Arseblog - The Arsecasts, Arsenal Podcasts

Arsenal are back and so is James, and in this episode we discuss the 3-0 win over Bournemouth at the weekend. We look at Danny Welbeck's performance, the Lacazette influence, the reception awarded to Alexis Sanchez, and what was a much more positive display overall. After that we answer listener questions about the departure of Dick Law and what it might mean for our transfer activity, how we might rotate the squad for the Europa League game this Thursday, what our options are for right wing-back, a possible return for Calum Chambers, and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With me on this week's show, to look back at the transfer window in general, the culture of transfers and misinformation, the potential changes to it and lots more, is Daniel Storey from Football 365. We chat about the potential impact of the window closing before the season starts, how clubs will react, if it will change the way they operate, and look at Arsenal's start to the season. After that I'm joined by Michael Cox from Zonal Marking to discuss Arsenal's back three, and the potential return of the manager to a back four, something he's much more comfortable with. Who will be the winners and losers of the formation change, and how can Arsene Wenger fix that midfield issue.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With me to discuss what has been a very interesting summer for Arsenal is the BBC's David Ornstein. No doubt many of you saw his summary of our off-season, so I chat to him about the deals that happened and how they happened; the deals that didn't go down; why Arsenal seem to make such hard work of transfer business; the deadline day flip-flop on Alexis, the sale of the Ox, Lucas Perez's anger, Arsene Wenger, Ivan Gazidis, Stan Kroenke, and lots lots lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With me in this episode to discuss the Arsenal youth system is Jeorge Bird. Jeorge's long running blog is the definitive source for news and info about Arsenal youth, and he also writes a weekly column for Arseblog News. We chat about how things have been going in recent times at academy level, from the departure of Andries Jonker to the appointment of Per Mertesacker, the change in the recruitment policy, young prospects leaving to go abroad, which young players we should be keeping an eye on, and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The transfer window is now closed, what we have we hold, and what we did on deadline day wasn't that inspiring. In fact, it's a summer in which it feels we've failed to really invest properly in the squad. As a club we've ended up £30m in profit during the window, and as they say £30m in the bank is not going to score you many goals during the season. With me to discuss the transfer deadline day action, the summer in general, our state of affairs, and where we go from here are Andrew Allen, The Man from East Lower, Tayo Popoola, and Elliot Smith. This was recorded immediately after the window closing last night, so we look at the squad, Oxlade-Chamberlain leaving, Alexis staying, investment or lack of, issues of balance, the manager, the board, and and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode I chat to James Montague, author of a new book entitled: The Billionaires Club – The Unstoppable Rise of Football's Super-rich Owners. James writes about the increasing influence of extremely wealthy owners of football clubs, primarily in the Premier League, but across football in general too. What effect is it having on the game? What might it mean for football in the future? And with most of Arsenal's shares owned by Stan Kroenke and Alisher Usmanov, there's a real Arsenal perspective in this too.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's show we look back at disastrous 4-0 hammering at Anfield on Sunday, the team selection, the lack of effort, the insipid performance, and why just three games into the season we're already in a horrendous situation. We chat about the manager's role, why there should be more focus on Stan Kroenke, a spineless board, potential transfers and lots more. There are questions about where we go from here, and how we get there, defending, mysterious behind the scenes influences and mots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's show we get a Mugsmasher perspective on their summer, their transfer business, what needs to be done with their squad, their hopes for the season and more as I'm joined by Neil Atkinson from The Anfield Wrap. Some of it sounds very familiar, to be fair. The actual Mugsmasher is on holiday. Then I chat with Tim Stillman about goings-on at Arsenal, touching on team balance, the Oxlade-Chamberlain situation, Arsene Wenger's strange Shkodran Mustafi comments, why it feels like things are not right behind the scenes, transfer plans and expectations, and the Liverpool game of course. There's a chunk of the usual waffle in there too, and some Holy God FM at the end.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's show we look back at the 1-0 defeat to Stoke, and try to make some sense of Arsene Wenger's team selection and substitutions. We also discuss the manager's lack of faith in so many of his defenders, our inability to turn our possession into goals, poor refereeing, and the overall balance of the team. We then answer listener questions about putting the ball out of play, dropping Rob Holding, how much money we've spent so far this summer and whether it's enough to make this team challengers, the nature of time and existence itself, and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This podcast was recorded yesterday evening, as news of the horrible attack in Barcelona came through, and given my connection with the place it was very much on my mind, so the first 10 minutes of this show are a bit introspective. If you don't want to hear that this morning, and I can understand why many wouldn't, just skip forward to 9'55 where the rest of the show features a long chat with Philippe Auclair. We chat about Olivier Giroud and his decision to stay, as well as new boy Alexandre Lacazette. We ask if the back three is actually making us defensively more secure, before moving onto the situations of Alexis, Ozil and Oxlade-Chamberlain, before discussing the transfer market, our need for a certain player and to move some others on.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Premier League is back and we relive that extraordinary opening game on Friday night when we beat Leicester 4-3. We chat about the performance, the system, defensive mistakes, our serious firepower and supersub Olivier Giroud's incredible impact once again. We also discuss the first weekend in general, relive Jamie Carragher's funny moment, and then answer lots of questions including the future of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, our transfer business, the need to manage the squad better, free transfers and lots more besides.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The new season kicks off tonight, rather unusually, and Arsenal face Leicester City in the first game of the new campaign. To preview Premier League, I'm joined by Ken Early of Second Captains and Dion Fanning, sports writer with Joe. We chat about the transfer market, the world record sale of Neymar, the consequences of that for the market overall, and the activity of English clubs so far. We look at all the title challengers, the top 6 clubs, their hopes, the lads pick their favourites to win the league, and of course we chat about Arsenal too.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's show we look back at yesterday's Community Shield victory over Chelsea, the impact of new boy Sead Kolasinac, the performance of fellow new signing Alexandre Lacazette, and why there are a lot of positives to take from another Wembley win. We then answer listener's questions about the Bosnian's somewhat confusing goal celebration, Danny Welbeck being linked with Everton, Hector Bellerin's tackle, what's acceptable in Fantasy Football and we finish the show by reading some of the best comments James's viral sensation 'Got enough?' video generated.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode we discuss the 174 things we learned from the Emirates Cup, including stuff about Reiss Nelson, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka and new signing Alexandre Lacazette. We also touch on the comments made by Arsene Wenger about ideal contract situations involving players in the last year of their deals, before answering lots of listener questions about Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez, the future of Calum Chambers, our use of the loan system and lots more, including intense wasp drama.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

James is back from his holidays so we catch up on all the nothing that happened while he was away, including: Pre-season games against Bayern and Chelsea, Wojciech Szczesny leaving, Alexis Sanchez and PSG, Wellington and his inflamed pubis, Lucas Perez, and the no signings we've made. We then answer listener questions about why we can't seem to sell anyone else, whether we'll make any more big moves before the window closes, the future of Jack Wilshere, shirt numbers, crazy bids for Neymar and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this somewhat surprise episode of the show, I chat to Michael about his new book: The Mixer: the Story of Premier League Tactics, from Route One to False Nines. It looks at how the tactical landscape of the Premier League has shifted massively since its inception, from a fairly unsophisticated time to now housing some of the best tacticians in the game. We chat about some of the changes and influences that have occurred over the years, how Arsenal and Arsene Wenger have had to pay more attention to that side of the game, the increased use of stats and data, and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this second show in three days we look at the final match of the Australian tour, and discuss the comments made by Alexis Sanchez regarding his future. Will Arsenal keep him, and where is a realistic option for him if we sell? There's more on the Thomas Lemar situation, Wenger on Oxlade-Chamberlain, and listener questions about our ability to bring through young players, our approach to next season's Europa League, Theo Walcott and his role in the team, Wojciech Szczesny, suitcases full of booze and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's post-holiday show we discuss all the stuff that's gone on since the last podcast, including: the signing of Lacazette, the Jens Lehmann appointment, Per Mertesacker's academy role, and the pre-season tour of Australia. We chat about the game against Sydney FC, look at our summer doings so far, and then answer questions about transfer activity, Alexis, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, hugely inflated transfer fees and football's increasing bubble, which bear is the best bear, and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's show we discuss the apparently imminent signing of Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon for what will be a club record fee. We discuss the French international, how he might fit in, and why Arsene Wenger has finally gone for him. There's also the Alexis situation over which we disagree slightly about a potential move to Man City, as well as stories about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's refusal to sign a new deal. We then answer listener questions about Riyad Mahrez, contracts, Chris Willock, Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs, and lots more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's show we chat about French strikers, from the reported interest in Alexandre Lacazette, the ongoing Kylian Mbappe situation and spurious links with Anthony Martial. We discuss the lack of transfer business this far and ask if we should be worried yet, as well as answering lots of listener questions including the Sanchez/Aguero swap stories, the future of Calum Chambers, Mohamed Elneny being on thin ice, more musical influenced players and loads more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.