THE ARSENAL OPINION - BY LE GROVE

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

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

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

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

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