We don't want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing we need: a new head coach with flawless hair game, running training at Colney. Yes, Arteta's here, and he's cracking heads! We muse over Mikel and what might be in store for the rest of the season and beyond. We also discuss the Everton stalemate, the January transfer window, and our hopes for Freddie to stay another day. There's also time to preview Bournemouth on Boxing Day in this bumper festive edition of the Bruised Banana. Twitter ...
Dec 23, 2019•1 hr 21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Only three things are certain in life: death, taxes, and meek Arsenal defeats against far superior opposition. We reflect on a week which began with a bang at West Ham, stuttered halfway through in Liege, and ended with a loss to Man City which was more routine than a Duncan Ferguson court date. Yep, it’s Everton next. We preview the clash at Goodison Park before rounding things off with a bumper mailbag. Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Please take the time to ra...
Dec 16, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast “We’re never gonna win again, stupid feet have got no rhythm." Wham! Another game, another dollop of Arsenal-flavoured ineptitude. We reflect on the defeat to Brighton as the winless run trundles on. West Ham away next. Can we win that? Guess we gotta have faith... Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Google or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and makes it easier for other poten...
Dec 06, 2019•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Freddie picks up where Unai left off as a dicey 2-2 draw at Norwich marks his first game in charge as interim boss. We reflect on a tumultuous few days at the club, say our final farewells to Emery, and ponder over what lies ahead. We end with Dan’s digital sack and the ex-Gooners most suited for the top job. Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Google or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to...
Dec 02, 2019•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast A more than fortunate 2-2 draw at home to Southampton papers over absolutely no cracks whatsoever, and Unai Emery’s still in a job. Things are now so bleak that even Sir Chips Keswick wants to leave. Our message to him? Get out while you can, Sir Chips. Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Google or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and makes it easier for other potential listene...
Nov 25, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast “We all follow the Arsenal, over land and sea (and Leicester). We all follow the Arsenal, onto misery.” The nights are drawing in, but we're not even drawing any more. A routine win for the Foxes leaves us eight points off the top four with our tails firmly between our legs. Yet the boss still thinks we're protagonists. Thank god for the interlull. Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Google or wherever you get your pods. I...
Nov 11, 2019•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast A 1-1 draw at home to Wolves amid another sub-par performance raises yet more questions over the boss's suitability for the top job. Happy birthday, Unai. Happy birthday, mate. Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Google or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and makes it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!...
Nov 04, 2019•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast O Captain! My captain!? An ugly afternoon at the Emirates leaves us asking if there’s any way back from here for ‘Project Protagonists’ or if Emery’s fearful trip is done. We discuss the shameful Xhaka situation and how the general toxicity surrounding the club only serves to reflect badly on all sides. But hey, at least VAR’s working well! Oh... Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Google or wherever you get your pods. It ...
Oct 28, 2019•1 hr 23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ever wondered who’d make the ultimate Arsenal five-a-side team? Who’d be between the sticks, marshalling the defence, bossing the midfield and leading the line? Well, wonder no longer! We’ve assembled two AFC dream teams, complete with celebrity subs, to pit against each other and determine the greatest of them all. So, stretch those calves and head down to our hallowed 4G turf for the five-a-side footy showdown of the century. Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Ple...
Oct 14, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Another limp display against United has us pondering if we'll ever win at Old Trafford again. Tom rejoices in his new status as self-appointed pod captain, Dan's sack sets the cat amongst the pigeons, and Alex gives Guendouzi a good going over. All this and a Standard Liege preview for the ages. Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Google or wherever you download your pods. It means the world to us and helps other potential listen...
Oct 02, 2019•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast A stacked pod this week as consecutive wins in Europe, the league and the Carabao do much to lift our collective spirits. We cover each game, taking time to consider whether this recent good spell represents a false dawn or something more significant. We end with a look at Man United and our favourite ever goals against the Red Devils. Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Google or wherever you download your pods. It means the wor...
Sep 26, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s anything but smiles at camp TBB as Watford give us what for in a disastrous draw away at the league’s bottom club. Once we’re done being angry and confused, attention switches to the return of the Europa League, and a trip to one of Eintracht Frankfurt e.V’s 19 different sports clubs (clue: it’s not the eSports one). Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Google or wherever you download your pods. It means the world to us and h...
Sep 16, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast We pick the bones out of yet another Anfield defeat, with differing views aplenty on the game and the team’s approach on the day. With the north London derby looming large, we ponder over Spurs’ start to the season and make a case for the unleashing of PAL (Pépé, Aubameyang, Lacazette). Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Google or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and makes it ...
Aug 27, 2019•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Burnley get bumped off by Ceballos et al, setting us up nicely for the weekend’s title decider at Anfield. We rate the new boys and preview Liverpool away, hoping for anything but a repeat of December’s drubbing. There’s also time to run the rule over Josh Kroenke’s recent interview with Sir David Ornstein, OBE. Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Google or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal...
Aug 21, 2019•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast One down, 37 to go. Oh, and we’ve only gone and equalled our record for away clean sheets already! We discuss three points on the Toon, including the stand-out performers on the day. There’s time to reflect on a frantic transfer deadline day before casting minds forward to our first home game of the season against Burnley. Are they the new Stoke? Tune in next time to find out. Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Pod...
Aug 14, 2019•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast "A good ball by Tierney finding Ceballos, for Pépé, charging through the midfield, Pépé, it’s up for grabs now! Great finish from Pépé! A glimmer of hope for Arsenal now at 1-3.” That’s right, football, and by extension, The Bruised Banana, is back for another season! Listen as we rate our new signings by their anagrams, run through Dan’s debut at the Emirates, and make our predictions for the season ahead. JOIN US. Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Please take the...
Aug 07, 2019•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast With the ignominy of Baku consigned to the past, we come out of hiding to reflect on - and draw a line under - a year of momentous change for The Arsenal. We up the ups, down the downs, and pick out reasons to be cheerful - and fearful - for the season ahead. There's also time to dole out awards for best goal, best game, favourite and least favourite players of the last 10 months. Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple...
Jun 24, 2019•2 hr 41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Excitement and unease dominate proceedings this time out, as the dismal circumstances surrounding the fast-approaching final leave us feeling, well, a bit unsure how to feel. We cast our opinions on the Mkhitaryan situation before turning our attention to the game itself. Thoughts abound for the interview given by boardroom double act Venkatesham and Sanllehi, a whistle-stop tour of Arsenal’s history in European finals gives us both cause for concern and hope, and a merry mailbag rounds things o...
May 24, 2019•2 hr 30 min•Transcript available on Metacast We did it - our first European final in 13 years! Against Chelsea! In, er, Azerbaijan! We discuss how we got there after a fantastic night at the Mestalla, what it means for Unai Emery, and how it shapes the outlook of our season as a whole. There’s also time for an impassioned defence of fans amid the embarrassing ticket allocations for both European finals and a word on the gaffer following a difficult end to the season. We end with Dan’s digital sack and the latest correspondence from the wor...
May 10, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Our end of season implosion continues, with defeat to Leicester marking our third loss in a row. We try to figure out how the team has contrived to take just 3 points from a possible 15 against the likes of Hodgson and Rodgers et al. And yet hope springs eternal of still - somehow - making the top four. Attention then turns to Valencia ahead of the Europa League semi final, before Dan’s digital sack offers reasons to be cheerful amidst all the current doom and gloom. Running order: Part 1: (01m ...
Apr 29, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast A rare two-man pod this week as an absent Alex leaves Dan and Tom to hold the fort. We provide reaction to the win over Napoli in what was a great European night at the Emirates. We discuss our star performers on the night and look forward to part two in Naples, stopping off along the way to chat kit crimes, bad haircuts, and good old mathematics. Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Google or wherever you ...
Apr 12, 2019•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Newcastle become the latest club to feel the wrath of fortress Emirates as we discuss our tenth home league win in a row and how well it bodes for a largely away-based Run In™. Our next Europa League opponents Napoli feature in Alex’s history lesson, before we turn to Dan’s digital sack and the strange history of Arsenal’s No.9 shirt. Running order: Part 1: (05m 19s) Home comforts against the Magpies Part 2: (27m 05s) Napoli history and a surprise Arsenal connection Part 3: (43m 57s) Mailbag and...
Apr 04, 2019•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast “_Thomas, charging through the midfield. Thomas. It's up for grabs now! Thomas! Right at the end!_” Yeah, we didn’t pick that one. We picked other ones. Headers. Crashing volleys. Impossible shots from impossible angles. Goals that made us lose our minds. Goals that mean the world. We picked our favourite ever Arsenal goals, striding purposefully down memory lane as we did. Come stride with us. Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com **_Please take the time to rate and r...
Mar 21, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Our top four hopes take a dramatic turn for the better as Granit’s wonky whacker sets us on our way to a fine win over United. Sunday’s game, combined with the continued travails of Chelsea and Spurs, help us shake off the gloom of defeat in France as we look forward to possible Rennes-venge in the Europa League. Running order: Part 1: (01m 22s) Gunners 2, Gunnar nil Part 2: (32m 50s) Rennes reflections and history Part 3: (51m 50s) Mailbag and final thoughts Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email...
Mar 11, 2019•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast A somewhat bleak Banana this week as we pick the bones out of the beating at BATE. The players, manager, and tactics all fall under the microscope before we turn our attention to the latest chapter in the increasingly tedious Özil v Emery soap opera. Running order: Part 1: (01m 28s) A lousy loss in Belarus Part 2: (18m 45s) Mesut, mate - really? Part 3: (48m 55s) Mailbag, Ramsey, and final thoughts Twitter and Instagram: @tbbpod Email: bruisedbananapod@gmail.com **_Please take the time to rate a...
Feb 18, 2019•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast Man City make us moody as we ruminate over what might’ve been at the Etihad. We preview the weekend game at Huddersfield, take a sideways look at BATE Borisov ahead of our next Europa League fixtures, and head to the mailbag for questions on Kroenke and Guendouzi. Running order: Part 1: (00m 48s) Apathy and mediocrity at Man City Part 2: (20m 04s) Huddersfield away and what to expect Part 3: (33m 32s) BATE Borisov and the return of the Europa League Part 4: (42m 31s) Cranky about Kroenke in Dan’...
Feb 07, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Transcript available on Metacast A bumper episode welcomes returning friends, new fathers and of course, Arsenal home wins. Along with the Cardiff game we cover the Chelsea win, the Utd loss, and Unai’s general oddness, specifically his recent choice of captain. We round things off by talking transfers, whether we should care about 'Svexit', and the role of the academy in making stars (and money) for the club. Running order: Part 1: (07m 21s) Thoughts on the subdued yet vital win over Cardiff, with added Jenk and Özil natter Pa...
Jan 31, 2019•1 hr 25 min•Transcript available on Metacast A new year brings new hope as we start 2019 with wins against Fulham and Blackpool. We cover both games, including Emery's subs, our superlative strikers, the Emirates boo-boys, and Blackpool's heinous owners. It's then time for some xG chat from our special guest, as we find out what the mathematical tea leaves are saying about our top 4 chances. Finally, it's the mailbag, featuring transfer rumours, centre-back chat, and an appraisal of the career of Francesc Fàbregas Soler. Running order: Par...
Jan 07, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bah, humbug. Increasingly humdrum performances away at Brighton and Liverpool have really dampened our spirits, and even a special guest appearance can't fully wrest us from our festive funk. Awful defending, a stodgy attack and an over-stretched squad are all under the microscope. It's not all doom and gloom however, as we hear a heartwarming tale of how one man fell in love with The Arsenal, reminding us just why we do this. Running order: Part 1: (00m 41s) Anfield agony as we ship 5 to the sc...
Dec 31, 2018•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s 22 and out as the unbeaten run grinds to a halt with losses to Southampton and Spurs. We discuss both games and the online reaction before turning our attention to Burnley at home and defenders we’d look to sign in the upcoming January transfer window. Running order: Part 1: (00m 47s) Bowing out of the Carabao and slipping up against the Saints Part 2: (33m 23s) Burnley FC and the greatest crest of all Part 3: (40m 32s) Centre backs take centre stage in Dan’s digital sack Twitter and Instag...
Dec 20, 2018•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
