Handbrake Off: The Athletic FC's Arsenal show

Ian Stone is joined by James McNicholas and Adrian Clarke to look back on Arsenal's fabulous win over Fulham. There’s a lot of love for Leandro Trossard. Is the Belgian the best signing of the past January window in the Premier League?  Sunday was also a day for Jesus… as our brilliant Brazilian Gabriel returned from his three month layoff.  The boys discuss the seemingly sudden strength in depth...

Ian Stone is joined by James McNicholas and Adrian Clarke to look back at Arsenal's fortuitous draw in Lisbon. With the Europa League back in action Mikel Arteta rung the changes and it showed on the pitch, but with some positives along the way. James and Adrian dissect what went on with the first goal Arsenal conceded, the Martinelli run with an oh-so-close moment, and how Arteta's priorities are...

Joining Ian Stone to unpick the most emotional the Emirates has been in some time is Michael Cox and Amy Lawrence. This week the team look at the feels of the victory over Bournemouth, the role of Vieira, and whether Arsenal have now used up all their last minute points. Plus with the women's team defeating Chelsea in the League Cup final we reflect on what that could do for Arsenal's season. And...

Joining Ian Stone for a debrief of the 4-0 drubbing of Everton is James McNicholas and Art de Roche. This week there's a discussion on the star wingers Martinelli and Saka, Art professes his love for Leandro, and we note the significance of notching up another clean sheet too. And with the present looking like it's in a pretty good place, there's a chat on the future and which players in particula...

This special podcast has been designed to take you into the crowd at the Emirates Stadium using a technique called binaural audio. To truly immerse yourself please listen on headphones and ideally be in quiet surroundings.  So find your space, and join Amy Lawrence at Arsenal Football Club… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Ian Stone this week it's Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke to talk winning at the King Power, the upcoming clash with Everton, and the starboy Bukayo Saka signing on to a new deal. With another victory under the belt we talk about how Arsenal adapted their tactics, bring out a new character in themselves, and why the January signings of Trossard and Jorginho were key to this specific match. B...

Ian Stone is joined by Amy Lawrence and Art de Roche to take a wide angled lens on the squad, the current perception of the owners, and look abroad to young striker Flo Balogun as he continues to top the french scoring charts. With the fringe players of Arsenal's squad making their impact on games we discuss how significant certain players are, what Vieira's role could be, and whether it's right t...

Ian Stone is joined by Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke to discuss the emotional rollercoaster win that was Aston Villa 2 Arsenal 4. Enjoy reliving every key moment of that game from the terrible first half, to Jorginho's moment of truth, to the poetic justice the footballing gods served up at the end with Emi Martinez heading the ball into his own net. We ask if this is the perfect way to win? Why...

Ian Stone is joined by Art de Roche and James McNicholas to look back on Arsenal's home defeat to Man City but to look ahead to how they can turn things around. The panel analyse where Arsenal weren't able to take a grip on the game when they looked like the better team at the break, talk about the shortcomings within in the squad, and whether Arteta's tactical choices paid off. And with Aston Vil...

Ian Stone is joined by Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke to debate the line debacle from the draw against Brentford. This week the panel work out what was going on with VAR, talk about where Arsenal fell short on the pitch, and whether the second half of the season is already catching up with them. There's a look ahead to the tantalising fixture with Man City on Wednesday and the pod get very excited...

Ian Stone is joined by Amy Lawrence and Art de Roché to assess how we’re all feeling, and how we should feel, as the expectations ramp up after each game of this unexpected title challenge.  And speaking of emotions, there are warm words for Mikel Arteta’s public support of the players following the Everton defeat. The panel discuss a tricky looking fixture against a Brentford side who have a grea...

Ian Stone is joined by Adrian Clarke and James McNicholas on this mixed weekend after Arsenal lost to Everton but saw title rivals Manchester City lose to local rivals Tottenham. The panel discuss where the game at Goodison Park was lost, especially with set pieces. Adrian takes us on a tactical dive through the setup for corners and how it allowed Everton to score a "Burnley" goal. James talks th...

Ian Stone is joined by Adrian Clarke and James McNicholas to discuss the transfer window after Arsenal added former Chelsea midfielder Jorginho to their ranks. The panel discuss the differing views of the Italian coming to the club, and why it's a signing that's not to be sniffed at. They talk about the #EduOut brigade that seemed to take over social media on deadline day, and run through the rest...

Ian Stone is joined by Amy Lawrence and James McNicholas to discuss Arsenal's FA Cup exit to Man City on Friday night. On the show the panel talk about the players who were brought in to the starting XI and the impact they made, the competition for places and the all important need for a defensive midfield replacement. There's a debate on the Brighton to Arsenal transfer conveyor belt and why the...

Joining Ian Stone to go through the latest news from Arsenal it's Art de Roche and James McNicholas. On the show they discuss Mikel Arteta and Cesc's comments from the weekend that he has improved many aspects of the training ground at London Colney. We talk about how he's done it and the aspects that have gone into making it an elite place of work. As Arsenal welcome new signing Jakub Kiwior to t...

Adrian Clarke is joined by Amy Lawrence and Michael Cox to talk all about Arsenal's magnificent win over Manchester United at the Emirates. This week it's all about two Hale End boys Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah as they scored the goals that gave Arsenal the three points. Michael tells how both players are able to succeed so well in their individual roles and take on the opposition so cleanly. We...

James McNicholas and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone this week for a look at Mikel Arteta, Leandro Trossard and superstitions. After James wrote about the end of the #ArtetaOut brigade, the panel discuss how the manage has evolved, the touchpoints that brought the club to where they are today, and whether he is a coach that players will want to come to the club for. Following the news that Arsenal ar...

Joining Ian Stone this week to discuss the derby victory over Tottenham is Amy Lawrence and Art de Roche. Spirits are high following Arsenal's slick victory at the weekend, their first at Spurs' ground since 2014 so the panel take a moment to dwell on the little things in the win that particularly pleased. They discuss the star performances of Odegaard, Ramsdale, and Saka but also reflect on what...

Ian Stone is joined by The Athletic's James McNicholas and Art De Roche to preview the North London Derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and reflect on the newly unveiled design for The Emirates Stadium. They dicuss how this might be the best chance in a long time to win away at Tottenham, having not done so since March 2014, and look at some of the potential match ups on the pitch including Sal...

Joining Ian Stone to discuss Arsenal's FA Cup win over Oxford United are Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke. Whilst the result eventually looked good on paper, the match showed that Arsenal seriously lack squad depth as Arteta was forced into starting the first choice front three (Saka, Nketiah, and Martinelli) and needed Xhaka and Zinchenko to make sure the Gunners were on the winning side. So what d...

Ian Stone is joined by The Athletic's Amy Lawrence and Art De Roche to reflect on Arsenal's 0-0 draw with Newcastle at the emirates, and what they can learn from the game. After a tense and emotional night at The Emirates, Newcastle's impressive defense came out on top, despite 17 shots and 67% possession from Arsenal. The panel discuss how the need for attacking depth was clear in this game, and...

Ian Stone is joined by The Athletic's James McNicholas and Adrian Clarke to reflect on Arsenal's 4-2 New Years Eve win over Brighton at the Amex. Brighton have been something of a 'bogey side' for Arsenal in recent times having won just one of their previous 5 visits, but goals from Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli were enough to seal the 3 points. The panel also...

Ian Stone is joined by The Athletic's James McNicholas and Adrian Clarke to reflect on Arsenal's 3-1 Boxing Day win over West Ham, with former manager Arsene Wenger in attendance at the Emirates, which Amy Lawrence shares her thoughts on too. The Frenchman was back at the club for the first time since leaving in 2018, with Eddie Nketiah amongst the goalscorers as he deputised for Gabriel Jesus for...

Handbrake Off is back following the World Cup in Qatar, as Ian Stone is joined by James McNicholas and Art De Roche to get into the latest Arsenal talking points. Fresh off the back of the World Cup, the panel discuss and dissect the Arsenal players' involvement out in Qatar including the likes of William Saliba, Bukayo Saka - who was named in L'Equipe's Team of the Tournament - as well as Gabriel...

Ian Stone is joined by The Athletic's Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke for the final Handbrake Off ahead of the break for the World Cup. With the Gunners sitting five points clear at the top of the Premier League the panel analyse Arsenal's start to the campaign under Mikel Arteta. Tifo's Seb Stafford-Bloor also drops in to discuss their new book How To Watch Football: 52 Rules for Understanding the...