THE NORTH BANK - An Arsenal Podcast

Join Holly and Chris as we try to make Stef feel better about Arsenal. We dissect the Villa performance - yes, we were sloppy, yes VAR can do one, but it wasn't all doom and gloom as we created numerous chances that, on another day, could have resulted in a deserved win. We look ahead to PSV but struggle to pick a team of players who didn't start against Villa. We chat about Arsenal women and thei...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we attempt to process the seven goal thriller at Luton - talking points include Raya, Havertz, Jesus and last minute winners.  We also look ahead to our upcoming away day at Villa - coming in high on the xNarrative scale with Emery, Martinez and their 14 game home winning streak.  There's also another golden Goldbridge moment or two to marvel at.  &nbsp...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we pore over the victory against Wolves. Some scintillating attacking play on show in the first half, but an inability to get that third and secure the win ultimately led to a nervy final few moments. Discussion points include Jesus, Zinchenko, Tomiyasu, and a weekend of some mad football and great results for us. We also look ahead to a tricky away trip to Kenilworth...

Join Holly, Stef And Chris as we marvel over six of the best against Lens - this Champions League lark is easy, isn't it! Saka, Havertz, the whole team get a lot of love - we debate our best starting 11 and whether or not opposition teams will now never come and attack us for fear of being destroyed like Lens were. We also look ahead to Wolves (the VAR derby, or VARBY) on Saturday - more of the sa...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we look back at yet another late late victory in the premier league. We examine the team selection, bemoan the lack of killer instinct in attack, but marvel at our defensive base. We also generally feel sad about the Ramsdale situation, despite the clean sheet. But more than anything we bask in the moment that Kai Havertz finally arrived - tsamina mina eh eh, waka wak...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we revel in the return to premier league action. We look at what could be a tricky game at Brentford - remarkably we all predict the same scoreline, but once again all differ on the starting lineup - Havertz or Jorginho, Tomi or Zinchenko, Trossard or Eddie or Jesus? We also run the rule over the rest of the weekend's key matches - City host Liverpool, Villa trav...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris for our trip down memory lane. Although we look a little further back to our pre-Emirates days where David Hillier cites his favourite all time goal, Rocky's 'masterclass' at Old Trafford, we focus more on the Emirates era. Adrian Clarke, Gunnerblog, Ian Allinson (legend), Andrew Allen among others share their favourite Arsenal goal in our new home. There's not one, but...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we attempt to fill yet another interlull (©️ Arseblog) with a look through our current squad, pondering how we could realistically improve it in the upcoming transfer window. Striker or midfielder - if you could only have one, which would it be?  Are we a little light in defensive positions, could Zinchenko solve the left eight issue, will we sell anyone to...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we look back at the home win against Burnley. Trossard does the business again, injuries almost take their toll and the international break comes just at the right time. Much as we enjoyed Burnley, we also enjoyed laughing at Spurs and Newcastle, and offer begrudging thanks to Chelsea for taking points off City.  We fondly recall some of the very best goals score...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we look back at a pleasantly uneventful home win against Sevilla, even if injuries are starting to mount up. We also look forward to our final game before yet another international break where we take on Burnley. Check out our predictions, which range from a 1-0 to a 5-0 victory. We take time to laugh at Spurs, and Chelsea, and United because, well, why not? Kerm...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we attempt to process, and draw a line under, the Newcastle game. But, you know, VAR makes that impossible - or rather the people in charge of the technology render all discussion redundant - until they change, nothing changes. We agree that decisions went against us, but should we also be concerned about our own lack of goal threat throughout the game? Injuries are c...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we draw a line under the league cup defeat at West Ham, promising to never speak of it again. The last time we lost we bounced back to beat City - same again against Newcastle? We all agree on the starting 11 for once - can't wait to see where we get it wrong this time. Two of us are backing the win, one of us tips the draw. Is it a game we must not lose, especially c...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we heap a whole lot of praise on Eddie for securing his first ever premier league hattrick. We applaud Arteta for his team selections and subs. We argue about the xN (narrative) for the game, but ultimately agree that it was a nice, if rare, feeling to watch a second half with Arsenal as relaxed as we were. We also look ahead to the fourth round league cup tie at West...

Join Holly, Chris and a returning Stef as we look back on a crucial, and impressive, victory over Sevilla. Why is Jesus so clinical in Europe, but less so in the league? Was his assist the best assist you've seen? We debate the value of Tomi, and a far deeper squad this season.  We also look ahead to the visit of Sheffield United to the carpet on Saturday. Will this finally be the game where...

Join Holly and Chris - Stef is making his way to Seville - as we unpick the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. Very much a point gained but where did that performance come from, and should we be worried? Raya or Ramsdale for the next game? Havertz up top? A lot of questions raised. We also look ahead to the Champions League clash on Tuesday evening - wholesale changes or trust your best 11 to regain the...

Join Holly and Chris as we look forward to Chelsea away. For once there's complete agreement about the starting eleven, and the eventual outcome. This obviously makes us nervous. We discuss the possible narratives of Havertz, Jorginho, or more worryingly, Mudryk. Will the game be won or lost in the battle of what must be two of the most expensively assembled midfields in club football? What would...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we take stock of the season so far. Eight games in, joint top, undefeated, but still not hitting the heights of last season. Is that still to come, or is this the new us? We also hand out a grade to each player for the season to date. Who deserves an A* and who deserves a lowly C grade? We look forward to our next 4 games and all agree that an 8 point haul is the abso...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we bask in the glory of finally beating City - we're obviously the best team in the world, ever, now aren't we?! We examine the team news and Saka's absence, how our subs made us stronger as the game progressed, and the control and calmness with which we closed out the win. Rice, Saliba, Gabriel, Jesus all vying for man of the match - what a way to enter the internati...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we look back at our first defeat of the season - we had to lose some time, and Lens away is not exactly terminal. But did Arteta err with his team selection? We also look forward to the City game on Sunday. Will Saka play? Will we take advantage of Rodri's absence? Which one of us do you think has tipped us to lose?! Which one of us has tipped us to win, and which one...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we bask in the warm glow of a comfortable away win. We also look ahead to Lens on Tuesday and make more vain attempts to pick Arteta's starting 11. We react to a great result for Wolves and Palace and wonder what significant human errors we'll make this week. VAR is obviously here to stay, but surely it's time for some proper accountability, and not just apology after...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we look back at Brentford and forward to Bournemouth. Has Ramsdale done enough to earn a start, what about Nelson? Do we risk Rice, Trossard or even Saka? Arsenal women start their season on Sunday, important to get off to a winning start there, and we acknowledge probably the most significant day in Arsenal's history. Subscribe to the North Bank wherever you get your...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we try to work through our frustrations after that 2-2 draw with the old enemy. Did we really do enough to win it? What sloppy goals to concede! And Chris' poor garden gnome. We mull over some of Arteta's decisions, including Raya, Vieira, Saka and Smith Rowe.  The North Bank – an Arsenal podcast. Subscribe, rate & review on your app and find us on Twitter, I...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we enjoy looking back at our scintillating return to the champions league. But can we repeat that performance, and result, on Sunday against that lot? We all agree that there'll be goals, and it'll probably be quite nervy, but we should come out on top. Who will play in goal? Will it be Havertz or Vieira in the middle? Can Chris get his mic to work? Plenty of question...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we bask in the glory of finally being able to celebrate a win at Goodison. We discuss the Raya selection and what it might mean for Ramsdale. We also turn our attention to PSV and our long awaited return to the champions league, but we can't agree on the team Arteta will pick - Ramsdale or Raya, Gabriel or Kiwior, will Havertz return, who starts up front etc. What we...

Join Holly, Stef and Chris as we look ahead to the Everton game. Is it time for the Goodison hoodoo to finally end - our recent record there is abysmal. Will we finally accurately predict an Arteta starting eleven at the 5th time of asking?  We predict the score, have a look back at the internationals and all agree that The Angel is actually the most authentic club anthem of the lot!  &n...