Share

cover art for How do Arsenal tackle World Cup burn out?

Handbrake Off: The Athletic FC's Arsenal show

How do Arsenal tackle World Cup burn out?

Arsenal haven’t played for nearly a month and yet injuries are still the main concern for the Handbrake Off team.


Ian Stone is joined by Adrian Clarke and Nnamdi Onyeagwara as all of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, William Saliba and Martin Odegaard struggle with injury problems over the World Cup.


Is this sort of thing inevitable with the number of games players are expected to play nowadays? How much of a challenge might it cause Mikel Arteta going into next season?


The team also discuss the fixture schedule for the new campaign and “Up Your Arsenal” is back, with a special message from Brian in Perth, Australia.


Produced by Xavi Bird.



More episodes

View all episodes

  • Bruno's arrival and pre-season reflections

    45:00|
    On today's episode, Ian Stone is joined by Amy Lawrence and Art De Roché to discuss Arsenal's latest signing Bruno Guimarães, as well as Vini Jr renewing with Madrid, possible transfer targets and Arsenal's pre-season thus far.Produced by James Shaw
  • Pre-season starts and might Vini Jr still be on?

    49:39|
    The Arsenal have played their first pre-season game and the Handbrake team are here to debrief.Ian Stone is joined by Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke after Mikel Arteta’s side calmly dispatch Girona 4-1 in Catalonia. New boy Christos Tzolis was on the scoresheet. What did we make of his first performance in front of fans? And just how good is Max Dowman?There’s the latest on the Vinicius Junior situation PLUS Christian Norgaard is on his way to Everton. What might that mean for the potential arrival of Bruno Guimaraes?Produced by Xavi Bird
  • Vinicius Jr: Everybody stay calm!

    41:39|
    A huge David Ornstein bombshell drops and the Handbrake team are here to discuss.Ian Stone is joined by Art de Roche and Adrian Clarke as it emerges that Arsenal are exploring a deal to sign Vinicius Jr from Real Madrid.Is it actually going to happen? How significant would it be in the history of the club if it actually did? And what does this all say about Arsenal's ambitions going into the new season? Should retaining the Premier League title be a must, or is it time to win the Champions League? Why not both?Plus the team get into whether John Stones would be a good short-term replacement for William Saliba, and the latest on what’s going on with Bruno Guimaraes.Produced by Xavi Bird.
  • Rogers OFF so how good is Christos Tzolis?

    44:58|
    The World Cup is done and there are THREE Arsenal players coming back to London Colney with a winners medal.But it’s mixed news on the transfer front for Ian Stone, Art de Roche and Adrian Clarke as Morgan Rogers verbally agrees to join Chelsea instead of the Gunners.The team discuss where this leaves Andrea Berta in the transfer market this window, as well as getting a Greek perspective from Harry Symeou on what Christos Tzolis might bring to the squad next season.Produced by Xavi Bird
  • Will there be any Declan Rice left for Arsenal next season?

    38:26|
    It’s World Cup semi-final time and there are still eight Arsenal players at the tournament.Ian Stone is joined by Art de Roche and Nnamdi Onyeagwara to discuss what this all means for Arsenal’s pre-season plans. When will they be back and available? Do Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka need to sit down in a dark room for a couple of months?Elsewhere, Bruno Guimaraes has told Newcastle that he wants to join Arsenal. Will this mean the Gunners now come in with a formal bid?And Illan Meslier has become the club’s first new signing of the transfer window. Will he be a Number 2 or Number 3 choice goalkeeper? And what about Ona Batlle arriving at the women’s team?Produced by Xavi Bird.
  • Will Leandro Trossard go down as a cult hero?

    44:42|
    After three and a half seasons of clutch moments and goggle celebrations, Leandro Trossard looks like he’s on his way out of Arsenal.Ian Stone is joined by Art de Roche as the Gunners agree a £17.1m deal to sell the Belgian international to Besiktas.We ask how he’ll be remembered after playing a huge part in helping the team secure their first league title in 22 years.There’s bad news on the Jeremy Monga front, with Manchester City set to sign him from Leicester ahead of Arsenal.But a big name IS through the door at the Women’s team. Lioness star Georgia Stanway has joined from Bayern Munich. The Athletic’s Charlotte Harpur tells us just what she could bring to Renee Slegers’ side next season.Produced by Xavi Bird
  • Arsenal make offer for Bruno Guimaraes

    33:29|
    Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta’s quest to raise the ceiling begins in central midfield.Ian Stone is joined by Adrian Clarke and Art de Roche as Newcastle reject Arsenal’s verbal offer for central midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.It’s believed to be under £60m, well under Newcastle’s valuation. Will the Gunners come in for round two? And what kind of qualities does this mean they're looking for in that position of the pitch?There’s also World Cup chat with Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka continuing to be injury doubts for England. And the team discuss who the next Academy Manager might be, after the club hold talks with Strasbourg’s Pascal De Maesschalck.Produced by Xavi Bird
  • Transfer talk - How can Arsenal raise the ceiling?

    44:11|
    We may be in the middle of World Cup mania, but there’s plenty of Arsenal transfer chat to discuss with the Handbrake team.Ian Stone is joined by Adrian Clarke and Art de Roche to talk about who we might like Mikel Arteta to bring in over the summer.Club Brugge’s Christos Tzolis is the big story over the last week, but is he good enough to properly shift the dial at left-wing? Might Morgan Rogers be the answer there? Or will it be Bradley Barcola?There’s also more Kroupi and Alvarez chat as the team discuss who they’d like to see leading the line for the Gunners next campaign. And what about central midfield? Ayyoub Bouaddi looks good!Produced by Xavi Bird