Arsenal set pieces sink Man United
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The Athletic FC Podcast Network. The only way to score is, of course, to play with a handbrake off. Hello, I'm Ian Stone. This is Handbrake Off, the Arsenal podcast brought to you by The Athletic on Wednesday evening, last night, in fact, the Arsenal.

Beat Man Utd 2-0. Two set-piece goals could have had another five, I think, at a rain-soaked Emirates Stadium. To reflect on the game and look at the Fulham on Sunday, I'm joined by Art De Roche and James McNicholas. Morning. Good morning. Morning, Ian. Morning. Before we talk about the main game, Jakub Kivior and Oleksandr Zinchenko came into the Arsenal back line against Manchester United, part of a very composed defensive performance, aside from one little moment

from Zinchenko for which he got booked and Ryan made a great save and we'll get to that can you think of a time when you've had to step into a tricky situation and smashed it James I hate to say this Ian but not I can't really a bit of understudy work where you know the main character is not you know laryngitis James do you know the part and you're like yes I do I know it off by heart yeah that has happened although I think smashed it would be a stretch survived it maybe yeah

But yeah, I have done that. There was a guy, I was in a play in Edinburgh and a guy twisted his ankle literally, I think, 20 minutes before we were about to go on stage. Was it a physical role? Yeah, it was more of a fool than a role, to be honest with you, mate. But there were six people. It was a six-man production of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Oh God, I'm feeling, I'm dreading it already, I'll be honest with you.

And basically it became a five-man production of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Did it lose 17% of the sort of vibe of the whole thing? Lost a star. It lost a star. And you stepped in? I stepped in. Oh, yeah, it was all right, actually. It was all right. I think there was some thought to like, well, maybe it's better like this. But, you know, it's hard. Once he got better, we had to let him back in the play. Yeah, fair enough. He twisted his ankle. So how long was he out for? It was only a three-week festival, wasn't it, to be honest with you?

Yeah, I think he came back after a few days. It was a quick recovery, Martin Odegaard style, you know. He worked hard on his fitness, as everyone does, as all the performers do in Edinburgh, to be fair. Exactly, unusual methods. Quite. Art, have you stepped into a tricky situation and smashed it or survived it or just hobbled through it in some way?

Probably a bit of all three. I was thinking kind of along similar lines because I used to play rugby as well as football growing up. And there was one match when I was about 13 or 14 where, so I was always a winger, but our outside centre got injured. So I moved in there and then our fullback got injured in the same game. So I moved back there and then I never moved again after that. So I think I did all right if I kind of cemented a new position after all those injury kind of moments.

scares but I guess maybe a few of the coaches might be able to give a more honest answer it was probably more hobbled than survived

Well, ladies and gentlemen, we've got Art's ex-rugby coach just on the line now to give us an appraisal. I think one of them listens, so he might be able to send a tweet or something. Yeah, I mean, the key word there, of course, with rugby is injuries, you see, because it's a ridiculous, rough game. Anyway, well done for stepping in.

Yeah, I'm similar with Jay. I stepped in for a corporate actually. It was quite well paid and I only got a day's notice because normally with these corporates, you have to have a briefing call and it's a whole fuss.

But with this one, I didn't have any of that because the main, the actor who was going to do it got ill. And so I got a phone call and winged it, completely winged it. And obviously it went fine because it's just a gig in it. In the end, it might be two, you know, quantity surveyors or what it was. And yeah, got away with it. I mean, there's not much to that story, but I did anyway. Sorry, there was absolutely nothing there at all. I did a gig. It was all right.

Anyway, Arsenal 2. Man, I know. I know you'd take that one with you, listener. Arsenal 2, Manchester United 0. Didn't feel like an Arsenal-Mayor United game, did it, James, to be honest with you? It felt... I mean, I saw Amy afterwards and she said, I hate them. Don't you hate them? I said, I do. I hate them. I absolutely hate them. But I find it hard with Mayor United now because they're a mid-table team, aren't they? And so, really, we turn up there, we should expect to win a game like that.

Yeah, I think so. And maybe that expectation played into what was quite an unusual atmosphere in the first half. There was the big build up before the game, the 500th competitive men's game at the Emirates Stadium. They had the light show, they had the hype video, they had the music.

Reading the names twice as well, did you notice that? Yeah, what are your thoughts on that, the sort of call and response for the names? Well, it's a bit, it takes twice as long, doesn't it really? I mean, after a while you're going, blimey, how many more players have we got? We're here for ages. So I wasn't keen, did you like it? Did you like it, reading the names twice?

So I wasn't there, but I've experienced it before. And I think it just depends if people are actually ready for it. So maybe with a bit more trial and error, it can work a bit better. I don't know. Trial and error? What, three names for one and one name for the other? I don't understand. All right, fair enough. But what do you reckon, James? Generally a weird atmosphere there. Not like United games in the past. Yeah, and just quite a flat game as well. You know, I think...

In the first half in particular, United looked quite composed. They looked like they had a bit of structure about what they were doing. And Arsenal didn't really do enough to move them about or break that down. No. I don't know if it's because we've had such brilliant first halves recently against Sporting and then against West Ham, but it felt like the crowd were a bit unenthused about what they were seeing as well. So by half-time, although we'd had a couple of chances from set pieces and United had that chance for Dallow when the ball broke from in the box...

it had been quite an odd sort of tepid encounter. Fortunately, I thought we were much better after the break. Yeah. Yeah, I think that's, that is true. Are Gabriel and Calafiori out, Kivior and Zinchenko in? Were you a bit worried when you saw that starting lineup? If I'm honest, not absolutely.

As worried as I might have been, just when you look at how United rotated their side, especially on the right, there was a Diallo starting. So I was a bit more settled, especially with Zinchenko. With Zinchenko as well, I think for the past few weeks, I've kind of been wondering when is that start going to come? So I'm glad that he actually played well.

fairly well with his start and then with Kivior he actually looked a lot more confident than in previous games and in some of the corners he was actually the one that was instructing people where to go which I thought was quite interesting because he doesn't seem like that type of guy when you just see him maybe on TV all the time so I think it was quite encouraging a night for him as well. Yeah

Yeah, I mean, I would say in terms of that instructing people, I think he went over, he was told what sort of corner it was going to be, and he went back and he told people. I don't think he was actually ordering people about. But I do like Dan Critchlow on Blue Sky posted a picture of Gabriel hyping up Kivior. And he did say, and I thought this was an interesting point, Kivior's presence of mind to chest it back to Ray near the end was encouraging. I'm convinced his biggest issue lately has been a loss of confidence. Hopefully today gave him some confidence.

I would agree with that statement. What do you think, James, about that? It's really about confidence with him.

I think so. And I think the key thing to remember with him is he's played the vast majority of his football career for Arsenal in a position that's not his best, right? He's played left back and that's... And sometimes when he's played, he's played right-sided centre-back. This was a rare start in the position he was bought for, left-sided centre-back. You can understand him barely getting a kick in that because Gabriel's been outstanding and he's played...

So many games, right? Game after game after game. But I think this was a really good night for Jakub Kivior. And Mikkel Arteta spoke about him afterwards, said big credit to him for the way he came into the team and looked relatively settled. I have to say, I thought he was helped by William Saliba, who in the absence of Gabriel really stepped up a level. I thought that he took on the kind of seniority in the defensive partnership and had an excellent performance.

Yeah, I mean, I think William Saliba has been great for a couple of weeks, actually. Just before we get to him, though, Oleksandr Zinchenko, I thought he did well. I like when he steps into midfield and he starts playing fast.

passes around and he's and he sort of seems to shift us up the pitch a little bit you know he's got a mistake in him second half he made that mistake and they got the free kick and it was a fantastic by the way save from david raya at one nil that could have been very very different there's the issue with zinni isn't it you i mean you could have you could have put your mortgage on um on

on Zinchenko making one mistake and it possibly leading to a chance for them. Yeah, I think he came off at the right time. But when he was on the pitch, what encouraged me was he wasn't just passing, I guess, in a straight line forward. So he was finding Erdegaard across the pitch as well. It gave a very different dynamic to some of the attacks, which is nice. And also...

There were points, I think, in the first half where when he steps in, Rai actually steps almost into a centre-back position next to Saliba, which was quite funny to just see because I was watching with my mum and she was a bit kind of miffed.

By seeing Raya that high up the pitch, she's always got a thing about goalkeepers being too high. But yeah, I think Zinchenko, good for him to actually get a start. And hopefully if he's needed in the next few weeks over Christmas, he can just step in again. Yeah, give him some minutes. Uri and Timber scored the first goal from the set-piece.

James, he's a monster, isn't he, Timber? I mean, my son was sat next to me, Alexander, and he turned to me at one point and he went, I wouldn't want to play against him. No, I mean, he's fantastic. He's finding his best level now as well. And he's every bit as good as I hoped he would be.

Last night he played two positions, Sean at right back and then went over to left back after Zinchenko went off and was good there too. He gets the goal, which has been coming. He had a goal disallowed against Forest. He had a good effort saved against West Ham. He really does a bit of everything and he's very tigerish in the challenge, isn't he? He's a guy who hates losing any one-to-one, any duel. And Mikko Arteta is going to love that. I think he's a fantastic player and it's...

You know, you can debate what Arsenal's best back four is if everyone's fit and available. But I think Jurian Timber would be in most people's selection. And given the wealth of defensive options Arsenal have at their disposal...

That's really remarkable. Yeah. Adam Keyes also posted on Blue Sky. I really liked it. Never forget, Man Utd paid for Uri and Timber to attend the FA Cup final in a box at Wembley just for him to turn down Eric Ten Hag and sign for Arsenal. Football is a glorious sport. You're right, Adam, it is, especially when he scores the first goal against Manchester United. In terms of the second goal, Art,

William Saliba. I'm so glad he scored. I mean, I'm really glad. And he does love scoring a goal, doesn't he? That celebration into the corner, hugging the fans. I mean, apparently in training he's been practising with his arse quite a bit, apparently. There's a lot of sort of arse movement, you know, that they've worked on that. It's a great finish.

I'm just so pleased for him. And as James says, he's been such a giant in defence. And we forget how young he is. But what a player and a great performance last night. Yeah, what struck me was just how calm he was when the ball's, I guess, been put in behind him.

And the easy option is to go back to David Uriah, but no, he's just going to drop his shoulder, turn the other way. So I think he's probably the one. I know Amazon gave Declan Rice Man of the Match, but I think just how almost casual he was warranted some sort of recognition. He was ridiculous. And I think, yeah, coming into Christmas, if Gabriel isn't available, you'd hope to see more of the same.

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By the way, all this stuff about Gabriel. I mean, they said it was precautionary, right? So that doesn't sound too bad. But hey, listen, this is just hope talking here. What can I tell you? By the way, up to Joe, the stat. Arsenal had more shots from corners than they did from open play against Manchester United. Seven to six.

Indeed, the Red Devils conceded two goals from corners in a Premier League match for the first time since 2014 against Chelsea. Targeted, is what Alter Joe said. Yeah, set piece FC. Set piece FC. Set piece FC. I love it. I absolutely love it. I genuinely do. Do you know what? I'll tell you what I love about it. It's how much it annoys everyone else.

that we score all these goals. I mean, for years, for years, they said, where's your plan B? Where is your plan B? We can only play one way. Now we've got a plan B and look how much it annoys people. Yeah, I don't get why it riles people up so much. So I was on holiday last week and for the sporting game, uh,

we were watching at a German pub and as soon as the corner for Gabriel's goal came, we all knew what was going to happen. But the stream froze and we still knew it was a goal. We just had to wait for the stream to come back. So from an Arsenal perspective, it's really a weird experience because it's almost like a penalty that you're getting. And I feel like the way, especially on social media, people talk about how much

Arsenal relying on set pieces I wouldn't say it's relying it's just another part of their arsenal and it's really nice that but on both sides we have ridiculous takers and I think with

Saka and Gabriel, what's really kind of struck me looking back is they're not all the same. So even though the deliveries look very similar, they're actually going to different locations quite a lot of the time, which is probably another reason why teams can't actually figure out how to stop them.

Yeah, I mean, near post header from Gabriel in the game at West Ham. Another near post from Urien Timber. One from the far post yesterday night. James, I mean, Nico Jovert, have we ended up with a generational talent in terms of set-piece coaches? You're like the Messi of set-piece coaches. For years to come, people will be talking about Arsenal set-pieces.

Feels like he might be. I mean, actually, it was a kind of a battle of the Arsenal set-piece coaches last night because Manchester United have a guy called Andreas Jorgsen who was previously the set-piece coach under Mikel Arteta. He replaced him with Niko Iova and based on the evidence of last night, that was a correct decision. Listen, I think he's obviously done a terrific job. The results speak for themselves and

I wrote about that a bit this morning. How do you attribute a value to that? What is his contribution to Arsenal's cause worth? It's 22 goals from corners since the start of last season, the most in the Premier League. Ten of those goals have been the first goal in a game. So they've been what's kind of broken the game open and given Arsenal the lead. So massive value on that. I think the players deserve credit as well because it's not always the most enthralling thing for a footballer to practice set pieces.

But they've really committed to it. They've really bought into it. Because they know. Because they know at this point, don't they? I mean, obviously early on they didn't know how good they might be. But they now realise the value of it because they're scoring goals. Absolutely. And...

As well, to the players' credit, I do think the delivery last night was absolutely exceptional. Every single corner, it felt like, was right under Andre and Anna's crossbar. And Arsenal clearly had looked at him and thought, you know, if we get the ball in close to him, we've got a chance. And they were so consistent in how they did that. It was no surprise that

eventually it told. I would just say the buy-in was fairly quick as well I remember in Jove's first season so 21-22 I think it was in October Arsenal played Leeds in the Carabao Cup and Callum Chambers scored for a corner and his first reaction was actually to run towards Jove straight away so it's been there since he he joined really and I think

Over time, Arsenal just got better at it. And basically, that's why now everyone knows about it. That feels like about 100 years ago. Yeah.

I mean, it really does. You're talking about 2021. By the way, I know that the Cronkers also own the LA Rams. They're sort of running along the line, blocking off opposition defenders. NFL art? I mean, I don't know if you watch the NFL, but there is something about blocking and very specific choreography of set pieces. You wonder whether they borrowed something from the NFL guys. Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised. Mikel Arteta...

He's obviously got that relationship with the Rams and Sean McVay, but also he looks into basketball as well. I think he's spoken to a few of the head coaches in the NBA too. And with the blocking, I think that's probably become more important this season because of the change of rules with how you can interfere with the goalkeeper. So no more Ben White around goalkeepers, but obviously there's other ways you can

buy little extra yards inside that six yard box. And it's something Arsenal were doing last season as well. If you remember the game against Crystal Palace where Gabriel scored two, two headers from corners. I think the second one Trossard was the one doing the blocking. So it's not something new. They're not reinventing the wheel, I'd say, but they are just getting extremely good at finding different ways to execute it. And as James, as you said about the deliveries, I,

I mean, the fact also that a guy like Detlef Rice, who's a massive guy, can be taken out of that situation because he's such a big team. We seem to have all the elements, really. Detlef Rice took a free kick from the right. He did one at the weekend that led to a corner that we scored from against West Ham. He takes a free kick. They're like a shot, aren't they? Yeah, they are. They are. It makes me wonder, actually.

You know, I can't remember if Arsenal have scored a direct free kick since that Martin Odegaard goal at Burnley. Art will know. Saka against PSG. So only one. So only one. But I do think it's interesting when you watch how Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka strike a dead ball for these corners and how accurately and the power and wit that they generate. I feel like...

We should be seeing some direct free kicks going in soon as well. I know it's a different skill, but they clearly have the ball striking ability. Well, if we get one 45 yards out, I think Detlef Roy should take it, to be honest with you. Exactly. He's not taking a shot, is he? Anyway, by the way, this is also the first time we came up against Man Utd under Ruben Amorim. It's the first time we've won four in a row in the league against them. I mean, they have improved significantly.

since Eric Ten Hag it's hard not to they're less chaotic I would say but even still we're missing four first team defenders come away with a clean sheet I mean in the end we'll take that and move on not the greatest game we've ever seen one more thing by the way one more thing I don't know if this will work the other way but I imagine it would although

that titting about that Harry Maguire and De Ligt and Inanna were doing just after half-time, that, it seems to me, is what got the crowd turned on to the game last night. Everyone was pretty passive, and then they start wasting time, and then you went, right, we're not having this.

Yeah, I think it was really weird because even with Maguire in the first half, he had a few pops at Urdegaard off the ball. I don't know if you guys would have seen it. He did, didn't he? Yeah, Rich sat next to us. He was saying exactly that. What's going on there? So yeah, I think there was definitely something there that was ready to bubble. So I'm glad that it did end up bubbling in Arsenal's favour.

It's a lesson though, isn't it, James? I mean, I remember at Anfield when we were 2-0 up and cruising a few years ago and Granit Xhaka then shoved Alexander-Arnold and it got the crowd going. And I always thought that that really was the start of their comeback in that game. And I just think it's worth, if we're away from home, it's worth not getting the crowd going because I think it made a difference last night.

yeah and no surprise ian i guess that we should watch the game and your focus should be on crowd control but i think there's something to it thank you i do think i've always been a steward at heart i have to say yeah yeah yeah i think there is something to it for sure i think it it just sort of tosses a match on it doesn't it and um

Yeah, I wonder if they'll regret that. Anana was the same in this fixture last season. I seem to remember him taking an age over goal kicks then as well. Time wasted. Time. I mean, honestly, I was screaming in the end. It was terrible. Anyway, 2-0 to Arsenal and move on and we'll talk about Fulham in a moment. We have one more act for you this evening.

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They get a handbrake off and you can see that they are more free to play.

Bad fixture for us last year, New Year's Eve. It was probably the worst performance of the season. We went 1-0 up, but we just never looked good at all. Ended up losing 2-1. That was a terrible period when we lost to West Ham and then Fulham and then Liverpool in the FA Cup. And then we went to Dubai. It looks like we've had the rest and we're all back and happy. The international break seemed to do it for us this time. So...

What do you think compared to last season? We're coming at this game with a slightly different energy, aren't we? Yeah, I think the groove is definitely there compared to last year. The West Ham game felt so draining. I remember being there. I think Arsenal had over 30 shots in that game, something ridiculous like that, and just couldn't get going and then went 1-0 up. Kind of a fluke goal as well from Saka, I'd say.

they just didn't see the warning signs for them or given them. So I'd say from an Arsenal perspective, they're definitely in a better, I guess, mood, but also I

I'd say Fulham are probably better than they were last season as well. Yeah, they are. Especially with how the Wobbe and I'm sure we'll talk about Smith-Rowe in a bit, but how they've been kind of supporting their attacks. I think it's not going to be easy. So both teams, I'd say, are probably better off than they were in terms of form and mood than they were last season. And changes, James? You think Trossard comes in from Martinelli in this game? They do seem to be rotating them at

the moment maybe Jorginho for Partey yeah I wonder about that I think some of that will be informed by what happens at the back you know if we're able to bring in

Gabrielle or perhaps even Calafiori then I think they'll feel maybe more at liberty to rotate in front of that say in holding midfield you've got Mikel Moreno as well who was back on the bench last night I'm enjoying him by the way more each game there's something very calming about him yeah I think he's a player who would definitely be in contention for a role at Fulham I think Arteta has sort of

grown and developed in that respect I think he has shown a bit more willingness to rotate and I think he needs to because it's such a frenetic period so I'd expect you know two maybe two or three changes for the Fulham match quite and um Emile Smith-Rowe I mean like I said we've got a few former Arsenal players there Bernt Leno uh Alex Iwobi

I mean, I've always loved watching Emile Smith-Rowe. Scored three, laid on three in 15 appearances.

Either of you have any regrets about letting him go? I mean, Martin Erdogan was out for six, eight weeks. He could have stepped in nicely. Art, what do you think? Yeah, me and James have spoken a bit about this already this week. My regrets wouldn't be with letting him go. It's more about not giving him chances to play when we could have done. So I think the damage probably was already done by the time the summer came around. So I

no kind of issues with him going. I just, I'm really happy that he's been able to find an environment where he can actually thrive and show people why Arsenal fans loved him so much. Yeah, I think going into this game, I hope he doesn't score, but I think a lot of the Arsenal fans, especially those travelling, will probably be similar in the way they feel about him. Yeah, I...

James, I think Art put it right there, really. We miss him. We're really happy for him. I love to see him play well. I hope he has a terrible game on Sunday. No, I do. Of course I do. But I love to watch him play and...

Any regrets on your side? I mean, there's no doubt he would have got some games in the last two months. Well, yeah, he probably would have done. But as Art said, the story of the last couple of years for Emile has been not getting games at Arsenal. I still think this was a deal that kind of suited everybody. But I hate to disappoint you both. He is obviously going to school on Sunday. It's inescapable, surely.

The football gods. It's true. They like to have a laugh with us in that way. A word as well for Rhys Nelson, who I know Wobbe's been doing very well, but Rhys seems to have picked up a bit more game time of late. And I saw some clips of his performance against Spurs that looked really impressive. He looked sharp. I was at Fulham versus West Ham at the start of the season just to watch the Arsenal boys, basically. Yeah.

uh and that was uh reese's debut actually and his first action was to bring the ball out of the air off his chest and beat a man i think as soon as he did that his confidence was just amazing and he's grown week on week so it's been really great to see all three of them shine really yeah and reese is on loan isn't he what do you think chance of him coming back in january or uh

I mean, it's unlikely, isn't it, James? I know he's on loan, but it sort of felt like it's sort of first steps towards a move, a permanent move. But he was the one, interestingly, out of all those players, and I feel I didn't mention him before, but he was the one that we had the most hope for, wasn't he, really, Reece Nelson? Certainly around the club early on. Yeah, I think in the Arsene Wenger days, when he was kind of first training, we were the first team at sort of 16, 17 years of age. There was a huge amount of excitement about his performance

I remember, do you remember they used to do those kind of open fan days at the Emirates Stadium where they used to have a training session you could go and watch and they'd always put on a little sort of small-sided game. And I remember Rhys one pre-season scoring this absolutely ridiculous goal. It was only inside the six-yard box, but he kind of

contorted his body inside out to kind of put the goalkeeper on the ground and lift it over him. It was amazing. And I thought, wow, what have we got on our hands here? It does feel as if it's the right time for him to move on. And I think had there been a permanent deal available for him this summer, I think Arsenal would have taken that chance and he probably would have done as well. The only caveat I'd offer is

I'd say many times people have said that Reece Nelson's Arsenal career is almost certainly over. And many times Mikel Arteta has gone back to him and said, I want you here. I want you in the squad. So I wouldn't rule it out entirely. I suppose the difference this time may be that he's of an age and of a mind to say,

I need to go and play more regularly, a bit like Emile, and take his future into his own hands. Is he scoring as well? I mean, are we going to have to get four if Iwobi, Nelson and Emile Smith-Rowe all score? He can't play. Fortunately, he can't play, yeah. Oh, he can't play, can he? That's true. Okay, so we only need to worry about three exceptional players. But Leno's going to have a worldie as well, isn't he? Anyway...

Liverpool, as you know, drew 3-0 against Newcastle last night. The gap's now seven points. I mean, they've got Merseyside Derby on the weekend. I can't believe we're relying on Everton here to take points off Liverpool. Everton are back. Everton are back. They absolutely spanked Wolves last night. Dyche Ball lives again. Dyche Ball lives again. Yeah, so...

Well, dare we hope that the gap will be smaller by the end of Sunday? You can hope. We can hope. Yeah, you can hope. But it's the hope that kills you. So I'd say just spend your Saturday doing something completely different. Don't pay attention to any football. And then go into Sunday, figure out what happened and just think about Arsenal.

That's what I'm going to do. Anyway. Okay. I don't think you'll take a lot of figuring out. You just look at the score. Yeah, yeah. It's not like you have to work out who won. It will be there. Anyway. But yeah. All right. That's a nice life advice. Let's have a song then before we head off. James, what have you got for us? Well, I was thinking about those set piece goals. Particularly, you know, my favourite one of recent weeks has been was Gabriel at Sporting. Just the way that he runs.

rose to meet that corner like and it didn't break his stride almost and i and it's out in the cinema i was wicked so i had to go for defying gravity that was great the way he ran off the back there i love the way he does that by the way on blue sky if jc 1303 uh suggested a song called brilliant corners by theolonious monk

It's jazz, isn't it? I can't be doing my jazz. I can't really. Now there's an 18-minute saxophone solo. I can't be having it. Anyway, thank you for that, JC1303. Brilliant corners. That's a good idea. Art, what have you got? I'm going to keep it simple today and go for Timber by Pitbull featuring Kesha. Pretty self-explanatory, I think.

I would say that's true. Yeah, very, very nice. I am having a song by a band called Dex's Midnight Runners, who anyone under 40 ago, who called Plan B. Because that is our... It's really our Plan A, to be honest with you, but they didn't do a song called Plan A. So that's the best I could do. Plan B by Dex's Midnight Runners, featuring some terrible singing, I've got to be honest, by Kevin Ronan, but it's quite tuneful. Hold on to me, as distrusting

Stop, stop, stop. Anyway, that's it for this edition of Hand Break Off. We're back after Fulham on Sunday afternoon. We're back Monday, I guess. Thanks to Art. Thanks to James. Thanks to Steve for producing. Thanks for listening. Have a good week, Gooners. MUSIC

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