Hello everyone and welcome back to Inside Arsenal.
In today’s show I look ahead to tonight’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting, discuss at what Mikel has had to say ahead of the game about Bukayo Saka and give my Arsenal predicted XI.
0:00 – Intro
1:15 – Atletico knock out Barca
3:25 – Team news
4:35 – Arteta on Saka
6:00 – Arteta’s midfield options
8:10 – Eze’s comments
10:45 – Arsenal predicted XI
13:15 – Your views and questions
Become an Inside Arsenal Patreon member, get exclusive extra content and help support my work and the channel: https://www.patreon.com/charleswatts
Also subscribe and get episodes via podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/inside-arsenal-with-charles-watts/id1809140671
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/62yOkixgu1OVskaiuIqDXv
YouTube music podcasts: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKCKV3-NZV9PcNKumKpjQGDc0XyH0MPEn
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/81288714-48b8-4569-a8aa-5924c46e16a1/inside-arsenal—with-charles-watts
Acast: https://shows.acast.com/inside-arsenal-with-charles-watts
33 Comments
i don't want to be the #nextSeasonFC this time around. it will cement our bottlers tag! 😢
I feel dread about Sunday now 💀
⚡️ HIGH WATTAGE ⚡️
I was always prioritising Arsenal winning Champions league, cuz of our record in CL, but this year im leaning towards Premier league, because if we will not it will be definition of bottling. Imagine if we finish the league 2nd and spurs 17th. Those two fanbases would be polarised in terms of feelings about season. Those on 17th would probably be happiest fanbase in league.
Just finished a calc 2 paper, think I passed. Just need the guys to get done with this tie and it'll be a great day💪
The team doesn't need fire, it needs ice. Calm composed and focused. Mikel is STILL too emotional inho he is brilliant tactician but his emotions get the better of him when the pressure is hottest. Eze's attitude was spot on, we don't care we are just focused, that's what we need.
Arteta should drop Zubi for MLS, but he won’t.
Players I want to see involved are Mosquera, Norgaard, MLS, Downman and Eze. Sick and tired of seeing tired players on the pitch! Time to step up lads #COYG
I feel we need to beat City when it counts. I think that is the last psychological hurdle this team needs to overcome. Winning high stakes games. Winning games that matter.
Calafiori can't be a real person. When did he even get injured this time?
Full backs Hincampie and Mosquera surely
I'm confused about Arteta's use of Havertz. He is only using him in midfield now, something which has never never worked in the past, where Kai has been so much better as a 9 for us. Why not start him as a 9 today and rest Gyokeres? I mean, Gyokeres is not CR9 either….right?
Zubemendi & White is nuts Charles
I actually think I’m not going to watch it live today. I’m just not enjoying it anymore. I’m just a mess the entire time and the way we play is horrible to watch. I just can’t take another year of falling just short. Im usually not a crazy person but Arsenals April form the last 4-5 years has slowly turned me in to one. Love your content Charles
You must be tempted to cut that corner off your desk. Great vid. UTA.
Charles. When will there be a proper investigation into why Arsenal are so hated? I've been a supporter for a very long time. Pushing 44 years now. And I don't remember this universal hatred for Arsenal from EVERY rival out there. I mean we have Liverpool and United fans wanting City to win the title. Let that sink in. Now I have my own theory, that the level of hatred grew with the introduction of AFTV who seriously hurt Arsenal fans reputations by constantly having angry Arsenal fans screaming at the camera game in and game out during Wenger's final years. I think the damage done to Arsenal by AFTV is irreversible. And I'm frankly sick of the hate we get. Because its really unjustified.
@Charles, do you think its damning that Eze sounded more calm and collected than Arteta who sounded panicked with his "fire" chat. Reminds me of the interviews before the Carabou Final when Rice said we need to win the final to spur us to more trophies this season whereas Eze countered that and said we need to look at the final as one game and not a determination of the rest of season. Now we lost the final and it looks like the players are nervous (further evident by that Rice interview). I think the manager and team should take a lesson out of Eze's book.
I want to see the players enjoying their football, enjoying being on the pitch and working with each other. Have fun!
Trossard, Madueke and Gyokeres? I really think he should go with Rice in the 6 if fit, otherwise play Norgaard in the 6. Then play Havertz in the 8, Dowman in the 10 and Eze at LW.
I wish i really really wish that our LW and RW players would occasionally swap sides during a game to give the option of first time early crosses into Gyok with the opposite winger hitting the far post. PLEASE
I believe of we win the league this season that we will win it again next season. It's because that curse will be broken and if we played this bad I am sure we could loosened up next season
Arsenal is not the same Arsenal few months ago. I can’t watch this Arsenal with confidence I don’t know why.
Hopefully negative Embarrassing “FIRE” Arteta takes the handbrake off and allow his players to express themselves! “Bring your lunch bring your dinner” Match Day! Up The ARSENAL🔴⚪️
I don't watch a lot of football outside of Arsenal but knew Atleti Barça would be epic. Add that we are so boring to watch, I need that fix of good football (yes, I care about Arsenal playing good football).
Oh boy this game delivered!
I am also reaaaaaally glad we aren't facing Barça if we go through, they would have crushed our unfitness team
COYG
Troussard has been appalling for a while….one of the players who need to be replaced
HOPEFULLY SPORTING WILL WIN , NOBODY LIKES ARSENAL OTHER THEN THERE OWN DELUDED FAN'S
Sporting 💚💚💚💚💚
Good day all and Charles. Charles you often say we fans "Can't remain down". Not sure why you and Mikel don't get how a lot of fans feel watching this football. Yes, we are in a good position, but the way we play is worrying, yet time and time again we're told to be positive. Football is an emotions sport, built on fighting spirit, if there's no fight, we are emotionally affected by what we see. Respect our feelings, ww support, we pay, ww have the right to feel dissapointes even if temporarily. COYGs
Mls and Ben white ..it is over 😂the 😂😂the
Charles, watch the Barca vs Athletic yesterday and thought wow.. both these teams are really impressive in moving the ball and pressing. That was our game earlier in the season. Do you think we peaked so early in the season and now other teams are recovered from injuries and now beginning to peak. When we go through to the semis, we can’t take it for granted that we can easily beat Athletic again. We stand by our team. COYG
Hi Charles, i hope you are well.
With the game tonight, i hope the lads turn up and give us a win we are craving for. I have full faith they can bring the fire!
Thinking towards the game against city. Tactically, i would alter our approach.
If city implement that that setup again where they push 4 players forward, i would get Raya to play long and move our defence further up and be closer to our midfield. This should push city back and give us a better chance of not only trying to bypass their defence, but win the second ball too. Easier said than done. But trying to play out from the back against that system city played would be suicide. Thoughts? Or what would you like to see differently?
Keep up the good work 👍
Dennis
So right Charles. Rice out if there is the slightest risk. Zubi needs to get his head right, not physical issue. Arguably better having a game.