Handbrake Off: The Athletic FC's Arsenal show

Art de Roché and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone to discuss Arsenal’s 1-1 draw away to Atletico Madrid in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League on Wednesday.The panel reflect on the strong away performance, the togetherness of the squad, Arsenal feeling like they are apart of the European establishment, an outstanding display from Rice in a deeper role, the controversial decisions around the penalties and player fatigue in comparison to their European counterparts. Plus, they respond to listener messages, discuss the rescheduling of final home game against Burnley, look ahead to the match against Fulham at the Emirates on Saturday and we hear from Terry in Islington in this week’s instalment of ‘Up Your Arsenal’. If you like the panel’s song choices, check out the ‘Now that’s what I call Handbrake’ playlist on both Spotify and Apple Music and listen to them all there: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6cgJk1eJwQBmiUJlSFZMJN?si=pMHHbBb8S8Ky5LtlKp7pHw&pi=Rra8NSxDRVm58&nd=1&dlsi=62f2d7c1c10045acApple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/now-thats-what-i-call-handbrake/pl.u-d2b00jZuDxWk6PProducer: Robby Williams

Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone to discuss Arsenal’s 1-0 win at home to Newcastle on Saturday.The panel reflect on the anxiety of the game, another cautious performance, Havertz’s importance to how the team play underlined by his injury, the difficulties of getting the right balance in attack this season, an honest conversation about Gyokeres, Eze’s importance in delivering big moments and trying to make sense of the persistent injury problems at the club.Plus, they respond to listener messages, congratulate Arsenal Women on their victory in the UWCL semi-final first leg and look ahead to a crucial ten days starting with the semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.If you like the panel’s song choices, check out the ‘Now that’s what I call Handbrake’ playlist on both Spotify and Apple Music and listen to them all there: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6cgJk1eJwQBmiUJlSFZMJN?si=pMHHbBb8S8Ky5LtlKp7pHw&pi=Rra8NSxDRVm58&nd=1&dlsi=62f2d7c1c10045acApple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/now-thats-what-i-call-handbrake/pl.u-d2b00jZuDxWk6PProducer: Robby Williams

Amy Lawrence and James McNicholas join Ian Stone to discuss all things Arsenal and look ahead to the match against Newcastle this weekend.The panel reflect on the finance regulations in the Premier League, the rule-bending by clubs to boost their finances, the divisions forming in the Arsenal fanbase and Bukayo Saka’s importance in light of his injury.Plus, they respond to listener messages and look ahead to the run-in.If you like the panel’s song choices, check out the ‘Now that’s what I call Handbrake’ playlist on both Spotify and Apple Music and listen to them all there: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6cgJk1eJwQBmiUJlSFZMJN?si=pMHHbBb8S8Ky5LtlKp7pHw&pi=Rra8NSxDRVm58&nd=1&dlsi=62f2d7c1c10045acApple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/now-thats-what-i-call-handbrake/pl.u-d2b00jZuDxWk6PProducer: Robby Williams

Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone to discuss Arsenal’s 2-1 loss away to Manchester City on Sunday. The panel reflect on the positive performance despite the loss, feeling encouraged for the run-in, the improved balance of the starting eleven, the impact of missing the first choice starters on the right hand side, the lack of consistency in attack this season, the decision to take off Eze, recognising what Arsenal are up against in Manchester City and this team doing a lot right despite having fallen short in the last few title races. Plus, they pay tribute to Alex Manninger and respond to some listener messages.If you like the panel’s song choices, check out the ‘Now that’s what I call Handbrake’ playlist on both Spotify and Apple Music and listen to them all there: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6cgJk1eJwQBmiUJlSFZMJN?si=pMHHbBb8S8Ky5LtlKp7pHw&pi=Rra8NSxDRVm58&nd=1&dlsi=62f2d7c1c10045acApple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/now-thats-what-i-call-handbrake/pl.u-d2b00jZuDxWk6PProducer: Robby Williams

Amy Lawrence and Art de Roché join Ian Stone to discuss Arsenal’s 0-0 draw at home to Sporting CP in the quarter-final second leg on Wednesday, which saw Arsenal through to the semi-finals.The panel reflect on the historic achievement of consecutive Champions League semi-finals for the first time in the club’s history, the need to cut through the negative discourse surrounding Arsenal, imploring fans to ignore outside noise, looking at the context surrounding Arsenal’s current circumstances and there’s praise for Zubimendi, Hincapie & Martinelli for their performances.  Plus, they look ahead to Manchester City on Sunday, respond to some listener messages, and we hear from Jack in Canada in this week’s instalment of ‘Up Your Arsenal’.

Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone to discuss Arsenal’s 2-1 loss at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.The panel reflect on the disappointing overall performance, the lack of energy, if this result had been coming, the problems in the attack, tactical changes that could be made going forward, the need to be less risk averse and calling for a siege mentality amid the noise around the club.Plus, they look ahead to Sporting CP in the quarter final second leg of the Champions League on Wednesday and respond to some listener messages.If you like the panel’s song choices, check out the ‘Now that’s what I call Handbrake’ playlist on both Spotify and Apple Music and listen to them all there: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6cgJk1eJwQBmiUJlSFZMJN?si=pMHHbBb8S8Ky5LtlKp7pHw&pi=Rra8NSxDRVm58&nd=1&dlsi=62f2d7c1c10045acApple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/now-thats-what-i-call-handbrake/pl.u-d2b00jZuDxWk6PProducer: Robby Williams

Art de Roché and Nnamdi Onyeagwara, making his Handbrake Off debut, join Ian Stone to discuss Arsenal’s 1-0 win away to Sporting CP in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League on Tuesday.The panel reflect on the impressive result, a controlled away performance, David Raya potentially being Arsenal’s player of the year after another outstanding display, squad depth as the finishers combined for the winner, the players not looking nervous despite the fans understandably feeling so, the attacking play needing to be more adventurous and whether fatigue is impacting it. Plus, we hear from James McNicholas and Amy Lawrence out in Lisbon, look ahead to Bournemouth on Saturday, respond to some listener messages and we hear from Andre in Sydney, Australia in this week’s instalment of ‘Up Your Arsenal’.If you like the panel’s song choices, check out the ‘Now that’s what I call Handbrake’ playlist on both Spotify and Apple Music and listen to them all there: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6cgJk1eJwQBmiUJlSFZMJN?si=pMHHbBb8S8Ky5LtlKp7pHw&pi=Rra8NSxDRVm58&nd=1&dlsi=62f2d7c1c10045acApple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/now-thats-what-i-call-handbrake/pl.u-d2b00jZuDxWk6PProducer: Robby Williams

Art de Roché and Adrian Clarke join Ian Stone to discuss all things Arsenal and look ahead to the match against Southampton in the FA Cup this weekend.The panel reflect on 11 Arsenal players withdrawing from international duty, the outside noise around this, Ben White being booed on his England return, contributing factors to Saka’s less impactful season so far, and what Odegaard can bring to the team as he nears a return from injury.Plus, they look ahead to the run-in, Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday, we hear from Phoebe in Hong Kong in this week’s instalment of ‘Up Your Arsenal’ and they pay tribute to David Rocastle on the 25th anniversary of his passing.If you like the panel’s song choices, check out the ‘Now that’s what I call Handbrake’ playlist on both Spotify and Apple Music and listen to them all there: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6cgJk1eJwQBmiUJlSFZMJN?si=pMHHbBb8S8Ky5LtlKp7pHw&pi=Rra8NSxDRVm58&nd=1&dlsi=62f2d7c1c10045acApple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/now-thats-what-i-call-handbrake/pl.u-d2b00jZuDxWk6PProducer: Robby Williams