In Berta We Trust… Or Do We?

Episode 192 checks in on Arsenal’s summer, the rumours, the silence, the anxiety, and the growing debate around how the club is operating in the market. Tabs is joined by Andy to sift through the latest transfer noise, the World Cup distractions, and the big question hovering over the fanbase: do we actually trust Andrea Berta to run this window?

The pair dig into:

The latest from the World Cup

• Scotland’s exit and the “fear factor” conversation

• how DRC, Cabo Verde and Curaçao exposed Scotland’s approach

• England’s run, Bellingham’s star power, and the spider‑cam controversy

• Rice’s illness, Saka’s managed minutes, Madueke’s criticism

Transfers, Rumours & Market Mood

• the slow start to Arsenal’s window and why fans are twitching
• 3rd choice keep good, 2nd choce keeper bad

• the Trossard sale and what it signals for the left side

• the ongoing links to Rogers, Barcola, Tzolis, Guimares and others

• how injuries at the World Cup complicate early‑season planning

• whether Arsenal can afford to wait… or need to act now

• the contrast between Arsenal’s patience and other clubs’ early moves

• the “depth vs. ceiling” debate heading into a title defence

Berta's Business

• whether last summer’s window was genuinely good or simply “good enough”

• how much of that window was actually Berta’s work

• the tension between discipline and dithering

• the HandOfArsenal thread that lit up the fanbase

• whether Arsenal are moving like Premier League champions… or like a club still scared of overspending

• and ultimately: is Berta’s approach the right one for a title defence?

It’s a mix of transfer talk, World Cup fallout, squad planning, and a philosophical debate at the heart of the summer:

In Berta we trust… or do we?

--

Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app.

Find us on socials: @thegroveafc

This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

----

Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc

Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc

Email us here: [email protected]

🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #norgaard

Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. UCL. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

(VIDEO EDIT)

Get the lowdown on the Medical staff changes & How the World Cup will impact pre-season and the opening games of the season.

Episode 191 digs into one of the most important — and least understood — parts of Arsenal’s off‑season: the sweeping changes to the club’s medical and performance department. Tabs is joined by friend of the pod Dr. Andrew Mitchell, a sports‑science academic and biomechanics specialist who has worked with Arsenal’s medical team, to unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes.

Together they explore:

• the departures of key medical and performance staff

• the arrivals of Abrantes, Angulo, Gomez and others

• what these roles actually do day‑to‑day

• how decisions are made around fitness, load, recovery and return‑to‑play

• why injuries have been such a persistent issue

• how much responsibility lies with the medical team vs. Arteta

• the “red zone”, repeat‑sprint demands, travel load and matchday intensity

• the World Cup effect: Rice’s ice packs, Saka’s training issues, and what this means for August

• why Arsenal may need “bodies” early in the season before the main XI is fully available

• how the new structure might improve resilience, rehab and long‑term player availability

Plus: reaction to Trossard’s departure, what it means for the left side, and how Arsenal might rebuild that part of the attack.

It’s detailed, educational, honest and packed with insight — the kind of episode that makes you smarter about the game and what actually goes into keeping elite footballers fit.

--

Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app.

Find us on socials: @thegroveafc

This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

----

Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc

Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc

Email us here: [email protected]

🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #norgaard

Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. UCL. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

(VIDEO EDIT)

Stars, Stripes & The Arsenal: World Cup Buzz & Arsenal's Fandom in American

Episode 190 dives into the heart of the World Cup in North America — how it’s being received, how it’s transforming football culture in the US, and how Arsenal’s American fanbase is exploding in real time. Tabs is joined by New Jersey‑based substack writer and massive Arsenal supporter Carla Espinal, whose work on Football Without Borders has become essential reading for anyone interested in the sport’s global growth & being an Arsenal fan in the US.

Together they explore:

• the USMNT’s dramatic run to the Round of 16

• Balogun’s red card, resilience, and the team’s new identity

• Pochettino’s impact and why the US finally feels “connected” to its national team

• the massive surge in American viewership — and why the Premier League will be the biggest winner

• the atmosphere in US cities: flags, shirts, fan zones, and football everywhere

• the World Cup’s cultural takeover of baseball stadiums, bars, and neighbourhoods

• the darker side: immigration issues, ICE fears, ticket price gouging, and FIFA’s manipulation of resale markets

• how Messi, MLS, and potential moves for US stars could reshape the league

• what it’s really like to be an Arsenal fan in America — especially now that Arsenal are champions

It’s insightful, global, political, cultural, and very Arsenal — a look at how the world’s biggest tournament is reshaping football in the United States and pulling Arsenal deeper into the American sporting landscape.

--

Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app.

Find us on socials: @thegroveafc

This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

----

Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc

Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc

Email us here: [email protected]

Caral Espinal: @carlaespinal (Instagram & Threads) - https://footballwithoutborders.substack.com/

🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #norgaard

Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. UCL. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

(VIDEO EDIT)

THE FIXTURES ARE OUT & BEFORE YOU KNOW IT WE'LL BE DEFENDING OUR TITLE

Episode 189 looks ahead to Arsenal’s title defence as the 2026/27 Premier League fixtures drop and Tabs and Andy dive into them.

The FA have once again conspired against Arsenal by forcing us to play every team home and away. Outrageous. But we analyse it anyway.

The pair break down:

• the opening run, the tricky patches, the festive chaos

• the Community Shield vs City (how much do we actually care?)

• where the Champions League and domestic cups might collide

• the impact of the World Cup on squad availability and early‑season rhythm

• the games that jump out, the away days to circle, and the moments that feel like title‑deciders

• how the World Cup has (or hasn’t) grabbed us so far

• Scotland’s campaign, England’s form, and the Arsenal players involved

• the injury fears, the scheduling madness, and the countdown to pre‑season

The fixtures are out.The countdown begins.Fifty‑odd days until we go again.

--

Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app.

Find us on socials: @thegroveafc

This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

----

Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc

Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc

Email us here: [email protected]

🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #norgaard

Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. UCL. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

(VIDEO EDIT)

Arsenal squad depth, transfers and World Cup 2026 chat - who's in, who's out what will the World Cup mean for Arsenal players.

Episode 188 kicks off the summer with a deep dive into Arsenal’s squad, who should stay, who might go, who we’re open to offers for, and what the club needs to do to stay ahead of the pack in 2026/27. Tabs is joined by Andy for a full squad audit just hours before the World Cup begins… and before six weeks of wincing every time an Arsenal player goes into a tackle.

The pair break down:

• the goalkeeping situation (Raya locked in, Kepa’s clause, Setford’s readiness)

• the right‑back picture: Timber, Mosquera, Salmon… and the Ben White dilemma

• the centre‑back depth and what it means for the summer

• midfield structure: Rice, Zubimendi, MLS, Odegaard, and the need for more technical quality

• the forward line and why Arsenal need ceiling‑raisers, not just depth

• what “eye‑catching business” might actually mean

• how Arsenal’s title win changes the transfer market dynamic

• the Koenke's appetite to go back‑to‑back

• the World Cup: Scotland’s chances, England’s injuries, and the Infantino‑Trump circus ... and what it might mean for the 26/27 season

--

Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app.

Find us on socials: @thegroveafc

This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

----

Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc

Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc

Email us here: [email protected]

🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #norgaard

Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. UCL. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

(VIDEO EDIT)

ARSENAL 2025/26 END OF SEASON REVIEW & AWARDS

Episode 187 is the big one, the end of season review and awards show after one of the most dramatic, stressful, and ultimately glorious Arsenal seasons of our lives. Tabs is joined by Jamie and Andy to look back at the nine‑month rollercoaster that delivered a Premier League title, a Champions League final, and enough emotional turbulence to last a lifetime.

The trio dig into:

• the highs, lows and heart‑rate spikes of the 2025/26 campaign
• why this was both a 9.5/10 season and also the least fun season under Arteta
• the Champions League heartbreak and how long it took to recover
• the parade, the carnival, the curried goat, the rave in the side streets
• the Budapest travel trauma (Austrian Air, crack‑den accommodation, threats from Booking.com Host…)
• the emotional crash after weeks of adrenaline
• what this season means for next season — freedom, confidence, and a different kind of pressure

• the full end‑of‑season awards:

  • Player of the Season
  • Game of the Season
  • Goal of the Season
  • Moment of the Season
  • Save of the Seaso
  • Signing of the Season
  • and more…

It’s reflective, funny, and celebratory episode, the perfect way to close the book on a season that took years off our lives and gave us memories we’ll never forget.

Arsenal are champions. Again. And reviewing it feels just as good.

--

Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app.

Find us on socials: @thegroveafc

This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

----

Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc

Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc

Email us here: [email protected]

🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #norgaard

Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. UCL. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

(VIDEO EDIT)

Budapest, The Final & The Parade — Processing It All

Episode 186 is the first pod after the end of the season - the Champions League final, the parade, the travel chaos, the exhaustion, the pride, the heartbreak, and the emotional comedown after nine months of the most intense Arsenal season of our lives.

Tabs is joined by Ian and Mitch to look back on the full Budapest experience:

• the travel madness (planes, trains, coaches, detours, delays)

• the beauty of the city and how welcoming the locals were

• the fan park, the atmosphere, the joy, the calm before the storm

• the surreal moment of walking into the stadium for a Champions League final

• the emotion, the nostalgia, the family memories

• the game itself — the early goal, the tension, the heartbreak

• the pride in the team and the journey

• the post‑match scenes

• the parade in Islington and what it meant to the fanbase

• the feeling of a season finally ending after months of stress, joy and adrenaline

There’s reflection, laughter, sadness, gratitude — and the shared sense that this season has taken something out of all of us… in the best possible way.

Arsenal didn’t get the ending we dreamed of in Budapest.

But what a journey. What a team. What a season.

Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app.

Find us on socials: @thegroveafc

This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

----

Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc

Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc

Email us here: [email protected]

🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #norgaard

Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. UCL. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

(VIDEO EDIT)

Arsenal v PSG — Champions League Final Preview from Budapest :

Episode 185 is a special one — Tabs and Ian are together in person in Budapest, recording from their apartment on the eve of the biggest club game in Arsenal’s history. After a week of Premier League title celebrations, trophy lifts, content overload and emotional burnout, attention finally turns to Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris Saint‑Germain.

The pair talk through:

• the surreal travel routes that somehow led them to arrive at the exact same time

• the privilege of being among the lucky few with tickets

• memories of the 2006 final and how painful it still is

• last year’s PSG semi‑final and why the tie was closer than people remember

• how different Arsenal are now compared to that injury‑ravaged squad

• the matchup: best attack in Europe vs best defence in Europe

• how Arsenal might approach the game — Premier League Arsenal or Champions League Arsenal

• the lineup debate: Timber or Mosquera? Zubimendi or MLS? Odegaard guaranteed?

• the nerves, the excitement, the disbelief

• the simple joy of just being there for a moment like this

This is a warm, funny, slightly chaotic, deeply emotional episode — two Arsenal fans in Budapest, soaking in the moment, trying to process the scale of what’s about to happen.

Arsenal. PSG. Budapest.The Champions League final.It doesn’t get bigger.

Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app.

Find us on socials: @thegroveafc

This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

----

Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc

Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc

Email us here: [email protected]

🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #norgaard

Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. UCL. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

(VIDEO EDIT)

CHAMPIONS: Trophy Lift, Palace Away, The Joy Overload & The Mind Turns to the Champions League Final

Episode 184 is the first post‑trophy‑lift pod — and Tabs is joined by Andy to reflect on a week of pure, relentless, overwhelming Arsenal joy. From winning the league on Tuesday to lifting the trophy at Selhurst Park on Sunday, it’s been a blur of celebrations, content, group chats, photos, videos, memes, and emotional overload. Tabs admits he’s nearly reached “Arsenal saturation point” — exhausted from happiness, scrolling, and endorphins — and he’s not alone.

The pair look back on:

• the Palace game (aka the most pressure‑free match in years)

• the sunshine, the vibes, the pre‑season‑friendly energy

• the rotated XI and why Zubimendi at right‑back might matter

• Max becoming the youngest Premier League starter ever

• Jesus doing Jesus things, Madueke’s volley and the perfect “Arsenal 2026” set‑piece sign‑off

• why it's perfect finishing with a win

• the trophy lift and the scenes in South London and North London

• the endless content, the thumb RSI, the emotional burnout

• the final league table and how comfortable it looks in hindsight

• beating City fair and square — and why it matters

• the difference between Arsenal’s celebrations and City’s

• how this fanbase will help attract players

• the looming Champions League final

This is a warm, funny, reflective episode — the comedown after the chaos, the moment where the scale of what Arsenal have done really starts to sink in.

Arsenal are champions. Still. And it still feels unbelievable.

Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app.

Find us on socials: @thegroveafc

This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

----

Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc

Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc

Email us here: [email protected]

🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #norgaard

Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

(VIDEO EDIT)

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS MY FRIENDS!! Reflecting on The Joy, The Celebrations, The Journey & The Final 2 Games ... It certainly was not done and it all worked out!

Episode 183 is all about basking — properly basking — in the glory of Arsenal becoming Premier League Champions. Tabs is joined by Jamie, Kuziva and Andy for a reflective, emotional, and fun look back at the last few days : the Burnley nerves, the Bournemouth–City rollercoaster, the tears, the hugs, the content overload, and the surreal feeling of waking up and remembering, oh yeah… we’re champions!

The crew visit:

• ​the Burnley game and the final 1–0 grind of the run‑in
• ​the nerves, the fear, the Ward‑Prowse free‑kick panic
• ​the lap of appreciation and the love for Arteta
• ​Bournemouth v City and how each of them lived through it
• ​Tabs lying face‑down in the garden
• ​the Savinho moment and the collective heart failure
• ​the players celebrating together at the training ground
• ​the endless scrolling, the thumb RSI, the memes, the TikToks, the Reels
• ​the joy of finally being champions after 22 years
• ​how we got here and what it means
• ​the sense that this is only the beginning

And yes — there is a Palace preview… sort of. Nobody really cares, but we touch on it anyway.

This is a warm, joyful, reflective episode , the calm after the wild celebrations, the moment where it all starts to sink in.

Arsenal are CHAMPIONS. Say it again. Let it land.

Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app.

Find us on socials: @thegroveafc

This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

----

Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc

Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc

Email us here: [email protected]

Credit to : ALGooner @AlGreen165 on X for the Champions song

🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #norgaard

Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

(VIDEO EDIT)