Handbrake Off: The Athletic FC's Arsenal show

Amy Lawrence, Art de Roché and James McNicholas join Ian Stone to discuss Arsenal’s 4-1 victory against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.  The panel reflect on the freedom Arsenal played with in the second half, the two Martins running the midfield, Trossard’s excellent 2025, Jesus’ first goal since returning from injury, Gabriel’s influence on the team and the importance...

Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone to discuss both Arsenal’s 2-1 win against Brighton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday and their quarterfinal win against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup last week. The panel reflect on another nervy finish to the game, feeling positive about Arsenal’s attacking play despite poor finishing, Odegaard’s encouraging performance, Raya’s importance a...

Welcome to a special Handbrake Off bonus episode featuring some of our favourite stories and questions from our new segment 'Up Your Arsenal'.  We’ll be back with a regular podcast on Monday 29th December, where the panel will reflect on both Arsenal's Premier League game against Brighton and their Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace.  Please keep the Up Your Arsenal submiss...

Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone to discuss Arsenal’s 1-0 win away to Everton on Saturday. The panel reflect on getting the job done in a must win away game, a steady but flawed performance, the slow start to the first half, a lack of cohesion in the midfield, still waiting for the team to click going forward, Declan Rice being back to his best, Victor Gyokeres’ improved performance a...

James McNicholas and Art de Roché join Ian Stone to look ahead to Arsenal’s game against Everton on Saturday. The panel discuss the possible contributing factors to the squad’s injury issues since the start of last season, Gyokeres’ start to life as a Gunner not yet meeting expectations, whether Arsenal can have a better record at Hill Dickinson Stadium than they had at Goodison Park and more. Plu...

Adrian Clarke and Art de Roché join Ian Stone to discuss the 2-1 win at home to Wolves on Saturday.  The panel reflect on the contributing factors to the disappointing performance, Arsenal’s poor first half displays recently, Arteta’s team selection, Bukayo Saka continuing to deliver, growing concerns around Victor Gyokeres, Ben White’s injury, and the excitement around Gabriel Jesus’s r...

Amy Lawrence and Art de Roché join Ian Stone to discuss the 3-0 win away to Club Brugge on Wednesday.  The panel reflect on the attitude throughout this Arsenal team, Noni Madueke’s player of the match performance, Ethan Nwaneri’s eye-catching cameo, the return of Gabriel Jesus, potential concerns over Victor Gyokeres’s form and Gabriel Martinelli making history in style with a spectacular go...

Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone to discuss the 2-1 loss away to Aston Villa on Saturday.  The panel reflect on Arsenal’s performance, the tactical approach to the game, Odegaard’s player of the match display, mounting injuries, what impact the recent tough run of fixtures may have had on the result and the importance of Gabriel and Saliba. Plus, they look ahead to Club Brugge in...

James McNicholas and Art de Roché join Ian Stone to discuss Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Brentford on Wednesday.  The panel reflect on the tension during the game, Ben White’s return to the starting lineup with a player of the match performance, Noni Madueke’s positive showing, the importance of Martin Odegaard regaining fitness, more injury woes as Cristhian Mosquera was forced off, and the dilemm...

Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone to discuss the 1-1 draw away to Chelsea on Sunday. The panel reflect on the difficulties Arsenal faced at Stamford Bridge, why they were unable to find their rhythm, how the team managed without Gabriel and Saliba, Arteta’s game management, Rice having to play deeper, and the contributions from Saka and Merino. Plus, they audition some more player chan...

Art de Roché and James McNicholas join Ian Stone to discuss a statement 3-1 victory against Bayern Munich at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.  The panel reflect on another fantastic team display, impactful contributions from the bench, Mikel Merino making the false 9 role his own, Eze’s growing influence, Declan Rice’s masterful display and how Martin Zubimendi has helped him reach new le...

Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone to discuss the dominant 4-1 victory over Spurs at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.  The panel reflect on Arsenal’s near perfect display, the intent of their attacking play, the sense of calm after conceding, the Tifo unveiled before the game, capitalising on rivals dropping points and of course Eze’s historic hat-trick and performance. There’s praise f...

Amy Lawrence and James McNicholas join Ian Stone to look ahead to the North London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. The panel discuss how they’re feeling going into the game, the loss of Gabriel due to injury, other potential fitness concerns after the international break, and updates on whether any players are returning as the Gunners begin a tough run of fixtures. Plus, the end of the 8...

Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone to conduct a quarter term report on Arsenal’s season so far. The panel discuss how much they’re enjoying what they’ve seen, how well Arsenal have been performing, the togetherness of the squad, some of the players who have impressed them, their personal highlights, the positives of the season and the very few negatives that could be improved on over th...

Art de Roché and James McNicholas join Ian Stone for a customary mailbag episode as it’s another international break. The panel discuss which player they think has the best chance of being sold in the summer to balance the books, how the season would’ve transpired so far if Sesko was signed instead of Gyokeres, the worst game they’ve ever seen at the Emirates, non-sports related injuries that they...

Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone to reflect on Arsenal’s 2-2 draw away to Sunderland on Saturday. The panel reflect on the difficulties Sunderland posed, Arsenal’s much improved second half showing, the lack of substitutions used by Mikel Arteta, Zubimendi’s impressive performance, the uncharacteristic mistakes made by the defence and the two excellent goals scored by Saka and Trossar...

Amy Lawrence and James McNicholas join Ian Stone to reflect on Arsenal’s 3-0 win away to Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday.  The panel reflect on Arsenal’s ability to weather the early pressure from Prague, their feelings about the team conceding a shot on target, Max Dowman becoming the youngest player in Champions League history and Mikel Merino’s intelligence and contin...

Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone to reflect on Arsenal’s 2-0 win away to Burnley on Saturday afternoon.  The panel reflect on Arsenal’s dominance, the team’s love for defending, Gyokeres’s best showing since arriving, Gabriel’s set piece contribution in both boxes, Trossard delivering once again on his 100th appearance, man of the match Declan Rice and the trust and competitivene...

Amy Lawrence and Art de Roché join Ian Stone to reflect on Arsenal’s 2-0 win against Brighton in the Carabao Cup at the Emirates on Wednesday night.  The panel reflect on Arsenal’s historic October, Hale End’s recent success, developments in youth football as a whole, Max Dowman becoming the youngest ever starter for the club, the first team debut of Andre Harriman-Annous, and we hear from My...

Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone to reflect on Arsenal’s 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace at the Emirates on Sunday.  The panel reflect on Arsenal becoming statistical favourites to win the league, the faith that they have in the team’s formidable defence, the media narratives around Arsenal’s set piece prowess, Jurrien Timber’s excellent performance and Eberechi Eze’s moment o...

Amy Lawrence and Art de Roché join Ian Stone to reflect on Arsenal’s 4-0 thumping of Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night.  The panel discuss just how awesome this Arsenal team is, how hard the players work for each other, Gabriel’s unstoppable ability from set pieces, Victor Gyokeres ending his goal drought, Zubimendi’s fantastic performance, that Myles-Lewis Skelly assis...

Amy Lawrence and Art de Roché join Ian Stone to reflect on Arsenal’s 1-0 win away to Fulham on Saturday. The panel discuss the different tests Arsenal have faced and passed so far this season, how serious this team are, their ability to get the job done, Gabriel Heinze’s impact since his arrival and the imperious defence claiming yet another clean sheet. Plus, they speak on Bukayo Saka’s fantastic...

Amy Lawrence and Art de Roché join Ian Stone to look ahead to Arsenal’s trip to Fulham on Saturday. The panel hear from The Athletic’s Guillermo Rai on how Mikel Merino has been so effective for Spain, they discuss how Arsenal can bring the best out of him, what Odegaard’s injury could mean for Nwaneri’s playing time and if the Gunners can improve their away record at mid-table teams. Plus Christi...

Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone for part two of this week’s mailbag episode, answering listener questions.  The panel choose their dream Arsenal 5-a-side team, the signing of the season so far, if Mikel Arteta dyes his hair and more. Producer: Robby Williams Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone for part one of this week’s mailbag show answering listener questions.  The panel discuss what’s next for Andrea Berta after a busy summer, which player from the past they would replace Saka with, what type of office stationary would Arteta be, which three Arsenal player’s would be most fun on a night out and much more.  Part two coming Tuesd...