THE ARSENAL OPINION - BY LE GROVE

Come on... what a start to the season! First trophy, some big performances, and plenty to get excited about. We discuss: Dominant Myles! Tzolis the GREAT Bruno debut City wobbles - can they recover? This was the start we all dreamed of... now for the league! For this content early and advert-free, go to Patreon.com/thearsenalopinion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pedro is joined by Johnny Cochrane and Jacob Hawley for a Friday special ahead of the Community Shield, with two and a half weeks left in the window and plenty of frustration to get through. The Hottest Takes bring a big swing back on Ethan Nwaneri, plus a proper debate on where Arsenal's transfer business actually stands. 🔥 Hottest Takes: Johnny's back on the Ethan Nwaneri train 🎯 Odegaard's finishing under the microscope, and why the fanbase is split on him 🇹🇷 Victor Osimhen data deep dive, and whether he's Jokeres 2.0 🛡️ Jarell Quansah emerges as a surprise defensive target 💰 Savinho's £75m Spurs move sparks outrage over Martinelli's valuation 🏆 Community Shield predictions and why City's rebuild has Arsenal cautiously confident Ad free episode and more Arsenal chat over on Patreon.com/thearsenalopinion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pedro is joined by Matt Kandela for a quickfire pre-season pod before Sunday's opener against Manchester City. The Hottest Takes come thick and fast this week, covering the Hale End dilemma, the fresh faces turning heads in preseason, and why the squad still isn't the finished article heading into the window's final stretch. 🔥 Hottest Takes: the Myles Lewis-Skelly transfer saga divides the room 💰 Digging into Arsenal's contract strategy and why players aren't getting poached ⚡ Marley Salmon and Julien impress in preseason, plus the Saliba succession plan talk 🎯 Odegaard's form, Bruno's debut, and the "eyes test" for judging world class 🔄 The Alvarez-Jokeres swap rumour and Arsenal's struggles shifting players 📅 A look ahead to City and the Community Shield Full ad free episode and more Arsenal chat over on Patreon.com/thearsenalopinion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete is joined by Matt Kandela for the full preseason debrief. Two defeats on the bounce, an escalating Zubimendi exit saga, and a Timber injury scare all land in the same episode, and Pete's ITK instincts are working overtime before Community Shield weekend. 🔥 Hottest of Takes: Pete makes the case for why Arsenal's attack looks strangely toothless right now, and why there might only be one name left who can fix it 😬 Zubimendi's Exit: Chelsea and Javi Alonso circling, the London Stadium moment Arteta hasn't forgiven, and the João Pedro fantasy swap deal Pete can't let go of 🥅 Dortmund Despair: back to back preseason losses, Saliba and Timber both missing, and whether the defensive wobbles are actually a genuine cause for concern 🏆 Community Shield Litmus Test: why Pete wants Ethan Nwaneri, Max Dowman and Myles Lewis-Skelly properly tested against City, not just a preseason trophy 🏥 Timber Setback & Marli Salmon: the minor surgery timeline, the Halloween deadline for Liverpool, and the 16 year old defender making a real case for right back cover Part one is free. Part two, including a full Yıldız scout report and slide deck, is Patreon members only at patreon.com/thearsenalopinion. Ad free, Discord access, all of it. Johnny and Jacob back tomorrow. 🔴 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Johnny. Johnny's been to the British seaside. Pete's been to the gym. Vinicius is staying at Madrid. Arsenal are signing Ezri Konsa. Life goes on. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Johnny makes the case that the Vinicius saga was never really about Vinicius — it was about the Martinelli question we've been avoiding all summer. Pete's take reframes the entire window: the system is still the star, and a tweet from a fan account called Josephine of Arsenal might actually be the most rational thing said about this whole saga 😅 Moving On From Vinicius — a tweet doing the rounds makes the case that Madrid panicking and keeping Vinicius has cost them Rodri, handed City a weakness, and set a wage precedent that will haunt their dressing room. Pete and Johnny take the copium and run 🛡️ Ezri Konsa — Not Bowled Over, But Fine — Pete admits he's not jumping up and down. Johnny makes the Xhaka under Emery comparison and makes a genuinely compelling case for why Arteta might make a man out of him. Both agree: if he does well, this podcast gets deleted 💸 Last Summer's Signings — The Honest Verdict — were Gyökeres, Eze and Madüeke successes? Johnny says the system raised the floor when fans thought it was raising the ceiling. Pete defends every purchase. Eze's Bergkamp goal at Newcastle alone changed the title race 📺 FPL Picks — Members Only — Johnny is pretty good at FPL. He's putting his picks out. You're not getting them unless you're on Patreon (link below) Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Arsenal Opinion | Thursday Therapy — Vini's Gone, Bruno's Here, What Happens Now Pete and Johnny. It's Thursday. The Vinicius deal is dead. Pete needs a wellness check on Johnny. And there is a lot to get through. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Johnny delivers a nuanced defence of Arsenal's pursuit: Vinicius wasn't choosing another club over Arsenal, he was choosing to stay put. That's a completely different thing. Pete's take is the hotter one — Arsenal might have dodged a bullet. The Özil parallels. The pressing demands. The cuckold behaviour. Pete is processing 😤 Vinicius — The Full Debrief — what actually happened, what it says about Arsenal as a global force, and why the fact that Florentino Pérez panicked and wrote a new contract says more than anything else about where this club now sits. Johnny invokes Apple vs Samsung. Pete invokes Anelka to Madrid in 1999 🎵 Bruno Guimaraes — Give Him His Flowers — he deserves more airtime than he's been getting this week. Pete and Johnny go through what he offers, what the midfield combinations now look like, and why Zubimendi's future suddenly looks more complicated 🔮 Could Zubimendi Go To Madrid? — an unexpected twist. Rodri's gone. Madrid have space. And there are whispers. Johnny has a very specific and quite brilliant strategy for how Arsenal should handle any approach 🌟 Who Plugs The Vini Gap? — Barcola is back in the frame, and Pete makes the case for why both clubs flirting with other targets means there's common ground to find. Kvarascalia is also discussed. The window is not closed 📅 What Happens Now? — 17 days to the season. One more winger needed. A squad clogged with players who need to move. Pete and Johnny map out what the rest of August looks like and why they're still excited Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Johnny. Bruno Guimaraes is nearly done. Johnny's in his yellow Arsenal shirt. Chelsea have signed Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck. The contrast could not be more beautiful. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Johnny has changed his mind on Ethan Nwaneri after watching the Girona game and he's brave enough to say so out loud. Pete's take is about an academy kid who glided onto the pitch in the second half like a tall ghost from the mid-2000s — and nobody was talking about him 💸 Bruno Guimaraes — Nearly Done — Ornstein says it's happening. Personal terms agreed. Pete calls it the best midfield signing Arsenal could possibly have made in the world right now. Johnny explains the midfield combinations that now open up and why this is the only kind of player you can sign when you've just won the Premier League 😂 Chelsea's Summer In One Sentence — Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck. Pete and Johnny spend a glorious few minutes on what it says about where Chelsea actually are, why the Liverpool model is collapsing faster than anyone expected, and why being a beautiful butterfly is so much better than being a hungry caterpillar 😬 The Zero Exits Problem — no bids for Gyökeres, Kai, Odegaard or Martinelli. Ethan going for what would be Rob Holding money. Pete is baffled and slightly furious. Johnny has a theory about why Arsenal players aren't attracting the fees they deserve 🌟 Ife Ibrahim — The Academy Kid Nobody Saw Coming — Pete watched the Girona game and couldn't stop looking at a defensive midfielder who was gliding past senior defenders. Tall, rangy, Yaya Toure comparisons already flying. Johnny urges caution. Pete urges people to watch the highlights immediately ⚽ FPL Is Back — join the AOP fantasy league. Code: id76do. Johnny did videos when he was winning. He stopped. No further questions Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a pretty focused show... we're gassed about Vini, and we talk ourselves into why it'll happen! We talk about his defensive numbers Why Arsenal are the bigger club in 2026 Why image rights are so important What the secret ingredient to the players greatness is How important the signing is to the future of Arsenal! We hope you enjoy this early bird segment! x Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johnny and Suburban Gooner Chris — Howard to his friends — sweating through a heatwave with a lot to get through. A crossover that covers everything from FIFA politics to the players who could define Arsenal's season. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Chris opens with a Bruno vs Vinicius argument that will divide the room. Johnny has a counter. The reasoning on both sides is genuinely compelling 🌍 Infantino and FIFA — the lads go after the most powerful man in football, the decisions that have defined this World Cup, and why the governance of the game feels increasingly disconnected from the fans who love it 🌟 Vinicius — Hopes Fading? — the noise has gone quiet. Chris and Johnny go through what they know, what they think is happening, and how to manage expectations from here 💸 Bruno Guimaraes — Nearing Completion — the update that has everyone excited. What it means for how Arsenal set up, who it affects, and why Chris thinks this might be the signing of the summer regardless of what else happens 👶 Ethan Nwaneri — The Season Ahead — genuine hope or wishful thinking? Chris and Johnny make the case for why this could finally be his year and what unlocks it ⚖️ Overrated vs Underrated — Arsenal players and transfer targets put under the microscope. Some popular opinions get challenged. Some unpopular ones get defended. Nobody fully agrees 🏆 The Key Factors For Success Next Season — six months of work, a title to defend, a Champions League to chase. Chris and Johnny identify the two or three things that have to go right for Arsenal to dominate again Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jacob is joined by Simon Collings of The Sun — one of the most well-connected journalists covering Arsenal day to day. Pre-season is underway, Tzolis is in training, and the transfer room is absolutely nuts. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Simon makes the case that Arsenal's quiet pre-season media blackout is actually a sign of confidence, not chaos. Jacob goes after the club's inability to sell players and asks whether Berta needs to get ruthless before he can get creative 📰 The Journalist's View — what it's actually like covering the transfer window in the social media age, why every deal now has seventeen stages, and why Simon is already dreaming of September 1st when he can just talk about football again 🐕 Arteta and the Dog — the behind-the-scenes Tzolis announcement video. Simon was there. Jacob needs to know everything 🌟 The Vinicius Question — Simon won't go as far as Jacob wants him to. But he won't fully shut it down either. A very careful and very interesting conversation about what he does and doesn't know 😤 Ben White — Reality Check — Jacob asks the hard question about what the market actually looks like for a right back whose knees are held together by sellotape and who's barely played two seasons in a row. Simon's answer is sobering ⚡ Fresneda — The Smart Alternative? — a right back Jacob's been a fan of for years. Simon goes through the price, the profile, and why signing someone dynamic on the right could unlock the best of both Saka and Ben White Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johnny and Jacob. Sunday evening. Suitably infused. An Ornstein bomb has just dropped and neither of them can stop talking about it. Arsenal are exploring a deal for Vinicius Junior. They needed to get on the mic immediately. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Jacob side-steps the Vinicius hysteria to make the case that Rodri's back surgery and Real Madrid links might quietly be the biggest story of the summer for Arsenal. Johnny's take is about what walking away from Morgan Rogers actually said about this club — and why it should make everyone more confident, not less 🌟 Are We Getting Vinicius Jr? — the evidence, the logic, the fan theories, and the completely spurious internet speculation. Johnny and Jacob treat all of it with equal enthusiasm and make no apologies for doing so 📊 Why This Would Be The Biggest Transfer In Arsenal's History — bigger than Özil. Johnny makes the case. Jacob agrees. A player who was second in the Ballon d'Or, in his peak, choosing Arsenal. The lads try to keep their feet on the ground. They don't fully succeed 🐊 We Move Like A Crocodile Now — Jacob's theory about what walking away from Morgan Rogers actually means is one of the best takes of the summer. Arsenal aren't rushing. They're waiting. And Vinicius is a giant wildebeest ⏰ 26 Days Until The Season Starts — the lads clock it live on air and both go slightly pale. It's coming. Fast Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Jacob, recording with one eye on Twitter waiting for the Bruno announcement. Tzolis is moving to Arsenal. The window is open. It's time to talk. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Jacob doesn't want a centre-back and makes the case with enough conviction to talk Pete round. Consa at £50 million when Mosquera, Timber and Marley Salmon exist? Jacob says no. Pete says maybe just do Stones for free. Both agree Declan Rice will absolutely start the Community Shield and both are slightly terrified about that 🐭 Tzolis — The Full Verdict — Pete pulls up the highlights live and the lads go through it frame by frame. Fox in the box. Trossard replacement. Head up, give and go, whack on him despite not looking physically imposing. Jacob calls it the antidote to the forward line of death 💸 One In, One Out — The Financial Reality — Pete lays out what happened after last summer's spending spree. Four new finance people on the board. A deal that went badly overpriced. Arsenal need to sell this summer and Pete has a theory about who goes where — including a Martinelli to Atletico swap idea that is genuinely interesting 😤 Jacob Would Love It If Gyökeres Went — he says it. He means it. He's not taking it back. Pete doesn't fully disagree 🔜 Bruno — It's Coming — the lads keep checking Twitter throughout. By the time you're listening to this, the big one may already be done Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Matt, Wednesday morning UK time. Morgan Rogers is a Chelsea player. The announcement video has already been roasted. And actually? The lads are fine. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Matt is suddenly very excited about Ethan Nwaneri. He's been in the gym, he's been in the England camp, and Matt makes the Myles Lewis-Skelly comparison that's going to make a lot of people feel a lot better about the summer. Pete's take is about Arsenal's valuation discipline and why walking away from overpriced targets is actually the Man City playbook 😂 Chelsea's Announcement Video — "Joined the biggest club in London." Pete and Matt go through it frame by frame. It is not good. The Eze announcement comparison is not kind to anybody involved 💸 Why Can't Arsenal Sell? — the Somerville to Al-Hilal story reopens a wound. Berta was brought in to move players as well as buy them. Pete asks where the Saudi numbers are for Arsenal's fringe players. Matt tells the story of a mate who went to Saudi for electrical work and never looked back. It's relevant ⚙️ Zubimendi — World Cup Winner, Dark Horse For Next Season — rested, recharged, point to prove. Pete makes the case that recency bias has done Zubi dirty and the version coming back this August is going to surprise people 🔜 Members Bonus — Yan Diamonde — a name linked to Arsenal gets the full treatment on Patreon. Members only Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Matt, straight off the back of the World Cup final in New Jersey. Morgan Rogers is not coming to Arsenal. People are losing their minds on the internet. Pete and Matt are not. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Matt goes after Arsenal's inability to sell players and makes the case that it's costing us in the transfer market more than any individual miss. Pete counters with hopium, Man City's valuation history, and a list of Plan B signings that ended up being better than the Plan A 😤 Morgan Rogers — What Happened And Why — the £117 million valuation, Berta walking away, and why Pete thinks this one was actually the right call. A history of Man City walking away from overpriced targets makes the case 💸 Sell To Buy — Matt's Big Argument — Madüeke, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Kai, Gyökeres. Matt thinks all of them should have a price. The attack is mid-table without stardust signings and the wages bill is suffocating the window 🏆 Chelsea — The New Title Rivals? — Alonso, no European football, Morgan Rogers signed. Pete and Matt go through why Chelsea might be the most dangerous team in the league next season, not because they're better but because they'll be fresher 👔 Arteta's New Deal — The Power Play — Pete makes the case that Arteta's comments after the Champions League final were a warning shot, not a promise. And why the power he has at Arsenal is something no other club in the world can offer him. Cesc Fabregas gets a mention as heir apparent Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pedro, Johnny and Matt man the phones. No hottest of takes today — the members deliver the spice themselves. Questions in from South Africa, the Discord, and beyond. Here's what's inside: 📞 The Tzolis Data Drop — Pete pulls up eight slides of Christos Tzolis data live on the pod. Champions League touch quality, ball carrying, pressured shooting. The lads are excited. Nobody replied to the WhatsApp with an emoji 🌍 World Cup Memories — Pedro, Matt & The Vuvuzelas — a South African member asks Pedro and Matt about their World Cup experiences. Pete reflects on watch parties in St Louis, the USMNT fever, and why he's more convinced than ever he made the right call coming to MLS. Matt just says vibes were immaculate. He's right 💸 Is Man City Deliberately Distorting The Transfer Market? — Elliot Anderson, Semenyo, Gayi. Are these desperation signings or financial warfare? Pete, Johnny and Matt go through the theory and land in very different places. Nicolas Pepe gets brought up. It's relevant 🏟️ The Opening Day XI — No Saliba, No Rice, No Saka — a member asks the three amigos to pick a realistic starting lineup for the first few weeks of the season and identify where investment is most urgent. Mosquera gets a big vote of confidence. So does Myles Lewis-Skelly 🛡️ Gabriel — Indispensable — a caller raises the distribution concern. Pete shuts it down immediately. The heartbeat of shithousery stays. Johnny and Matt both agree BECOME A MEMBER AT LE-GROVE.CO.UK OR PATREON.COM/THEARSENALOPINION Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete's under the weather. Jacob drove to the wrong town this week and is not fully recovered. The World Cup is done. The transfer window is about to explode. Perfect conditions for a Friday therapy session. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Jacob has had a slap and got himself on the Morgan Rogers train. He explains the comparison that finally convinced him and it's a good one. Pete has lingering concerns about a bad touch statistic that's been haunting him all summer 💸 The Rogers Debate — Settled? — a deep dive into what Rogers actually does, why Emery's system may have flattered him, and whether Arteta can get even more out of him. Jacob's Premier League Dembélé framing is the line of the pod 😤 Bruno G — Is It Slipping Away? — the Newcastle situation, the price movement, the agent history. Pete and Jacob go through why this one feels harder than it did a month ago and what the alternatives look like 🌍 World Cup Debrief — the highlights, the lowlights, and a proper honest conversation about England vs Argentina. Jacob goes after Kane and Jed Spence. Pete defends Tuchel and makes the case that Declan Rice and Saka being half-fit cost England a final 🗑️ Get Rid Of The Carabao Cup — Pete's closing argument, and it's Arsenal-adjacent. Nobody is disagreeing Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johnny and Jacob. England are through. France vs Spain is kicking off as they record. The final is taking shape and these two can barely contain themselves. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Jacob is already planning where to stand on Sunday night and has a point to make about who invented street celebrations. Johnny makes the case that Morgan Rogers is the closest thing England have to Bellingham right now — and what that means for Arsenal 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England's Route To The Final — the semi-final draw, the France problem, the Spain alternative, and why Johnny thinks styles make fights in a way that could actually suit England 😤 Tuchel vs Bellingham — A Storm In A Teacup — Jacob gives the measured take the English press couldn't. Why both men were doing exactly their jobs, and why the media deserves at least some of the side-eye ⚽ Merino — The Arsenal One To Watch — he's been a force majeure at this tournament. Johnny and Jacob on what it does for his confidence, and what it means for pre-season 🔜 Part Two Is For Members — the transfer target deep dive follows immediately. Get it over at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion, Apple Podcasts Members, or le-grove.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Jacob. The transfer window is starting to move properly and there are two names doing the rounds that have both of them very excited indeed. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Jacob makes the case that Bruno Guimaraes could be the best player to change clubs anywhere in the Premier League this summer. Pete pulls up the data comparison between Bruno and Zubimendi and the gap is bigger than you'd think — but the roles they play are very different 💪 Bruno — Evil Ben White — the shithousery, the discipline record that somehow stays clean, the passing percentiles. Pete and Jacob work out exactly how he fits alongside Rice and why this doesn't mean anyone gets dropped, it means nobody gets broken 🇬🇷 Christos Tzolis — The Greek God Of Production — a BBC journalist drops the numbers and Pete and Jacob go through them live. The stats are genuinely obscene. Is this season's Marquinhos or is it this season's Fabio Vieira? Jacob makes the Doku comparison and it lands 🤔 Morgan Rogers Still In The Frame — it's looking like a left side double-up. Pete explains why at £35 million, if Tzolis gives you even Trossard-level output, it might be one of the signings of the decade ⚡ World Cup Quarter-Finals Incoming — it might be coming home. Jacob is trying not to think about it too hard. Pete is not trying at all Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jacob is in flip flops and a vest. Johnny doesn't blame him. It's hot, the World Cup is electric, and they needed to get on the mic and talk about it. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Jacob goes political on the biggest sporting event in the world, and the take lands harder than you'd expect. Johnny goes after a player everyone is treating like it's 2015 and he's not having it 🌍 The World Cup Is Unreal — how did a tournament with so much controversy before a ball was kicked turn into one of the best World Cups in living memory? Johnny and Jacob go through it 👑 Messi — Is The Discourse Wrong? — Jacob makes the case that the greatest player who ever lived is being carried a little bit right now. Johnny has a very specific counter. It gets spicy 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England vs France Final — Both Lads Call It — the quarter-final predictions, the Argentina problem, and why Jacob thinks Bellingham and Rice can do what nobody else in this tournament can 🔜 Coming On The Members Pod — a signing that has apparently landed and a number one transfer target get the full treatment. Members only Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jacob got in at five. Pete is ready to go. England beat Mexico. The World Cup is alive. And there's a lot to get through before Belgium. Here's what's inside: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England Are Through — the debrief, the Bellingham penalty question, and why Pete thinks Tuchel just pulled off something quietly brilliant in the Azteca 🌟 Arsenal At The Core Of The World Cup — Odegaard, Rice, Gabriel, Martinelli, Moreno. Pete and Jacob go through every Arsenal player turning up on the biggest stage and ask whether ten years ago you could have imagined this 💸 The Dream Summer Takes Shape — Rogers, Barcola, Bruno. Jacob lays it out. If those three walk through the door this summer, Pete thinks Arsenal become genuine favourites for every trophy going 🤩 The Player Nobody's Expecting — Pete and Jacob end up somewhere unexpected, throwing names around that felt impossible twelve months ago. Vinicius, Isak, Joao Pedro — what if there's someone even bigger just around the corner? 😴 Jacob Went To Bed At Five — he held his own for nearly an hour. Remarkable scenes Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete, Matt and Johnny. Six hours until the Azteca. England vs Mexico. Everyone's nervous. Nobody's going to bed early. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Matt has breaking news on Balogun's red card being rescinded and goes straight after FIFA's transparency problem. Pete did altitude research for this podcast and it shows. Johnny goes 2-1 Mexico. Everyone is concerned about Declan Rice's hamstring ⚖️ FIFA, Trump and Balogun — the red card gets overturned 90 minutes before kick-off. Trump thanks FIFA publicly. Pete, Matt and Johnny on what it says about how football's governing body makes decisions under pressure 🏔️ The Altitude Problem — Pete has done the research and it is not reassuring. The Azteca is 7,700 feet above sea level. Unacclimatised players, fatigued legs, hamstrings under pressure. Johnny would very much like no hammies off the bone please 🇧🇷 Norway vs Brazil — The Arsenal Stakes — Gabriel, Martinelli, Odegaard. Three players, two teams, one knockout game. Pete and Matt work out who they'd rather see go through and why 💸 Monga Goes To City — Arsenal walked away, City went over valuation, and the lads give their verdict on whether Berta called this one right 🔮 Predictions — Pete goes 1-0 England, Declan Rice free kick. Matt goes England to progress. Johnny goes 2-1 Mexico and has a horrible feeling he might be right Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Arsenal Opinion | Thursday Therapy — Spurs Have Lost The Plot Pete and Matt. World Cup on. Ronaldo ticking down his games. And Spurs have just spent £185 million on two midfielders. Wonderful stuff. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Pete has a FIFA World Cup playlist directive that drops jaws. Matt is done with England, going as far as choosing an Arsenal win over Coventry on opening day above a Three Lions World Cup triumph. He means it 🇵🇹 Ronaldo's Last Dance — Pete can't cheer a Harry Kane goal. Matt has cut every Spurs fan out of his social life. A brief and important discussion of both positions 🌎 Pochettino Glow-Up — the California surfer dad era. Hair too soft for a man his age. Workman's jacket. Matt's a convert. Pete notes he never quite absorbed enough Spurs to be fully ruined ⚠️ The Declan Rice Problem — a genuinely worrying conversation. The minutes he's played, the World Cup games still to come, and what it means for Arsenal's title defence if he comes back anything less than 100% 💸 Spurs Spend £185 Million — And Arsenal Should Be Furious — Tonali, Fernandes, eye-watering fees, a six-year contract at an absurd weekly wage. Pete and Matt make the case that there's no way Arteta sees this and doesn't go straight to Berta demanding the same Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johnny and Jacob have a chat about the haaaawtest Arsenal topics. Here’s what’s inside: 🎤 Hottest of Takes — Comedy Origin Stories — Johnny and Jacob answer a Discord question and go deep on how they actually got into stand-up, the open mics nobody remembers, and the path that led them both to AOP ⚖️ Morgan Rogers vs Bradley Barcola — The Real Debate — a Twitter thread sparks a genuinely brilliant conversation about buying a profile versus buying a fit, whether either fee is justifiable, and what Arsenal actually learned from the Havertz and Eze signings 🎯 Did Eze Actually Get Replaced? — Johnny and Jacob dig into the closing weeks of last season, the Champions League final snub, and whether the number 10 spot is genuinely up for grabs again 🌍 World Cup Watch — Eurocentrism in football discourse, names neither of them had heard of before this tournament, and the games that have got them properly hooked 🔒 Coming Up On Patreon — a deep dive into Bruno Guimaraes and Alex Scott. Members only Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Matt, Matt live from New York, World Cup fever in full swing. A quick hit today, a Power 30, but plenty packed in Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Matt makes the case that Arsenal have been completely misusing one of their own players, and it's been staring everyone in the face for years. Pete's take is the pessimistic one: after the high of last season, he's bracing for a genuinely rough year ahead with several key men quietly playing through pain ⚔️ The Arsenal Red Wedding Continues — more departures at London Colney. Pete and Matt go through the staff exits and ask whether this is smart squad-building or something more concerning behind the scenes 💔 Kai's World Cup Heartbreak — the penalty miss, the early exit, and a frank conversation about whether his body can hold up next season 💰 The Morgan Rogers Number — Aston Villa have put a figure out there that's going to make a lot of people wince. Pete and Matt work out whether this is a smart move from Villa or an invitation to a bidding war Arsenal don't want to be part of 🌍 World Cup Dark Horses — Mexico, Norway, and a French wonderkid both lads can't stop talking about Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete, Jacob and Matt. The script gets thrown out the window early when an insider account drops a midfielder update mid-recording. Buckle up Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Jacob's gone full worried parent over a strapped-up calf that's got him spiralling about the rest of the World Cup. Matt goes full economist: a deep dive into transfer fee inflation that puts some of Arsenal's most iconic signings into a completely new light 📲 The Midfielder Bombshell — Hand of Arsenal drops an update mid-pod and the lads tear up the running order. Three names, one familiar face from the Willian and Cedric days resurfacing, and a player with a not-so-subtle history of jabbing at Edu on the way out of London 🇫🇷 Bradley Barcola — The Full Data Deep Dive — the numbers get pulled up live. Tackling, shooting, ball carrying, the lot. Why this specific pairing on the left and right could be devastating, and the price tag that might be lower than everyone thinks 🔁 Martinelli's Market — who's actually circling, where he might end up, and what a Vinicius Jr departure from Real Madrid could set off 🎩 The Succession Plan — a name spotted at the Emirates that has the lads connecting some very interesting dots about life after Arteta Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Johnny. Pete's loving every minute of the World Cup from St Louis, watch parties and all. Johnny's slowly coming round to it too. Plenty to get through on Arsenal's business as well Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Johnny makes the full case for why a certain Arsenal midfielder could be lifting the Ballon d'Or this year if England go all the way. Pete goes the other way entirely and tells one specific player to come home right now, fatigue and form be damned 🌍 World Cup Watch — the lack of polish making for some of the most entertaining football in years, the dark horses catching everyone's eye, and why this tournament feels like the anti-Arsenal version of the sport ⚠️ The Injury Worry — Pete brings up a painful historical parallel involving a World Cup and an Arsenal legend who never quite came back the same. A genuine concern about what the tournament could cost certain players heading into next season ⚔️ The Right Wing Scrap — Saka, Madüeke and a teenager all vying for the same shirt heading into August. Pete and Johnny go through who should actually start the season there and why one of them might be quietly overlooked 🌟 Max Dowman — The Valuation Debate — Pete and Johnny put a genuine number on what the kid would fetch in the open market right now, and it's a big one. The Rooney comparison, the Everton goal, why this kid's status protects him from ever being sold 🇧🇷 Bruno Guimaraes — Worth A Look? — a name doing the rounds, the data pulled up live, and a theory about what it would take to actually get a deal done Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johnny and Jacob are sweating through a London heatwave to bring you this one, but they push through. World Cup talk, transfer talk, and a proper look at Arsenal's plan for the season ahead Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Jacob makes the case for exactly how Arsenal should handle Saka coming back from the World Cup, using England's tactics as the blueprint. Johnny goes bigger picture: which trophy Arteta will actually prioritise next season, and why squad rotation might look completely different 📈 Cracking the Spring Code — a fascinating pattern emerges when you compare Arsenal's autumn form against PSG, Atletico and Bayern with how those same fixtures went in the spring. Johnny and Jacob work out what needs to change to flip it for good 🌍 World Cup Watch — Messi still doing Messi things at 39, Mbappé and Haaland trading braces, and a French playmaker Johnny thinks is about to enter the Ballon d'Or conversation 😬 The Odegaard Question, Again — Jacob explains exactly what would need to happen before he's comfortable seeing the captain go, and why one specific transfer link changed his thinking more than any other 🚪 Norgaard Heading For The Exit — a quiet one, but Johnny and Jacob give him his flowers on the way out 🦁 England Watch — Tuchel's man-management gets the seal of approval, and there's real excitement about how the Arsenal contingent are being looked after Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show, or become a member right inside Apple Podcasts. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Matt. World Cup raging, transfer news bubbling under the surface, and a slide deck Pete's clearly proud of. Recording on Monday, landing in your feed Tuesday morning Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Matt makes a prediction about the future structure of football itself that he's already been dragged for on Twitter. Pete counters with a love letter to World Cup referees and one sending-off in particular that's been the talk of the tournament 🔄 Julian Alvarez Chaos — Atletico, Barcelona, a release clause in the hundreds of millions, and a swap deal involving an Arsenal forward that Pete and Matt called weeks ago. The story keeps moving and they go through every track 📊 The Odegaard Sale Debate — Pete pulls up the gradient data and the numbers tell a very different story to the discourse. Matt makes the case for a handover plan involving a teenager everyone's talking about. A genuinely thoughtful conversation about succession at the club's most important position ⚾ Eze and Declan Play Baseball — Matt gets called in as the resident expert. The verdict on Eze's arm is good. The verdict on Declan's is not ✍️ Monga — Done Deal — the first signing of the summer drops mid-podcast. Pete and Matt react live to the deal and what it tells you about the kind of summer this is going to be Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete's back with Jacob and he's been busy. Slides, gradient data, percentiles — the full scouting deck. A summer of midfield reinforcements is taking shape and Pete wants to show his working Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Jacob is all in on a name from the World Cup that's caught his eye in the worst possible way for his bank balance. Pete's take reframes the entire midfield strategy for this window and it's bigger than just one signing 📊 Matías Fernandes — The Slides — Pete pulls up the gradient data on a name that's been quietly building a reputation, and the passing numbers will make you sit up. A genuine debate about whether Arsenal need this profile breaks out ✨ Alex Scott — Pete's New Obsession — the Bournemouth midfielder who tore Arsenal apart in April gets the full data treatment. Jacob makes a Wenger-era comparison that will get people talking, and there's a theory about exactly who this signing helps move on 🔄 The Gyökeres-Alvarez Swap Rumour — a Spanish report drops mid-podcast and Pete reminds Jacob this is one they called early. Both go through whether it stacks up and what it means for the number nine spot 🇫🇷 Barcola — Still Top Of The List — Pete's verdict after watching him at the World Cup. The whispers about Arsenal's interest. Why this remains the dream left-sided signing of the summer Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No Jacob today, so Pete calls in Johnny. England's opened their campaign, the World Cup has properly started, and neither of them planned to talk about it this much. No apologies. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Pete has a theory about Barcola that involves Thierry Henry at Juventus and it's going to stay with you. Johnny goes after the most obnoxious nations at a World Cup and means every word 🌍 World Cup Dispatches — Morocco are frightening. New Zealand have a name you're going to want to remember. Flo Balogun is putting in a clinic for the USA. Pete and Johnny fall in love with the minnows and discuss why African football is finally being taken seriously 🌟 Barcola — The Henry Comparison — Pete watched the France vs Senegal game and something clicked. The pace, the back lift, the raw potential. If Arteta sees what Pete sees, this could be very special indeed 🎯 The Dream Window Taking Shape — Barcola, Tzolis, Kroupi. Pete maps out what a front line with that kind of upside actually looks like and why the risk is worth taking 😬 Pete's Le Grove Confession — he wrote a blog about one player using another player's data. He'd like to move on. Johnny won't let him Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johnny and Jacob are back for the transfer-only pod. No World Cup talk, no apologies, just BEASTLY transfer business injected into your veins. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Jacob makes the case for a guilty pleasure reunion that splits the room. Johnny throws out a name nobody else is talking about as a serious option up top, and dares Jacob to actually engage with it 🖊️ Arteta's New Deal — confirmed. Three more years. Johnny and Jacob on what it means for the next era and why other clubs trying to copy the model keeps amusing them 🚫 The Tonali Question — a name doing the rounds that neither of them is excited about. They make the case for who they'd rather spend that money on instead 🌟 The Tzolis Stats — numbers from a name on the radar that genuinely jump off the page. Johnny and Jacob go through them live and land somewhere very interesting 💸 Berta's Blueprint — a theory about how the summer could actually unfold, why the floor-raising strategy worked so well last year, and why this could be a much busier window than anyone's expecting Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johnny and Jacob are back with a new midweek format. World Cup is on. Arsenal's window is heating up. This is part one. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Jacob wants Saka sent home from the World Cup. Right now. Johnny's take is a long overdue verdict on one of Arsenal's biggest calls of last season — and whether they got it badly wrong 👶 Ethan Nwaneri — Don't Write Him Off — Johnny makes the case that the kid everyone's moved on from could be about to have the season nobody saw coming 💸 Was The Summer Spend Worth It? — Gyökeres, Eze, Madüeke — none of them started the Champions League final. Jacob asks the hard question. Johnny has the answer 👕 The New Kits — the leaked black 1992 remake has both lads reaching for their wallets. Jacob's already made his decision Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Matt are back for the Monday debrief. The World Cup is underway, the transfer window is fizzing, and there are two enormous stories to get through before England vs Croatia on Wednesday. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Matt goes all in on England winning the World Cup after watching the Brazil game and makes a genuinely compelling case. Pete is suspicious. The Tuchel appreciation society is open for business 🏀 Knicks vs Arsenal — A Tale of Two Celebrations — Matt was in New York for the Knicks parade. Pete was in London for the Arsenal one. They compare notes and agree they're not really comparable — and both are okay with that 💸 Julian Alvarez — The Spanish Media Are Saying It's Only Arsenal — Real Madrid made a bid. Atletico laughed them off. Barcelona haven't got the money. Pete and Matt rate the likelihood of Alvarez ending up at Arsenal this summer and land somewhere that will get pulses racing 🎯 Barcola vs Alvarez — Berta's Game — Matt makes the case that Berta has bids out for multiple targets and will wait to see which envelope opens. The theory: if Barcola happens, Alvarez doesn't. If Barcola doesn't, get ready 😬 Cucurella to Real Madrid — Chelsea Unravelling? — Cucurella does an Athletic interview, gets what he wanted, and heads to Mourinho's Madrid. Pete and Matt on whether Alonso can actually build something at Stamford Bridge without experienced heads in the dressing room Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johnny has been trying to schedule this for two weeks. He's been buzzing. That tells you everything you need to know about how his predictions went. Pete, Jacob and Matt sit down to wave the receipts and apportion praise and blame accordingly. Here's what's inside: 🔥 The Receipts Are In — category by category, prediction by prediction, the lads go back to what they said in August and face the music. Some brave calls. Some stinkers. One man playing it so safe Jacob compares him to Zubimendi when he's tired 🏆 The Winner — joint top. Johnny is not happy about the joint bit. Matt is very smug. A tiebreaker format is being discussed for next year involving a quiz question or a fight to the death 💸 Fabio Vieira — The Rhian Brewster of 2026 — news drops mid-pod that stops everyone in their tracks. Pete has been calling him a dark horse for two years. The fee, if real, is a Berta masterclass. The lads lose their minds 🌟 Barcola vs Vinicius Jr — The Big Debate — the pod ends up somewhere unexpected and absolutely brilliant. Champagne vs Prosecco. Data gets pulled up live. The Anelka and Overmars comparisons come out. Jacob makes a pressing argument for one. Pete makes the case for the other 📊 The Hivemind Verdict — three out of five for the listener predictions. Including the big one Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johnny and Jacob launch a new summer format — the Midweek Roundup! Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Jacob drops something that will genuinely upset people: a feeling about Calafiori and a name that could make it happen. Pete's take is seismic — a complete attacking overhaul is coming this summer, and he thinks nobody's position is truly safe. Including Saka's 🌍 World Cup Chaos — Ian Wright puts out a video and the lads wade in. Strip searches on the tarmac. A referee refused entry. Iran's travel complications. Pete and Jacob on what it says about hosting a tournament in Trump's America 🍕 Calafiori — Keep Or Sell? — Jacob raises the concern. Pete pushes back with passion, invoking the parade, the sing-songs with Declan Rice, and the question of why you'd sell a player who just fell in love with your club 🏹 Morgan Gibbs-White — The Dark Horse — the lads go through the numbers from last season, the Berta web-of-contacts theory, and why turning down Spurs tells you everything you need to know about a player's character 🎙️ Coming Up — Kruppi and Vinicius Jr — Pete teases what's coming in part two. The deep dive transfer pod. Both names are in the frame. Go find it Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Matt are back for the first Monday debrief of the summer. World Cup is days away, the transfer window is heating up, and neither of them can quite stop thinking about Arsenal long enough to care about England vs Croatia. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Matt's World Cup dark horse will raise eyebrows and he's got the data to back it up. Pete goes with a Scandinavian option featuring two of Arsenal's own and reasons why the heat might be their only enemy 💸 Fabio Vieira — The Cautionary Tale — rumours of a move for very modest money. Pete and Matt on what happens to a player's value when a big club doesn't work out, and why Berta will be pushing hard for more than he's likely to get 🎯 Barcola vs Morgan Rogers — The Debate Continues — Pete drops a touch statistic on Rogers that will make you wince. Matt flip-flops live on air and ends up landing somewhere Pete didn't expect. The Gareth Bale comparison gets floated ⚽ Morgan Gibbs-White — The Dark Horse Signing — Pete makes the case with numbers and it's harder to dismiss than you'd think. Proven in the Premier League, high floor, goal threat, doesn't get injured. Matt is almost convinced before Barcola pulls him back 🌍 World Cup Incoming — England vs Croatia is ten days away. Neither of them knows this until they Google it live. Neither of them particularly cares. They'll be mainlining transfers regardless Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Jacob. No more games. The season is over. And they couldn't be more excited about what comes next. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Jacob drops a cold shower on the most talked-about transfer target of the summer and makes the case for someone else entirely. Pete pumps the brakes on the whole conversation and reminds everyone what this team just actually did 🌊 Bradley Barcola — Weapon of Mass Destruction — PSG are moving him on. Pete makes the full-throated case for why he's the missing piece on that left-hand side. Jacob is very much on board 🤔 Do We Actually Have A Left Side Problem? — Martinelli was brilliant in Europe. Trossard is beloved. So why is everyone in such a rush to sell them? Pete and Jacob dig into whether the problem is as bad as the discourse suggests 🏭 The Academy Pipeline — six players aged 16-17 banging on the door. Jacob makes the case that signing certain types of players is now a waste of money when you've got what's coming through. He uses Madüeke as the example and does not hold back 😂 Don't Let The Clowns Get You Down — Jacob is now officially part of the TalkSport network and has some thoughts on how to protect your Arsenal joy. His description of the TalkSport presenting style is one of the lines of the summer 🌍 The World Cup — Jacob is faking his enthusiasm. Pete can tell. They get it out the way quickly Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The one Johnny’s been building towards all year. Every number, every game, every player — compiled into one spectacular mosaic. This is the hallmark of the AOP calendar. We are giving you a little taster of what you get by being a member of the AOP. Here’s what’s inside: 🏆 Player of the Year — Timber wins it for the second year running. Johnny makes the case that the most consistent player at Arsenal this season doesn’t court attention, doesn’t grab headlines, just quietly dominates every single week. The numbers back him up completely 🥈 Joint Second — Gabriel and Declan Rice share the spot. The King of Brazil as a Tony Adams-level beast. Big Deck Energy as the heir apparent to Vieira. Both had monster seasons. Johnny breaks down exactly why 🧤 Raya — So Close — a phenomenal year, but the nature of a defence so good means a goalkeeper has a soft ceiling on how high his ratings can go. Johnny explains the logic and it’s hard to argue with 📊 The Spreadsheet — Johnny has been building this all season. The defence is green. The attack is red and orange. The story of how Arsenal won the league is hiding in plain sight in the colour coding 😬 Martinelli — A Cautionary Tale — a real falling off in the second half of the season that the numbers make undeniable. And a midfielder’s late-season surge that saved the title 🌟 Max Dowman — Special Mention — not enough games to qualify for the main list, but Johnny is not letting this season go by without putting on record exactly what that kid did Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jacob is joined by Tim Stillman — of Arsenal Vision and Arseblog fame, and the most thorough writer covering the Arsenal women's team — for a Dugout that goes deep on the season just gone and the summer ahead. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Tim opens with a claim that will provoke debate: Myles Lewis-Skelly starts in central midfield next season. Permanently. And Zubimendi quietly finds himself in a Jorginho role. Jacob asks whether we might be watching a repeat of Ben White at right back — accidental permanence 💸 The Transfer Market Is Broken — Jacob's hot take: there are no players worth a hundred million pounds, which means every player costs a hundred million pounds. Tim has a lot of sympathy for what Berta is trying to do this summer and explains why in a way that makes you feel slightly better about everything ⚽ Gyökeres — The Honest Assessment — Tim fell on Pete's side. And then Gyökeres just quietly got on with it. No side changing the outcome of the argument, but undeniably no title without him. Where does he fit next year? 🌟 Max Dowman — The Fabregas Comparison — Tim goes there. Carefully. Jacob talks about a World Cup preseason and what happened to a certain Spanish teenager in the summer of 2004 🔴 What Does Arsenal Actually Need This Summer? — the left wing spot, the striker question, and why Tim thinks Arteta might have to sacrifice one of his principles to find the attacker that changes everything 🌱 Calafiori — Keep Him — Tim's horse-without-a-jockey analogy will become the definitive description of watching Calafiori run at full pelt down the right wing having started at left back. The lads agree: don't sell this man Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Matt. Post-season, pre-window. The football's gone and they don't know what to do with themselves — except talk about transfers. Which is exactly what they do. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Matt makes the case for selling Ethan Nwaneri this summer and using him to fund the hot boy window. Pete's take is that we do one more year with Gyökeres — but he's getting relegated to third choice striker next season 😤 Arsenal Derangement Syndrome — The Telegraph. The Athletic's alternate table. Paul Scholes picking Man United to win the league. Pete and Matt go through every piece of nonsense still being thrown at the champions and explain why they actually want it to continue 😬 Saliba's Back Injury — the most worrying piece of news to emerge from the final. Pete and Matt try not to catastrophise and settle on a silver lining involving Mosquera 🌟 Calafiori — Don't You Dare Sell Him — Juventus and Roma are sniffing. Matt and Pete make the case for keeping a total unicorn. Arteta used the phrase "individual action" after the final. They both think they know who he means 🕵️ The Southampton Spying Scandal — Tonda Ecker caught cheating, keeps his job, delivers an 8-minute-43-second apology that makes things considerably worse. Pete and Matt on what it does to a dressing room when the gaffer gets caught 📺 16.2 Million Illegal Streams — Keir Starmer asked TNT to make the final free to air. TNT said no. Pete and Matt have a lot of feelings about how football fans get treated Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johnny's at the parade, voice destroyed, heart full. Pete's at home, processing. Arsenal are Premier League champions. They were Champions League finalists. And there is a lot to say. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Johnny holds two things at once: enormous pride in what this team achieved, and real hunger for what comes next. Pete's take cuts straight to the summer — the attack needs addressing, and he's not being gentle about it 💔 The Champions League Final — Honest Debrief — Kai's goal was a worldie. Mosquera was brave. The penalty decisions were shocking. Johnny goes through what he liked, what he didn't, and is honest about the moments that cost us 🟥 The Referee — Pete and Johnny have a lot of feelings. The Noni penalty. The corner at the end of the first half. The yellow for Saka. Johnny chooses his words very carefully. Pete does not 💸 The Summer Window — Kruppi, Morgan Rogers, Alex Isak, and a Bellingham question that has Johnny very excited. Why Premier League-proven players are the only names Pete wants to hear this summer 😤 Everybody Hates Arsenal — Chelsea's trophy post. Nottingham Forest. Jed Spence. Johnny and Pete on why rival clubs need to have a serious word with themselves 🚀 This Feels Like The Beginning — 2006 felt like the end of an era. This feels like the start of one. Declan Rice after the game said we'll be back. Pete and Johnny believe him Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Jacob. 48 hours to Budapest. Jacob's hotel canceled on him. He needs this. Two lads trying not to lose their minds before the biggest game of their lives. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Jacob goes full conviction on the team sheet. Pete's take is about a game plan that will shock everyone expecting Arsenal to sit deep 📊 Are We Sleeping On Noni? — gradient data that will make you reconsider. Where Madüeke ranks in the Champions League for on-ball attacking is genuinely surprising 💸 The Summer Window Opens Early — Rogers, Alvarez, Kruppi, Barcola, Jesus, Martinelli, Ethan to Chelsea. Pete and Jacob go through every name with data 🤔 Alvarez vs Kruppi — Pete puts Jacob on the spot. Proven Premier League winner or elite 19-year-old with frightening shooting numbers? Jacob makes his call 😬 Ethan Nwaneri — the Marseille loan has quietly told Arteta everything he needed to know. Jacob thinks it's over Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Matt are back, forty-eight hours from Budapest, and the excitement is barely containable. Matt flies out tomorrow night. Pete's holding the fort. This is the last one before the biggest game of most Arsenal fans' lives. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Matt's is a love letter to the support cast of every Arsenal fan's life: the partners, the kids, the friends who've had to share them with a football club for 22 years. Pete's take is about Arteta's dream of unpredictability — and why this might finally be the game where he can fully unleash it 🏆 Declan Rice Was Aura Farming — he's addressed it. Pete and Matt on the greatest psychological operation in recent Champions League history 🎯 The Tactical Puzzle — Who Starts Where? — the right back question, the Timber gamble, Calafiori vs Hincapié at left back, Eze on the wing, Kai as the nine. Pete maps out two games within a game: the first sixty and the impact players who win it in the last thirty 😬 Pete's Biggest Fear — Arteta galaxy-brains the final. Pep's done it. Could Mikel? Matt has thoughts on whether he's that kind of manager. The Zubimendi at right back conversation is happening 💸 Morgan Rogers — The Summer Dream — £80 million, Aston Villa, Noni Madüeke liking a suspicious Instagram post. Pete and Matt are both in. There's one significant obstacle standing in the way and it's called Don Unai ⚠️ Zubimendi — Should We Be Worried? — Pete has been saying it for weeks. A Hand of Arsenal tweet drops today that has him raising an eyebrow. Matt is starting to come round 🤩 Myles Lewis-Skelly — From Mansfield to the Final — Pete cannot believe this is the same player. The Instagram post. The caption. Pure profit. The lads are in love Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Matt. Premier League champions. Champions League finalists. Saturday in Budapest. This is the last before the whistle of the season and the boys are floating. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Matt's is simple and beautiful: the season is already complete, Saturday is a free hit. Pete's take is about what Pep Guardiola leaving actually means for Manchester City — and he thinks we might be about to watch something unravel 🌍 The Global Scenes — Uganda, Nairobi, Brooklyn, London. Two men who have spent four days on their phones trying to process what Arsenal means to people and why it goes so far beyond football 🏆 Arteta — Manager of the Season, and Then Some — Pete makes the full-throated case. From Cedric Soares on a five-year deal to this. Matt adds the Noel Gallagher and Pep anecdote that reframes everything you think you know about how elite preparation works 🤝 The Odegaard Bridge — a small moment from title night that caught Pete's eye. He thinks it means something. Matt agrees 💪 Intensity — Arteta's One Weakness — an honest assessment of the near-miss this season and what has to change for next year. Keep four players fit for 25% more games and it's a 90-point season. No one touches that 🎯 The Final — why Pete is not afraid of PSG. Why the fear narrative is misguided. And why this group has earned the right to walk out in Budapest with total belief Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ARSENAL ARE PREMIER LEAGUE WINNERS! PEDRO AND JOHNNY TALK ABOUT ALL THE HOT TOPICS FROM THE GAME! GET IT IN YOUR EARS! THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR US! Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More good stuff get it in your ears ad free! It's Johnny and Jacob! Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pedro and Matt jump on a very late podcast after flying back in from London. They cover the only important news of the DECADE! We are CHAMPIONS of the Premier League. Get this in your system, more to come this week! x Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Pedro are in LONDON TOWN and wanted to do a cheeky extra podcast for your wonderful ears. We chat about a new midfielder being linked, the magic of the moment, and we touch on the brand new kit that we love. Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jacob is joined by James Benge — beat reporter, CBS contributor, and one of the most measured voices covering Arsenal week to week — for a Dugout that goes beyond the scoreline and into the bones of what this club is becoming. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — James opens with a take so spicy it might have laws changed: if nothing shifts in the next five years, people will conclude Arsenal broke football. Jacob has thoughts on what Chelsea fans in 2005 can teach us all about not caring 🧠 The Arteta Perception Flip — James makes the case that winning a Premier League and a Champions League in the same season doesn't just change how fans feel — it completely rewrites how the entire football world sees Arteta. And James has the receipts from the continent 😤 Odegaard — Scapegoated? — James says what a lot of people won't. He's spoken to people around the club. The picture that emerges is more complicated and more sympathetic than the fan discourse this season would suggest 💸 Havertz and Odegaard — What Happens This Summer? — James won't say either are definitely staying or definitely going. But he outlines the scenario in which Bayern make a call about one of them, and why Arsenal's position is more nuanced than a simple yes or no 🏆 Tuesday Night — Book The Day Off Wednesday — James calls it. He thinks Arsenal win the league on Tuesday night at Bournemouth. He explains why Bournemouth fancy it, why City are vulnerable, and why Palace away might be the most nerve-shredding 90 minutes if it comes to that Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Jacob grab an early morning session because Pete's off to London, Jacob's off to Benidorm, and there's a title to win. Two games to go. One Champions League final. The stars are aligning. Here's what's inside: 🔥 Hottest of Takes — Jacob makes the tactical case for giving the captain back his place in the starting XI, and he's got a midfield combination in mind that could unlock everything going into the final. Pete's take on PGMOL will divide opinion — he thinks they deserve more credit than they're getting. Jacob respectfully pushes back 👕 The Shirt Guy — someone rocked up near West Ham with "Champions" printed on an Arsenal shirt. Pete and Jacob aren't buying it. Not the shirt, not the story, not the source 🗓️ The Title Could Be Won On Tuesday Night — Bournemouth vs City. Pete maps out exactly when and how Arsenal could be crowned champions before they even kick a ball. He wants everyone in the pub ⚔️ Myles vs Gyökeres — The Selling Debate — two players whose form has picked up at the right time. Jacob makes a distinction that cuts right to the heart of what kind of summer Arsenal need to have 🧱 Gabriel — The Numbers — Pete pulls up data on blocks, clearances and percentiles that puts Gabriel's season into a completely different context. Jacob compares him to the Adams and Bould era and means it as the highest possible compliment 🎂 1,000 Episodes — it slipped in at the end but it deserves to be said: AOP has hit a thousand podcasts. Thank you for being part of it Subscribe at patreon.com/theArsenalOpinion for ad-free episodes and support the show. And for the best Arsenal writing on the internet, sign up to the newsletter at le-grove.co.u Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices