In this episode of Five Aside, the boys open with the most relatable truth in football: supporting a club is basically a toxic three-way relationship. From there, the conversation spirals into Chelsea’s latest identity crisis under Maresca, the dangers of managers talking too well, and why results will always humble philosophy.

The episode dives deep into leadership — or the lack of it — at Chelsea, debating whether youth without experience can truly compete at the top level. Arsenal’s title credentials are put under the microscope as injuries, squad depth, and the pressure of competing on multiple fronts come into play.

The Manchester Derby preview brings optimism, bias, and pure football delusion, with bold predictions, talk of new-manager bounce, and hope doing heavy lifting. The episode closes with a heated and hilarious attempt to build Manchester’s Best XI, blending form, fitness, bias, and vibes — exactly how football debates should be.

⏱️ TIME STAMPS

00:00 – Welcome & football as a toxic relationship

01:45 – AFCON heartbreak & finally focusing on the Premier League

02:30 – Chelsea, Maresca & the infamous “man-age” moment

04:40 – Talking well vs winning: why results always decide

07:20 – Does Chelsea lack leaders or just experience?

10:00 – Youth vs leadership: why balance matters

12:05 – Comparing Chelsea to City & Arsenal standards

16:45 – Chelsea depth, title ambitions & weekend prediction

21:30 – Arsenal vs Forest: pressure, injuries & trophy talk

26:00 – Can Arsenal chase everything without collapsing?

30:45 – Manchester Derby preview & pure optimism

33:20 – City threats, United hope & derby unpredictability

34:50 – Building Manchester’s Best XI (chaos begins)

48:20 – Final thoughts & sign-off