Gabriel Martinelli’s first Arsenal hat-trick and a 4–1 comeback at Fratton Park – not a bad way to keep the quad dream alive.

In today’s episode we break down the FA Cup win at Portsmouth and look ahead to Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg away at Chelsea.

🔴 Portsmouth 1–4 Arsenal

• Early goal conceded & calm response

• Set-piece dominance and repeat routines

• Martinelli’s hat-trick and what’s changed for him

• Madueke’s wild night – pen miss, two assists, constant threat

• Minutes for Jesus, Havertz, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly & Salmon

🔵 Chelsea vs Arsenal preview

• How seriously Arteta will take this semi-final

• New-manager Chelsea & what to expect at Stamford Bridge

• Predicted XI and key battles

Recorded on Monday 12th January 2026.

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Arsenal and Liverpool played out a cagey 0–0 at the Emirates — but the bigger picture matters.

Arsenal are now six points clear at the top, City dropped points again, and the next 10 days span four competitions.

In this episode we break down:

• What the 0–0 actually told us about Arsenal

• Individual performances & tactical takeaways

• The state of the title race after City’s slip

• How Arsenal juggle four competitions in 10 days

• Predicted XI and light preview for Portsmouth away

2 points dropped or not the end of the world?

Recorded live on Friday 9th January 2026.

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Arsenal are six points clear, growing stronger, and setting the tempo of the title race — and this episode is a helicopter view of where things truly stand.

In our first pod since December 22nd, we step back and assess Arsenal’s last three weeks across all competitions:

• League Cup progress

• League wins over Brighton, Aston Villa and Bournemouth

• Manchester City dropping points

• And why this version of Arsenal feels more complete

We dive deep into Declan Rice’s level of influence, Ødegaard’s evolving role, striker options, squad depth, and how media narratives often miss the bigger picture.

We finish by previewing Liverpool at the Emirates — a game Arsenal are expected to dominate — before taking live questions.

Live pod recorded: Monday 5th January 2026

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: Where Arsenal are right now

03:10 – Three-week recap: Palace, Brighton, Villa, Bournemouth

08:45 – Title race context: City dropping points & momentum

13:40 – Why Arsenal feel stronger now (all competitions view)

22:26 – Ødegaard’s positional evolution & connections

24:48 – Declan Rice's performance levels

29:05 – Striker options & squad balance

35:00 – Ethan, Eze & Gyökeres: profiles & ceiling

38:00 – Media narratives & Dan Goodman discussion

44:07 – Liverpool preview: expectation vs reality

55:00 – Live Q&A

This was one of our most in-depth pods of the season.

We start by discussing what it actually means to be top of the Premier League at Christmas – whether it matters, and how it shapes narrative rather than destiny.

From there, we take a helicopter view of Everton 0–1 Arsenal, focusing on confidence, control, and a huge sliding doors moment with Trossard that could have completely changed the external perception of the performance.

We then go deep on:

• Ødegaard’s role, connections & why he drops deep• How players micromanage each other in possession

• The knock-on impact on Zubimendi

• Penalty incidents & officiating

• The title race & Man City

• A disagreement on Hincapié & defensive profiles

• Gyökeres, Jesus & finishing patterns

• David Raya’s distribution & intent

We finish with a detailed Crystal Palace Carabao Cup quarter-final preview, knowing we won’t be podding again until after Bournemouth.

A proper football conversation.

👍 Like, subscribe & join the discussion.

Timestamps:

00:00 – What does “Top at Christmas” actually mean?

05:30 – Helicopter view of Everton win & confidence without data

09:40 – Sliding doors moment: Trossard chance & narrative shift

14:14 – Ødegaard: connections, combinations & dropping deep

22:14 – Penalty incidents & officiating discussion

25:14 – The title race & Man City context

30:00 – Hincapié debate: flaws vs Gabriel comparisons

35:11 – Gyökeres & Jesus: chances, penalty & areas to improve

49:42 – David Raya: distribution, calm & intent in possession

51:14 – Crystal Palace (Carabao Cup QF) deep preview

Arsenal head to Everton’s new stadium with the chance to stay top of the Premier League at Christmas — but injuries and recent away form raise questions.🎙️ In this pod we cover:• Everton vs Arsenal tactical matchup• Ben White injury & defensive reshuffle• Odegaard & Trossard returns• Everton’s home form under Moyes• Score predictions & key battles📅 Premier League | Gameweek 17🏟️ Hill Dickinson Stadium👍 Like, subscribe & join the discussion🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5081062858555392

Arsenal survive late chaos to beat Wolves 2–1 at the Emirates — two own goals, a 90+4 winner and huge questions about game management.🔴 We’re LIVE breaking down:• The slow first half & second-half changes• Saka’s set-piece influence• Jesus vs Gyökeres debate• Late goals conceded — pattern or coincidence?• What this win means for the title race🕔 LIVE – Monday 15th December | 5PM UK👍 Like, subscribe & get involved in the chat🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5081062858555392

Arsenal’s 18-match unbeaten run is over… and in the most brutal way possible.Mike & Clayton break down the 94th-minute heartbreak at Villa Park, where Buendía’s last-kick winner sealed a 2–1 loss after Trossard’s equaliser.

We dive into:

The actual performance behind the defeat

Cash goal breakdown & defensive issues

Timber–Hincapié chemistry

Saka’s influence despite no goal

Trossard’s third consecutive league goal

Did Arteta get the subs right?

Why the unbeaten run ending might not be the worst thing

Early Brugge thoughts & our predicted XI for Wednesday

Rotation

Injury worries

Next up: Club Brugge away - a win secures last-16 qualification.

Timestamps:

3:54 – Match stats & general match summary

12:42 – Ødegaard domino effect

17:42 – Eze & Merino stinkers

29:42 – Title race & dropped points

36:31 – Gyökeres

52:00 – Brugge lineup prediction

1:00:45 – Arteta’s kryptonite...

🎧 Listen & subscribe now!🔔

SUBSCRIBE:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGFYguboL4hRNuKXdO4d_DA?sub_confirmation=1

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🐦 Follow Us On Twitter:

The Weekly Cannon: https://twitter.com/TheWeeklyCannonClayton: https://twitter.com/claytsAFC

Mike: https://twitter.com/FplMikeH

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🎧 Also listen on:

Website: https://anchor.fm/the-arsenal-bitesize-podcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4du6I40B4n521kpwYKIi8C

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-arsenal-bitesize-podcast/id1631125358

Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9hMTA4NWQ4MC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw

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Arsenal make it 18 games unbeaten with a 2–0 win over Brentford — and The Weekly Cannon is back with Mike to break it all down.We cover:• Merino’s ridiculous form — goals, aerial threat & his partnership with Zubimendi • Madueke’s impact on his return to the XI • Defensive resilience with no Saliba, Gabriel or Mosquera • Saka sealing it late & what it means for the title race • Arteta’s rotation decisions going into the festive run • Aston Villa preview — Emery’s form, Watkins danger, Rice fitness, predicted XI • Score predictions for Villa ParkTimestamps:0:00 – Intro 3:00 – Mike’s recap of the last fortnight 9:50 – Brentford review 12:28 – Madueke's performance 15:28 – Midweek rotation & Declan Rice update 21:16 – The Merino Effect 27:08 – Ben White & the crucial Raya save 28:52 – Aston Villa preview 36:46 – When to use Ødegaard vs Eze… or both?🎧 Listen & subscribe now!🔔 SUBSCRIBE:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGFYguboL4hRNuKXdO4d_DA?sub_confirmation=1━━━━━━━━━━━━━🐦 Follow Us On Twitter:The Weekly Cannon: https://twitter.com/TheWeeklyCannonClayton: https://twitter.com/claytsAFCMike: https://twitter.com/FplMikeH━━━━━━━━━━━━━🎧 Also listen on:Website: https://anchor.fm/the-arsenal-bitesize-podcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4du6I40B4n521kpwYKIi8CApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-arsenal-bitesize-podcast/id1631125358Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9hMTA4NWQ4MC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5081062858555392