In this week’s Five Aside Podcast, we dive into a dramatic Champions League matchweek that delivered headlines everywhere. We start with Chelsea’s painful 2–1 loss to Atalanta, breaking down their second-half collapse and the bigger questions surrounding Maresca’s project. We move to Liverpool’s gritty 1–0 win at the San Siro, where the conversation heats up around Salah — his absence, his long-term Liverpool future, and what the team looks like without him. Arsenal continued their perfect European form with a 3–0 win in Brugge, raising the debate over whether they’re now genuine UCL contenders or simply beneficiaries of a favourable group. Finally, we unpack Manchester City’s statement win at the Bernabéu and the pressure mounting on Xabi Alonso, whose Real Madrid side looks torn between structure and star-power freedom. It’s a full UCL breakdown filled with tactical takes, honest debates, and a lot of heat — especially around Salah’s situation.

In this dedicated Manchester United Special, the Five Aside team and soccertakeswithak take a deep dive into everything surrounding Rúben Amorim’s turbulent start. We break down whether he actually has the players to execute his 3-4-3 system, including the controversial decision to use Bruno Fernandes as a 6. We analyse Kobbie Mainoo’s role, whether he's being overused, and how his development fits into United’s tactical identity. With AFCON approaching, we evaluate what happens when Amad and Mbuemo leave — should Amorim trust his squad depth or enter the January transfer market? We also explore how bad things could get before the #AmorimOut movement gains momentum, and what a “successful season” realistically looks like for United under a long-term rebuild. From striker shortages to low-block struggles, defensive fragility, leadership issues, and tactical mismatches, this episode covers the entire state of Manchester United with honesty and depth.

In this action-packed episode of the Five Aside Podcast, we break down a dramatic Premier League weekend featuring major twists across the table. Aston Villa stun Arsenal 2–1 at Villa Park with a late winner, exposing cracks in Arteta’s side. Chelsea fail to score again in a frustrating 0–0 draw against Bournemouth, raising deeper questions about their creativity and squad direction. Manchester City close in on the title race after another commanding win, while Sunderland learn harsh lessons at the top level. And at Elland Road, Liverpool’s chaotic 3–3 draw with Leeds sets off headlines as Mohamed Salah publicly vents frustration at Arne Slot — sparking questions about dressing-room harmony. We dissect the tactics, the key moments, and what each result means going forward in the Premier League season.

In this episode we preview a chaotic Premier League weekend featuring Aston Villa vs Arsenal, Chelsea vs Bournemouth, Man City vs Sunderland, Leeds vs Liverpool, and Wolves vs Manchester United. We break down tactical matchups, key players, injury worries, potential banana skins, and which teams are most likely to surprise—or collapse. From Arsenal’s defensive headaches to Chelsea’s inconsistencies , City’s warning signs, Liverpool’s volatility, and United’s structural issues, this weekend (plus Monday) has the potential to get wild. Sit back and enjoy the full tactical preview before the madness kicks off. Like, comment, and subscribe for more elite football debates and breakdowns! ⚽🔥

Today on Five Aside, we break down Manchester United vs West Ham… another deep-block disaster. No creativity, no control, no striker presence, and no rhythm. We break down why the 3-4-3 still looks unfinished, why Bruno and Casemiro don’t work as a double pivot, and why United still can’t break down compact teams. Then once again we touch on Chelsea’s loss to Leeds raises more questions about Maresca’s rotations and whether the team actually has a settled structure. Meanwhile, Arsenal get a professional win, but a growing injury list makes their upcoming clash with Aston Villa feel like a potential banana skin. And finally we touch on Spain, where Xabi Alonso’s attempt to reshape Real Madrid’s culture is hitting real resistance. The squad looks unsure, the identity looks unstable, and the pressure is building.

In this packed episode of Five Aside with soccertakeswithak, we dive deep into a dramatic weekend of Premier League football, starting with Chelsea’s frustrating loss to Leeds. The boys break down exactly what went wrong—Maresca’s overthinking, curious tactical choices, and individual errors that continue to haunt Chelsea’s back line. From Tosin’s repeated lapses to the decision to bench a fully fit Cole Palmer in favor of João Pedro, the panel questions whether Chelsea’s issues are tactical, mental, or simply systemic. The conversation then shifts across the league where Arsenal quietly handled Brentford—a low-key but important victory in their title push. The hosts debate whether Arsenal’s consistency is underrated and why their ability to win “boring games” might be their biggest strength this season. Then comes one of the wildest games of the year: Manchester City’s 5–4 thriller, a match full of chaos, defensive collapse, and pure attacking brilliance. The panel reacts to the madness and what it means for City’s momentum moving forward. We also break down Newcastle vs Spurs (2–2)—a clash of two sides who are having weird seasons. Newcastle’s resilience, Spurs’ unpredictability, and what both clubs must fix before they fall further behind in the top-four chase. Finally, the squad previews next weekend’s fixtures, highlighting the key matchups that could reshape the table and offering predictions on where the momentum shifts next. This episode blends sharp analysis, honest criticism, and the classic banter Five Aside is known for—essential listening for anyone trying to make sense of a roller-coaster Premier League season.

In this collab episode with SoccerTakesWithAK, we break down the drama, tactics, and pure chaos that came out of Chelsea vs Arsenal — a rivalry that never fails to serve heat. The banter starts instantly as both sides relive the tension, frustration, and pride that always follow this historic London clash.

One theme keeps popping up: Pep Guardiola is the godfather of both teams. Whether it’s Arteta’s evolving pragmatism or Maresca’s youth-driven rebuild, the hosts laugh about how “Pep’s fingerprints are all over this derby.” We dive into Arsenal’s tactical shift toward flexible, controlled football and Chelsea’s bold commitment to a youth revolution under their new ownership.

Player selection becomes a major talking point, Reece James’ leadership, Arsenal’s structure, and the contrasting coaching philosophies spark lively debate.

The conversation wraps with a look ahead: Chelsea’s struggle to break down smaller teams, Arsenal’s growing maturity, and whether either side can keep consistency as the season intensifies.

It’s rivalry, tactics, jokes, and pure football passion — exactly what a London derby collab should be.

The London Derby may have ended 1–1, but the drama was premium. In this episode, the guys relive the chaos of watching Chelsea vs Arsenal in a Nigerian-style bar — full of noise, banter, and pure football madness. The hosts unpack Arsenal’s surprisingly flat performance (“one of their poorest of the season”), Arteta’s rotations, and Chelsea’s impressive resilience despite going down to ten men. Reece James steals the spotlight with a monster display, to some probably winning the aforementioned heated Timber vs James debate that split the fanbases. Beyond the derby, the guys quickly round up the rest of the Premier League weekend: – Man City scrape past Leeds 3–2, with Foden dragging them over the line. – Liverpool finally end their winless run, thanks to new signing Isak grabbing his first Premier League goal for the Reds. – Man United beat a tired Crystal Palace, doing just enough to steady the ship. It’s derby chaos, Nigerian-bar energy, and Premier League drama — all in one episode.

In this Thanksgiving special, Arsenal and Chelsea decided to serve FEASTS. Arsenal slow-cooked Bayern 3–1, Chelsea roasted Barcelona 3–0, and both fanbases left the stadium with their plates full. We break down Estevão frying full-backs, Cucurella pocketing wingers, Timber dominating big moments, and Bayern trying to microwave their way out of trouble. We dive into Spurs getting battered in Paris, Liverpool getting deep-fried by PSV, and Manchester City dropping another plate in their kitchen. Then comes the big debate: Timber vs Reece James — who would you rather have right now? One is a tank, the other is a glass cannon, and the arguments get spicy. It’s football, chaos, and holiday calories — your classic Five Aside serving.

In this episode, emotions were flying everywhere — and not just from Tottenham defenders. One of us genuinely fell in love again after Eze’s North London Derby hat-trick, describing the performance with romantic butterflies like he’d just met his crush again. Arsenal didn’t just win — they performed poetry. Spurs tried the pragmatic five-at-the-back experiment and ended up pinned so deep they were practically underground. We also touched on Manchester United’s weekly lows, Chelsea discourse, Timber propaganda, Declan Rice’s villain arc, tactical rabbit holes, and why Arsenal make even rival players admit “this is the hardest team we face.” It’s football, therapy, romance, and shameless Arsenal joy — all in one chaotic Five Aside episode.