The Rest Is Football – “Arsenal Drop Points & Dyche Sacked”

Date: February 13, 2026
Hosts: Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer (Micah Richards absent due to illness)
Podcast: Goalhanger

Episode Overview

In this episode, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer tackle the latest dramatic events in the Premier League, focusing on the relegation battle—most notably Nottingham Forest’s surprise sacking of Sean Dyche, as well as Arsenal dropping points against an impressive Brentford side. The hosts draw on their deep expertise to analyze managerial merry-go-rounds, shifting form at the foot of the table, title race twists, and off-pitch controversies. The conversation blends sharp football insights with candid personal perspectives and the usual banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sean Dyche's Sacking at Nottingham Forest

[01:48 – 07:47]

• Immediate Reaction: Alan Shearer expresses surprise at Dyche’s dismissal, given Forest’s relative upturn in form (“...with his experience, with his know-how…and all of those things. I think what they just have to do is consolidate and survive…” – Shearer, [05:02]).
• Managerial Instability: Shearer and Lineker critique Forest’s owner for a lack of managerial vision—highlighting four managers in one season and the negative impact this has on squad cohesion.
  • “He has to take his responsibility for his recruitment of managers. Sometimes you have to say to yourself, am I doing my job right? Clearly he's not.” – Shearer [06:51]
  • “If the players, if they had the balls in a committee meeting and said to him, hang on a minute, mate, you need to decide what fucking style of football you actually want us to play, rather than changing and flip-flopping 14 times. I exaggerate.” – Lineker [07:13]
• Impact of West Ham’s Revival: The hosts see Nuno's resurgence at West Ham as triggering panic sackings among other struggling clubs.

2. Survival Battle and Club Form

[07:47 – 18:00]

• League Positions: Leeds, West Ham, Forest, Burnley, Spurs—including Burnley’s shock turnaround with a win from 2-0 down (Lineker: “Five minutes later, they're winning 3,2.” [16:29]).
• Bravery and Character: Praising Burnley's comeback and Scott's players responding to criticism from their own fans.
• Leeds' Fortitude: Leeds’ ability to grind out results even when outplayed; the impact of Cole Palmer’s miss for Chelsea.
  • “I did on the group chat and I just said Cole Palmer is very good at football. I mean he met. He's so graceful... But he's incredibly quick in his mind.” – Lineker [18:32]
• Predictions: Consensus that the bottom two are 'gone', with Forest and West Ham most likely to fill the third relegation spot.
  • “I've got a feeling Forest might go.” – Lineker [19:49]
  • “Two at the bottom are gone, and I do think it'll be West Ham or Forest.” – Shearer [19:58]
• Crystal Palace & Leeds: Both hosts feel Palace and Leeds have enough to stay up due to squad quality/home form.
  • “I think they'll have enough to get that at home, particularly at home.” – Lineker [19:26]

3. Liverpool and the Champions League Race

[20:14 – 24:32]

• Liverpool’s Record: Celebrating a crucial win, breaking Sunderland’s home unbeaten record.
• Squad Strength and Recruitment: Discussion on Liverpool’s defensive frailties, summer spending, and future signings.
  • “With the money that's being spent, for them not to make the top five would be a disaster for them.” – Shearer [23:00]
• Champions League Spots: Villa praised for late wins and Unai Emery’s smart management, with United, Chelsea, or Liverpool at risk of missing out.

4. The Title Race: Arsenal, City, and Brentford

[26:07 – 33:20]

• Arsenal vs Brentford: Brentford’s pace, power, and directness hailed after pushing Arsenal to the limit.
  • “They've got pace, they've got power, they've got strength, they've got it all... a tough group to get around and through.” – Shearer [26:07]
  • “They were perhaps a bit unlucky not to take all three points.” – Shearer [26:38]
• Key Moments: Martinelli’s missed chance, Thiago’s late opportunity, and top-class defending.
• City’s Form: Manchester City’s pressing game described as “as good as I've seen them for a while,” and the value of experienced players is underlined (Shearer: “They've got players who know what it’s all about.” [31:48]).
  • “I think it's the best I've seen them for a while without the ball. I thought their pressing and their energy and when they lost the ball, their determination to get it back as quick as possible.” – Shearer [27:30]
• England Left-Back Debate: Discussion of O’Reilly and Lewis Hall as options, both impressing for selection.
• Declan Rice’s Engine: Lineker hails Rice’s stamina and vital role:
  • “Declan Rice—but boy does he cover some ground ...this fella could run a marathon.” – Lineker [29:49]
  • “He has been superb, hasn't he? He's been integral to everything that Arsenal have been doing.” – Shearer [30:18]

5. Off-Pitch Controversies: Jim Ratcliffe’s Comments

[11:18 – 14:16]

• Public Backlash: The hosts condemn Ratcliffe’s anti-immigrant interview, highlighting the irony of his residency in Monaco and pointing out the positive impact of immigration on the UK and football.
  • “The guy's a migrant himself, an economic migrant. He lives in Monaco… at least be here and be paying tax and contributing to our society.” – Lineker [12:39]

6. Tactical Trends & Old School Football

[33:32 – 34:44]

• Brentford’s Long Throws: Enthusiastic discussion of the return of the long throw and uncomfortable, physical tactics.
  • “It's back to old school. Absolutely. It's back to 20, 30 years ago when we saw those rocket throw-ins.” – Shearer [33:57]

7. Other Notable Topics

[35:23 – 38:55]

• VAR & Red Card Decisions: Foden lucky not to see red; general frustration with inconsistent refereeing.
• Leicester’s Relegation Worries: Lineker discusses Leicester’s points deduction and recent collapse, putting it into perspective by reflecting on the club’s miraculous 2016 title and recent FA Cup win.
  • “If someone had told me a couple of years before that…you're going to win the Premier League…the FA Cup and then you'll go down again, you'll get point reduction…Not only would I have taken it, I'd have snap your bloody hand off.” – Lineker [36:49]
• England National Team: Surprise at Thomas Tuchel's contract extension—hosts debate whether job security will affect his management style.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Forest's Turmoil:
  "Sometimes you have to say to yourself, am I doing my job right? Clearly he's not." – Alan Shearer [06:51]

• On Owner Decision-Making:
  "If the players…said…you need to decide what fucking style of football you actually want us to play, rather than changing and flip-flopping 14 times." – Gary Lineker [07:13]

• On Declan Rice:
  "Declan Rice—but boy does he cover some ground…this fella could run a marathon." – Gary Lineker [29:49]

• On Brentford:
  "They're a tough group…they make it so difficult for you because they've got pace, they've got power, they've got strength, they've got it all." – Alan Shearer [26:07]

• On Liverpool’s High Standards:
  "With the money that's being spent, for them not to make the top five would be a disaster for them." – Alan Shearer [23:00]

• On Old-School Football:
  "It's back to old school…those rocket throw-ins coming in from near the halfway line…so difficult to defend." – Alan Shearer [33:57]

• On Off-Field Hypocrisy:
  "The guy's a migrant himself, an economic migrant. He lives in Monaco…at least be here and be paying tax and contributing." – Gary Lineker [12:39]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Sean Dyche Sacked / Forest Panic: [01:48 – 07:47]
• Relegation Scramble: [07:47 – 18:00]
• Liverpool & Champions League Race: [20:14 – 24:32]
• Arsenal Drop Points, City’s Surge: [26:07 – 33:20]
• Jim Ratcliffe’s Controversial Interview: [11:18 – 14:16]
• Long Throw & Tactical Trends: [33:32 – 34:44]
• VAR, Refereeing & Foden’s Lucky Escape: [35:01 – 35:23]
• Leicester’s Decline in Perspective: [35:23 – 36:49]
• England/Tuchel Contract News: [37:13 – 38:54]

Memorable Banter & Chemistry

• Travel Stories: Light-hearted groaning over cursed midweek motorway journeys returning from Match of the Day [03:01].
• Squad Jokes: Bickering about Liverpool’s transfer policy:
  “Jeremy jacket…” (on new signing) – recurring joke in the 24th minute.
• Well Wishes: Both hosts send best to Micah Richards who is off sick [25:00, 38:59].

Conclusion

Episode Tone: Direct, insightful, with classic football banter and hard-hitting analysis.

This episode provides sharp insights into managerial woes, relegation tension, and the title chase—seasoned with both nostalgia and contemporary perspective. From Sean Dyche’s abrupt exit and Brentford’s bulldozing prowess, to City’s swagger and ownership controversies, Lineker and Shearer don’t pull their punches, making it a must-listen for fans who want depth, candor, and wit.