THE ARSENAL OPINION - BY LE GROVE

A week is a lifetime in football. We’ve swung wildly from the post-United doom spiral to sudden whispers of a league “procession” and quadruple dreams. Jacob Hawley and Matt Kandela return for a necessary session of Thursday Therapy to cut through the noise, temper the hysteria, and confront the brutal reality of a season-defining injury that could change everything.

Inside the episode:


The Merino Blow: We react to the devastating news that Mikel Merino could be out for the season. We discuss why the Spaniard might actually be the most “clutch” player in the squad and why his specific skillset is impossible to replace.


King Kai’s Redemption: Matt drops his hottest take yet—Kai Havertz isn’t just good; he is essential. We argue why the German is now a 90-point player and why he sits above Gyökeres and Jesus in the pecking order.


The Hincapié Turnaround: From a questionable signing to a “cult hero in the making.” We analyze Piero Hincapié’s monster performance against Chelsea and why he reminds us of a prime Branislav Ivanović.


Procession Poison: Why fans need to stop talking about the league as if it’s already won. We debate the “Quadruple vs. Just The League” dilemma and why looking past Sunderland is a dangerous game.




Transfer Window Autopsy: The window slammed shut with no senior signings. We ask if we missed a trick in midfield or if the “Jacob Hawley Curse” is finally lifting on the squad’s depth players.

Enjoy the episode early and ad-free by signing up as a member.

NEWSLETTER + AUDIO: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/

AUDIO: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Majesterial Arsenal keep the good mood FLYING with a stonking 4-0 win over Leeds at Elland Road.

The boys all got a little bit of what they wanted.

⚽ Gyokeres with a beast goal

✨ Jesus creating for himself

🔥 MADUEKE BEATS ALLEGATIONS

🔒 Arsenal defence, stingy as ever!

Enjoy the episode early and ad-free by signing up as a member.

NEWSLETTER + AUDIO: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/

AUDIO: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feeling VERY good, so please, enjoy this episode.

In this episode, we discuss:

💀 The Market is Dead: Why spending big money on a traditional striker is a trap and why the talent pool has completely dried up.

🧠 Midfielders > Strikers: How Havertz and Merino are proving that the modern #9 is actually just a converted midfielder.

🛠️ The Swiss Army Knife: Why the "Haaland model" is fading and why Arteta prefers flexible forwards who can press, link, and create.

📉 The Gyökeres Paradox: Is he a "flat-track bully" who relies on space that just doesn't exist in the Premier League?

😈 The United Reality Check: We swallow our pride and ask... are Man Utd actually the third-best team in the league?

⚪ Benny Blanco Returns: Why Ben White is undroppable (and why Timber might have to sit this one out).

We hope you enjoy this members episode!

Enjoy the episode early and ad-free by signing up as a member.

NEWSLETTER + AUDIO: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/

AUDIO: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The dust has settled on the Manchester United defeat, but the questions are only getting louder. Jacob Hawley is joined by Johnny Dutch to move past the raw emotion of losing to a bitter rival and dissect the psychological state of the squad. They ask if the obsession with control has gone too far and if the ghosts of seasons past are haunting the tactical setup.

On the deck:


The £60m Dilemma: We drop a controversial take on Eberechi Eze’s future. Is he a “maverick” unsuited for a dominant system, and have we already seen enough to know he isn’t the answer?


PTSD Football: A deep dive into whether Mikel Arteta is “coaching by trauma”—designing a system so terrified of making mistakes that it has forgotten how to take risks.


The Captain’s Fade: Why Martin Odegaard has become the lightning rod for fan frustration. We debate if it’s a physical decline, a confidence crisis, or simply a player handcuffed by rigid instructions.


Stumbling Into Solutions: History shows Arteta often finds his best attacking setups by accident. We argue why it’s time to force the issue with Merino up top and bring Ben White back to unlock Saka.


The League of Margins: Why the Premier League has morphed into “90s Serie A” and why a data-driven, risk-averse approach might not be enough to get over the line.

Enjoy the episode early and ad-free by signing up as a member.

NEWSLETTER + AUDIO: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/

AUDIO: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Arsenal slop out at Manchester United, recording their first loss in a month. It feels terrible, and the boys are here to dissect exactly what went wrong.

On the agenda:


🤯 A Freak Result: Breaking down the chaotic nature of the scoreline.


🔄 Déjà Vu: Why the hallmarks of this loss look suspiciously identical to last season.


👻 The Disappearing Act: Where was Martin Ødegaard when we needed him?


9️⃣ The Striker Void: The frustration of having no one step up as a true number 9.


👔 Management Issues: Questions surrounding Arteta’s shoddy handling of Eze.



🔇 Misfiring Guns: The dire attacking output from Arsenal’s supposed “Bang Bang” players.

Enjoy the episode early and ad-free by signing up as a member.

NEWSLETTER + AUDIO: https://www.le-grove.co.uk/

AUDIO: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArsenalOpinion

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices