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The only way to score is of course to play with a handbreak-off.

Hello, I'm in Stone, this is Hand-Brek-off,

the Arsenal podcast brought to you by The Athletic.

It's international break.

As you know, so today we'll discuss some Arsenal bits and pieces and answer the questions that you sent in on

various social media platforms. To do that, I'm joined by Art de Rocha and James McNicholas.

Morning. Good morning. Morning. Morning. The opening question, right, I'm asking you both both directly how are you enjoying the season so

far right in fact are you enjoying it i mean we watch them we know what has to be done they appear

to be doing it are you enjoying it are are you getting enjoyment from it i mean mean, you look down for. I'd say like,

yes, but not full enjoyment yet. Why? I think for me, I still feel like there's, there's

something to come. So I'd say maybe my enjoyment's at seven out of ten. What? I don't, is that, is that not fair? Well, we're top of the league. Four points clear. We're through to the quarterfinals of the Carabelle Cup and we're breezing through in the Champions League. But that's a seven is it? No, what? I think it's just how it's being done. I think there's more to come. That's me saying, I think this team can be better than they are now. So, right. That's not to say I'm not enjoying it. I just think, yeah, there's more that can come from this lot. All right. So, not, you know, unequivocally enjoying it, James. I mean, he's enjoying it, but only to a certain extent, you know,

just under... I think that's good. These are the fog-in standards, right?

Art setting the bar high.

For enjoying the team that he watches and loves. Yeah, exactly. I think I've sort of had a bit of a

stop start start to the season with sort of being away and doing other bits of work and stuff.

So it's taking me a little while to sort of get into it. But yeah, I definitely am enjoying it. I don't know if I'd put a number on it.

But I also do understand where I was coming from as well. I think like maybe it's cautious optimism and also a belief that

the results have been absolutely fantastic. But I think in terms of particularly how we attack,

I do think there is more to come. And I think that's exciting. That, to be honest,

it was what makes me enthused for what's coming up. Because I think, especially with all these players coming back, there's another level in this team. So who knows, in a few months' time, Art might be at a seven and a half. He could. That's true. That is true. Where are you on the scale? Do you want to put a number on it, Ian? I'll put in a number on it. Ian sounds like he's at a 12. Do I? Why do I sound like that? I'm just asking the question. What has given you the feeling? I mean, I am enjoying it, and it's not a 12. No, no, it isn't. I mean, the thing is, because I was thinking back to 20, was it 22, 23 when this group first

emerged.

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