Arseblog Arsecast, The Arsenal Podcast

In this episode we look back on the 1-0 defeat to Man City on Sunday. Losing to a team as good as that isn't a surprise, but we explore the sense of frustration afterwards and what else might be informing it. We chat about the team selection, Mikel Arteta's changes, and the early lapse in concentration which cost us the goal that won City the game. Also on the agenda: substitutes, why games agains...

In this episode we look back at the 1-1 draw with Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday night. Will we rue those missed chances, or should we take encouragement from the fact we made them in the first place? We discuss Aubameyang's bad night in front of goal, Martin Odegaard showing his quality, another solid Bukayo Saka contribution, and try and figure out why the game played out the way it di...

In this episode we go over the 4-2 win over Leeds, discussing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's sensational return to goalscoring form, making the most of our first half domination by scoring the goals we did, Mikel Arteta's positive – and slightly surprising – team selection, the joy of Bukayo Saka, the influence of Emile Smith Rowe, and what was overall a really good win. There is some discussion of t...

  On this week's show I'm joined Simon Collings of the Evening Standard to talk about Europa League venue issues, as Covid-19 forces UEFA to scramble around to find 'safe' places to play the games. Should away goals count if neither team is actually playing away? We also chat about Thomas Partey, Nicolas Pepe, the recent defeats to Wolves and Aston Villa and more.   Then for the lowdown...

In this episode we go over the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday. We chat about the early goal we conceded, where the blame goes, and the fact we still had basically the whole match to find a goal but didn't. Are defensive errors being exacerbated by a lack of attacking efficiency? We go through key moments the game, Villa's rotational fouling, Mikel Arteta's one very bad substitution derailin...

On this week's show I'm joined by Charles Watts of goal to talk about how Arsenal might react to the midweek defeat to Wolves. Were there enough positives for Mikel Arteta to get back on track quickly? We also chat about the improved form of Nicolas Pepe and why he needs to stay in the team; goalkeeping worries with Alex Runarsson set for his first Premier League start due to Bernd Leno's suspensi...

In this episode we look back at the 2-1 defeat to Wolves on Tuesday evening. A superb first half performance took a dark twist in injury time, and there's discussion of David Luiz, the penalty incident and the red card. We also chat about going down to 9 men when Bernd Leno was sent off in the second half, and the frustration of how quickly a game can change when it looks like you're in control. H...

In this episode we chat about the 0-0 draw with Man Utd at the Emirates on Saturday evening. A draw was probably a fair result in the end, but there were some encouraging aspects to the performance – not least the ability to deal without three very important players. We talk about missed chances at both ends, another clean sheet for the Gunners, the half-time sub, and the shortcomings of VAR after...

On this week's show I'm joined by Phil Costa to talk about the loan signing of Martin Odegaard. What can Arsenal expect from the Norwegian international? Where does he fit into the team? Can he play with Emile Smith Rowe? And more, including thoughts on the January transfer window, our recent form, and Thomas Partey. Then, ahead of Saturday's game against Man Utd, I chat with United fan Musa Okwon...

In this bonus episode, I'm joined by Andrew Allen to discuss the 3-1 win over Southampton at St Mary's last night. We chat about responding well to early disappointment, how Thomas Partey liberates Granit Xhaka, Nicolas Pepe from the left and his excellent goal, Alex Lacazette leading the line well, Cedric's best game, Bernd Leno's consistency and, of course, the contribution of Bukayo Saka to wha...

In this episode we discuss the 1-0 defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday, how Mikel Arteta rotated his team, and what he got from some of the players who had chances to impress. There's chat about Willian and how the deal is turning out in the worst possible way, the Folarin Balogun situation in relation to what we've seen from Eddie Nketiah, the ups and downs of Nicolas Pepe and how it...

On this week's show I'm joined by football correspondent for CBS, James Benge. We begin by chatting about post-match interviews, and why so many of them are bland and uninteresting. Is it the players, the questions, the strange timing of these interviews, the media landscape in which they're carried out, or a combination of all of those things. We then move on to Arsenal in a week where the squad...

In this episode we discuss the 3-0 win over Newcastle at the Emirates on Monday. The Gunners produced a much better second half to ensure the win and a fifth successive clean sheet. We chat about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang being back among the goals, the continued – and very exciting – impact of Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey's start and what he brings to midfield, as well as an ov...

In this episode we look back at the frustrating 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace at the Emirates on Thursday. We discuss the absence of Kieran Tierney, the number of high touch players whose desire to be on the ball plays into the hands of an organised opposition, a lack of goal threat and a reality check after the last couple of games. Nevertheless, a clean sheet and the return of Thomas Partey were...

In this episode of the Arsenal Women Arsecast, Tim is joined by Women's Football journalist and author Carrie Dunn to discuss the recent reaction and fallout of several WSL players recently contracting Covid after travelling to Dubai during the winter break. What does the strength of the reaction say about our expectations of women and women athletes? Tim and Carrie discuss the "angel in the house...

In this episode we discuss the 2-0 win over Newcastle in the FA Cup. There's focus on young players Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson who didn't quite take the opportunity, as well as the impact of another youngster, Emile Smith Rowe, who really did. We talk about the game, Bernd Leno's significant contribution, the positive VAR decision, Aubameyang getting on the scoresheet, Nicolas Pepe, and the posi...

On this week's show I'm joined by Amy Lawrence to discuss William Saliba, after the young Frenchman went out on loan to Nice this week. We chat about a difficult 18 months for a young player and things not going as smoothly as everyone would have liked when he signed back in the summer of 2018. Also on the agenda, Folarin Balogun and his contract situation. Arteta wants to keep him, but is the age...

In this episode James and I discuss the 4-0 win over West Brom on Saturday, paying close attention to Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, and Kieran Tierney in particular. The Scottish international had a storming game, scored a fantastic opening goal, and there's so much to like about his game and his character. We also chat about Arsenal's brilliant second goal, and the two strikes for Alexandre Laca...

In this episode I chat with James about the 1-0 win over Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Tuesday night. We discuss the impact and quality of Bukayo Saka, and how well he works from the right hand side in particular. We had a dodgy first half, a much better second half, and took three points thanks to Saka's contribution and a smart finish from Alexandre Lacazette. We also chat about Emile Smith Ro...

In this episode we finally get to talk about an Arsenal win ... the 3-1 win over Chelsea on Saturday! We discuss the additions to the team, what Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli brought to the occasion, how they were well supported by some of the more experienced players, analyse the goals we scored and the intent with which we played in those moments, the somewhat terrifying end to the gam...

In this episode, sadly we're discussing another defeat – the 2-1 loss to Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday. Even after the dust has settled a bit and tempers have soothed, there's still frustration at the collective performance and some individuals. Willian's first half comes up for discussion, and we wonder what it is that Mikel Arteta sees in him that nobody else can. We chat about the substi...

In this episode I'm joined by Clive Palmer to talk about culture. How do you define it at a football club? What happens if you come in and try to change it, but meet with resistance? Can non-negotiables actually be non-negotiable? Who should define the culture to ensure that all the eggs aren't in the basket of one man? This, and lots more, framed around the work Mikel Arteta is doing at Arsenal,...

In this bonus episode, James and I discuss the 1-1 draw with Southampton at the Emirates. Arsenal scored a goal, and a very good goal too, but also picked up yet another red card. We chat about team selection, conceding to Theo, Gabriel's off-night, Dani Ceballos, midfield in general, Bukayo Saka, what we can take going into the Everton game, and lots more. Buy the Goodly Christmas card here – all...

In this episode we pore over the 1-0 defeat at home to Burnley, our fourth successive loss at home. Team selection is a major talking point as the same old faces gave us the same old rubbish, and just when things looked like they might be a bit better, the rank stupidity of Granit Xhaka derailed the little momentum we had built. We chat about the red card, wonder why Arsenal players are behaving i...

In this episode I'm joined by James Benge of CBS Sports to talk about Arsenal's 4-2 win over Dundalk in the Europa League. It's six wins from six in Europe, in marked contrast to our Premier League form, and we discuss some of the good individual performances – in particular Folarin Balogun (whose contract situation is discussed) – and the positives from the game in Dublin. We then wonder how Mike...