The Grove - An Arsenal Podcast

WC26 Ends, Arsenal Begins: Pre‑Season Starts & Transfer Talk Heats Up
Episode 193 marks the end of a eventful, colourful, occasionally ridiculous World Cup and the start of something far more important: Arsenal’s pre‑season. Tabs and Andy dive into the tournament’s finale, Spain’s deserved triumph, Argentina’s shithousery, and the Arsenal angles that matter now the dust has settled.
The pair break down:
why Spain were the most complete team in the tournament

the Arsenal lens: Merino’s impact, Zubimendi’s minutes, Raya’s cones

the missed Merino header that had every Arsenal fan out of their seat

Argentina’s approach, the Enzo meltdown, and the post‑match chaos

the Americanised halftime circus and the Infantino–Trump sideshow

Tuchel’s semi‑final disasterclass

the utterly pointless “bronze medal match”

Saka and Rice starting in Miami heat — and why it infuriated Arsenal fans

the wider question: should players self‑exclude from meaningless internationals?

familiar and unfamiliar faces returning to Sobha

who looks fit, who looks tired, and who looks very tanned

early impressions of the squad before the internationals return

what Arteta will prioritise in the first two weeks

the latest whispers, links and movement

who might be sold, who might arrive, and what positions need urgency

how the World Cup has delayed or complicated certain deals

the big question: are Arsenal moving fast enough?

It’s a mix of World Cup fallout, Arsenal pre‑season excitement, transfer speculation, and a healthy dose of Grove‑style honesty.
WC26 is over. Arsenal’s summer starts now.
🔴 Spain’s World Cup Win⚪ England’s Bronze Match & Arsenal Concerns🔴 Arsenal Pre‑Season Begins⚪ Transfer Talk & Summer Rumours--
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Find us on socials: @thegroveafc
This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
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Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc
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Email us here: thegrovepodcast@outlook.com

🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #norgaard
Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. UCL. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
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In Berta We Trust… Or Do We?
Episode 192 checks in on Arsenal’s summer, the rumours, the silence, the anxiety, and the growing debate around how the club is operating in the market. Tabs is joined by Andy to sift through the latest transfer noise, the World Cup distractions, and the big question hovering over the fanbase: do we actually trust Andrea Berta to run this window?
The pair dig into:
The latest from the World Cup
Scotland’s exit and the “fear factor” conversation

how DRC, Cabo Verde and Curaçao exposed Scotland’s approach

England’s run, Bellingham’s star power, and the spider‑cam controversy

Rice’s illness, Saka’s managed minutes, Madueke’s criticism

Transfers, Rumours & Market Mood
the slow start to Arsenal’s window and why fans are twitching
3rd choice keep good, 2nd choce keeper bad
the Trossard sale and what it signals for the left side

the ongoing links to Rogers, Barcola, Tzolis, Guimares and others

how injuries at the World Cup complicate early‑season planning

whether Arsenal can afford to wait… or need to act now

the contrast between Arsenal’s patience and other clubs’ early moves

the “depth vs. ceiling” debate heading into a title defence

Berta's Business
whether last summer’s window was genuinely good or simply “good enough”

how much of that window was actually Berta’s work

the tension between discipline and dithering

the HandOfArsenal thread that lit up the fanbase

whether Arsenal are moving like Premier League champions… or like a club still scared of overspending

and ultimately: is Berta’s approach the right one for a title defence?

It’s a mix of transfer talk, World Cup fallout, squad planning, and a philosophical debate at the heart of the summer:
In Berta we trust… or do we?
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Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app.
Find us on socials: @thegroveafc
This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
----
Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc
Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc
Email us here: thegrovepodcast@outlook.com

🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #norgaard
Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. UCL. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
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Get the lowdown on the Medical staff changes & How the World Cup will impact pre-season and the opening games of the season.
Episode 191 digs into one of the most important — and least understood — parts of Arsenal’s off‑season: the sweeping changes to the club’s medical and performance department. Tabs is joined by friend of the pod Dr. Andrew Mitchell, a sports‑science academic and biomechanics specialist who has worked with Arsenal’s medical team, to unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes.
Together they explore:
the departures of key medical and performance staff

the arrivals of Abrantes, Angulo, Gomez and others

what these roles actually do day‑to‑day

how decisions are made around fitness, load, recovery and return‑to‑play

why injuries have been such a persistent issue

how much responsibility lies with the medical team vs. Arteta

the “red zone”, repeat‑sprint demands, travel load and matchday intensity

the World Cup effect: Rice’s ice packs, Saka’s training issues, and what this means for August

why Arsenal may need “bodies” early in the season before the main XI is fully available

how the new structure might improve resilience, rehab and long‑term player availability

Plus: reaction to Trossard’s departure, what it means for the left side, and how Arsenal might rebuild that part of the attack.
It’s detailed, educational, honest and packed with insight — the kind of episode that makes you smarter about the game and what actually goes into keeping elite footballers fit.

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Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app.
Find us on socials: @thegroveafc
This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
----

Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc
Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc
Email us here: thegrovepodcast@outlook.com

🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #norgaard
Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. UCL. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
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Stars, Stripes & The Arsenal: World Cup Buzz & Arsenal's Fandom in American
Episode 190 dives into the heart of the World Cup in North America — how it’s being received, how it’s transforming football culture in the US, and how Arsenal’s American fanbase is exploding in real time. Tabs is joined by New Jersey‑based substack writer and massive Arsenal supporter Carla Espinal, whose work on Football Without Borders has become essential reading for anyone interested in the sport’s global growth & being an Arsenal fan in the US.
Together they explore:
the USMNT’s dramatic run to the Round of 16

Balogun’s red card, resilience, and the team’s new identity

Pochettino’s impact and why the US finally feels “connected” to its national team

the massive surge in American viewership — and why the Premier League will be the biggest winner

the atmosphere in US cities: flags, shirts, fan zones, and football everywhere

the World Cup’s cultural takeover of baseball stadiums, bars, and neighbourhoods

the darker side: immigration issues, ICE fears, ticket price gouging, and FIFA’s manipulation of resale markets

how Messi, MLS, and potential moves for US stars could reshape the league

what it’s really like to be an Arsenal fan in America — especially now that Arsenal are champions

It’s insightful, global, political, cultural, and very Arsenal — a look at how the world’s biggest tournament is reshaping football in the United States and pulling Arsenal deeper into the American sporting landscape.
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Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app.
Find us on socials: @thegroveafc
This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
----

Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc
Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc
Email us here: thegrovepodcast@outlook.com

Caral Espinal: @carlaespinal (Instagram & Threads) - https://footballwithoutborders.substack.com/

🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #norgaard
Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. UCL. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
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THE FIXTURES ARE OUT & BEFORE YOU KNOW IT WE'LL BE DEFENDING OUR TITLE
Episode 189 looks ahead to Arsenal’s title defence as the 2026/27 Premier League fixtures drop and Tabs and Andy dive into them.
The FA have once again conspired against Arsenal by forcing us to play every team home and away. Outrageous. But we analyse it anyway.
The pair break down:
the opening run, the tricky patches, the festive chaos

the Community Shield vs City (how much do we actually care?)

where the Champions League and domestic cups might collide

the impact of the World Cup on squad availability and early‑season rhythm

the games that jump out, the away days to circle, and the moments that feel like title‑deciders

how the World Cup has (or hasn’t) grabbed us so far

Scotland’s campaign, England’s form, and the Arsenal players involved

the injury fears, the scheduling madness, and the countdown to pre‑season

The fixtures are out.The countdown begins.Fifty‑odd days until we go again.

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Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app.
Find us on socials: @thegroveafc
This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

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Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc
Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc
Email us here: thegrovepodcast@outlook.com

🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #norgaard
Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. UCL. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
(VIDEO EDIT)