The Athletic FC Podcast: Can Arsenal Embrace the Pressure?

Episode Date: February 23, 2026
Host: Adam Leventhal
Guests: Jay Harris, Art De Roche, Adam Crafton

Episode Overview

This episode dives into Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Spurs in the North London Derby, analyzing if Arsenal have the mental strength to handle the pressure of the title race, the significance of their response to adversity, and whether individual errors will derail them. The discussion covers the performances of key players like Eberechi Eze and Victor Gyökeres, the fluctuating title race with Manchester City, and Tottenham’s own struggles at the wrong end of the table. The episode also examines the atmosphere at Tottenham, the risk of relegation, and the state of Spurs’ leadership and strategy.

Arsenal’s North London Derby Win: Subplots and Significance

Individual Errors and Arsenal’s Reaction

• Starting theme: Arsenal’s title pursuit is being dogged by defensive lapses – four of their last eight goals conceded have come from individual mistakes. Yet, against Spurs, Arsenal’s response to a self-inflicted setback was calm and authoritative.
• Notable moment: Art De Roche highlights how Arsenal’s mentality has shifted:

  "They are able to get through these tough patches, which is something that's going to be absolutely necessary if they do get over the line come May." (04:20)

• Declan Rice’s composure: Adam Leventhal points out Rice’s relaxed reaction to conceding, suggesting internal conversations and preparedness:

  "His reaction to conceding the goal was quite relaxed. It was almost as if it was water off a duck's back rather than a massive weight on his shoulders." (04:48)

Spurs’ Atmosphere and Arsenal’s Psychological Edge

• Toxicity at Spurs: Adam Crafton describes the home atmosphere:

  "The atmosphere has been toxic pretty much since November... but there was a real energy in the crowd yesterday from before kickoff." (05:13)

• Arsenal’s calm under pressure: Despite a brief equalizer and potential for a Spurs resurgence, Arsenal didn’t panic:

  “I think the way Arsenal didn't panic, they continued to do the things they were doing and they got the win. Sort of shows why they're at the top and also shows why spurs are at the bottom.” (06:15)

Are Defensive Issues Solved?

• Jay Harris warns it’s not time to assume Arsenal’s error-prone streak is broken:

  "Football is always going to be a game of mistakes... the individual mistakes, it's not good. It could cost them in other games. I don't think it's solved, per se." (06:27)

Arsenal’s Attack: Eberechi Eze’s Spurs Specialism & Gyökeres Arrives

Eze Shines in the Derby

• Eberechi Eze loves facing Spurs—eight goals in his last five games against them. Art De Roche spotlights how Tottenham’s defensive issues magnified Eze’s strengths:

  “He’s someone who really relishes playing against them. But part of what helps him against Tottenham is there always seems to be that space just on the edge of the box for him and now Gyökeres to take advantage of." (08:11)

• Eze’s flair and confidence returned in the second half, a positive sign for Arsenal’s final run-in:

  “The second half, you saw the little feints, the little nutmegs that we haven't really seen... for a couple months, really. So it was really nice to see that back out again.” (09:43)

Spurs’ Tactical Woes

• Adam Crafton on Spurs’ puzzling shape:

  "You’ve just got the opposition’s number 10 constantly in time and space on the ball. Fundamentally, the approach didn’t work at all." (10:52)

Victor Gyökeres’ Best Arsenal Game

• Gyökeres’ impact: Two goals, now 8 in 12 since joining, leads the Premier League in 2026 goals scored.
• Art De Roche:

  "His all round play was what everyone’s been waiting for... that performance would be the blueprint for what people would want to see from him in the final kind of stretch of the season." (22:58)

• Tempering excitement: Most of his goals are against bottom-six teams—criticism lingers over his ability to score against the top sides.
• Adam Crafton contextualizes:

  "That was Dragusin's fourth game since he came back from an ACL injury and... Destiny Udogie, Pedro Porro, Bentancur all out. It's the second season in a row where they've grappled with this injury crisis." (24:37)

• Jay Harris balances the analysis:

  "He was dominant, powerful... It was crazy from a Spurs perspective, but you could see what the goal just did for his confidence and his belief." (26:08)

• Unity upfront:

  "It was nice to see Gabriel Jesus at the end of the game giving Gyökeres a big hug. Pat on the back shows that unity because there was a time when people were saying, no, no, no, we need to be starting Jesus rather than Gyökeres." (28:27)

The Title Race: Pressure, Trauma, and Margin for Error

Can Arsenal Hold Their Nerve?

• City vs. Arsenal: Both teams have tough games coming up. Jay Harris sees Arsenal as their own toughest opponent:

  "Arsenal's biggest opponent this year, it’s not Man City, it’s themselves." (13:03)

• Arsenal fans’ lingering scars:

  "Honestly, no [I'm not as confident]. But that's... because of what's happened in the past few years. It's almost like you're waiting for Arsenal to prove themselves to themselves, if that makes sense." (14:15, Art De Roche)

• Upcoming challenges: Arsenal’s next fixtures—Chelsea, Bournemouth, Man City, Brighton—will prove decisive.

The Supercomputer Debate: Is the Run-In Easy?

• Adams & Jay critique the OPTA Power Rankings:

  "Be wary of super computers that don’t bring into account form and the state of a season. I would say quite right." (18:20, Jay Harris)

• Power rankings may paint a misleading picture; context and form matter, particularly with relegation battlers.

Tottenham: Relegation Fear and Club Direction

How Spurs Are Viewing the Drop Zone

• Arsenal have now won more at Spurs’ new ground than Tottenham themselves (31:52).
• Spurs are just four points above the relegation zone, in the worst form among those threatened.
• Jay Harris:

  "I think it’s clear they were concerned about it because that’s why they changed the coach... Clearly it’s a concern in the boardroom. I think while they have so many players out, I think it’s a concern on the field as well." (32:45)

• Adam Crafton observes fan anxiety:

  "Of course there's anxiety about it... the club announced last week they're freezing the prices of some season tickets. Well, some fans are saying you might have to reduce them because we're going to be in the Championship next season." (35:56)

• Performance-wise, Spurs have collapsed—just two wins in 18, none in 2026.

Club Leadership and Strategy

• Sporting Director speaks: Jay Harris and Adam Crafton praise Johan Lange for facing the press:

  "He said a lot without saying a lot was my takeaway from it." (38:02, Adam Crafton)

• Structural problems:

  "It's a mess." (40:59, Adam Crafton)
  On the lack of managerial consistency and scattergun recruitment, arguing for a clear stylistic strategy at Spurs.

• Jay Harris:

  "I think any point at which you choose to engage publicly in difficult times I think is a good thing from leaders in general." (41:14)

Will Spurs Stay Up?

• Final verdicts:

  "Yes, but closer than I think people think it might be." (43:25, Jay Harris)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Arsenal’s resilience:

  "It’s almost like you’re waiting for Arsenal to prove themselves to themselves." – Art De Roche (14:15)

• On City rivalries:

  "Arsenal's biggest opponent this year, it’s not Man City, it’s themselves." – Jay Harris (13:03)

• On Tottenham’s malaise:

  "It reminds me a little bit of a Championship team playing against a Premier League team in the FA Cup." – Jay Harris (34:13)

• On the OPTA computer:

  "Be wary of super computers that don’t bring into account form and the state of a season." – Jay Harris (18:20)

• On Spurs’ leadership:

  "There needs to be consistency because that's why they constantly make mistakes in the transfer market. It's a mess." – Adam Crafton (40:59)

Key Timestamps

• 03:21: Arsenal’s individual errors and mental resolve
• 08:11: Eze’s record vs. Spurs and tactical analysis
• 13:03: Title race psychology—Arsenal v themselves
• 18:04: Run-in difficulty, criticisms of OPTA’s Power Rankings
• 22:35: Victor Gyökeres Derby performance
• 31:52: Spurs’ relegation fears and club psyche
• 38:02: Johan Lange’s rare public address and structural issues at Spurs
• 43:25: Quickfire—will Spurs go down?

Conclusion

This episode brought a nuanced, in-the-moment analysis of crucial issues for both Arsenal and Spurs:

• Arsenal’s mental fortitude is growing, but defensive frailties and the scars of past failures still lurk.
• Key players like Eze and Gyökeres offer hope and solutions, though critics point to the quality of their opposition.
• The title race remains in the balance, with both City and Arsenal far from infallible, and psychological hurdles as significant as tactical ones.
• For Spurs, long-term mismanagement and an injury crisis have collided to create a genuine relegation threat—one the club’s leadership is not publicly confronting, even as fans’ anxiety boils over.

The panel cut through the kneejerk reactions, offering context, thoughtful skepticism of algorithms, and candid assessments of how pressure shapes both success and collapse in English football at the highest level.