Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hello and welcome into the latest edition of ESPN FC. Kay Murray, Alejandro Moreno and Cheka Hislov here in the studio. We'll be kicking things off by talking about what happened in the Premier League at the weekend where the top three teams all dropped points. Arsenal, obviously, among that trio, but ended up actually extending their lead at the top of the table to seven points.
Man City losing to Manchester United. Aston Villa... losing to Everton and after that loss Unai Emery said that his side are not top five contenders he said we are not a contender to be in the top five we are still not being contenders there are other teams with more potential than us We're going to now welcome in Julien Laurent and Mario Melchios as well to continue this conversation.
But we did put you to task today because we've asked you guys for your top five predictions, following on from Unai Emery saying what he said. And all of you have Villa in the Champions League places, even though their own manager doesn't. So what do you think provoked that comment, Jules?
Chapter 2: What happened in the Premier League this weekend?
It's interesting, isn't it? I think he was quite grumpy by the bad performance of his team to start with and that defeat against Everton at Villa Park. The injury to John McGinn, which is another injury on top of the likes of Kamara and Onana, etc. The fact that he probably lost Daniel Malen the day before that game due to financial reasons.
This is probably the only explanation you could have to let Malen go now, even if they would replace him with Tammy Abraham, which is, I think, could be a clever signing, you still don't want to lose Malen at this stage of the season when you're potentially aiming or fighting for potentially winning the title. So I think all of that probably made him a bit grumpy because this is not true, really.
They are obviously top five contender easily.
Chapter 3: How did Arsenal extend their lead in the Premier League?
They are when you see the gap between them and... fourth place is quite significant at this time of the season. So I think it was just a bit grumpy and he's probably not too happy with not just where the team is at right now because we said first half of the season they did really well but overachieved a lot of their metrics and a lot of their stats.
Won some games where they probably didn't deserve to win them and now it seems to things have levelled a little bit and they're obviously not as good and not winning those games as we saw on Sunday plus the injuries. It was probably a little bit too much for Unai on Sunday afternoon.
Yeah, a little bit grumpy Mario because he's obviously not used to losing home games. You do have them like the rest of the boys in your top five. Why do you think they did lose that game to Everton at the weekend?
Also because of their own chances. You know, if you look at the game, you saw how many opportunities Rodgers, for example, had.
Chapter 4: What are the implications of Unai Emery's comments on Aston Villa?
And normally Rodgers is their main guy. And I was impressed with that, for that to happen. And of course, OK, you saw some of the mistakes that they made. But this one, you know, like your goalkeeper, normally he's one of the most reliable guys, but he let it go. I mean, I don't want to talk about goalies while Xhaka sits there. But the way he finished that goal, Barry, is just incredible.
You know, so calm, he chipped him. But for me, the key thing is like what Jules said, it makes sense. He said that, but he knows that he has to take the pressure off his team. The only way to do that is make sure that the public knows, oh, we are not going for top four, we're going to drop, but later on they're going to pick up.
I don't see any, OK, problems maybe now, but I think he knows what he wants and he will guide his team to make sure that they play Champions League next season.
Can I tell you something shocking? Mario Melchior has not gone for Chelsea in his top five. In fact, only one of you has. It's Alejandro Moreno. Not Manchester United, though. Did Manchester United not do enough for you at the weekend against Man City?
Well, they have to do enough for a longer period of time than a single game. Look. It was an impressive performance. I thought they were really good.
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Chapter 5: Who are the top five teams predicted to finish in the Premier League?
I thought they were surprisingly good in their first game under Michael Carrick. But it's not enough just yet. It's been too many false dons with Manchester United. Too many times that we sit in the studio and we go, well, it seems like they're about to turn the corner. It seems like they have turned the corner. Okay, brighter days ahead.
And then reality sets in and they're unable to string results. So, Until they do it for a longer period of time than one single match, then I have to go with somebody else. Now, it's not like I was thrilled to pick Chelsea. It's not like I was overly confident and said, yeah, confidence. Here you go, Chelsea. No, it's like you're picking... the worst of the best of a bad bunch.
And you kind of go, well, I think maybe Chelsea is that team. I think maybe Chelsea could be that team.
Chapter 6: What factors influenced predictions for the top five teams?
But they too lack consistency. They too lack the consistency that I'm asking from Manchester United and the continuity that I'm asking from Manchester United. you can see those same issues with Chelsea. So it's a pick-em game here when it comes to Chelsea and Manchester United. Either one of them I suppose could finish in the top five.
I'm going to take Chelsea because I suppose I believe more, slightly more in them than I do Manchester United.
That's not overly convincing at all.
He believes slightly more than Mario does. Mario, what happened in that game? Was that the game that was convincing you not to put your former club, Chelsea, in your top five?
No, because I'm going, I picked my stats that I picked was from the moment where we are now. You understand? And I don't think Chelsea performed really well to win that game. They won the game, but I don't think they were really convincing. You know, I think, you know, like they didn't turn up and play that well.
I don't want to say, sorry, that Bedford was incredible with their play, but I just felt like, no, Chelsea didn't play well. But on the other hand, you're talking about Man United. I was at that game. So that one, I'd definitely tell you. That, oh, Ellie said like they are not that. Ellie, hey, this is the best I've seen Man United for the whole season. The way I saw them play. Tactically, whoo.
But I will not go there. I will go there when Kay wants me to go there.
Fair enough, Mario. When I was making my assessment of Manchester United, I did say that they were impressive against Manchester City, and I thought that they looked really good, and they're knocking the ball around, and you're kind of going, wait, who are these guys? And the reason you're asking those questions is because they haven't been this. And so, look.
I repeat and I double down on what I said earlier. We need to see this more often than every once in a while. And it so happens that over the last few seasons when Manchester United have been in the depths of their struggle, for whatever reason, against Manchester City, they at the very least have made it a difficult match for Manchester City, if not having won some of those games as well.
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Chapter 7: How did Manchester United perform against Manchester City?
Because United are going to play exactly like they did against City or Trafford on Saturday. 30% of the ball in transition. Fast counter-attack. Carrick is going to pick exactly the same team. To go back to Mario's point, Ahmad and Dogu will double up with Dalot and Shaw on Saka and Trossard or whoever the Arsenal wingers are. It's going to be very difficult to go through.
And you will have to be very on their counter-attack. So... From an Arteta point of view, mix the teams up for Inter Milan tomorrow and get your strongest XI on Sunday for what will be a much more difficult game for different reasons than the one tomorrow.
Do you agree with that, Xhaka?
I do. And particularly, as Jules points out, because of who that last game is. in the Champions League at home. And you've given yourself, with six wins out of six so far in the competition, you've given yourself, you've earned that leeway to put out a second team, to concede against Inter, even with Bayern doing as they are.
Even with that, Champions League taken care of by the shouting, and as disappointing a performance as it resulted once for Manchester City, you then, OK, you drop two points with a draw. You just want to steady that ship, certainly in the league, up against a Manchester United team who are buoyed from their own performance.
Right now, of the two games, that is by far the more important, with far more knock-on consequences if you lose. If you lose against Inter, no real big deal. If you lose against Manchester United, Manchester City win, all of a sudden we're having a very different conversation about what the top of the Premier League table looks like.
So I think right now, while the old cliche is you take it game by game, I'm not sure that Arteta does or should.
Absolutely. More Champions League action will be coming up this week in the form of Real Madrid hosting Monaco. And ahead of it, Julien Laurent has caught up with Florent Balogun to talk more about it.
Whatever you play, whoever you play for, whoever you are, facing Real Madrid must be special at any time, right?
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Chapter 8: What strategies might Arsenal use against Inter in the UCL?
See the curls? Yep. It's like Mario.
I would defend you there, Kate, but Kate likes to go at people, so that's why I allowed him. Keep going, keep going, because he loved it.
I saw it. I was here for that.
Let me just put that in my notes.
I'll be back.
Mario, as PSV will win the Eredivisie this season, who will finish second? Feyenoord, Ajax, NEC or Groningen?
Look, you know what I think about Ajax, but they're changing some stuff. They brought the son of Cruyff here, so hopefully he will put some old-school Cruyff in that team because they need some help. But PSV is definitely going to be the champions, so I go for Ajax second because I expect them to do something. OK, nice stuff.
OK, how far do you think Senegal can reach in the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Remember, they're already in a difficult group. What's their group? Their group is France, Norway, Senegal, and then TBD.
And TBD, that team is tough.
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