The Loose Cannon Podcast

Greek Tragedy? Not For Arsenal’s Players!

Arsenal hosted Olympiacos in the Champions League, rotated several players and still secured a 2-0 victory at the Emirates. The win continued Arsenal's strong run against the Greek side.Viktor Gyökeres powered forward to create the opening chance, with Gabriel Martinelli finishing the rebound. David Raya produced a crucial full‑stretch save to deny Daniel Podence, while Leandro Trossard had several wasted opportunities.Bukayo Saka came off the bench late, nutmegged the goalkeeper to make it 2-0 and seal the win. Arsenal controlled the match and now turn their attention to a Premier League clash with West Ham.

200 Not Out

Arsenal beat West Ham 2–0 at the Emirates to reclaim top spot. Declan Rice scored against his former club while the Gunners largely controlled the match.Milestones stole the show: Bukayo Saka made his 200th Premier League appearance and reached 100 goal involvements, and Mikel Arteta marked his 300th game in charge (177 wins).Eberechi Eze returned but missed a big chance, VAR ruled out a second Arsenal goal, Odegaard went off with a knee knock, and West Ham finished with no shots on target. Arsenal now have a two-week break before fixtures against Fulham, Atlético Madrid and Crystal Palace.

Curse Of The Ex Wrecks Geordies

Arsenal looked set to leave St James' with nothing as Newcastle dominated long spells and goalkeeper Nick Pope produced a string of outstanding saves. Mikel Merino haunted his former club by heading home to level the game, and it felt like the visitors would settle for a draw.Deep into stoppage time, Martin Ødegaard delivered a perfect corner and Gabriel Magalhães rose above the chaos to head home in the 96th minute, securing a dramatic away win. The late winner tightened the title race and underlined Arsenal's set-piece strength this season.Key takeaways: a dramatic stoppage-time winner, standout goalkeeping from Pope, Merino as a threat from headers, and Arsenal now turning late moments into victories — with Olympiacos and West Ham up next.

Ode To Joy @ Geordieland? & Stayliba!

Arteta says Martin Ødegaard could start against Newcastle after only two days of training, a risky call that could make or break Arsenal's outing at St James' Park.William Saliba commits to a five-year deal, turning down Barcelona and Real Madrid and cementing Arsenal's defensive spine and long-term ambitions.Jared Gillett returns to VAR duty, reigniting worries about officiating consistency as the club chases major silverware.This episode breaks down the gamble on fitness, the significance of Saliba's signing, and the looming refereeing controversy.

Valiant Vale Put To The Sword (Sort Of!)

Arsenal returned to Vale Park after 27 years and took an early lead through Eberechi Eze, who scored his first goal for the club. Gabriel Martinelli and Myles Lewis-Skelly helped create chances while Kepa made a comfortable debut in goal.Port Vale battled hard in front of a passionate home crowd, but Leandro Trossard sealed the 2–0 win to send Arsenal into the Carabao Cup fourth round. The performance combined star moments with a calming midfield display from Christian Nørgaard.Arsenal’s reward is a home tie with Brighton in round four. The result offers a rare chance to challenge for the League Cup — a trophy the club has not won since 1993. Next up: an away league trip to Newcastle and a midweek match against Olympiacos.

Injury Curse Strikes Again

Mikel Arteta addressed Arsenal's injury situation ahead of the midweek trip to Port Vale. The press conference covered a mix of setbacks and small positives as the squad prepares for a busy spell.Noni Madueke faces around eight weeks out after aggravating an issue, Piero Hincapié has a groin knock that may need short-term surgery, and Kai Havertz remains a longer-term doubt.On the plus side, captain Martin Ødegaard is back in training and Bukayo Saka will be reintroduced gradually. Eberechi Eze's suitability to start as a right attacker is still uncertain, while youngster Max Dowman grabbed attention in training.Arteta must balance recovery timelines and squad options ahead of the Vale Park tie as Arsenal navigates another wave of injuries.

Write-off Right On Time

Arsenal fell behind early to an Erling Haaland counter after dominating possession, then struggled to break down Manchester City's organised defence despite chances and pressure in the first half.At halftime Mikel Arteta introduced Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze, and ten minutes after coming on Eze fed Gabriel Martinelli, who produced a cheeky lob over Donnarumma to salvage a dramatic equaliser and a hard-earned point.The draw feels like a statement of resilience from Arsenal — a memorable moment for Martinelli and Eze — as the team looks ahead to cup action and a tough league run.

Champs League Starts Swimmingly

Mikel Arteta's substitutes stole the show at San Mamés as Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli combined within 36 seconds to turn a tense game on its head, scoring twice to secure the win over Athletic Bilbao.The first half was cagey and noisy, with Bilbao dominating the atmosphere but creating little. Early chances were scarce until the second-half introduction of the two attackers changed the tempo and produced clinical finishes.Arsenal left with a clean sheet and a Champions League victory, extending their streak against Spanish opposition, but now face a tough test at home to Manchester City next.