Stay ConnectedThe Athletic’s flagship football podcast, hosted by Ayo Akinwolere and featuring the likes of David Ornstein, Phil Hay, Adam Crafton and Matt Slater will take you inside the biggest stories in football told by the best reporters in the business. We cut through the noise to tell you what’s really happening – and why it matters.
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Liverpool legend Alan Hansen who famously said "you can't win anything with kids"
Yet on Sunday Arsenal’s teenagers took centre stage as they dismantled the champions with both Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri getting on the scoresheet.
So can Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal win anything with kids?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's James McNicholas and Phil Hay to discuss the 5-1 win over Man City. Art De Roche also drops by to discuss the emergence of the likes of Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri.
Meanwhile, The Athletic's football correspondent David Ornstein also gives his thoughts on the impact the youngsters have had on the club's recruitment plans along with the pressure of their pursuit for a striker.
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
With: James McNicholas, Phil Hay, Art De Roche and David Ornstein
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
Producer: Guy Clarke
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Football fans are desperate for transfer news - and it's often bigger than the sport itself.
Open twice a year - in January and the summer - the transfer window changes the game.
But what actually goes on when deals are made?
Join Adam Leventhal as he goes behind the scenes at training grounds, stadiums and offices to explain the anatomy of a transfer and to breakdown the complex process of what a player goes through when they move from club to club.
Host: Adam Leventhal
Exec Prod: Abi Paterson
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Arsenal host Manchester City on Sunday in what some are called the 'stay humble' derby.
The last time these sides met was back in September's thrilling 2-2 draw, where things boiled over at full time.
The Athletic's Arsenal writer James McNicholas and Manchester City writer Sam Lee join Tim Spiers and Adam Leventhal to preview Sunday's clash.
Plus we check in with some of the club podcasts across The Athletic FC and set you up for the key games elsewhere.
Host: Adam Leventhal
With: James McNicholas, Sam Lee, Tim Spiers
Featuring: Simon Hughes, James Maw
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
Producer: Jay Beale
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On an evening of mayhem across Europe, Man City got the job done and avoided Champions League elimination, beating Club Brugge 3-1 to progress into the knockout phase.
But is the prospect of Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the play-off something Pep Guardiola's side will relish?
Elsewhere, with Jhon Duran set to leave for Saudi Arabia and Arsenal interested in Ollie Watkins, could Aston Villa’s front line look a little different in the knockout stages?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's James Horncastle and Phil Hay to reflect on an action-packed final night of the league phase of the revamped Champions League, while Aston Villa correspondent Jacob Tanswell joins to discuss the latest around both Duran and Watkins.
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
With: James Horncastle, Phil Hay and Jacob Tanswell
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
Producer: Guy Clarke
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Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are languishing in the bottom half of the table - they sit in 12th and 15th place respectively.
Tough times have fallen on two of the ‘Big Six’ - the traditional heavyweights of English football.
So in terms of both on-pitch and off-pitch matters, does the idea of those aforementioned powerhouse clubs dominating the Premier League still ring true?
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
With: Rory Smith, Tim Spiers, Matt Slater
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
Producer: Mike Stavrou
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As revealed by David Ornstein on today’s Transfer DealSheet, Aston Villa could be tempted to sell Jhon Duran for around 80 million pounds.
That valuation of the Villa striker got us thinking - what makes a top No.9 in 2025?
And with many teams wanting an elite striker - why is it so hard to find them?
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
With: Mark Carey, Phil Hay & David Ornstein
Executive Producer: Abi Paterson
Producer: Mike Stavrou & Nick Thomson
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A smashed TV, a lack of cash, and more box office quotes from Ruben Amorim who told the media after his side's 1-0 win at Fulham he would prefer to name his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital on the bench ahead of Marcus Rashford.
Having made it four wins from five, are Man United showing signs of improvement under Amorim?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Manchester United correspondent Laurie Whitwell and Mark Critchley with Charlotte Harpur also dropping by to discuss Amorim's handling of the media and his man-management.
Plus, with a week left of the January transfer window there's a focus on United's finances and whether they will be able to spend their way back up the Premier League table.
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
With: Laurie Whitwell, Mark Critchley and Charlotte Harpur
Executive Producer: Abi Paterson
Producer: Guy Clarke
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Manchester City host Chelsea at the Etihad on Saturday and with just two points separating the sides this could be a key battle in the race for the top four.
Pep Guardiola will be looking to get back on track after seeing his side throw away a two goal lead in the Champions League midweek, losing 4-2 to PSG at the Parc des Princes, with issues in midfield an ongoing problem. After already spending more than €140m in the January transfer window, do Manchester City need further additions?
Following five Premier League games without a victory, Chelsea got back to winning ways on Monday beating Wolves 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, but how does Enzo Maresca get his forwards firing again?
Plus we check in with the club podcasts across The Athletic FC and look ahead to a fixture that nobody would've predicted being quite so exciting when the season kicked off; Bournemouth vs Nottingham Forest.
Host: Michael Bailey
With: Tim Spiers, Thom Harris
Featuring: Sam Lee, Simon Johnson, Andy Mitten, Laurie Whitwell, James Pearce, James McNicholas
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
Producer: Jay Beale
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Among the tech billionaires, cabinet nominees and former leaders as Donald Trump was sworn in as U.S. president was the most powerful man in football - FIFA president Gianni Infantino….
So, with both the Club World Cup and World Cup taking place in the USA in the next 18 months.
What impact will Trump and his policies have on football over the next four years?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton in New York, Felipe Cardenas in Atlanta and Women's Sports Lead, in Burlington, Vermont, Meg Linehan to analyse and debate Trump's role in football, relationship with Infantino as well as assess what his legacy on the sport could be at the end of his time in office.
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
With: Adam Crafton, Felipe Cardenas and Meg Linehan
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
Producer: Guy Clarke
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth produced one of the performances of the season as they demolished Newcastle at the weekend.
They are now seventh in the Premier League and eyeing up European football for next season.
So how much of their success is down to Iraola - and will they be able to keep hold of him for much longer?
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
With: Jon Mackenzie, Phil Hay, Dermot Corrigan
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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