THE ARSENAL OPINION - BY LE GROVE

Pedro is joined by Jacob Hawley for an early week debrief, fuming at a Ballon d’Or ceremony that barely noticed Arsenal. The Hottest Takes ask what the snubs really say about this team, and why a side this good is not firing more shots.

🔥 Hottest Takes: The Ballon d’Or proves the system and Arteta are the real stars, plus why do Arsenal win so much with so few shots?
🏆 Harry Kane wins the Ballon d’Or, Saliba and Raya get snubbed, and the Premier League is penalised for being hard
🧩 Arteta has a type of full-back and centre-back, so why no type of striker?
🚪 Zubimendi falls out of favour, and why a January sale makes sense
🔴 Man United in meltdown: Carrick, Bruno, Martinez and a dressing room nobody can fix
🟨 Arteta’s technical area troubles and why referees never seem to cut him any slack
🏟️ Fleetwood at Highbury, a Gyökeres and Merino debate, and score predictions

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Johnny is joined by Matt Kandela straight after Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Everton, and a happy Invincibles Day it was. The Hottest Takes go to Esri Konsa’s brilliant start and a Johnny prediction that came right, with Arsenal back on top of the league while Man City drop points.

🔥 Hottest Takes: Konsa making his fee look cheap, plus the City wobble Johnny called
🏔️ Back on top: how Arsenal bounced back from Brighton while City stumbled
🧱 Esri Konsa the tank and Gabriel back to bullying defenders and scoring
⚡ Noni Madueke’s confident display with Saka out for weeks
🎯 Gyökeres gets an assist but where are the shots?
🔄 Rotation done right, Eze’s smiley form and a Max Dowman cameo

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NOTTINGHAM FOREST (A) | ON THE WHISTLE | 30 MINS FREE 🔓

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Pedro, Jacob and Matt Kandela react to a nervy win at Forest. Arsenal snuck a massive three points with just one shot on target, and we dissect the obvious: why are we so good defensively, but still a bit rough in attack?

🧱 Why the defence keeps delivering while the attack stutters
😬 Madueke and Eze issues
👻 Saka ghosting again
😶 Kai looking super bland
🪦 The summer folly biting us hard
💪 Konsa's mega day out
🔄 The game changing full back swap out

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Pedro is joined by FK from Latte Firm for a Thursday Therapy crossover. The Hottest Takes go straight at the squad, with a worry about the Rice, Bruno Guimarães and Odegaard midfield three and a prediction that January could be Arsenal’s busiest window of exits ever.

🔥 Hottest Takes: Is the Rice, Bruno and Odegaard midfield too light on physicality? Plus Gyökeres and Zubimendi as January exit candidates
💸 The pain of losing players we love, and why no one has really hurt to see go since Arteta arrived
⚽ “Boring Arsenal” busted: 20 of 21 goals from open play, and the swagger behind the new look attack
🧊 Viktor Gyökeres under the microscope: zero shots on target in 40 of his 62 games, confidence, touch and fit
⚡ Mikel Merino as a number nine against Forest, and the Noni Madueke crossing debate
😎 Eze’s quiet start, his angry Lille celebration, and whether he is a luxury player at 28
🏆 FK’s verdict on the season so far, plus why January up front could be key

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LEEDS UNITED (H) | ON THE WHISTLE | 30 MINS FREE 🔓

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Pedro and Johnny Cochrane react to Arsenal's win over Leeds. It was not the 4-0 romp we predicted. Leeds were very good and made for a far more tense afternoon than we hoped, but a win is a win is a win.

⭐ Noni Madueke delivers a superstar performance
🎯 The forwards are not banging, so what is going on up top?
😶 Bukayo Saka has a "meh" outing
🛡️ The defence is rattled for the second game in a row, so what is up?
😈 Bruno Guimarães, our b*stard!

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