Morning all.
Here’s today’s Inside Arsenal for you, discussing Rodrygo, Joan Garcia and Raheem Sterling, as well as giving my thoughts on PSG’s Champions League final demolition of Inter Milan.
Enjoy.
0:00 – Intro
1:15 – PSG thrash Inter
7:25 – Rodrygo latest
9:39 – Garcia to Barca
13:32 – Sterling signs
15:17 – Your questions
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33 Comments
Arsenal lost the tie against psg in the first leg. Our shape just didnt work, timber was off his game, whether because khava was just too good or because his injury was slowing him down. Psg were the best team in ucl, they deserved to win. But much like city, chelsea under the russian etc, their club is just oil fc.
Quite like to see sambi, viera, heinz get a chance in pre season
Hey Charles,
I can’t believe how PSG absolutely pulverized Inter. I’m with you, think we could have beaten them (although would worry about no Timber and injury doubts on Rice and Saka) but worthy champs for sure. Even tho most expensive squad in the world as you point out. Messi, Neymar, Mbappe …the most expensive forward line of the modern era??
Wanted to ask, do you think that it is a little bizarre that Sesko negotiations have only been reported by Plettenburg, who is hit and miss. I looked into Fabrizio’s tweets and he’s just reporting what Florian said. There’s been nothing from Sami Mokbel at the BBC or Ornstein at all! Considering Sami is extremely reliable and reported on Gabriel contract, he definitely has the sources, wondering why him and Ornstein silent on this.
Could it just be pure speculation on FP’s part at this stage?
Arteta kills any kind of player who wishes to express themselves. I would not be surprised if Downman goes to another team. Methodical system-based football.
When is he going to learn all these stats, control: does not translate to wins. And it's boring as heck. Need to switch back to 2022 2023 season style.
Almost fainted when CW said Sterling signed for Arsenal.
Charles, what did you think of the concept of the live performance before the final of the Champions League? (Taking aside the brilliant performance from an all time great band in Linkin Park).
Is this good for the Champions League? Or does UEFA cheapen the spectacle by turning it into a pseudo-Superbowl of sorts. Or a combination of the two?
Interested to hear your thoughts
If Raheem Sterling signed for longer there would be a riot 😂
Can someone tell me why we have a recruiting department and I don’t think they are doing their jobs. There are so many other players that suits our left hand side other than big names for big payments. What happen d to Semido from bourmoth or barcola from psg why are we sticking out for the most unlikely option to move like Rodrigo from real. We need to move like Liverpool and other big clubs is either we get them or we move on. These deals for Arsenal take too long to be done even if it’s for big money.
They might not call themselves galacticos but all of the PSG players are really, very much beyond being affordable for other clubs
On not getting Garcia last summer, have to disagree with you Charles that it was because Arsenal messed around. To me it seemed that Arsenal had to first wait for Ramsdale to leave and unfortunately no-one came in for him. Then Southampton who were trying to buy the Feyenoord keeper decided not to as they found an issue in his medical and pivoted to Ramsdale. We tried for Garcia but it was too late so we went for Neto. If you look back at the time between Ramsdale's sale and getting Neto in it was actually quite short. Sometimes these things are out of your hands.
Kelleher might be a good alternative backup keeper if Garcia is not an option
Dragging out the Zubimendi deal I see. What a crap club.
Regarding the Rodrygo saga – I actually don’t think it’s something that can drag out through the summer, it’s pretty black and white with the CWC. Rodrygo and Xabi were both cordial in pressers which is normal when a new manager arrives, but if Xabi sees Rodrygo as a starter is yet to be seen. I think this is something that only Xabi knows, but the CWC starts in 2 weeks, so I expect them to have a conversation and for this to be clear within that time frame.
Theres no way Xabi will give Rodrygo the world cup to “see” if he fits in the system, either hes in or hes out. On our side, it just doesn’t make sense to wait the tournament out or to even get a players word and have to let them play it, so I think if Rodrygo plays that CWC, it’s because hes going to be a Madrid player, we’ll find out very soon!
Hi Charles, did you get the sense watching PSG dismantle Inter last night, that they are effectively what Arteta's project is striving for, but just further along, and with slightly better players? The way the attacking trio of Kvara, Dembelé, and Doué interchanged fluidly, pressed high, and tracked back defensively, combined with the driving runs of Vitinha, and the solidity of Ruiz and Neves, they had Inter chasing shadows. More importantly, it felt like a template for what we (Arsenal) should demand from our forwards and midfield. While losing in the semis stung, it would be churlish not to admit that the best team in Europe won the UCL. And I hope we reach that level next season with our signings.
Garcia isn't going to happen. Should have happened last season.
Rodrygo isn't going to happen. I especially don't want a player who doesn't want to come. We should be better at identifying future stars and getting them once identified. I hadn't heard of Doue or Barcola before this season (I don't think either is through PSG's academy), yet there they are at PSG. I didn't know of Rodrygo (or Vini) either before they were at RM. There's a place for buying world beaters, but that's only part of a good recruitment strategy. We can't identify a Joan Garcia type player and then not get him, while identifying and getting a winger like Marquinhos only to later send him out the door.
Hallo Charles,PSG 1st goal, the one touch passes was beautiful.However,if we had a fully fit squad they couldn't have beaten us and that is why I would urge our scouts to do a good business in this transfer window improve our squad depth with really quality players not quantity.we were ok until injury's started but we can do better next season.i congratulate the current squad and they can do better next season they have the chance only they have to prove.
Rodrygo not ideal but fine if we buy him but he'd stay anyway
Some analyses on Martinelli versus European winger targets, Mbeumo… very interesting
But seriously, a large part of our problems come from Arteta's mindset, approach and tactics. . Just look at PSG vs our generally crab and u shape attack!! Where's our pace , and technical flair?
Btw, a top AM is a must or the new forwards would continue to underperform
And don't blame the injuries, again, Arteta's problems, some say training (why all these hammy issues ?), but not rotating and having players to is self inflicted
Donkey Arteta is gonna show up with Ørdegaard as Captain next season… that means new failure next season. 💁
Seems like PSG did their homework on the Inter keeper. Always went to the near post and almost always beat him
I don’t think people are giving enough flak to Edu for messing up the past windows. They for whatever reason just blame Arteta.
do they make you feel a little bit cold, Charles?
Time to move on from Rodrygo. Not worth waiting for. Go get Eze and Mbuemo and a striker and we are golden.
Hey, sir Charles Watts,
Personally, i would love to hear only the news about Arsenal,
Ideas and suggestions does't make sense.
Because you're one of many reliable sources.
So I will wait for you to focus next time only on the news about our club.
Especially transfer news on ins and outs.
Thank you.
We should consider signing Barcola for plan B if we can't get Rodrygo.
Williams, Gittens & Eze can't match Barcola.
Arsenal need a winger , Rodrigo shouldn't let us down
To think arsenal done so well against the best team in the world with a depleted squad literally no striker. And people want arteta out 😂 are they trying to destroy our club from the inside or simply don't know exactly what we have/where we are right now
Rival fans pulling tiktok headed fans pants down
Could have gone for Kelliher from Liverpool, although he probably wants to be first choice now. Great signing for Brentford.
Didn’t know they were a state team and also had the biggest wage bill in world football. That makes me fucking hate them so much more wtf! Btw anyone else notice their piece of shit fans sneak whistles into the games and blast them when the opposing team is in their box!? Go back and watch the game with them I think it was the second leg ode has a chance at the edge of the box and a huge whistle blows and it looks like he stops thinking the ref blew this whistle. Fuck that team!!!!
Granted I would love to have a 6’3” version of Raya in goal…that’s Garcia!
I don't want to sound mean about Sterling Junior's signing, but I don't want the Arsenal academy to turn into a finishing school for the well connected children and siblings of famous footballers. I see Ethan Nwaneri's brother is in the academy as well, so are some wannabe footballers getting easier entry than others? This can lead to cynicism – Odegaard no doubt came up against the doubters due to his father which might have worked against him before he landed at Arsenal. For every positive story (Jobe the younger helping Sunderland rise to the Premier League) there is a negative one – think of the enormous scrutiny Cristiano Ronaldo's son is receiving. When there are no family ties to a club and you are a kid it is hard enough even when there is outstanding talent like Max Dowman's. When you have an older brother or father possibly opening doors, the nepo baby suspicions will make people think there is unfair advantages at work, and that can backfire on a child's mental health.
Charles, do you reckon we’ll be a physical change in Nwaneri next season with a full season under his belt and another year older, perhaps looking more adapted to the senior game?
Hello team Watts,
Kindly educate me, what is are the qualifications a team should possess to participate in the club World Cup. A why is Arsenal never in that particular competition????