that means very good chance of top two and top two means a better chance than otherwise I've just getting that good draw that Arsenal got last year.

7:39I think you were sort of saying what would stop Arsenal getting top two I mean it may be Barcelona it may be by and reenek. But kind of that's within their own power I think you just said yeah going to Naples that they might drop points there so I think we're you know this this is more impactful than it than it feels given that we don't really know how everything shakes out until late January I think now Arsenal's odds of that top two finish have really gone up and that that's probably a good thing. Yeah I think it was really important when given the games that are coming up I thought it was really important that you sort of staff within a way when it probably the behind behind by me in it the hardest away game you think they're probably going to be going to have in this in this league phase I think it was really important to get up and running mkeld have thought that as well you know I was actually surprised he made four changes I thought you'd make I thought maybe three maximum probably thought two was likely but you made four. Which yeah I was surprised that I think last year for the billbout game he made one change from the from the Premier League match it just happened and I figured he'd go similarly strong this time around whether that's a sign that he's sort of viewing the squad a little bit more favorably now I don't know but yeah I was a little bit surprised because I knew the importance but I knew what he would have felt in terms of importance than that result.

8:49Obviously my no guard was was fantastic in the game like we said it could have either been four five five now probably should have been but I would have got fantastic in the game he's had a fantastic start to season four goals in five if you include the community shield I spoke out this morning just the way he scored that goal though. It was just such a positive the way he's striking a ball I just think you know for two seasons we it looked like my no guard have kind of forgotten how to strike a ball properly at times you just didn't have that conviction whether it was a. Sort of trusting in his body after that angle injury or whatever it was you just didn't really see him strike the ball the way he's he is now let's just to play a fuller confidence in himself in his body and everything you know sort of ways took took the goal on against Chelsea that finish again so so much conviction in that finish and then again last night you know that's a great strike really tough you can. When you think about the goals Arsenal the chances Arsenal miss yesterday I mean that was actually probably the toughest one and it was a really really small small gap to find to beat the goalkeeper's hand and squeeze it in at the far place so yeah it was a fantastic performance from from him how or why.

9:58What would you put it down to this start to the season for Oda guard do you think it is just purely the fact for the first time in a long time he's feeling 100% and he's feeling like the proper might know to guard again do you think it's the world cup and the boost at that given him you know what if you're trying to try and pinpoint one thing that we've suddenly seen Oda got come back to the player that we all knew he was but haven't seen for a while directly in the beat. In terms of the fitness I would say that isn't the only reason. But I think it would be impossible if he wasn't fit and he does he he moves so much quicker he is you know those those darting late runs into the box I don't know if he had the speed for them I think it's probably also true that the midfield behind him because Lewis Kelly and deck and rice and even marino and Bruno. Yesterday a plane really well and getting that good quick ball up the field I think he's he is still dropping back up for a piece I wrote after the Chelsea game I was quite struck that he's still getting you know about.

11:0320 30 touches a game in the in his own half. But the balls kind of moving a bit quicker I think he's not having to do the sort of ball progression stuff of dropping that back all the way to the center back speak ball up off them and get the ball moving up field that all you know that that helps. I think that he is fit enough that he kind of feels able to clap back to me is like the explanation for this we've seen. So often our tetter has been given like the chance to talk about and he's framed it in that personal way has me he said look the fitness is there. But this is about a player with a point to prove and I think you and I know that. He he heard and he was affected by a lot of what was said about him about the idea that he wasn't the right person to captain or saw he takes he take I think he takes that very personally. But also you know that he maybe had lost it that he wasn't getting it back and I think that was a really valid question to ask because I still don't fully kind of connect the ball striking with the injuries that are around the sort of knee and the.

12:09I mean some of it makes sense but I'm not sure it was all about you know physical and trusting his body I think some of it was. Some of it was like just not quite in the right head space and I think when you trust your body and you feel like you're playing with this this point to prove this aggression and this. You know the pressure is gone and there's a chance to really show who you are. I think that that just changes the ways feeling physically and emotionally I mean we should say as well like I'll be getting a few more good nights sleep at this point. See I have a wife pregnant. Who's I have a see I saw that I think I was trying to add up in my head as I write wins about probably about six months from now and I was just like get it's a business ended as see. I'm not a medium of no. Yes I'm kind of Sophia or Amelia so fear Sophia yeah maybe just.

13:10Maybe it's best for Sophia to just spend that time on her own. I know how that would help could you do that yeah no you do I was like oh no six months you're not announcing that to you like. I think a mika latte to actually an ounce that beforehand because he when he's talking about people that are happy in their personal life after the Chelsea game. Yeah I saw Kai have it and Tom can't what time she was up what what's going on in Kai have it's his personal life did he so happy about it and then it was at the next day I think they. Yeah and that's it on Instagram which is absolutely a bit small way from the color. I would be I would be hammering on his office door saying you you know you you forced us to an Instagram and that early I would not appreciate that I saw a I saw I saw I just want to find it just now in a comment where I saw I was looking through up to but it wasn't I can't find out on the opt for accounts but there was a there was a stat from O to guard yesterday in terms of forward passes into the final third.

14:10I think it was and you it was he played it was somebody like 75 for something like that and then it was only it was only the fifth player or the fourth player in Champions League history to do that in like might be in the way game I think it was Javier done it five times in the estuary done it once Tony Cruz did it against Arsenal like 2014 and then O to guard was the air is the next one from from last night in terms of playing a ball forward as well which is a real positive I think from in terms of his game. I mean do you also think. Now last season I have a slight on the guard didn't start again together until April. Last season which is mental. Do you think I mean that's that that's playing a huge part of it as well isn't it just that that sort of having a have a fair having sack of fit and the just that right hand side that we see him from us and again is like it's a proper throwback to sort of three years ago. And that's got to be playing a huge part in O to guard form as well just having that sort of the band back together again on that right and so I didn't having have a.

15:11Playing for you know something we just didn't see his tall ass season yeah because have is really drifting out quite a lot isn't it and there's the whole team seem to have license to like shuffle over into that area you saw. If you're picking up the ball there I know that there's been occasions as well as solace has sort of come over to be a second wing or on the right hand side it's really interesting when he does that. And I'll tell you sort of said before it's like it's just it's just where the game takes him I don't know if I believe that no I'm not sure I believe that I thought he did it when he came on yesterday at one point during the game. And I was like it's so looks so odd that yeah I'm just not sure I'm sure that something that's been worked on to to give an extra man over there and the other person to really highlight on this because I think a lot of what we talk about when we talk about them white is about what he's lost. Especially defensively but going forward just his ability to position himself in such a way that the defense has to react and that create space for saccharine and a guard to be effective.

16:16I mean I'm in awe of it I think Ben White has actually had a much better start to the season then he gets credit for going forward most line breaking passes received by a defender in the Premier League other than Anthony Robinson which I appreciate is quite a meal of a stat but basically he is you know he is a way. Of Arsenal progressing the ball up the field getting into those dangerous areas and then he gets to the by line or he gets that corner of the box and someone else gets to the by line I've been really like it works together beautifully. Timber's coming back and I don't think you get quite as much attacking wise with timber that you as you do with white but it's you know you still get good passing penetrative passing from timber it's all working really nicely and I think maybe you will see a better timber. In an attacking sense because he is with the garden he is with sacca and they are looking. Really really good even a second but well you talked about solace as well I actually one of the go actually came from solace drifting over to the right outside and combined with him yesterday.

17:17I think for three of three of the assists of Ogas four goals will come from from solace as well so that there's an understanding there that seems to have you know developed very very quickly with those two. As well and it's really obviously really really benefit in Arsenal when it's it's great to see. You sort of talked about the sunda lind or Ben White there Sam theme was at the game yesterday he tweeted off the game that he's Ben was sort of gingerly walking off afterwards and kind of limp down the tunnel a little bit I have seen a I have seen a video of celebrations. Afterwards all not celebrations but the the players got over and applaud in the way fans after the game. And white's there and he seemed quite happy the jokes around with one of coaches sort of picks him up and stuff and so it didn't seem like he was too bad from there but he has played so much football at the start this season and although timber went out with the squad lot yesterday he didn't he didn't play wasn't he wasn't named on the bench he was like the extra man so he's clearly still a little bit off it. And then you know I saw didn't even just fit enough to include him in the match day squad.

18:19So we're still what a few weeks away probably from timber being a realistic option to come in to come in a right back. It does feel like Ben has played an awful lot of football and even if yesterday was just you know really knackering game real humidity all that sort of stuff there you know I do worry about Ben White the amount of football he played at the start of season I and I wonder what mckel is going to do. He's a second of four away games Arsenal got on the spin now on saturday really short turnaround from from Napoli. Energy sacking game in Naples as well. What do I mean you made four changes for that what do you think that there's going to be. A lot of changes for that Sunderland game or do you think mckel be like okay you've got basically this one you're all going to have the night off against tips which. Just get me through this one game what do you think he's going to do for Sunderland changes or not. Well it does get really complicated doesn't it if you have to rest Ben White I saw you were saying that I was sort of going through my head and I was just conspired really or deckalem rise. Yeah I would think you would do cons a right back and then the two left foot is a right back but but like you say Ben White has been you know I'm looking at here this is the Premier League stats alone when he's played every minute in Premier League and he's covered more ground than any other Arsenal player in the Premier League season.

19:36Yeah this is from gradient sports who very kind of helped me out with this stuff 32 kilometers he's covered care to get to second on the list of most distance covered by Arsenal players. Oh do god no but no no no no who's that have us hi have us. Have us and white is what I mean and I look a lot of this is about you know the minutes they've been on the pitch but the players that have. Sprinted them furthest most accelerations most decelerations oh my lord Ben White is starting to stop him a lot and. Like as I see those physical stats I almost think would there be a case to be made for just if Ben if Ben White is sort of fit enough but not 100% just popping him on the bench kind of accepting that you're sent about pairing will have to be let's say Gabrielle and in capier and going from there.

20:41I was really like going but you as you said I was pleasantly surprised about the amount of rotation are tested it for felt like a really good number someone like Califurie who's another that's been playing a lot of minutes in the Premier League get him off we know he needs to be carefully managed. So maybe you do have to kind of look at the situation and say. Sunland. Tough place to go but place where you kind of if you play your game well you should be spending a lot of time in the opposition half. Can you just gamble a little bit on those two left footed centre backs and then further forward I think. We could discuss who plays next to rice but then I think the rest of the team picks itself. Is it about the other side of the year. It comes back in doesn't it I think sacral sacrosanckin me on the right solace will come back in on the left. Yeah we're interested in what he does in the middle next to next to rice whether miles just comes back in for that one or we see Bruno potentially get first start surprise.

21:43I mean for all the changes I thought that was the one guarantee that Zubendi would come in. But he didn't it was marina next to rice in that sort of to vote a god ahead of him say another just sort of fleeting. Some appearance to Zubendi we surprised by that. Yeah really surprised because I think we've kind of been looking at marina as more of someone that fits in the erda guard position. Although we would absolutely have no doubt that he could play deeper. Well the oldie dog role is basically where he's come on every single time he's come on this season it's been for a place mine. And does need place so well I need him to have two more good good sub appearances so that I can do like the the piece on what makes mcmalmarina such a good substitute. That's on if I put that out there any of our colleagues have watched this now know they can't take it. And come marina and all they're just still the idea and remember it. Yeah I was I was surprised about it. Zubendi's absence because I thought it would be a good game for him as well he suits the European occasion.

22:48Maybe the fact that it was going to be so high possession and maybe I better expected a more physical game. You would probably bring marina in for that but it's it's a hard one to understand and like one thing we've got to keep an eye on is like. Does he meant these minutes drop to the level where you go. Yeah this is this is a sign of the future. It's one to keep an eye on that I'm not I'm not saying it is. Yeah I'm just going to bring this up because we kind of talked about this actually referencing the question but it's from jelly belly. I says we've been white limping off recording to Sam would you rest white for some the line we all know why it just can't play three times in a little over a week. I don't really cover timber so thus far. I can't help but feel we run the risk of losing him for months if we run him into the ground play cons we can cap it sent back. Similar story but to a lesser extent with rice start Bruno and miles or Bruno and Zubi who needs more minutes we need to keep these players fit this season. I don't see a way that rice comes into that. I think rice starts.

23:48It's something very very surprised of mckel. Did you see he was asked about that the mix only yesterday rice and he was like well even if even a West am I was playing 60 games a season I'm fine of it. Yeah let him retire at 33. I'd be very surprised if rice gets a rest but I do agree with with white especially if there is some sort of you know if he did end the game. Feeling a bit of pain yesterday I just think it's the arsenal right back cycle isn't it you can set your watch by it's like one comes back. The other gets injured the other one comes back then it's one of the currently the team gets injured and then repeat repeat repeat it's just the arsenal right back cycle. It's just can set your watch by it as I said so thank you very much jelly belly sorry I should have brought that up at the at the time that we were. We do have four options we should say and. I said to said that Moscarra would need a few days after Chelsea but I said saying a few days means Christmas. No chance no chance Moscarra's fit I'd be stunned if he's fit for this one and let me just find the right question I wanted to go to now if I can I know I think that was it.

25:01I think it was a sundaland stuff or here we go talk about this we talk about your crazy now because why not you have to talk about your crazy every single time so you wrote a piece after the game yesterday on your crazy with. I didn't overly agree with. I thought this is going to be an interesting debate debate like you were saying let me just let me just bring your piece up quickly James Benz there you are. So is yeah you sort of based it around the fact that obviously they didn't create a single shot for Victor your craze we had what he asked my 287 final third touches 20 shots in the first 74 minutes not single one for your Chris which is obviously not very good for Victor your craze. I think in a piece you're saying it kind of felt like you know when you're that dominant in the box with his perfect game for a strike or it should be a perfect interest right yet just I'm not sure that's the case I looked about yes I was just like this isn't a big to your craze game at all. Because right it was just they were so deep it was such a low block that we kind of know what your craze is best that and it is running into a better space and what he's not good at is creating space for him in a packed box he's quite frankly pretty dread for that.

26:13It's just not his movement isn't good enough in my view I've always said that since he's it's actually right I just don't think he's got that knack of being able to generate space in a crowded box you just go I think he's rather always sort of taking where yep the balls not going to go. So I was kind of looking at I think this isn't this isn't a game for Victor your craze because it's not plan to it's plan to his weaknesses rather than his strengths for me personally. But then that big question or what are his you know what what games are suited for Victor your craze now. Yeah that to me is what is the is the crux of this so you are probably right that the perfect game for Victor your craze is. Should we be cruel it's real are they isn't it it's you know those teams that he used to obliterate in Portugal. Where you know the space was there he could physically monster the jewels run and you know the defenders would bounce off him and I don't know that he's kind of learned this is a very good point and one that I probably should have considered in the piece that actually yeah maybe the victory or Chris game is that transitional one well the reality is the game is what the Arsenal play where there is space to attack him behind will be against the level of opposition where you would not play victory or Chris if you didn't have to because you play I have it's.

27:28Because the space will be in behind because you're going to be feeling the pressure from a PSG amount city maybe a Chelsea like who is the maybe the worst team I can think of that would allow us to space in behind is born with. Would you play Victor Yoko as against born with no you consider that to be too testing and occasion. Well I just want to have it's an epic. I just want to get well that's the other part of this I just want to have it's. He he his job is to be the score isn't it like whether it's in a transition heavy game whether it's game of space whether it's a game where Arsenal attacking a pat penalty area. Victor Yoko is assigned to score goals and I've had to base with people from Arsenal when they go like when I say like where's hold up plays not very good he doesn't run that you know he doesn't link play well enough he can't pass and they go. He's jobs to score well OK if your job is to score. Then the best then you need to be able to score in a game where Arsenal have.

28:29200 more touches in the final third than their opposition and where everyone else except you and Esri Conzer and David Ryer are getting shots you need you have to be able to get to the ball in the box you have to anticipate it I mean I think you're kind of right that. That game last night was more right for Eddie and Ketia than it was for Victor Yoko is. And look this. I know that there are some people that sort of feel like this is kicking a guy when there's plenty to celebrate about Arsenal. What I would say is Arsenal one of the best teams in the world and it's not surprising that they beat Napoli and so you kind of end up then sort of saying how does this team get even better. Well I think having a backup striker who can come into these games and cause a bit chaos get some shots score and pressure on Kai haven't is really helpful because it does come back to that warmer thing doesn't it. If you don't think if you're not looking at mid table Premier League good mid table Premier League opponents and thinking that's a game for Victor Yoko is.

29:36You're going to be playing Kai haven't a lot and you're going to get to May and you're going to go. We haven't got Kai haven't anymore or we can't use Kai haven't because he's knackered. So yeah I mean. I know there are a lot of people that are that really do believe that Arsenal should change for Victor Yoko as I think they clearly shouldn't because they can put up for XG when he's not even getting a shot. If you're a center forward in any team. I'm going to judge you based on your ability. I know that people say I mean there were four chances he created I know I'm rambling on there that the four chances can. And I know people will say look he occupied the defenders and you know he's he helped some of what he does is not going to be reflected in the data but you know what the one thing every good striker. And the way to show it striker is the position where we can be most confident that the data tells us what's happening and the data says that Victor Yoko is just. Is not doing it and there's not other level asked or need.

30:37Even for a backup striker. And I can't wait to get absolutely murdered in the comments. Well the window is passed now so Arsenal he is Arsenal's backup. Unless in fact I did have a question here. Let me just bring it up. He says KB said we have it's been an unequivocal number one striker don't you think that when he is absent the closest style of our tentable play would be to have marino up there rather than just. Which I do kind of agree with anyway and last season we played our best football I think when without have us when when marino was up front. But having said all that Yoko is was very important in the second half of the season he got better and. He's barely played to all this season this was his first star he got a few minutes worried at very rusty obviously against Chelsea. And so he still sort of playing himself into this into this team and I think when you look at Yoko as a type of player is you know you probably you know it takes a while to get into rhythm and she not playing you're getting minutes is quite hard to. To find that rhythm in that second half of the season last season he did find a bit of a rhythm and he was better at doing the stuff that we need him to do and obviously did score goals last season you know 21 of them.

31:42How I'm not sure how many in the Premier League but you know he was he was important I still needed him last season and they got over the line. Not due to him but he certainly helped us will get over the line last season so and they're going to need him this season you know they absolutely need him this season they got. You know until January can't change anything about this squad you cannot play habits in every single game you know Michaela is going to need your career to perform so it's a case of. I think you've got to start giving him more minutes just to try and get him into some sort of rhythm is just where you find those minutes and I think also the way I've had to plan at the moment is so hard to leave have a sound so it's really hard to actually give your crazy that those minutes so yeah I mean it will start against which you would think next week you would hope that's the game where you can get some you can get some opportunities I can't imagine if switch you're going to play a low block at home against Arsenal it a much changed Arsenal team in the in the. Caravale Cup so you think it might be a game that suits him there you might have some space but I do think it's important to get your careers looking sharper than he is he did plays part yesterday lights have you get you create some opportunities but I thought that the number was telling that you have us have more touches on the pitch in the 15 minutes he was on the pitch and your car has had on the 75 that he he was and you know it's I know they're very very different players and have us wants to get involved in the game drift so you know you know you can't get him.

33:06He's in the game he drifts over to where the ball is and he's you know he's very much involved in that your crisis and that type of player but yeah it's been a tough it's been a tough start to the season for big no doubt about it. Yeah yeah and I certainly agree with we're KB KB is on I think it's marino as the as the backup striker if I was in charge but you've invested a lot of sort of emotional currency in your career as I do understand that and like you say it's got to be a good thing. It's got to come good at some point this season because otherwise you're in you're in deep trouble. Yeah absolutely okay a couple more questions now shall we this was a this was an interesting one this came in from a from podrag is that he says extra time it's that time of the year again chance my yearly question to you last year I asked you to pick our tetas best 11 and subs the human everyone's fit the best 11 we can put on the grass it's interesting to look back on. It's a year onwards please do so again this year please ask James also I enjoyed your combined commentary and insights on the show and be interested on his take this time last year you are with the following Raya Timber Saliva Gabrielle kind of fury.

34:16Zubmendi Odegaard and rice Saka Havirson Ezra subs with Kepa White MLS in capy a marino Madawik in Montenegg Ethan and Yoko Rez missed out Trossard for care and all guard J. Zousen down. I've done this smoking have you know that was me that was you that was my choice last year for best 11 when I was asked who my subs were and who missed out have you done this yes I have sorry sorry Leo. Raya Timber Saliva Gabrielle kind of fury and then Zubmendi I don't see many sorry Bruno Gemma Rice Declan Rice Martin Erdegard Bakaosak Kai Havirts Christos Solis and then on the bench I have Kepa I really did Moll Ilan Melier there I really did in capy a Lewis Kelly

35:17Conzer Zubmendi Marino Yokarez Ezra Madawik which means I've cut mascara white mascara white and diamond Melier. So we've got virtually the same but I've cut Madawik and I've got down one on the bench. So yes that's it got a chance he got in position to have a shot. Yeah but he didn't score it is like you know I'm not terrible why is he get cut why is he sort of having to cut and cut onto the left foot there and just making it so much more difficult to score and just making the goal size so much smaller just roll it with your right foot you've got to be confident enough to take that on your right foot and just do it. It's just a tie up on the call. Go near post I actually thought he played quite well when he came on the same Madawik and I thought it was bright and he caused some problems but you know you've got you've got to score that you've got to take that chance I just don't understand why you have to take that on your left foot I know he's this stronger foot and all of it but you've got to be as a professional footballer you can take that right foot and just side foot it towards a bottom corner I'm making it sound very easy I know I certainly wouldn't have scored it.

36:35I actually think you could do it. I don't think you'd have got there but I think if you'd sort of been transplanted in at that moment I think you'd have scored. Well thank you very much. I think I'm going to have confidence in my football inability. I'd rather have had um sackers opportunity because I'm left footed. I can't believe sackamista. I had done it with the eyes. I opened up my body and rolled in the other corner. I was terrible. I thought that must have bubbled because it wasn't even close he totally ballooned it. I thought it must have bubbled but it's lost his foot in a bit. He did just as he was about to stride he sort of got he had to sort his feet out a little bit and I think that just messed his mind up a little. He just wasn't concentrating and so yeah I mean if you're a kind of sack you literally can't ask for a better chance of that. It's just bread and butter to score that I couldn't believe he missed it. It was such a smooth con like it was like a really smooth conversion in rugby. Yeah lovely for a great ball for my god.

37:35So there you go Padrak thank you for that. So there was just one different we had the same 11 the only change was you I had down on the bench and Matt away K was on my bomb squad list talking about bomb squad. Did you see Gabriel J. Zeus comments? Yes. Not surprising I mean like our tetra kind of admitted in much as much. But that was full on bomb squad you know that was he was bomb squadded which yeah I know I'm not quite I actually had a question. Where is it who is this from this was from Ingrid on the on the page from page. Did I include this? I think I did yes I did is here she says is it terrible to feel very very happy that J. Zeus scored last night for Barca and I'm a softie but I'll tell you to be so mean. I was very happy that J. Zeus scored just very happy for on his debut I think this is first touch as well in the bar so it's good. It was first touch last night because he played against the lens you're actually did you play it in the open yes. So yes no I was very happy for him in grid as well so no you're you're not a softie don't worry.

38:39And they look so good. They do look so they scored five goals in four of their five games this season. And then they ridiculous ridiculous. The one that got away as the center forward as well. Roughine. Maybe the best player in the world right now. He's yeah got a proper slide indoors moment for us all that had you had you bagged for it. Roughine when they were through. So yeah what we talk about bomb squad yeah yeah I just thought it was to actually sort of hear it from J. Zeus and how ruthless it was. I know it's you kind of need it in football I suppose nowadays if you want to get a player out and it did. Arsenal did get him out and they got some good money for him. But yeah it was just quite it's quite you just kind of feel like that's very Chelsea behavior. It's quite funny as well because I think it you can sort of tell that Arsenal didn't know the Barcelona offer was coming because if the minute if you know that Barcelona are looking at signing. J. Zeus you don't kind of you don't need to do that because you don't really need to sell that move to J. Zeus.

39:39Well he said himself it was so quick yeah that's I worried because I'd sort of said. When our teta came out and said he effectively said he's in the bomb squad and then a few days later the the Barcelona stuff came out and I was like oh. I'm going to look stupid here for thinking it was the bomb squad and checked around people like no no no no no it was a. The squad was bombing the squad was bombing then. Certainly seems like there's a smidgen of hurt feelings with J. Zeus and there's sort of rumors about Martin Ellie as well and people said no no pictures with. Artetter in his his farewell statement. I think even if there's truth to that. It was soon it was soon thinking over like you know those are players that are Teta was very close with and I think in time. I think that's why they're both. The bond will be there and hopefully we'll see not J. Zeus back at the Emirates this season. I hope we do not see Gabriel J. Zeus back at the Emirates this season.

40:39Even just as a fan just in case just in case he's sort of going to do something that means that I'll start to play Barcelona. But I hope we see Gabriel Martin Ellie back at the Emirates this season. Yeah does he cross on was there the weekend. I did it's great to see. I was surprised I didn't bring him out and do a you know he's not had a good buy or anything like that the fact he was there. Maybe he didn't want to I don't know if they asked him and he was like I don't really want to do that or whatever but I was a little bit surprised that it was just you know the camera didn't going on him or or anything it was just. Yeah just felt like a good opportunity for him to get a proper Emirates goodbye which he hasn't been able to have. Here's something we should like on that here's something that intrigues me you know the sort of champions what would you call it banners and yeah. The Champions Levery has gone. What do you I thought that was very premature and it sort of feels like a club that. It feels like what you do if you're worried that you will lose the game and people will take the mick out of your social media. I don't know it just feels very mick out of your social media. It's just like okay we don't want you know we've done it brilliant.

41:43But we now we've got to do it again and I just feel like that is absolutely an artist. I was I was sad I was sad they did it before Chelsea as well that you know they could have taken it all down but left it above the way it's. That's exactly where I go in just next to that in block J and yeah I just felt for all the Chelsea fans walking over the bridge it would have been nice just to leave champion right. With their with the blood. Yeah they were they little blow up European cups all around me waving it in in my direction but yes it was it was very nice just to constantly remind them who the champions were in that one and to get one back on them. But yeah I was just surprised to cross I didn't get it maybe because I spoke about this to San Dean and he suggested maybe that was something to do with the whole champions Levery going around as well. I want to make it big sort of ceremony for a returning champion and all that and it might have tied into it because yeah I just was it was a shame and I also felt I do feel I don't know you're very you know you've got your your links and your contacts in Saudi football but I do I did look at Gabriel Martin Ellie playing in Saudi and I was there was a twinge of disappointment.

42:47For him he's not in a Brazil squad I saw that was announced yesterday as well Bruno and Bruno and Gabriel are but Martin Ellie's not which is obviously probably a sign. A shank to volley is the only clip of him I've seen is yeah I have my contacts inside you don't mean I watch Saudi football other than less it comes up on social media not great. No did you see the video of him and Lacker saw a hugging in the tunnel before the game. I didn't but that's a nice. I think his first full start was the first time that Elhan out lost in 50 games or something. Oh no. I think so that's two nil to someone the other day. And Neon the line the line people I think the line is the sort of city they're going to they were going to build in Saudi Arabia in the desert. Oh right yeah straight line that's gone. Okay well we've got another question here this is from Adi.

43:47This is high Charles and James we have a few players who two years left on their deal Oda God have a it's marino white timber Kepper Raya fewer to extend or sell this summer. What would be your picks plus I also considered a renewal curse where the best players suddenly signing out of nowhere become underwhelming Bami and will cut a little. It's a risk isn't that so a lot of players just who is left when you look at it like that big big players well I think you can. You'll be able to strike timber off that list relatively yes soon so I think that's going to be done that's in the final stages. David Raya I would imagine will definitely I mean you cannot cannot lose David Ryan he has to sign a new contract absolutely I saw someone put on the comment who it was on Twitter the other day saying David Raya is the best ask from keeper of all time. I mean it looks out that's that was a bit of a state and then I was thinking of it and I was like well. He's the highest peak I would say I don't know that David Seaman was ever maybe around year 96 was ever like probably the best goalkeeper in the world.

44:55And when he was up there he was up there I mean from sort of 91 to 96 Seaman was incredible like genuinely incredible. But yes I definitely definitely be a David Raya would be 100% extend that have a chance for me would be 100% extend. I would go I'd extend I would let white go I would let Keppa go. So yes I'd let marino go probably as well I see if you can make some money back on marino really handy player but I'm not sure you want to be giving marino an extension now I think maybe at the end of this season he's had three really good years served his purpose but probably try and get a little bit money back on him maybe let him go out to Spain something like that. So I'd let marino go out those ones but I'd be keeping have a odour guard timber and Raya. Yeah like you I was thinking you can imagine seeing like at letty come in and offer you like 20 million for marino and then you probably say yeah go on especially in my future.

46:05My thoughts with Ben White were just you know keep him on the market make sure you kind of know who you'd replace him with maybe just let it run let it let it let it let those two years run I don't think there are a lot of teams as Ben White is at the moment that will be trying to blow up your. And then we do on all the rest yet be two years too long of Kepper this is the harsh truth and then yeah of course Raya Urdu guards and I wouldn't worry about any of them having a drop off suppose you've just got a monitor. Erdogan have it's an effectiveness like you can they give you and that if it happens again this season you have to have serious like conversations internally about can we trust the players bodies to hold up into the future and if not you just do not.

47:06Do not give them the money because you know we meant that over well caught an asshole back in the name of plenty of Arsenal players that got new contracts when. The harsh reality was we knew they weren't going to be fit enough to fulfill those contracts and that's even worse than you know you. I mean have it's is he's not even 28 until June still young I have it's you know you give him another deal now you can get another two three years out of them are still selling for decent money. So yeah as long as he's fit I just I wouldn't even take the thought. Now did you carry the other day saying if you're going to replace Guy have it's in his Arsenal team you literally got to go outside one of the best strikers in the world. Right you know so hard to replace Guy have it so hard I'm not saying he's perfect by any means but. Just everything that he gives to this team and how much better asked why when he plays is it's incredibly difficult to replace him. Jamie carrier has been ahead of the curve on a lot of Arsenal players for a very long time wasn't last year you were saying.

48:09He didn't think you're a resident would start it was all to the first game is after many of the first game last season. I mean Califiori is what I like you know what is the best best left back in the Premier League yeah you do you see your sports pendant. Jamie carrier knows how I'm going to go that far I wouldn't go that far all I've just. Yeah do you praise Jamie carrier so to keep off the screen. That was actually that was actually that was actually that's it and so. We had one here this is a long one so I'm not going to read through it all it was very it's pretty long for Elijah but he's he basically in this saying has you start the season the way we're playing an attack. Kind of shine a light a little bit on the lack of transfer businesses summer and said it's not actually that bad you know that our tetra and butter in the club's decision not to. Go out and just sign someone for the sake of it is being vindicated a little bit by. The fact that we started the season so well and attacking sense and people look fit and even if we had signed someone for the sake of it would they even get on the bench at the moment is when we've so many players.

49:10You know Timber Saliva all to come back and that so that's basically the gist of what Elijah says there. But then the flip side of that is Christos solace looks like he's been here forever because you kind of have that really established core so. If you assume that the the forward that would have come in would have been playing instead of solace maybe the argument is they would have looked really good as well because they're coming into a team that knows its qualities is it's a great argument though for for not. Doing wholesale changes to the team because I think you even saw a Chelsea while they got things right and that front three clicked quite nicely on occasion. There's just so much about the way they're playing that it's like better know what they're doing yet they were not they're doing for another 30 40 games. Before we go have you seen that the Christmas fixtures have been I'm literally just looking at them as you're talking yes the palace has been has I knew that I knew that one I got told about that said the palace one about week ago.

50:12I'm not sure if the palace has been moved to Sunday seven p.m. on the 27th December full and versus Arsenal is on the 30th of December at Craven cottage 7 30 p.m. kick off both of those are on sky. Arsenal whips which Saturday second of January so the first game in 2027 is going to be Arsenal versus it's which first Arsenal game anyway that's just 3 p.m. kick off on a Saturday and my god not see many of those. And then you've got Arsenal versus Brentford on Tuesday the 5th of January so I want to give four games in what a week is that just eight days or something feels like that. It's busy Christmas period busy but you know from a fan perspective and slash like you know our perspective. Is it is it is there more than one boxing day game this year have you seen there are there is a full a smogers board a boxing day sandwich overloaded a tower of boxing day there's a 12 30 or 5 30. 4 4 3 o'clock and then an eight o'clock.

51:13Oh perfect OK that's good that's lovely that's great I'm not going to see my daughter at all. That is good there is a boxing day and Arsenal on there so it's even better so you just watch that from the TV and then go to Arsenal to 27 30s that is perfect. Perfect good well on that note thinking of Christmas already we shall call time on this way it's been a pleasure as always thank you everyone for watching thanks for sending in your comments and questions appreciate that. As always we'll be back at some points and next week probably before it switch I don't know what will work we'll work that out the start next week but until then everyone thanks for watching I'll be back in the morning to do it all over again cheers James mate take it easy. See you soon bye bye.