The Non-Negotiables: Arsenal Podcast

Arsenal head to Belgium, win 3–0 at Club Brugge, and continue their run at the top of the Champions League League Phase. Two goals straight into the top bins set the tone, with Madueke delivering his standout performance, Martinelli adding another European moment, and Zubimendi and Odegaard controlling the night despite heavy rotation at the back.We break down the selection calls, Timber and Saliba’s fitness, Nwaneri’s role, Jesus’ return, and a Champions League debut for 16-year-old Marley Salmon. Then attention turns to Wolves at the Emirates — injuries, expected XI, and why this is a must-handle Premier League fixture.Plus: Justin’s Six Pack (the hidden roles driving Arsenal’s season), Liverpool’s ongoing issues and the Salah situation, Brighton’s form wobble, the Tyne–Wear derby, and this week’s Who Am I.All Arsenal. No noise.CHAPTERS:(00:00) – Arteta’s Non-Negotiables Intro(01:31) – Full XI Breakdown(04:38) – Nwaneri’s Minutes and Midfield Role Debate(05:50) – Bright Start: Odegaard Sharp, MLS Hits the Post(08:45) – Madueke’s First Goal: Strength, Confidence, Top Bins(10:59) – Corners, Set-Pieces, and Brugge Growing Into the Game(13:04) – Raya vs Kepa: Why Arteta Went Strong in Goal(15:08) – Half-Time Feelings(16:00) – Second-Half Lift: Zubimendi Assist, Madueke Header(17:14) – Martinelli’s Goal: Champions League Specialist(20:30) – Subs Arrive: Jesus Returns, Calafiori Impact, Nwaneri Sharp(23:38) – Nwaneri’s Pathway & Competition for Minutes(25:25) – Raya’s Key Saves & Brugge’s Late Threats(27:18) – Context: Rotation, Missing Rice, and Unusual Back Line(28:31) – Marley Salmon’s Champions League Debut(29:25) – By The Numbers: Shots, xG, Possession, Defensive Issues(32:00) – Odegaard’s Return: System Reset & Misunderstood Narrative(35:04) – PT.2 Who Am I (Game)(36:42) – Jus’s Six Pack: Hidden Roles Behind Arsenal’s Season(39:52) – Premier League Preview: Liverpool vs Brighton & The Salah Situation(42:41) – Salah, Carragher, and What’s Really Happening at Liverpool(49:04) – Slot, Alonso, and Liverpool’s Managerial Future(51:00) – Prediction Time: Liverpool vs Brighton(51:36) – Tyne-Wear Derby Preview: Sunderland vs Newcastle(54:29) – Arsenal vs Wolves Preview: Line-Up, Injuries & Expectations(55:37) – Rotation vs Full Strength: What Arteta Should Do(58:26) – Fitness Concerns: Timber, Saliba, and Managing the Back Line(01:05:12) – Could Salmon Get Minutes vs Wolves?(01:07:44) – Who Am I (Game) Reveal

“Seconds From Safety: Arsenal Stung at the Death as Villa Steal It Late”Arsenal were seconds away from leaving Villa Park with a point… and then it happened.A late, chaotic finish hands Villa the win, and The NN Pod are here for the therapy session.Ells steps into hosting duties with Justin and special guest Del as the guys break down:• The final-kick loss and why it stung so badly• Playing with four fullbacks and the strain on Rice & Zubimendi• What’s going on with Christian Nørgaard?• Trossard’s impact, Saka’s night, and the tired legs across the squad• Why the reaction after the whistle matters more than the loss• Mo Salah’s explosive interview and Liverpool’s unraveling• The Quintero twins — who they are, where they come from, and why the academy move is huge• Club Brugge PreviewArsenal drop points, emotions run high, but the standards stay the same.NN — we move.New episodes every Monday & Thursday at 8pm.Chapters:(00:00) – Arteta’s Non-Negotiables Intro(02:42) – Pregame Atmosphere(05:34) – AVLARS Starting XI Breakdown(07:46) – Early Moments, Two Through Balls(10:12) – Two Chances, Two Saka Offsides(12:26) – Two Villa Chances… Villa Take the Lead(15:47) – Two Arsenal Chances: Growing Into the Game(18:30) – Half-Time: Double Sub & Tactical Reset(21:18) – Trossard’s Equaliser & Immediate Impact(24:35) – Second-Half Control, Villa’s Counters & Game Management(27:38) – Calafiori’s Booking & Wolves Suspension(29:29) – Saka’s Frustration & Madueke Sub(30:16) – Midfield Burnout: Rice & Zubimendi Cooked — Where is Nørgaard?(37:06) – The Madueke Chance(38:39) – Villa’s Winner: Last-Kick Chaos(43:51) – By the Numbers(44:34) – Away Form, Four Fullbacks & Tactical Experiments(50:20) – PT.2 – GW14 Results(52:43) – Table Check & Title Picture(54:12) – Relegation Battle Overview(56:32) – “That Interview”: Mo Salah’s Bombshell(01:01:44) – Slot, Trent & Liverpool’s Crisis(01:04:42) – Salah’s Ego & Legacy Fallout(01:07:23) – The Quintero Twins(01:10:33) – Ecuador Pipeline & Academy Focus(01:12:37) – Club Brugge Preview(01:14:01) – Rotation Needs & Who Should Start(01:17:49) – Nwaneri’s Minutes & Role Questions

2 In, 2 Out? — Arsenal Beat Brentford and Prepare for Aston VillaArsenal took a needed three points against Brentford, but the story of the night was the balance between what went in and what went out. Merino’s header and Saka’s late strike gave Arsenal the goals, yet Rice and Mosquera joining the injury list kept the tension high in a game that should have been far more routine.We break down the full picture: why the match felt messy in real time but looked controlled on the rewatch, how Timber and Calafiori quietly re-established structure, and why the left-side role debate is becoming one of the defining conversations of this Arsenal season. From Martinelli’s fit, to Trossard’s ownership of the role, to Eze’s natural connection inside — it’s all here.Part Two brings the Who Am I, a whip around the grounds (including Fulham vs City chaos and Leeds humbling Chelsea), and a VARse featuring two officiating moments.Then it’s on to Saturday at Villa Park — a huge December fixture, a tough stylistic matchup, and another test of Arsenal’s depth during a brutal run.Measured, detailed, and Arsenal-first — exactly how we do it.Chapters:00:00) – Arteta’s Non-Negotiables Intro(01:10) – PSA: Arsenal Cannot Lose the Title!(02:21) – Starting XI & Immediate Reactions(03:41) – The Left-Side Debate: Martinelli, Trossard, Eze & Roles(07:12) – Early Control: Ben White, Madueke and the Opening Goal(09:12) – Momentum Shifts & Raya’s Big Save(11:03) – Ref Decision, Missed Chances & Madueke’s Final Ball(14:33) – Rice, Running Power & the Repeated Sprint Problem(19:48) – Timber at Centre-Back & Backline Adaptations(20:21) – Second Half: Corners, Pressure & Arteta’s Response(25:07) – Rice’s Injury Scare & Midfield Management(28:59) – Calafiori Brilliance & Saka’s Big Miss(32:58) – Saka’s Redemption: 2–0 Arsenal / Merino Master of Space(38:24) – By The Numbers: Game State vs Game Feeling(40:10) – PT.2 Who Am I (Game)(41:28) – Whip Around the Grounds (GW14 Results)(47:34) – VARse: Two Officiating Talking Points(55:09) – League Picture: Leaky Defences & Wolves’ Historic Pace(59:24) – Villa Preview: Injuries, Lineups & Tactical Threads(01:09:26) – Prediction Game: Sp*rs vs Brentford(01:10:50) – Who Am I (Game) Reveal

Arsenal leave Stamford Bridge with just one Premier League point after a chaotic afternoon defined by early bookings, a makeshift back line, and a referee who lost control long before Caicedo finally saw red. We break down the six cautions, the way Zubimendi’s early yellow changed our midfield, the impact of Odegaard’s introduction, and Merino’s equaliser that shifted the momentum — plus the late chance for Gyökeres and Timber that could have won it.Despite the frustration, it still caps off a huge week for Arsenal: the derby win, the Bayern performance, and now a hard-earned point with Saliba, Gabriel and Trossard unavailable.In Part Two, we roll through a midweek Who Am I?, a full WATG recap, VARse (including the Alvarez penalty rule?), and a look ahead to Wednesday night’s match against Brentford — a must-win before the trip to Villa Park.Settle in for a grounded, honest review of a fiery London afternoon and what it means for the week ahead.Chapters:(00:00) – Arteta’s Non-Negotiables Intro(00:58) – Battle at the Bridge: Setting the Scene(01:49) – Lineup Changes & Saliba’s Late Withdrawal(03:11) – Chelsea’s Fast Start and Cucurella’s Free Hits(04:48) – Six Arsenal Bookings and a Referee Out of Control(07:10) – Caicedo’s Red Card and the Play-Acting Debate(08:59) – Chelsea’s Tactics: Diving, Disruption, and Referee’s Impact(11:58) – Arsenal’s First-Half Chances & Sanchez’s Spills(13:01) – Conceding Early in the Second Half(14:58) – Subs: Odegaard’s Impact & Madueke’s Struggles / Left-Side Chemistry Issue(19:00) – Merino’s Equaliser: Saka’s Brilliance & Odegaard’s Spark(20:30) – Arteta’s Sub Decisions: What Worked & What Didn’t(23:20) – Final Chances: Gyökeres Collides with Sanchez & Timber’s Header(24:22) – Was This Still a Good Week for Arsenal?(27:48) – By the Numbers & Big-Picture Reflection on the Chelsea Draw(29:08) – PT.2 Who Am I? (Game)(30:55) – Whip Around the Grounds – GW13(38:25) – VARse: GW13 (The Alvarez Rule & Referee Standards)(47:51) – What the Weekend Results Mean for the Top Four(49:44) – Spurs’ Collapse & Vicario Chaos(52:14) – West Ham, Paquetá & the Red Card Meltdown(56:50) – Brentford Preview: Form, Goals, and Key Threats(59:19) – Should Arsenal Rotate? The Rice Question(01:01:24) – Merino, Gyökeres & How We Should Set Up vs Brentford(01:03:16) – Why This Is a Must-Win Ahead of Villa(01:04:31) – Prediction Game: Brighton vs Aston Villa(01:08:21) – Who Am I (Game) Reveal

Arsenal beat Bayern 3–1 at the Emirates, and the lads jump on the mics straight after full-time for instant reaction. Gav, Ells and Jus break down the line-up, Bayern’s early spell of control, Timber’s opener, and 17-year-old Karl’s equaliser before getting into how Arsenal completely took over the second half.There’s praise for Rice, discussion on Lewis-Skelly’s positioning, big love for Merino, and full chat on the game-changing impacts from Madueke, Calafiori and Martinelli as Arsenal closed out a huge Champions League win.Part 2 brings Who Am I?, the GW13 prediction game, and a Thanksgiving-themed Six Pack celebrating six reasons to be grateful for Arteta and the standards he’s built.The episode closes with a detailed Chelsea preview — line-up debates, the Madueke vs Martinelli question, Odegaard’s status, Calafiori’s importance, Chelsea’s threats (including Estevão and “Angry Matt Dillon” Neto) and what Sunday could mean for Arsenal’s title position heading into December.Chapters:(00:00) – Arteta’s Non-Negotiables Intro(01:40) – Line-Up Reaction(03:27) – Bayern’s Early Possession(05:20) – Timber’s Goal(07:09) – Saka Agendas(08:56) – Eze Chance Debate(10:21) – Bayern Equalise(11:37) – Skelly’s Positioning Talk(13:46) – Half-Time Thoughts(15:45) – Rice Takes Over the Second Half(16:58) – Madueke In for Trossard / Missed Chances(19:51) – Noni’s First Goal for Arsenal(22:08) – Calafiori Masterclass / Merino Flowers(24:50) – Martinelli’s Goal(26:23) – By The Numbers: Arsenal Dominate(29:07) – PT.2 Who Am I? (Game)(30:27) – GW13 Prediction Game(33:35) – Six Pack (Arteta Thanksgiving Edition)(36:17) – Chelsea Preview(37:52) – Line-Up Debate: Martinelli, Noni or Trossard?(39:03) – Odegaard Decision: Start or Bench?(43:09) – Chelsea’s Threats: Estevão & Angry Matt Dillon (Pedro Neto)(44:50) – Title Race Positioning After Bayern & Chelsea(46:35) – Arteta’s Standards & Mentality Talk(49:51) – Who Am I (Game) Reveal & Sign-Off