Football Weekly – Arsenal and Spurs Kick Off Champions League Campaigns with Wins

Date: September 17, 2025
Host: Max Rushden (Guardian)
Panel: Barry Glendenning, Nicky Bandini, Philippe Auclair

Episode Overview

This episode covers the opening fixtures of the Champions League for Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, with both clubs securing wins. The panel also discusses dramatic European results, including a chaotic Juventus-Dortmund draw, Real Madrid's controversial victory, notable away wins from Qarabag and Union Saint-Gilloise, the latest from the domestic cups, and some offbeat footballing moments. The episode balances tactical insights, player performances, controversies (especially regarding VAR and refereeing), and the trademark Football Weekly humor.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Arsenal's Hard-Fought Win in Bilbao

[02:45-11:38]

• Substitutes Make the Difference: Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, both coming off the bench, combined for both goals as Arsenal beat Athletic Club 2-0 away.
  • Philippe Auclair: "It's quite rare, you know, very often you'd have scores with his first touch and coming on the pitch, but assists with his first touch, scores with his first touch, then reverse the roles to make it 2 0." [03:06]
• Atmosphere and Challenge: Arsenal faced one of the toughest group games against a physical, technically proficient Athletic Club, and the intense Bilbao crowd.
  • "It perhaps was a game that felt a little bit tenser than it ought to have because of the atmosphere in the ground, which was absolutely magnificent" – Philippe Auclair [03:34]
• Squad Depth and Tactical Flexibility: Arsenal's transfers paid off, allowing strong substitutions even with several injuries.
• The ‘Closer’ Role:
  • Nicky Bandini introduces the concept of using Martinelli-style players as ‘finishers’ or ‘closers’—much like a closing pitcher in baseball or ‘finishers’ in rugby.
  • "Having someone who's electrically quick at the end of a pitch, come on, at the end of a game... is an incredible tool to have off the bench." [05:35]
• Defensive Solidity: Praise for new signing Mosquera, described as "so ready to be in one of the best defences in world football" (Max Rushden [08:17]).
  • Barry Glendenning notes Mosquera "didn't put a foot wrong", crediting his presence for Arsenal's defensive calmness.

Squad Harmony Versus Disappointment

[10:30-11:38]

• The challenge for Arteta in managing so many quality players who might not start—beneficial for trophy hunts but tricky for morale.
  • "It is a difficult balancing act for the manager, keeping everyone happy. But if you want to be a successful team in multiple competitions now... you do have to have really top quality players who aren't starting games." – Nicky Bandini [10:30]

Nonni Madueke and Arsenal's Attacking Balance

[11:56-17:07]

• Madueke’s Immediate Impact:
  • Philippe Auclair: "It’s highlighting what is perhaps one of the few problems that Arteta has to address, which is the unbalance between the flanks... On the right because Jurgen Timber is absolutely rocking... [while] the left side is not quite working the same way." [13:19]
• Fan Culture: Discussion of "internet crazies" among Arsenal fans regarding petitions and player criticism.
• Room for Improvement:
  • Barry Glendenning: "He’s good at beating a man. He’s quick. I think his crossing is poor... Would you be prepared to concede that there’s a lot of room for improvement?" [15:58]
• Panel Agreement: Madueke is exciting, direct, and performing for England, but his stats lag behind the influence he seems to exert.

Tottenham’s Workmanlike Champions League Win

[17:07-22:42]

• Lucky Win, Positive Start: Spurs win 1-0 at home to Villarreal—an unspectacular but vital three points, with the only goal coming from a goalkeeper error.
  • Barry Glendenning: "They didn’t play as well as Arsenal did, but it was workmanlike... Spurs were a little bit lucky." [17:28]
• Changing Philosophy: Discussion on the difference between Ange-ball's attacking style and Thomas Frank's more pragmatic approach. Is it easier to make an attacking team solid or a defensive team attacking?
  • Philippe Auclair finds no easy answer to Max's "profound" question: "It’s just as easy to do one or the other. It’s not as easy to make it work..." [20:12]
• Momentum & Mood: Nicky Bandini: "There’s also still something to be said for mood and for momentum... getting the positive start... sets them up very, very well for this group stage." [21:57]

Wild Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund (4-4)

[25:41-32:14]

• "I almost feel like I’ve just been in this four day long delirium…" – Nicky Bandini on Juve’s current chaos [25:41]
• Multiple outstanding goals, defensive lapses, and comeback drama.
  • Barry Glendenning: "Loads of good goals. Bonkers game." [29:07]
  • Lloyd Kelly scores a late equalizer, turning scapegoat to hero.
• Nicky Bandini identifies Kenan Yildiz as a future breakout star: "He’s been brilliant every game so far... He’s obviously just turned 20 years old..." [30:13]
• “Borussia Dortmund did a fantastic job at losing from a completely wrong position.” – Philippe Auclair [31:50]
  • The panel agrees the chaos is "on brand" for Dortmund.

Real Madrid’s Controversial 2-1 Win Over Marseille

[32:14-37:00]

• VAR Frustrations:
  • Max Rushden: "I just find that decision... feels like the desperation to give that decision..." [32:45]
  • Philippe Auclair seething over a non-given handball in Marseille’s favor and a harsh penalty against them: "And in this case, you had a clear example of the same offense... being unpunished in one way and punished in the other..." [34:08]
• Real’s narrative power: "Completely caught in that narrative of Real Madrid, you know, that's real. That's the Bernabeu, blah, blah, blah." – Philippe Auclair [34:43]
• Carvajal’s red card is clear; tactical reorganization follows; Marseille fail to capitalize on the advantage.

Notable Champions League Results – Qarabag and Union Saint-Gilloise

[37:00-40:51]

• Qarabag’s Major Win: Azerbaijan side comes from 2-0 down to beat Benfica 3-2, with beautiful goals and dramatic turnaround.
  • "Brilliant result for Qarabag because, you know, every result counts for the teams like that..." – Barry Glendenning [37:10]
• Union Saint-Gilloise Continue Their Rise: Belgium’s best-run club, mirroring the Brighton approach, claims another big European win.
  • Philippe Auclair: “They’re an example basically to the rest of clubs in Belgium, which is a basket case…” [38:44]
  • Noting Mark van Bommel’s son as a rising talent for PSV.

Broader Football & Off-Field Stories

[40:51-44:03]

• Norwegian FA Donates Ticket Sales to Gaza Relief:
  • Praises Lisa Clavenus for her leadership and Norway’s continued political activism in football, even within UEFA.
  • Noted pro-Palestinian banners at Spanish games, contrasting with Real Madrid’s removal of activist symbols at their stadium.
  • Philippe Auclair: “You’re wondering if there is some kind of shift... in which Israel is going to basically pay the price for what it is doing in Gaza and the West Bank.” [43:26]
• Societal/political changes in how European football responds to international issues.

Carabao Cup and EFL Roundup

[45:55-47:58]

• Grimsby’s Upset at Sheffield Wednesday:
  • Tumult at Wednesday continues, with fan boycotts and transfer rumors, but a massive away following and a notable defeat.
• Barry Glendenning on club chaos: "I have said it before, I really do think Sheffield Wednesday would be a great club for someone to buy, but not if you're being completely ripped off." [47:41]

Lighter and Unusual Moments

[47:58-50:43]

• Rangers’ Wild Swimming "Bonding" Session:
  • Mirroring managers' sometimes unusual attempts to inspire squads.
  • Jamie O’Hara (quoted): “This isn’t bonding, this is a pain.”
  • Barry Glendenning: "I can't see how it's going to endear them to you in any way." [48:29]
  • Max Rushden shares a comic anecdote about accidental triathlon participation and the perils of cold water swims.
• Listener Emails: Amusing discussion of throw-in training simulations, vasectomy anecdotes, and requests for more Spanish and Italian content.

Notable Quotes

• "Is Mikel Arteta a genius or the jammiest of managers?" – Philippe Auclair [03:06]
• "It shouldn't be a slight on a player to say, actually, sometimes you're most effective when you are playing those last 20 minutes of the game..." – Nicky Bandini [05:35]
• "I do think this, it’s not like a new thing to read into it… but I do think we can read into it that very specifically last season, a weakness...was a lack of options up front." – Nicky Bandini [10:30]
• "He’s smiling, he’s happy, he’s producing the goods... He’s also bloody good when he has the ball at his feet." – Philippe Auclair on Nonni Madueke [15:19]
• "There’s so much in football that does come down to detail and tactics and specifics... but I do think there's also still something to be said for mood and for momentum." – Nicky Bandini [21:57]
• "I almost feel like I've just been in this four day long delirium of Juventus playing some of the most unexpectable, unpredictable, ridiculous football..." – Nicky Bandini [25:41]
• "Bonkers game." – Barry Glendenning on Juve-Dortmund [29:07]
• "I think if I were a proper OM supporter, it's not that my heart would be in my mouth all the time. I would have chewed it 10 times over." – Philippe Auclair [36:59]

Timestamps – Important Segments

• Arsenal's Win in Bilbao: [02:45-11:38]
• Madueke/Arsenal Squad Depth: [11:56-17:07]
• Tottenham’s Win & Philosophy Talk: [17:07-22:42]
• Juventus vs. Dortmund 4-4 Madness: [25:41-32:14]
• Real Madrid 2-1 Marseille Controversy: [32:14-37:00]
• Qarabag/Union Saint-Gilloise Away Wins: [37:00-40:51]
• Norway-Gaza Football Solidarity & Political Football: [40:51-44:03]
• Carabao Cup (Grimsby/Sheffield Wednesday): [45:55-47:58]
• Wild Swimming & Managerial Antics: [47:58-50:43]
• Listener Emails/Varia: [50:54-end]

Summary Conclusion

This episode delivers in-depth, witty analysis of Arsenal and Tottenham’s European exploits, while providing rich tactical and off-field context. The discussion moves seamlessly through Champions League chaos, VAR controversies, underdog triumphs, and the broader political engagement of football institutions, all wrapped in Football Weekly’s characteristically bantering style.