First Therapy Session of 2026? Much needed, I’d say. 😮‍💨🛋️ Jacob and Pedro get into a few trigger conversations that might test your nerves, but stay calm. Talking it through is good for the soul. On the couch this week: 🧠 Gyökeres losing the home crowd 🔥 Headloss fans. Is it merited? 🤦‍♂️ The Martinelli nonsense 🏆 Managing the Cup experience 🎯 Who takes over as the 9 in the short term It’s a big one. Get stuck in. Thanks for listening. ❤️🎧 If you want this episode ADVERT FREE, get a membership below. You get bonus content, Discord access, and early access to live show tickets. NEWSLETTER + AUDIO: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/ AUDIO: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dugout is back for 2026! Jim Campbell from the Football Ramble returns to shake off the New Year's haze (and the Villa celebration hangovers) for a jam-packed episode. We’re looking past the "brain farts" on the South Coast and focusing on the flex. From transfer window headaches to the comedy show at Old Trafford, we’re covering it all. On the menu this week: The Havertz Reboot: He’s back, but will the team click or clunk with him back in the side? Nwaneri’s Dilemma: Do we stick, twist, or cash in on the teenage sensation while his stock is high? The Bournemouth Flex: Why a defensive howler didn't stop us from looking like Champions. The United Heist: Ruben Amorim’s "lottery win" photo and the search for a manager brave (or crazy) enough to take the reins. City’s Wobble: Are the juggernauts finally looking human without their Belgian King? Liverpool Looming: Why we’re ready to welcome the Reds (and why the fear factor might be gone). Plus, giving Trossard his flowers, the Eze debate, and some spicy score predictions. Tune in, get comfortable, and let's get into it. Ciao for now! 👋🔴⚪️ Newsletter + Audio: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/ Audio: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

That’s the way we like it… A HUGE win against a very good Bournemouth team. Arsenal had their poor moments, but the team showed a lot of resilience and got the job done! We discussed: 🌸 Flower time for Gyökeres? 🪄 Ødegaard’s twinkle toes 🧱 Declan the DESTROYER ⚔️ Bournemouth’s man-to-man strategy 🧐 Hincapié reappraisal 🏆 The title race as it stands We hope you enjoy the show. If you want to become a member, there are two options: Newsletter + Audio: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/ Audio: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS! Arsenal had a VERY good end to the year. This podcast covers off the BIG Aston Villa game. This pod is a later drop, if you want them LIVE, then click the member options in the links below. 👑 King Trossard 🪄 Ødegaard Scintillating 🤙 Incredible Jesus 🧠 Zubi Bossing the Park ⏱️ Villa’s Cynical Timewasting 📈 Arsenal Sitting Very, Very Pretty Newsletter & Audio member: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/s/the-arsenal-opinion-podcast Audio Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Take a listen to the AOP Live Show 2025. The boys took over the Park Theatre at Finsbury Park and delivered an AOP On The Whistle like no other. We had Pedro, Jacob, Matt, and Johnny... and added Arsenal Legend Ray Parlour to the mixer as a special guest. We also closed out the show with a song from Dugout regulars, The Manor. If you want to see the video, check the link below and sign up for a yearly membership. Thanks for an incredible 2025. We appreciate your support, comments, DMs, casual slander, and any other new-age way you communicated with us. We're looking forward to a bigger, better, and spicier next season! Big love, The AOP team xx Auido & Writing Membership: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/p/the-aop-christmas-party-2025-members Audio: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pedro and Johnny got on the mics right after the game to discuss another monster win - our 8th of block 5! They chatted: 🛡️ Declan BOSSING it at right back 📉 Big Vik drops another shocker 📈 Hincapie raises his level again! 🤕 Injury clusters! 🪄 Martin SHOWPONYdegaard! Hope you enjoy the show. If you want these early, sign up to our patreon below! x https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Jacob Hawley is joined by actor and comedian Ed Kear for a debut appearance on the pod. The pair dissect a frustrating but vital win against Wolves, the strange feeling of being five points clear without fully clicking, and why this season feels different to previous title charges. In this episode: The Screen Smasher: Ed talks about the relief (and rage) of the Wolves win and why dropped points against Villa and Sunderland still haunt the fanbase. The Gyökeres Debate: Is it the player or the system? Ed argues that Arsenal aren’t exploiting Gyökeres’ attributes, while Jacob suggests the striker is suffering from “Main Man-itis” and a lack of confidence. Captaincy Call: A bold claim that the armband might be better suited to Declan Rice or Gabriel Magalhães to drive the team through the nervy moments. Odegaard’s Evolution: The boys discuss whether the captain is being too safe, if he should be moved back to an #8 role, or if he’s just suffering from a lack of “fantasy” in the final third. Everton Away: Why the upcoming trip to Goodison Park feels like a season definer, and the “vibes” based argument for starting Gabriel Jesus. Follow Ed Kear on social media and catch his live stand-up dates! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edkear/?hl=en Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It wasn't pretty, but it was effective. The boys gather to break down a "nail-biter" against Wolves that saw Arsenal escape with a win and move five points clear at the top of the table. Despite a "destruction 11" lineup that failed to destroy, the panel discusses why winning ugly—even with two own goals—is the hallmark of champions. In this episode: The Ugly Win: Johnny labels the performance "full blown shit," but admits that finding a way to win when nothing is going right is a massive signal of intent for the title race. Jesus vs. Gyökeres: Pete declares Gabriel Jesus the "antidote" who brought Brazilian flair and energy to a stagnant attack, while the panel worries that "Big Vik" is running out of time and confidence. Super Subs: A look at how Arteta’s substitutions saved the day, with Trossard and Odegaard providing the quality and "game changer" energy needed to break the deadlock. Saka’s Ceiling: Matt asks if Saka is reaching "Hall of Fame" status, while Johnny compares him to Eden Hazard—a player who steps up to decide the biggest moments when the chips are down. The Eze Debate: Jacob defends Eze against claims of being anonymous, arguing the new signing needs time to adjust to Arteta's complex system, much like Declan Rice did. Arsenal newsletter: LE GROVE Exclsuive Audio: patreon.com/thearsenalopinion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fresh from a cold open training session at London Colney, Simon Collings (The Standard) joins host Jacob Hawley for a new episode of The Dugout. The pair dissect the “gut punch” defeat at Villa Park, analyzing how the match descended into an “Unai Emery basketball game” and asking the big question: Can this team survive the winter without the aura of Gabriel and William Saliba? On the agenda: Defensive Frailties: Analyzing the makeshift backline and Hincapié’s adjustment to the Premier League. The Eze Debate: Is he struggling to adapt to the system, or does he just need time like Declan Rice did? Odegaard’s Role: Why Arsenal need the 15-goal version of their captain back. Squad Rotation: Looking ahead to Club Brugge—will Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly finally get minutes? The Striker Situation: Gyökeres’ fitness, the Jesus wildcard, and the Noni Madueke conundrum. Simon’s Hot Take: Why he is doubling down on his prediction that Arsenal will win the league by 10 points. We hope you loved this one! x IF YOU WANT THE ADVERT FREE VERSION OF THIS PLEASE SIGN UP HERE: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All the boys are on for this one… and it was a horrible afternoon. We got into: 🎩 Odegaard’s performance 💣 Viktor’s disaster cameo 💀 The last-minute killer blow 🚨 Defensive chaos across the pitch 👊 Unai’s revenge tour rolling on Take a listen. IF YOU WANT THE ADVERT FREE VERSION OF THIS RIGHT AFTER THE GAME PLEASE SIGN UP HERE: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was a GLORIOUS no-drama kind of evening against Brentford which made for GOOD discussion. Pedro, Matt, and Johnny discussed: 🛡️ Best defence on the planet with another clean sheet 👑 KING MERINO OWNING THE 9 SHIRT 💀 Injury curse ramps up – Dekkers and Mosquera struck down 😬 Chelsea and Liverpool have shockers 🎩 Martin Odegaard and his OK return Enjoy the podcast, thanks for being a member! IF YOU WANT THE ADVERT FREE VERSION OF THIS RIGHT AFTER THE GAME PLEASE SIGN UP HERE: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pedro and Jacob dive into a nervy but valuable midweek win over Brentford, unpacking: 🔥 How Arsenal completely neutralised Brentford’s set-piece circus 💪 Merino’s outrageous form and whether he’s now undroppable 😬 Declan’s calf tweak, Mosquera’s knock, and the growing fitness crisis 🤕 Arteta’s rotation choices and the training-ground intensity debate 📉 Why Odegaard divides the fanbase despite strong numbers ⚡️ Noni Madueke: chaos merchant, future star, or finishing project? 🧱 Timber at centre-back and the state of the stand-in defence 🤝 Which attacker combinations actually work 📦 January loans: where should Berta strengthen? A lively, honest therapy session on a performance that gave us three points… and three new worries. Tap in and get your head straight for Villa away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rough afternoon at The Bridge, but a point gained. We discuss: 🔵 Caicedo madness 🤕 Arteta making the same fitness mistakes 😬 Madueke getting overawed 🥶 Myles having another poor game 🐺 MERINO DOING BIG DOG THINGS 🟥 Arsenal letting Chelsea off 10 men Enjoy the listen! x ____________________________ 🎧 IF YOU WANT THIS CONTENT AD FREE AND ALL THE BONUS THINGS LIKE NICE WRITING, EXTRA CONTENT, AND A VERY GOOD DISCORD, PICK YOUR OPTION BELOW: WRITING + AUDIO + VIDEO: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion AUDIO + VIDEO: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/8c0cfff5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jacob Hawley is back in the Dugout with Telegraph football reporter Sam Dean to break down one of the biggest weeks in the Arteta era. Fresh off dismantling Spurs and putting Bayern Munich in a chokehold at the Emirates, the lads get stuck into the big question: is this the best-coached team in Europe? We talk through: 🔥 Bayern Demolition: Why Arsenal’s set-piece storm, tactical adaptability, and elite squad depth left Bayern scrambling. 🎯 Eze and Martinelli Link-Up: Two massive games, two massive moments… the new double act delivering on the biggest stages. 🏋️ Declan Rice Masterclass: Is Rice the most influential player in Europe right now? 🔁 The Number Nine Debate: Sam Dean drops a scorching take on Jesus, Mourinho, and whether Arsenal really need a new striker. 👶 The Kids Are Fine: Miles Lewis-Skelly and Mosquera at Champions League level. The future is silly. 📈 The Arteta Evolution: A squad that can beat you any way it wants, with elite depth and total tactical control. Plus all the usual chaos, jokes, therapy, and the best Arsenal chat you will hear this week. ____________________________ 🎧 IF YOU WANT THIS CONTENT AD FREE AND ALL THE BONUS THINGS LIKE NICE WRITING, EXTRA CONTENT, AND A VERY GOOD DISCORD, PICK YOUR OPTION BELOW: WRITING + AUDIO + VIDEO: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion AUDIO + VIDEO: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/8c0cfff5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve moved therapy to Tuesday, but who needs therapy when you’ve just walloped Spurs 4-1? Matt Kandela and Jacob Hawley join the show to joy-scroll through the wreckage of Tottenham’s season and ask the big questions: Are we now culturally bigger than Real Madrid? And have we accidentally become the “Heavyweights” of world football? In this episode: ⚪️ Spurs in the Mud: We drink in the “sheer misery” of the Tottenham fan reaction videos and why watching them suffer is better than therapy. 🦊 The Trossard Cult: Why the “Silver Fox” is statistically our most productive attacker and why signing him over Mudryk might define the entire Arteta era. 🔥 Captain in Crisis? The hottest take of the week: With Eze playing with such swagger and goal threat, does Martin Odegaard walk back into this team? 🔁 Disrespecting Bayern: The debate on whether we should rotate heavily (start Myles Lewis-Skelly!) against Bayern Munich to save our legs for Chelsea. 🧱 Broken Benny Blanco: Timber is the best right-back in the league, so are we approaching the end of the road for Ben White? 💰 Greed is Good: Why we are not settling for a draw at Stamford Bridge. We want all three points to fuel the dynasty. _______________________________________________ 🎧 IF YOU WANT THIS CONTENT AD FREE AND ALL THE BONUS THINGS LIKE NICE WRITING, EXTRA CONTENT, AND A VERY GOOD DISCORD, PICK YOUR OPTION BELOW: WRITING + AUDIO + VIDEO: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion AUDIO + VIDEO: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/8c0cfff5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PEDRO AND MATT WENT LIVE AFTER THE GAME TO BREAK DOWN A HUGE WIN UNDER THE LIGHTS AT A FOG-FILLED EMIRATES 🌫️⚽️ ⭐ PRAISE THE MAGNIFICENCE OF EZE 🐺 CELEBRATE ROTTWEILER DECLAN 🎯 ASSESS THE FREAK GOAL 📊 TALK ABOUT SPURS TACTICS AND THEIR HOPES MOVING FORWARD 😡 CHAT ABOUT RICHARLISON AND HOW ANNOYING HE IS 🛡️ WAX ABOUT JURRIEN 🔄 CONSIDER ROTATION OPTIONS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SHOW! X _______________________________________________ 🎧 IF YOU WANT THIS CONTENT AD FREE AND ALL THE BONUS THINGS LIKE NICE WRITING, EXTRA CONTENT, AND A VERY GOOD DISCORD, PICK YOUR OPTION BELOW: WRITING + AUDIO + VIDEO: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion AUDIO + VIDEO: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/8c0cfff5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s episode, Pete and Jacob limp out of the international break with bruised mouths, bruised lineups, and bruised optimism ahead of a monster North London Derby. We get into: 🧟‍♂️ Injury apocalypse Gabriel’s abductor blow, the real timeline, and how this derails Arsenal’s December monster run. 🧩 Who replaces Big Gabi? Calafiori at CB? Mosquera time? Hincapié wildcard? Or will Arteta go full galaxy brain? 🎨 Odegaard’s colour palette Why Arsenal look black-and-white without him and Technicolor with him. The weird, wrong online takes. 🇩🇪 Bundesliga myth-busting + Jude Bellingham debate Is Germany too soft a league? Why some stars flop in England. Is Jude a “moment player”? 🔥 Saka and Eze cooking for England Lovely… but Arsenal need that heat right now. Especially with the fixture pile-up. 🤕 Kai Havertz concerns The fitness worries, the durability question, and whether the Sesko vs Gyökeres conversation looks different now. 🧱 Are Arsenal inevitable? Three seasons of elite consistency. When patience runs out for top players. Why this season feels like destiny. 👶 Hale End and the teen minutes conundrum Miles, Ethan, Max — development vs pressure vs loan ideals. Arteta’s philosophy laid bare. ⚔️ North London Derby preview Where Spurs are soft. Where Arsenal must be ruthless. And why this will come down to Saka, Eze, or a Hale Ender with main-character energy. A lively, chaotic, derby-week episode filled with anxiety, tactics, agendas, optimism, and fear. Exactly how it should be. 🎧 IF YOU WANT THIS CONTENT AD FREE AND ALL THE BONUS THINGS LIKE NICE WRITING, EXTRA CONTENT, AND A VERY GOOD DISCORD, PICK YOUR OPTION BELOW: WRITING + AUDIO + VIDEO: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion AUDIO + VIDEO: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/8c0cfff5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Dugout edition of The Arsenal Opinion Podcast, Jacob Hawley takes the hosting seat and welcomes Jack Pitt-Brooke of The Athletic for a deep dive into the North London Derby build-up. Across a lively and insightful conversation, they explore: Tottenham through the eyes of someone who covers them, not supports them, striking the perfect balance for Arsenal listeners. How international breaks shape narratives, coaching trends, and fan expectations, including the role of throw-ins, set pieces, and Premier League punditry. Why international football may actually feel more expressive than club football right now. The shift from superstar match-winners to tactical systems in the modern Premier League. A spicy segment on Declan Rice’s best role, as Jack delivers his Hottest of Takes. A measured, slightly worried look at Arsenal’s injury-stricken attack heading into the Derby. And finally, Jack’s score prediction, which tries (and fails) to keep Spurs fans optimistic. This one blends tactics, narrative, nostalgia, and Derby-day tension. A perfect warm-up for the weekend. 🎧 IF YOU WANT THIS CONTENT AD FREE AND ALL THE BONUS THINGS LIKE NICE WRITING, EXTRA CONTENT, AND A VERY GOOD DISCORD, PICK YOUR OPTION BELOW: WRITING + AUDIO + VIDEO: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion AUDIO + VIDEO: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/8c0cfff5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s all the boys on the show, ready to take the awesome member questions that you’ve all been percolating on. We covered a wide range of topics, including upcoming U-turns, the Ethan conundrum, predictions on trophy hauls, and much, much more. Thanks for making this a GREAT SHOW! x 🎧 IF YOU WANT THIS CONTENT AD FREE AND ALL THE BONUS THINGS LIKE NICE WRITING, EXTRA CONTENT, AND A VERY GOOD DISCORD, PICK YOUR OPTION BELOW: WRITING + AUDIO + VIDEO: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion AUDIO + VIDEO: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/8c0cfff5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s Arsenal Opinion is therapy in name only — because everyone’s feeling suspiciously good. Pedro, Matt, and Jacob try to process the weird calm that comes with a 10-game winning streak, a record defensive run, and a fanbase already booking trophy parades. They dive into: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Saka’s missing his mates, the clean-sheet obsession is getting dangerous, and one host admits to moving a stag do for the trophy lift. 🧱 Dual Monsters & Defensive Evolution — Why Arsenal are now the trendsetters in modern football, how Hincapié fits Arteta’s lab-built vision, and what it means for the rest of the squad. 🧠 Ethan’s Growing Pains — The panel debates whether Nwaneri’s central evolution is genius planning or just a little premature. 👶 The Hale End Boom — Max Dowman, Andre H, Marley Salmon… Arsenal’s teen wave is real, and Arteta’s “Bilbao model” might just be working. 💰 Selling Smart vs. Selling Souls — Do Arsenal need to rebrand their shopfront? And would you sell Ethan for £70m if it meant landing a new winger? A light-hearted but sharp chat full of nostalgia, overanalysis, and joy-fuelled dread — the kind only Arsenal fans can deliver. 🎧 IF YOU WANT THIS CONTENT AD FREE AND ALL THE BONUS THINGS LIKE NICE WRITING, EXTRA CONTENT, AND A VERY GOOD DISCORD, PICK YOUR OPTION BELOW: WRITING + AUDIO + VIDEO: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion AUDIO + VIDEO: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/8c0cfff5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices