Pete and Johnny debrief the Real Betis loss in Ireland. It’s pre-season. Nobody’s panicking. But there are things worth saying.
Here’s what’s inside:
🔥 Hottest of Takes — Johnny’s take is a hot pre-season defence: it’s not about the result, it’s about the pattern. And one pattern is worrying him. Pete’s take is about Hector Bellerin’s haircut and why he has irrevocably fallen out of love with the man. Calafiori and Myles are his new style icons
😤 Big Vik — His Own Section — Pete and Johnny give Gyökeres the space he deserves. Dropped balls, a stinker of a game, and a frank conversation about whether this is just a blip or something that needs addressing before Coventry
🧤 Kepa — Still In The Crapper — a look back at Palace, a look at Betis, and a consistent pattern of errors that neither of them can explain away
👶 The Academy Kids — the ones who caught the eye, the ones who didn’t, and Pete’s very specific admiration for a teenage defensive midfielder who’s making everyone’s head turn
💸 The Bargain Bucket Problem — Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson and Gabriel Jesus all got minutes. Pete is furious. Johnny explains the Arteta logic. Arsenal still can’t sell anyone and Oxlade-Chamberlain remains the most expensive player they’ve ever sold. It’s crazy
😬 The Squad Clog — Who Actually Goes? — Pete and Johnny go through the names. The surprising one is Eze — Johnny raises the possibility that if the right bid came in, the club might listen. Ethan is likely gone. Martinelli triggers the domino. And Berta is apparently sending out a brochure
Members only — thank you for being part of the AOP family.
