Retour
Our Seeing Red hosts did not agree where Arsenal and England priorities lie between them(Image: Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images)
The international break has arrived to both the joy of some and disdain of others. On Seeing Red, our unofficial Arsenal podcast, there is absolutely no doubt left about where John Cross and Tom Canton stand on the topic.
For weeks Arsenal have enjoyed some top-quality football, and in the last two phases of matches prior to these international breaks, the Gunners have only lost one game in each block. Brighton before the last pause and then eliminated from the League Cup, some would say advantageously, in this.
Some of Mikel Arteta’s squad will be flying further afield than others, which has sparked plenty of frustration from many, Canton included. In the latest episode of the podcast where the win over Hull City, Manchester City’s defeat to Nottingham Forest and Max Dowman’s big boost were discussed, Canton and Cross reignited their international feud.
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“We'd usually be in the studio, but it is the break, and you are exceptionally busy with something called 'international football'," Canton said satirically.
“I mean, mate, I know you're going to love it, but Gabriel and Bruno Guimaraes are off to Singapore and Japan… I love that. That's great.”
Cross replied: “Well… They do. They do! Ask them what they think about playing for Brazil.”
“I don't mind them playing for Brazil,” Canton replied. “It’s that they went off to India and Australia last time and now it's Japan and Singapore.”
To which Crossie said earnestly: “I have to say, I do think the international window, such as it is, this kind of elongated, particularly the first one, is supposed to help clubs slightly overcome the travel distance, but it's not that helpful when Brazil was sort of intent on doing a world tour to get funds and publicity. So, you know, but yeah, I can understand a certain degree of frustration with that one.
“But look, you know, Thomas Tuchel did say, didn't he, you know, in the last one that four games in 11 days. Well, I think actually you'd be pretty unlucky to play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, because normally you'd play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Wednesday, if you were a team in the Champions League. But equally, you know, the players do it for their clubs. Why not their country? You're so unpatriotic. Shocking, shocking! You don't want to see England do well, dear oh dear. Go support someone else!"
Canton replied: “I mean, you know, I'm not a big fan of the League Cup either, John, but would I rather see Arsenal win the League Cup or England win the World Cup? Or what would I prefer?
“Oh, it would take me a split second to choose the League Cup, is what I would say. So, you know, that's kind of where I am.”
“Seriously?” Crossie asked, stunned.
“Yeah, yeah, I would,” Canton said. “Seriously, yeah.”
Cross replied: “Mate, you're dead to me. You're dead to me! That's unbelievable!”
“League Cup or World Cup? I mean, it's Arsenal,” Canton said.
“Of course I would. Anyway, we'll never see eye to eye on this one.”