ISLINGTON, NORTH LONDON (19th May, 2026) - The following statement was released today by The Offside Chat, through OFC Enterprises INC in response to Arsenal Football Club:

CHAMPIONS AGAIN OLE OLE!

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This week the team discuss Arsenal’s nerve wracking win against relegation threatened West Ham in yesterday’s Super Sunday clash!

Both sides needed the win and it was Arsenal who came away with the spoils, it wasn’t a vintage performance and it wasn’t without controversy as West Ham had a goal ruled out at the death for a foul on Keeper Raya.

Whilst we send our condolences to West Ham as this result could send them down, we would rather Spurs for obvious reasons however we don’t care that much here at The Offside Chat as there is a title to win and Arsenal are on step closer to achieving this in 22 years!

Elsewhere among the league we discussed the fall out of the 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Chelsea, boos rang out after the result from the home crowd and the fans are no longer happy with Slot. Should he be sacked or does he deserve more time as he did land the Premier League in his maiden season?

This week The Team discusses Arsenal nerve wracking win against Newcastle last Saturday, a sobering couple of weeks saw Arsenal slip to second in the table as City beat Burnley in their midweek game in hand.

It was imperative that Arsenal won against Newcastle and they did, just not in style! It was a brilliant strike from Eberechi Eze who seems to come alive at the end of Season but other than that nothing else to write home about, it seems Arsenal are just intent on getting the points hook or by crook in order to seal their first league title since 2004.

In the other side of North London, beleaguered Spurs travelled to Wolverhampton knowing that anything other than a win could further damage their bid to stave off relegation, a win they got but it was a costly one as they lost Solanke to a hamstring injury and Xavi Simons to an ACL. To add further insult to injury, West Ham beat Everton with a late winner from Callum Wilson to send West Ham two points clear. Spurs are really staring down the barrel of a gun, can they beat the drop or is their 34 year stay in the Premier League over?

This week it’s just the usual Team however the subject is still the same, another Arsenal crisis meeting albeit slightly calmer!

Arsenal went to the Etihad on Sunday knowing a win against Manchester City would all but confirm them as Champions for the 25/26 Season instead in typical fashion they lost 2-1 to blow the title race wide open!

It was all good a month ago, Arsenal in four competitions and cruising at the top of the League with a 9 point gap, they conspired to lose in the Carabao Cup Final against Manchester City, get knocked out by Southampton in the FA Cup QF, things are going well in the Champions League and have made it to the SF against Atletico Madrid however if City win their game in hand over Burnley this Wednesday then they go top of the League on goal difference.

Safe to say it has been a sobering couple of weeks for Arsenal but nothing new under Mikel Arteta, if the unthinkable happens then the inquest will happen and a decision from KSE will have to be made. However if he wins all the remaining league games and there some dodgy results for City all is well but we’ve seen this movie all too regularly!

This week The Team are joined by two Special Guest Mike & Kai as The Offside Chat have an official Arsenal Crisis Meeting bordering on a Civil War!

It has been a sobering couple of weeks for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, first they lose to Man City in the Carabao Cup Final, they then get dumped out of the FA Cup QF by Championship Side Southampton and last weekend they decided to lose at home to Bournemouth!

The panel discuss many issues surrounding Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, will the 22 year wait for the Premier League Title will continue or do Arsenal and Mikel Arteta actually have what takes to win? If Mikel doesn’t win is it time to say goodbye or does he deserve another year?

This week The Team discuss Carabao Cup Final result as Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-0 to win the first trophy available of the Season. Despite a decent 20 mins from Arsenal, Pep and City proved they still know how to win when it matters most and thanks to a brace from O’Reilly they picked up their 5th Carabao Cup in 10 years.

Nobere led a passionate rally cry to all Arsenal fans to hold their nerve as this is the business end of the Season now, whilst the result is not what any Arsenal fan wanted there are bigger fish to fry (always the case with Arteta!). Ted & Naeem felt Arsenal squandered a chance to win a trophy with an insipid performance, you can lose but it’s how you lose in a final that matters as well.

Elsewhere along the league all of Arsenal’s enemies, sorry Rivals were enjoying Arsenal’s defeat forgetting they too lost on the weekend! Spurs are in deep deep trouble as they lost 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest in a 6 pointer, if West Ham beat Wolves Spurs will end up in 18th. They really have it all to do and the unthinkable is looking all too real.

Chelsea continued their downward slide with a resounding 3-0 reverse to Everton, their shambolic defence made Beto look like prime Drogba as he ran amok. Liverpool also made a mockery of their Title defence at Brighton in the early kick off on Saturday and after spending £500m finishing outside the top four was not in their plans surely. Both their managers need to pull a rabbit out the hat to save their jobs let alone the Season.

This week The Team Discuss the pathetic performance from Premier League Champions Liverpool against relegation threatened Spurs. Spurs rocked up to Anfield devoid of all confidence and a first XI out injured, winless in 2026 as well and Liverpool could have stuck the boot in by hammering them 5-0 but conspired to draw the game 1-1 and give Spurs hope!

Fair play to Spurs as they were well worth the point in the end as for Liverpool this has to be up there with one of the worst title defences in Premier League History.

It was a great weekend for League leaders Arsenal as they beat Everton 2-0 thanks to late goals from Viktor Gyokeres and the new kid on the block 16 year old Max Dowman, officially the youngest goalscorer in Prem history literally changed the game as when he came on showing the Country that he is a talent to be reckoned with. It wasn't pretty but Arsenal got the job done.

Speaking of failing to get the job done City stuttered again for the second game in a row after dropping points to Forest at home midweek, they desperately needed to beat West Ham to maintain pressure on Arsenal. However West Ham had separate ideas and thanks to a Mavropanos equaliser a share of the spoils was due. Is this too little too late for City or can they turn their fortunes around?

This week The Team is joined by longtime Friend of the Show Samson as we discuss Arsenal beating Chelsea in game of the weekend.

Another prime time 4:30 kick off for Arsenal vs Chelsea and granted it wasn’t an instant classic as neither team played to the very best of their abilities, the game was decided by three set piece goals to have the neutrals crying about the state of the game (WE DON’T CARE CRY MORE!)

Despite the attacking struggles and lack of genuine champagne football on offer this ended up being a routine win for Arteta against Chelsea, he’s unbeaten in 11 against The Blues and unbeaten in 5 years at home against them as well! Chelsea must be sick of the sight of Arsenal now after enjoying a period of dominance in the mid 2000s the tide has turned back to early Wenger days!

Elsewhere, Manchester United kept up their fine form under Michael Carrick to go third in the table with a win over Crystal Palace. Can United end the Season in a Champions League spot and if so does Michael Carrick get the job as the permanent United Manager?

This week the Team discuss Arsenal’s emphatic 4-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur in the 199th North London Derby in major Competition.

It was the Eze & Gyokeres show, the much maligned summer signings scored a brace each as they helped Arsenal run riot all over the hapless Spurs. Arsenal showed a ruthlessness that had been missing for a couple of weeks and this victory helps keep their title aspirations on track, whilst Spurs seem hellbent on relegation this season!

Manchester beat Newcastle in the late fixture on Saturday, it wasn’t a vintage performance by any means but that win keeps the pressure on Arsenal as City look to win their 7th Prem in 9 seasons, do they have enough to pip Arsenal to the post again?

Last week the dark side of football reared its ugly head again as Real Madrid’s Vini Jr was the subject of racial abuse by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni. To make matters worse Benfica head coach Jose Mourinho decided to back his player and lay blame at Vini Jr for the overtop celebrations! We discuss what needs to change in Football and society as Racism has no place in either, especially in 2026.

This week the Team are joined by guest Kai as we discuss Sunday’s heavyweight clash between Liverpool and Manchester City, for over half a decade this was the premier fixture in the League as both sides battled to win the League outright. This match the stakes were high for only one side though, Man City and they got what they came for in dramatic fashion. They managed to do the League double over Liverpool for the first in 90 years and keep their hopes alive.

League leaders Arsenal took care of business at home against a dogged Sunderland side who have been the surprise outfit of the Season, much maligned Striker Gyokeres got a brace off the bench to seal the victory. With the most goals scored in 2026 has he finally found his confidence in front of goal?

Manchester United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 over the weekend in the early kickoff, their job was made easier by the stupid sending off of Spurs Captain Cristian Romero! With 4 wins a row, Carrick is restoring the feeling for Manchester United fans and surely with this good an audition he must have one hand on the job permanently?