The Arsenal Beat

Our latest Arsenal Beat special delves into the world of the matchday programme.

Max Jones presents an in-depth look at the history of programmes, how the Arsenal matchday companion is put together, the ways in which it provides an essential tool for football reporters, just how valuable some from the past can be and what the future holds in the digital age.

With contributions from:

:: Henry Winter - Chief football writer - The Times

:: Andy Exley - Editor of the official Arsenal matchday programme

:: John Litster - programme historian and author of 'The Football Programme: A History and Guide'

:: Josh James - Arsenal features editor and club statistician 

:: Paul Matz - Publisher of Programme Monthly

It is time for the Arsenal Beat to 'Get with the Programme'...

Arsenal are out of the Europa League after losing on penalties to Sporting on Thursday night.

Is that a bad thing? Are the injuries picked up a concern? Mark is joined by Dan Matthews from the Daily Mail, Goal's Charles Watts and Sam Dean of the Telegraph to discuss such matters.

The panel also look ahead to the visit of Crystal Palace as well as the decision taken by the Eagles to sack former Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira just two days before the game.

In Access All Arsenal, we answer listener questions and hear from Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard before we nominate our Actual Arsenal Impactors for the season, with a whiff of both nepotism and Charles' feet.

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Arsenal enjoyed a fine Sunday afternoon by the river, retaining their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a routine win at Fulham.

With Gabriel Jesus back, Leandro Trossard settled in and Mikel Arteta's changing room magic in full swing, can anyone stop Arsenal lifting the title?

Here to analyse the victory, Mark is joined by Simon Collings of the Evening Standard and the Telegraph's Sam Dean.

The trio also look ahead to Thursday's Europa League visit of Sporting as Simon and Sam aim to actually Guess the Gooner.

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What a finish.

Reiss Nelson's last-gasp goal saw Mikel Arteta's men seal a memorable win over Bournemouth which leaves them five points clear at the Premier League summit.

To unpack all the action, Mark is joined by Sam Dean of the Telegraph, the Guardian's Nick Ames and Kaya Kaynak from football.london.

Sam talks fate and the constructs of time - but not VAR - while Nick takes cold water to Arsenal's run of late winners and Kaya's love for Jakub Kiwior knows no bounds.

We also have a discussion ahead of the Europa League round of 16 clash against Sporting, answer YOUR questions in Access All Arsenal and still find time to squeeze in a history-making round of Guess the Gooner.

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Another Arsenal win, another Arsenal Beat, another chance to talk about how much we all love Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Mark is joined by Sam Dean of the Telegraph, the Daily Mail's Dan Matthews and Simon Collings from the Evening Standard to eulogise over Zinchenko - as well as other key players such as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

The panel look back at the win over Everton and answer your questions in Access All Arsenal, where we also hear from Aaron Ramsdale.

The quartet then cast an eye forward to the visit of Bournemouth and another easy-looking fixture on paper*.

Things are rounded off, as ever, with the delicious dessert of Guess The Gooner.

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*Football isn't played on paper.

Arsenal sit two points clear at the top of the Premier League and with a game in hand on closest challengers Manchester City.

Who would have predicted that after City's win at the Emirates Stadium last week?

A late, dramatic win at Aston Villa could act as a catalyst for Arsenal to hit their heights from earlier in the season and deliver a first league title in 19 years.

To discuss the victory, Sam is in the presenter's chair and is joined by Simon Collings of the Evening Standard and The Athletic's Art de Roche.

The trio also answer listener questions in Access All Arsenal, where we also hear from Oleksandr Zinchenko fresh from the Villa Park pitch.

We end with a Guess The Gooner that will hopefully leave you guessing long after our panel...

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Defeat to Manchester City leaves Arsenal second in the Premier League table.

Is it all doom and gloom?

What are the positives from a 3-1 defeat?

Will Unai Emery stick the boot in?

To answer those questions and more, Mark is joined by ESPN senior football writer James Olley and Sam Dean of the Telegraph.

There is also another instalment of Guess the Gooner to look forward to.

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After a weekend of drama, dropped points and decisions, the Beat is back to try and make sense of it all. 

Simon returns to hosting duties and is joined by Nick Callow of Hayters and Goal's Charles Watts. The trio also welcome ESPN editor and VAR expert Dale Johnson.

In amongst trying to fathom out just how Brentford’s equaliser was allowed to stand the panel discuss if teams have discovered how to play against Arsenal, if changes are needed to the starting XI and of course we look ahead to a mammoth Manchester City match and round things off with Guess the Gooner.

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Recorded at London Colney just minutes after Mikel Arteta's pre-match press conference ahead of the visit of Brentford, Mark is joined by a bumper panel as Art De Roche of the Athletic, the Telegraph's Sam Dean, Dan Matthews from the Mail and football.london's Kaya Kaynak all chip in.

The panel discuss selection policy for the Brentford game, Arteta's take on potential sanctions for Manchester City, Sam's exclusive interview with Odegaard, Kaya's trumpet blowing and which Hogwarts house best suits Art.

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