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Artwork for Handbrake Off: The Athletic FC's Arsenal show

Handbrake Off: The Athletic FC's Arsenal show

The Athletic
Arsenal
Arsenal Football Club
Premier League
Champions League
Mikel Arteta
Declan Rice
Martin Ødegaard
Arsenal FC
Bukayo Saka
Manchester City
Michael Arteta
Kai Havertz
Tottenham Hotspur
Liverpool
Gabriel Jesus
Carabao Cup
Manchester United
North London Derby
Wolves
FA Cup

The Athletic's Amy Lawrence, Adrian Clarke, James McNicholas (Gunnerblog), Art de Roche and comedian Ian Stone bring you a twice-weekly podcast dedicated to Arsenal Football Club. They'll bring you reaction to all the games, expert insight into the inner-workings of the club, including transfers and contracts, and analysis on the women's team too.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes474Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SoccerFootballSports

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Handbrake Off: The Athletic FC's Arsenal show

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Handbrake Off, Ian Stone, Amy Lawrence, and James McNicholas dive into the recent developments surrounding the potential departure of Gabriel Martinelli to Al Hilal. The Champions League, and Arsenal's ongoing pursuit of new talent... more

Ian Stone is joined by Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke to look back on Arsenal's convincing 3-0 win over Coventry and ask whether winning the title has given Mikel Arteta's side a new sense of freedom.

Plus, there's plenty of transfer talk. What does... more

The new season is here!

In today's episode, Ian Stone, Amy Lawrence and Art de Roche look ahead to Arsenal's season, discuss what lessons can be learned from last season and what could go right and wrong this year.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr... more

In today's episode Ian Stone is joined by Amy Lawrence and Adrian Clarke to discuss Arsenal's 3-0 win over Man City in the Community Shield!

02:10 Trophy mishaps

07:21 Arsenal 3 - 0 City

13:20 Magnificent MLS

17:07 Odegaard back to his best

22:... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

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Recent Guests

Harry Symeou
Gunnerblog contributor; Chronicles of a Gunner podcast
Chronicles of a Gunner
Episode: Rogers OFF so how good is Christos Tzolis?
Michael (Friend of George Graham)
Friend of former Arsenal manager George Graham; guest contributor from Up Your Arsenal segment
Arsenal fan community
Episode: What happens if Spurs actually get relegated?
Art de Roche
Arsenal analyst
The Athletic
Episode: We're on our way
Miles Lewis-Skelly
Young Arsenal academy product featured in discussion
Arsenal Youth/Academy
Episode: Bukayo Saka: The bringer of joy
Jack Friedman
Fan contributor featured during Up Your Arsenal segment
Ottawa, Canada
Episode: Show the fire not the fear
Kevin Doherty
Correspondent, Dubai
The Athletic
Episode: Now’s the time for a siege mentality
Martin Brown
Correspondent
The Athletic
Episode: Now’s the time for a siege mentality
Nnamdi Onyeagwara
First-time guest on Handbrake Off
The Athletic
Episode: David Raya: Difference Maker
Gabriel Jesus
Professional footballer, Arsenal and Brazil striker
Arsenal FC; Brazil National Team
Episode: Gabriel Jesus interview: Arteta vs Guardiola, Arsenal's title race & more

Hosts

Ian Stone
Host of Handbrake Off; Arsenal-focused commentator with broad media experience.
Amy Lawrence
Co-host and Arsenal journalist with long-running involvement in Arsenal coverage.
Art De Roche
Co-host with Arsenal journalism background providing expert analysis.
Adrian Clarke
Co-host and former Arsenal player/analyst providing tactical insight.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 2.2k ratings
  • Listen to Arsecast instead

    Half the podcast is ignorant Ian Stone whining and moaning which gets tiresome to listen to. Listen to Arsecast pod instead, much better and more positive. Who wants to listen to negativity about football when there’s already enough negativity in this world?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Olen714
    United Statesa month ago
  • Balance the audio

    Love the podcast but please can you mix it better so I can hear Ian without blowing my speaker when Adrian talks- or get Ian to sit closer to the mic. This is just mixing 101 Mr Producer

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Rhysie Babes
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • A moment of clarity

    I’ve been listening to you guys for a while (not long enough tbf) but I’m compelled to write a review because I’ve just what I didn’t realise I needed to hear for the last X number of months…. Amy’s summary of where we’re at as a club was absolutely perfect! And it was followed by Ian’s expression of how I and many other supporters feel right now. Congrats on a brilliant podcast in so many ways.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SimmoTheGooner
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Amy’s intro

    Passionately positioned providing perfect perspective

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KingHenryXIV
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Too many ads

    While the content is good there are way too many ads for such a short show. It’s almost unlistenable

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    why do 1 need a nickname
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Loved the women's and academy coverage as well as transferral context.
Some listeners want fewer ads but praise the depth of analysis.
Vivid Arsenal insight with balanced debate, great banter and strong chemistry.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#34
United States/Sports/Soccer
Spotify
#48
United Kingdom/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#30
Canada/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#37
United Kingdom/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#85
United Kingdom/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#31
Italy/Sports/Soccer

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Rogers OFF so how good is Christos Tzolis?
Q: What is the expectation for Christos Tzolis at Arsenal in the near term?
The hosts suggest it will be premature to expect him to be a ceiling raiser right away; he could be a useful, flexible winger who develops into a bigger contributor over time, with patience and proper positioning in the squad.
What happens if Spurs actually get relegated?
Q: How many of the current squad would start for the Invincibles?
The hosts estimate a few key players could slot in, with a focus on defense and attack, but acknowledge that some modern players would be different fits, reflecting changes in the game since the Invincibles era.
How costly will Eze’s injury be?
Q: What changes would you like to see in Saka's positioning or role to maximize impact?
The panel proposed experimenting with Saka centrally to place him closer to goal moments, while keeping a direct winger option on the right or left, depending on the opponent and form.
What a difference a week makes
Q: Do you think this was Michael Arteta in some way taking the handbrake off a little bit?
Art believes that Mikel is more focused on maintaining momentum with individual partnerships that are working well rather than making significant tactical changes.
Were Arsenal brave enough against Liverpool?
Q: Are you guys naturally pessimistic or optimistic?
Hosts share their perspectives; Ian identifies as a pessimist while Adrian and Art lean towards optimism, judging by performance.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp Arsenal-focused discussion show featuring a rotating panel of regulars who analyze matches, transfers, and club strategy with a blend of tactical insight and fan banter. Across episodes, the hosts cover domestic and European competition, player performances, transfer rumours, and the evolving identity of the club, including women's football coverage. Notable strengths include a deep knowledge of Arsenal history, strong chemistry among hosts, and willingness to debate and balance optimism with realism; occasional guests add diverse perspectives. Potential listeners should expect rigorous analysis balanced with humor, pop culture references, and a strong sense of community around Arsenal fandom.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Arseblog Arsecast, The Arsenal Podcast
2. The ArsenalVision Podcast - Arsenal FC
3. The Tuesday Club
4. Inside Arsenal - with Charles Watts
5. THE ARSENAL OPINION - BY LE GROVE

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 7 years ago and published 474 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Harry Symeou
2. Michael (Friend of George Graham)
3. Art de Roche
4. Miles Lewis-Skelly
5. Jack Friedman
6. Kevin Doherty
7. Martin Brown
8. Nnamdi Onyeagwara

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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