Arseblog - The Arsecasts, Arsenal Podcasts

James is away this week, so I called over to Tayo Popoola's house to record this week's show. Over pastries and prosecco, we discuss the emotional day yesterday which saw Arsene Wenger take charge of the team for the final time at home. We chat about the day itself, the manager's legacy, what a beautiful occasion it was marked with a 5-0 win and an outpouring of goodwill and sentiment towards the boss. We then answer some listener questions about Wenger, possible replacements, the board and lots more (and there's some laughing at Stoke too!).  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Defeat at the Wanda Metropolitano means there's no fairy tale ending for Arsene Wenger, nor any silverware for Arsenal this season. Diego Costa's goal was enough to see Atletico Madrid through, and in this somewhat hastily arranged podcast I chat to Charles Watts of Football London about the loss, the performance over the two legs, how the Gunners blew a great opportunity in the first leg, what it says about the manager, where it leaves us for the final few games, summer transfers, Koscielny's heartbreak, and more, as well as some of the usual waffle as I look back on my trip to Madrid for the game.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Defeat to Manchester United but a day from which we can draw some positives, not least the performances of some of the young players sent out at Old Trafford. We chat about the Konstantinos Mavropanos debut, Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Calum Chambers, the overall context of the game and ask questions about the 'Granit Xhaka narrative' peddled by Sky. Then we answer listener questions about Thursday's semi-final second leg in Madrid, what kind of a manager we might appoint with the transfer budget we have, how we might spend that reported £50m if we had to splash it on just one player, what's happened Rob Holding, Sven Mislintat's influence and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It was so close to being a great European night, but a late defensive slip-up allowed 10 man Atletico Madrid to grab an equaliser. James and I chat about the impact that goal might have on the tie, how it has turned what was generally a positive night into a more negative one, while acknowledging there were some positives on the night and that it's far from over ahead of the second leg in Madrid next week. We then answer listener questions about our centre-halves, the need for a new goalkeeper next season, how we might approach Sunday's game at Old Trafford and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Here's an super extra bonus Arsecast ahead of tomorrow's Europa League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid. I chat with Spanish based journalist Dermot Corrigan about what Arsenal can expect from the La Liga side, how they're likely to approach this game, Diego Simeone's tactics for big away fixtures, their dangermen and more, plus some insight into Arsenal's Definitely Not Director of Football, Raul Sanllehi, and his close relationship with former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique who has been hotly tipped as one of the main candidates to succeed Arsene Wenger at the end of the season.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The 4-1 win over West Ham was enjoyable, but not the main event as we still come to terms with the news that Arsene Wenger will be leaving the club at the end of the season. We chat about the game, the team selection, the performance, the goals and all that, but this is an episode that deals heavily with the manager. We chat about his very interesting post-game press conference, his remarks about the values of the club, fans, what his future might hold, and then there are questions about potential replacements, what happens to the coaching staff, that famous book he might write, as well as picking our favourite Arsene Wenger XI and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Two podcasts in one day, but this is no ordinary day. Earlier, Arsene Wenger announced his intention to leave the club at the end of the season, and it's been an emotional rollercoaster since. First, I talk to James from Gunnerblog about his reaction to it, as well as his thoughts on the strange Ivan Gazidis press conference that took place this evening. Then, in a round table discussion, I chat about the whole situation with Andrew Allen, Goonerholic and The Man from East Lower - from the announcement, the timing of it, what it means for the club, where we might go from here, and a trip down Arsene Wenger's memory lane for some good times and bad, but mostly good.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After a slow Arsenal news week, this episode begins with Daniel Storey of Football 365, and we look back on the Premier League season as a whole after Man City have been crowned champions. We chat about the quality in the league this season, safe-standing, as well as Arsene Wenger, his future and how the Europa League looms over what remains of this campaign. Then Tim Stillman joins me to discuss the manager's comments about attendances which he says are no big concern (Arsene, not Tim), the reasons for fans staying away, ticketing, extra club level seats, and more, plus there's some of the usual waffle too.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's show we look back at the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle which simply adds to our abysmal away record, chat about our defending, or lack of it, more mistakes by Shkodran Mustafi who is enduring a terrible time at the moment, the deployment of Pierre-Emerick Aubamayang as a winger, and how the loss was not any kind of a surprise at all. We then answer questions about Rafa Benitez as a possible Wenger replacement, the importance of the Europa League, which players have made progress this season, similarities to the end of the George Graham era, and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's show I chat to ESPN's Arsenal correspondent Mattias Karen about Arsenal's 2-2 draw against CSKA Moscow which helped ensure qualification for the semi-finals of the Europa League. We chat about the Gunners making life difficult for themselves, but also an ability to respond to those situations. As Mohamed Elneny shines, Jack Wilshere struggles; Danny Welbeck has found some form, and we discuss the balancing act Arsene Wenger has now that Europe has become this season's number one priority. There's a bit of the usual waffle too.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's another goodly morning as we discuss the 3-2 win over Southampton yesterday, the contributions of both Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi who had very positive days, the 'defending' of Shkodran Mustafi after another terrible error, Jack Wilshere's cameo, and the red card for Mohamed Elneny. We then answer listener questions about Welbeck's future at the club, the most frustrating Arsenal sendings off of all time – which takes us down a nostalgic road for a bit, our turnaround in form, which TV character we'd like to see take over from Arsene Wenger and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this extra Arsecast Extra we discuss the very enjoyable 4-1 win over CSKA Moscow in the Europa League, in particular the incredible goal scored by Aaron Ramsey. It wasn't improvisation, it was engineering, and we chat about that, his combinations with Mesut Ozil, a much for Arsenal-esque attacking performance the position it puts us in ahead of the second leg. Then we answer questions about Granit Xhaka, Ramsey's contract and the hopes of him signing a new one, Cech v Ospina in the Europa League, potential semi-final opposition, and more – all to a background of a visit by a chimney sweep.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Football is back and we enjoy beating Stoke if not everything that came before. We chat about the performance, the result, why criticism of Aubameyang for giving the penalty to Lacazette is stupid and, of course, we laugh at Stoke. Then we answer listener questions about the two forwards playing in the team at the same time, the importance of Aaron Ramsey and his contract situation, the kind of football Arsene Wenger is serving up, Ozil and Bellerin having words on the pitch, a potential goalkeeping recruit and lots more. Including more laughing at Stoke.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's show I chat to Rory Smith of the New York Times about Jack Wilshere, his England situation, and how his contract impasse at Arsenal could end up costing the club in the long run. We also discuss the Europa League, whether Arsene Wenger's future is dependent on it, the power shift going on behind the scenes with Ivan Gazidis, Sven Mislintat and Raul Sanllehi, and more. There's some of the usual waffle, a bit of Holy God FM, and some deep thoughts about the moon. Sort of.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's the Interlull so we muddle through with a podcast touching on some of the international action, Arsene Wenger and his future tied to how far we go in the Europa League, Thomas Tuchel, Jack Wilshere's situation as injury strikes again, and then questions about the World Cup, the development of young players with the loan system and the current football culture, playing two strikers, Cesc Fabregas and more, as well as exciting news about the Gunnerblog v Arseblog FIFA 18 showdown.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There wasn't a lot going on this week because of the Interlull, leaving us short of Arsenal stuff to talk about, so last night I did a phone-in show, taking calls and chatting to listeners about various things, including the Jack Wilshere situation, Arsene Wenger and his future, the ownership – including a story about Alisher Usmanov's gates, getting a new goalkeeper for next season, our Europa League chances, and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There's not a lot going on in the Arsenal world right now, but that's never stopped us producing a podcast before. There's football chatter, interspersed with in-depth movie reviews, kebab talk, footballers birthdays, Mourinho's meltdown, and the Europa League draw, before we answer listener questions about Stoke getting relegated, new careers, how to cope with the Interlull, clocks, young players, a FIFA pledge, the one thing we'd rid football of if given the chance, and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Arsenal are through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League after a 5-1 aggregate win, and a 3-1 victory in the second leg. We discuss the convincing qualification in the context of our recent form, as well as the absurd furore surrounding Danny Welbeck and the penalty incident which has sparked some ridiculous coverage in the press. We chat about diving in general, the mental gymnastics of being a fan on either side of that debate, and enjoy what has been a good week for the club. There's excitement about Europe as a trophy edges closer, and we then answer listener questions about things we might have to just accept in football, Granit Xhaka, Ramsey or Wilshere, idyllic Sundays, James' secret life as a cracker pusher, and there's a scary proposition to finish with.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Two wins in a week, Mr Arse Ambassador, with these results you are really spoiling us. James and I get tucked into the Watford win, the deliciousness of Petr Cech's penalty save from Troy Deeney, and why the striker deserved every bit of stick he got. We look at the performances of Elneny and Xhaka, the combination between Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan, Ainsley Maitland-Niles at right back, before looking ahead to Milan on Thursday. We then answer listener questions about Ivan and Raul at the fans forum, Per Mertesacker's remarkable interview, a new new new Patrick Vieira, fat footballers and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's show we enjoy a long overdue win and with me to discuss the 2-0 Europa League triumph over AC Milan is Paolo Bandini. We chat about a much improved Arsenal performance, perhaps predicated on the fact Europe is the be all and end all, Milan's setup and approach suiting us, a solid midfield and what this could do for us going forward and into the next leg. Then I'm joined by Kevin Witcher, editor of The Gooner fanzine, to talk about fanzine culture, the history of the publication, and how in order to survive it needs to go in a slightly different direction which requires a commitment from fans and readers. Plus a bit of the usual waffle!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.