"BETTER football this season!" Full time ANALYSIS from Deluded Gooner to Arsenal 2-1 Leeds!

talkSPORT

talkSPORT reviews Arsenal 2-1 Leeds: ugly win, title race and Champions League gaps

The show reacts to Arsenal's 2-1 win over Leeds, with CJ admitting it was ugly but stressing the importance of the three points. It then discusses whether Arsenal are better than last season, Madueke's display, the midfield combination, the title race and the Champions League. The takeaway is that Arsenal remain stable title contenders but still have defensive wobbles and need more quality for a Champions League breakthrough.

This episode of Goals is brought to you by William Hill. 18+ GamCare.org.uk Subscribe: https://youtube.com/c/talkSPORT?subconfirmation=1 Enjoyed this YouTube video? 😍 🖥️ talkSPORT's Website: https://talksport.com/ 📲 talkSPORT's X/Twitter: https://x.com/talkSPORT 📷 talkSPORT's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talksport/?hl=en 👤 talkSPORT's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkSPORT/ 📱 talkSPORT's Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talksport ? 🔴 Download the talkSPORT app HERE! - https://talksport.com/apps/ 🔎 Want to see if you feature on our YouTube channel? Check out our Best talkSPORT callers playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFVMnSsi04LGLa9pS9xDvme-Gjmlu2 talkSPORT PremierLeague

Transcript

CJ, Arsenal two, Lee's one. Not pretty, but you won't care. Arsenal go the line and you get the three points. >> It's so ugly. It's beautiful. You know, Leedes were better than us for 55 minutes. From that probably spell of minute 62nd to minute 70. We've turned it around. We've got the goals by then. We had momentum. I think you know towards the closing stages of the game that was the best we defended cuz we did look a bit shaky. Leads will be kicking themselves. Ultimately football's decided at both ends. Didn't defend well enough in the buildup for our goals. Did score against us. great goal with Justin, but had half chances that obviously hindsight's 2020 that they probably could have put more daylight between us. And again, it it's happened to us. You have to kill the opponent from a footballing sense in the Premier League. If there's a a window of opportunity, something can happen. So, for us, it's a great reaction. I wouldn't say it was a sparkling performance or a massive improvement from Brighton, but the one improvement that we needed was the three points. And as you said there, we've got 15 points. It's Liverpool against Manchester City now. We can chill until next week. So, happy boy. Um we were so used to Arsenal last season just like almost it felt like dominating controlling every single game of football they played in. Um you know obviously the fee against Brighton was tough. You were quite open for a lot of this game. Again we are early into the season but from last season to this season have you noticed any parallels any differences in terms of of the approach. You think this Arsenal team are looking a bit more open this season? >> No because obviously it's been our last two games against Brighton and obviously today against Leeds. But prior to that in the other Premier League games everyone was saying we're we're levels above everyone. were dominating games. We did that against Aston Villa. We had them in the Roma. With the grace of respect to commentary, we should be doing that. We've, you know, there's more times we've done it than not. Now, granted, it's happened two in a row, so there's something to address there. But it's the Premier League. You're going to have those wobbles. I would say if anything, we've played a lot better football this season. We've actually penetrated more central areas and been a bit better in an attacking sense. Obviously, today beyond the goals in the second half ain't the best example, but it's still too early to draw conclusions about my team, about anybody in the Premier League, if I'm honest. when we get to gameweek 10 which we're rapidly approaching then we can start to see that sort of stuff. The main thing just points on the board for everyone. >> Um the two wingers today were Saka and Madke and I think you wanted the touch from Mad didn't you because Saka had a really quiet game didn't he? He looked nowhere near his best and Madaweke [clears throat] you played on the left hand side. Um I thought you looked quite lively quite dangerous there. >> Yeah man, you got to give Nani Madawe his flowers. I feel obviously we've won the game. Everyone will focus on the second goal we scored where a lot of players were involved and Bruno gets it and obviously Califf Fury's got involved but I feel David Ry who was probably our most active player when we was a go down and noni Madawi were probably two of our best performers on the pitch today now non gets a lot of stick he doesn't convince everyone he doesn't necessarily convince me and when he doesn't play well by all means you criticize today had a brilli brilliant game I think his decision-m there's question marks longterm about it today it was spot on he probably should have had an assist and things like that especially on the left hand side cuz he probably is better on the where he's got kind of more options. I think he was a bit more cool and calculated and you know players like him they do things at 100 miles an hour. I think he he slowed down his mind today and picked the right bosses. So I think non mad had a brilliant game today man like it will be forgotten about but shout out to him and with Zololis being injured you and Ez >> and and Saka do you think it was one of those days for him today or are you worried about >> if I'm honest with you like none of our nobody was really at their sparkling best of course Bruno was on the bench but in the minutes he played he had his moment. I think Odigard woke up towards the end and was a was instrumental in us turning it around but he didn't really do much. Rice obviously had his flick. He didn't really do much. Sacker was kind of anonymous by his own standards. So collectively there was a lot more to do. You saw our defenders a lot more today. Individually there isn't too many performers where you could say they're at their waxing best but it's the collective in it. For the last half an hour or beyond the 55th minute we were the best team and fortunately we've won the game so we can paint the narrative. >> Um they've got lots of options Abby Arsenal don't they? But it feels like and yeah maybe I'm being a bit harsh on Mars Lewis. I don't not like Mars Lewis he's a footballer. He's a very very very talented footballer. But it feels as if that the Bruno Gimmeres and Declan Rice coming together in midfield is going to happen sooner rather than later cuz you can just see when Bruno Gimme comes off the bench. You know there's a reason why you spent cuz he's such a good player. >> 100% like we've got good competition for places and my with my thing to Bruno to Zubie to Rice and Lewis Kelly go and give Mikuel Art a difficult decision to make because >> I think he's doing that already. >> Exactly. I think I think we've got that already. I think the only one that's probably out of the fold right now is U Zuba Mendy. Lewis Gelly's done well off the back of last season whenever we need him in big games. Obviously, it's a timing thing between Declan Rice and Bruno G. Like if we go back to the Brighton game, I feel prior to that, Bruno G was playing his way into the starting lineup. Now 2020, he's obviously played against Brighton and we were poor. And I think in that game, it just showed as good as Rice and Bruno are, it probably needs a bit of time to gel. And I think at this point in the season, it's just about getting points on the board. But longterm, that's going to be it. You don't sign a 29y old for 70 plus million. But again, if you're not taking your opportunities, if you're not showing consistency, you've got players that can take your chances. And again, we we will even see Mikuel Mourinho playing midfield. Midfield and defense were spot on there. It's the final third where there's question marks. >> Um how how do you guys and so early on in the season, but you know, I think a lot of people went with Arsenal against the league this season, but um again, from the early stages, you know, City have started the season off well, haven't they? You know, big victories at Old Trafford. >> Draw conclusions. Um, but do you think it's going to be again just the two of them, Arsenal and City in a being pretty tight again this season? How do you guys see that doing? >> People have Chelsea in the title race. Again, for me, past the 10 game stages when you could draw conclusions have naturally the money's with Arsenal and City. >> I would always have gone with Arsenal personally. I think Arsenal, if you look across the league, are the most stable. They've had the longest period of time with their manager. They've had the longest period of time with their players. obviously brought in a few new ones here and there, but they've got the most stable football club at the moment. Um they've got a very clear structure way of doing things. I think early indications like maybe before a ball was kicked, I actually think I went with Chelsea as second. I probably would revise that statement. >> Um that's just because I don't think I actually anticipated how poor Chelsea would be defensively. >> They're two topsy >> and how up and down they'd be. I definitely think they've got them and qualitywise they're absolutely stacked. But >> consistency >> City for me, I think I had them I think I had them third. I'd argue I' probably have them second, but they never see obvious see everything that's going on with them. You don't know how it's going to play out. So, they're a big question mark for me as to what actually happens with them in terms of the league in terms of I don't think it's going to affect the players mentally. I think that, you know, at the end of the day, it's nothing to do with them. It's their job and I think outside noise and all the hate should probably just adds more kind of fuel to their own fire. So, I don't really know. But I think I think Arsenal for me I I kind of said it not like a walk in the park, but I don't think Liverpool are at it. Personally, I don't think United are at it. my own club. I can't even win a game. So, I don't include them anyway. >> No more to mention your side there in that in that in that answer to that question. >> Yeah. No, but but I would I wouldn't say anything other than Arsenal because there's no other indicators. There's anyone that is strong enough to challenge Arsenal through the course of a season other than Manchester City. But because of the question marks that are surrounding City, I can't really I can't put my hat on them. And also, I've always been a fan of City in the sense that they've always done like they've done God's work, you know, in stopping Arsenal winning many a league over the years, but I'll be honest with you, I can't I can't even back them now because it's just kind of like they're throwing the whole entire league into disrepute that as much as I hate Arsenal and obviously I didn't want them to win the league, I would rather a team win it the right way than a team. >> Yes, I think so. >> So, you know, if that meant Arsenal go and win the league again than fair. >> Beautiful for Matthew. Um, >> you said you think Arsenal are better this season than last season. >> Oh, I don't know. >> Who said that? said that. >> I never said that. Whoa. >> You say I thought in one of your answers you said this is a better answer to see this season. >> No, no, no. We didn't get that. Yeah. >> Turn on. >> Yeah. Okay. So, I thought you I know. >> So, what's going on today? You keep you keep having these shaky moments. >> I'm I'm reliably told by my producer you did say that. But I just >> I said we're better than last season. Don't take my words out of context. Where are the words? We're better in what regard. >> Okay. So, so you don't think you are? You think this is maybe you think in that? >> How many games did we play last season versus now? How can you draw conclusions? I think we're more expansive. I think we're better in the final third in central regions, but as a whole defensive maybe not >> defensive defensively I still think we're up there. Obviously the last two games there's areas of improvements from central areas and playing attacking football. We've made improvements. I don't know what's wrong with Jamie. What's going on? >> And to be fair didn't say that last season. >> Is this all because I mentioned Elliot Anderson? Why is he hating? >> And to be fair as well you have to >> you can't forget that Celiba still to come back is >> and you've got Celiba still to come back and the post World Cup effect and our players are carrying knocks. It's too early to draw those conclusions, man. >> So early this >> like no one's won a league. >> We still do have to talk about in the first but no one's won a league in the first five games and no one's ever got relegated in the first five games. Much everyone's narrative >> itching for conclusions >> surrounding my own marathon >> about what? >> No. Everyone wants to say that you win the league in the first five and you lose the league in the first. >> I think anyone has ever in the history of football. >> Oh, that seems like oh we're going you're going down. Are you going down? Are you No, cuz it's been five games. >> Are you going down? >> No. >> Are you not? >> No. This year they'll be safe. I think uh I think CJ said the they're playing better football. Oh, fair enough. >> 100% we are. Yeah, 100%. >> Oh, in terms of the style. >> What's going on over there? Yeah, 100% we are. 100% we are. >> Little bit. >> It's all that. >> I think he's blaming me now. [laughter] >> Yeah. Yeah, you need to blame him. >> Are you blaming you putting blame on Sam? >> What's really funny is he switched off. >> You guys have headphones in and I think he wants to talk to you, but he doesn't have the cap. >> Yeah, he doesn't have >> By the way, if you were having a bet on the Premier League right now, >> it's odds on Arsenal to win. Three to one city. I'd take three to one city. Notwithstanding, >> I hear it. >> Obviously, they could get dock points and all that sort of stuff. They're actually five to four to get relegated. So, the fourth favor don't get dock points. >> That 3 to1 is surely quite a nice price given how wide they've started. >> Yeah. And and Arsenal will surely go for the Champions League. >> I hope so. I hope so. I think >> he has to he has to win the Champions League now. He's got that massive that massive pay. >> Come on, man. Like, we'd like to win the Champions League. Come on, man. tens of thousands of >> We're not Real Madrid where we could just say we're definitely going to win it. Of course, we'd love to win the Champions League. I think we need to do >> I think it's hard to win both. >> It's definitely hard to win both. I think we need to do more in the summer league for me to genuinely >> I thought that like that left winger and then like that takes you to the next level. You can go on >> because for me the latter stages is all about don't get it twisted. You need a lot to happen for you in the latter stages. You need your players to be fe in a great moment. But I just think when you get to the quarterfinals in the semis, you need that individual brilliance. >> I think we didn't address that in the summer. I think >> appear she had that invasia. >> Yeah. and they rest their >> inj 100%. And we needed to go and get a Venicious Junior and simultaneously have Saka playing well cuz Saka's a superstar in his own right. We don't have that. And >> you know you me what did you say about they don't play as as hard a games as you? Like I just saw a tweet literally in front of me now. PSG and Bayern won't play a game as hard as Arsenal play today more than five times in their entire cars and and Arsenal have done that against a team who will probably finish around 10th in the league this season. Like you know they're not even one of the the top two or three. >> You say it's the hardest league in the world. So bring it on. >> Most competitive league in the world. Like that's that's why anyone can beat anyone. But that is why you play you play. >> This is Yeah, we live in England. It is what it is. >> That's what the league is. Um, well done. Arsenal 2 leagues one. We'll take a quick break. Then when we come back, um, we will get some Osly from you on on the on the 4:00 game. Um, Abby, are you staying for another 10 minutes or you? >> I'm here for another 10. >> Oh, okay. You're going to you're up till up till 2:56. >> You've got me till Yeah, until kickoff basically. [laughter] >> Okay, good.