Overheard gallows humour on the (very) delayed last train out of Wolverhampton. “Bring back Chamakh!” “Bring back Park!” “Bring back Lord Bendtner!” “Bring back Lucas Perez!” We aren’t even at Coventry. X

Bukayo Saka is set to do a decade of first team football at Arsenal as a home-grown one club man. That is pretty rare these days. He keeps signing those contracts. Here's some words on a beautiful bond between player and club. 🔴 www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

Also, Producer Robby has started putting together a Spotify playlist of our 'let's have a song' section, if that floats your boat. Some of it is pretty decent ;) x open.spotify.com/playlist/6cg...

Would it be a terrible thing if everyone on the Handbrake Off podcast agreed that the same person was due a custard pie? That and much less important Arsenal-related stuff here. With @ianstonecomedy.bsky.social and @adrianjclarke.bsky.social pod.fo/e/39079f

If you want a little distraction to help you move on here's a beautiful account of the "greatest 15 minutes" of Kim Källstrom's life, during Arsenal v Wigan in the FA Cup. I really love this. arseblog.news/2016/07/kim-...

Time will tell the value of this point. It was certainly hard earned after Arsenal got Arsenaled via set piece hell. Mosquera and Rice produced game saving moments. Not so easy to find match winning moments though. Second hardest game of the run-in out the way. www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

Here's an appreciation of the Rice-Zubimendi partnership. They remind me a bit of how Vieira-Petit, then Vieira-Gilberto, played with that lovely balance. If one goes, the other stays, and vice versa. Rice-Zubimendi is turning into a brilliant midfield heartbeat. www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Here's an appreciation of the Rice-Zubimendi partnership. They remind me a bit of how Vieira-Petit, then Vieira-Gilberto, played with that lovely balance. If one goes, the other stays, and vice versa. Rice-Zubimendi is turning into a brilliant midfield heartbeat. www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Handbrake Off pod got together to chew over the weekend football. My favourite bit was @adrianjclarke.bsky.social telling everyone to 'kill the vibe'. Also with @ianstonecomedy.bsky.social. Enjoy x pod.fo/e/38b86c

All aboard the fun boat on the latest Handbrake Off pod. With a giddy @ianstonecomedy.bsky.social and an Art de Roche who found his inner Dalai Lama. Includes: Boring punditry takes Flowers for Kai Special appearance John Terry Enjoy x pod.fo/e/387f99

Last time Arsenal bought a Dixon from Stoke that worked out pretty well. (Just the 619 appearances, four league titles and a bunch of cups).

Hello and welcome to an entirely different kind of Arsenal Monday morning. Handbrake Off is up with @ianstonecomedy.bsky.social and Art De Roche to reflect on Elland Road, neighbourly favours, and more. Have a good one. X pod.fo/e/386012

My dear friend Nader alerted me to two Iranian members of the Arsenal family, Aref Jafarzadeh and Amir Housein, who were killed while seeking freedom in Iran. We remember them. ❤️

Arsenal as a club have put so much into growing the women’s game for decades, so the world/intercontinental champions accolade is something they wear well.

Hello Sunday morning. It was reaction time at noisy Elland Road. The walls could have closed in and Arsenal reacted strongly to push them away. This 4-0, the punches a mix of set pieces to start them off and sweet technical goals to add flourish, felt important. www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

Apparently 2-0. My general view of Arsenal’s attacks/corners down the right slightly impeded ;)

Ey up. Big one for the Arsenal in Leeds.

Title terrors are all about the response. Can't forget Arsenal 1 Blackburn 3 in 1997 which provoked a legendary team meeting. Hearts on sleeve, they challenged each other. As Adams said to Bergkamp back then: "Isn't it about time you won something here?" www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

Ok everyone? On the new Handbrake Off pod we pondered what was more troubling - Arsenal or the world? As ever, @ianstonecomedy.bsky.social @adrianjclarke.bsky.social and I try to find a bit of perspective somewhere... Enjoy x pod.fo/e/380e07

Rocastle v Whiteside. Winterburn v McClair. Wright v Schmeichel. Vieira v Keane. Keown v van Nistelrooy. Points, trophies, pride, enmity, north versus south on the line every single time. Some people don’t think this one means so much these days. But the roots of this are deep!

Ethan Nwaneri with an absolute beauty of a goal 12 minutes into his L’OM debut. 🔥

Milan’s two great cathedrals by night. ❤️

Morning. Early bird Handbrake Off podcast in honour of another nil nil, stuttering forwards, yet the weekend turning out not so bad after all. With @adrianjclarke.bsky.social and @ianstonecomedy.bsky.social pod.fo/e/37ba17

I was telling one of my kids that it was physically impossible for an ad to play between songs on any of the records I own, and they asked "and you only have to pay for it once?" and you could see how strange that seemed. You cannot overstate how many basic rules of media consumption have changed.

This is an earworm I am loving. A musical masterpiece from @fitbathatba.bsky.social all about Dennis Bergkamp. www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2_Q...

Guehi takes City to almost half a billion net spend since Dec 2024, when 115/130 hearing ended Sources say it could take at least another year - with no one knowing when the 3 judges will have the initial judgment - provoking core Qs about this process www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

It takes all sorts of contributions to try to step closer to a trophy. An imperfect night, but a win to keep Arsenal pushing thanks to three very different goalscorers experiencing very different seasons. Every effort helps. www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...

I got married, divorced and remarried

Had enough time to make dinner and walk the dog during that VAR review.

New Handbrake Off pod. Looking back at Pompey and forward to Chelsea. A busy old week. With @adrianjclarke.bsky.social and @ianstonecomedy.bsky.social pod.fo/e/376e70

Sometimes you get home from a game and the words and ideas just flow. Appropriately for this game, this time was more of a slog... Challenging for titles is not supposed to be easy! www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...

Showtime.

When the world is ripping itself to pieces you can always rely on football to keep doing its thing.

This poem is dedicated to anyone heading back into work and having to endure dull conversation about what they got up to during the Christmas holidays.

Handbrake Off new episode. If that’s the way (uh ha uh ha) you like your Monday morning. X pod.fo/e/3727a3

Just spent half an hour trying to come up with a Big Gabi/Grace Jones song mash up. Time well spent I’m sure you will agree.

My god that goal was delicious. What a thrill for Gabriel Jesus. All those endless days of rehab. Imagine how wonderful it feels for him. 😍

Merry morning to you all. Don't they just look like happy elves arm in arm. Here's a few words on Arsenal, tightrope football, and acknowledging that it might not be perfect but when you are top of the two big leagues and cracking on in cups it could be worse... www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...

Pre-match stroll. Festive hat head count: Santa 19, Gingerbread 1, Xmas Pud 1.

FIFA's World Cup ticket prices are a betrayal to the most dedicated fans. At least $6900 to support your team from the first match to the final - nearly 5 times more than in Qatar. FSE calls for the immediate halt to ticket sales. 🔗 Statement: bit.ly/44Sqx9G

It shouldn’t be beyond the wit of FIFA to make it mandatory for anyone applying for the honour to host a World Cup to commit to cheap ticket guarantees for competing nation supporters clubs.

My lovely postie just saw me lugging a Christmas tree up the road and stopped what he was doing to carry it up the road. Shout out to all the posties out there - usually go above and beyond, old school heroes. X ✉️🎄

On Arsenal, fists beating the turf repeatedly, faces dropped into the ground, and reactions. It wasn't just hurt, which is normal, it was also angry, which tells you something about what the team expects of themselves. www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...

As a treat Handbrake Off pod is up nice and early Monday morning to bring joy after 'a hairy weekend'. In extra good news, Adrian watched the game again so you don't have to. With @adrianjclarke.bsky.social and @ianstonecomedy.bsky.social. Enjoy x pod.fo/e/361e14

That draw was an unbearable surreal-fest. It was like watching football's carcass being picked at by preening, self-satisfied vultures. A masterpiece here from @gunnerblog.bsky.social whose comedy background makes for some exquisite punchlines.

Popped over to the other place to check on someone and chanced on these. Got me thinking. I’m old enough not to be bothered by angry strangers. But exposure to faceless hate on social media must be very disturbing for young people who don’t have the tools or perspective. It worries me.

And he’s done it! Thank you to those who sent good wishes, encouragement and donations. You all rock.

Well, that was a slog. Some words on an intense game too far at the end of an intense week. Arsenal were too leggy to get everything they wanted. But for Arteta, being disappointed with a point away at Chelsea is a sign of what they are striving for. www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...

Just reposting this as my teenage son does his last preparation this weekend for his big Movember run for mens mental health charities. Even the tiniest support means so much to him (and me). My love to anyone going through it. X

Enjoyed Arsenal-Bayern. Have to shout out Lennart Karl. Even aside from the goal he was an absolute dynamo. Arsenal have faced two forwards with such impressive craft and graft in their last two big Champions League games - Alvarez and Karl. Testing yourself against great players raises levels.