Arsenal win UWCL & End of Season Awards: Part One
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The only way to score is, of course, to play with a hand-break-off. Hello, I'm Ian Stone. This is Hand-Break-Off, the Arsenal podcast brought to you by The Athletic. On Saturday...

Arsenal won the Women's Champions League for the second time in their history, beating Barcelona 1-0 in Lisbon. And on Sunday, the men ended their 2024-2025 season with a 2-1 victory against Southampton at St Mary's to secure second place for the third season in a row. To reflect on both games and also...

We're going to conduct our end of season awards. I'm joined by Adrian Clark and Amy Lawrence. Good morning. Hello. Hello, hello. Morning. Nice to see you guys. Amy, you are in Islington. You can hear the parade from your house, right? I can. I'm in Highbury. I was going to take the dog for a walk and sometimes I walk around

the fields and then go to the Emirates and walk around the concourse. But that was closed off today for the trophy lift of the women. And I came home to do this very podcast rather than, you know, try and go down and give a little bit of a vibe and support of what was going on.

So the back door is open and I can keep hearing these... I don't know quite what they're doing. I don't think they're out yet. At the time of recording, I think they're just doing the pre-trophy lift warm-up. The warm-up act. The warm-up for the trophy lift. Yeah, it's not a parade, is it? It's just a sort of champion celebration in that sort of concourse outside the main bit there. Do you remember the 2014...

FA Cup would. The first one, the whole one. Wasn't that the one when Jack Wilshere was... What do you think of Tottenham? Yeah, they were all lined up on the kind of the higher end of the concourse, which is just above the armoury and where the cannons are on the bare roundabout. And I think they're going to do something similar there.

this time for the girls so they'll I'm sure by now anytime anyone listens they'll see pictures all over social media but I'm sure they're going to have a jolly good time well we're going to talk about the game in a second I will say before and we

We will mention the Southampton game briefly. Not a lot happened, to be honest with you. A good moment, Kieran Tierney scoring on his final appearance before going back to Celtic. It was a good send-off, wasn't it, Adrian? Any other send-offs that...

And we could do sendings off. That's a slightly different thing, obviously. And we'd have plenty of them this season. But any other send-offs you particularly remember? It was a really good send-off, wasn't it? Like, perfect moment. Right foot goal as well for Chiarantini. So you could see the jaw on his face. And a run across the front of the defender. Like a striker, wasn't it? Like a striker. It was excellent. I really did enjoy that moment. The perfect send-off happened yesterday at Old Trafford.

Emi Martinez, seemingly on his way out of Aston Villa, comes out of his goal, does the unbelievable piece of shithousery by taking out Rasmus Hoyland, gets sent off, loses the game, misses out on Champions League. What a send-off.

for what a guy, Emi Martinez. Perfect. Can't top that, can we, Emi? I'm not sure we can, really. That's great, Adrian. You win today's pod. We should pack up now, shouldn't we, really? Adrian, there's no beating that. Gold star. Ten out of ten. No, I was going to say, you got any that can get close to that one, Emi?

Well, finally, I was thinking about it and it's a less uncommon thing than it used to be. But, you know, it's not that often that you know someone's leaving.

And, you know, there definitely were people on the pitch for Arsenal yesterday that, I mean, I'm not quite stupid enough to bet my house because I don't want to be homeless, but I'd bet quite a strong amount that there are going to be others that will leave this summer that didn't get the chance of a farewell because it's not known. But actually knowing that Jorginho and Chiarantini were going affords that sort of special level of protection.

being able to show your love and for them to feel that love and feel slightly bad for maybe one or two others that didn't get that moment. You know, you think about a lot of the greats from the past. I remember, you know, when Rocky Ro, when Rocky Ro Castle left, you know, he walked into training one day, got called in by George Graham. They said, we've accepted an offer from Leeds. And he just went, I mean, nevermind the fans, the players barely got a chance to say goodbye to him. So yeah,

I'm ever so pleased for Kieran because I think he really does, in particular, deserve that special moment. And I think he is universally loved and respected. And had things worked out slightly differently for him, you know, I don't know whether his career would have gone in a slightly different direction, but he's a top player.

A professional, a top player, a top person. And I've only got warmest thoughts from him. I was so, so pleased that he scored yesterday. And the smile on his face. Yeah. Probably one of my most meaningful farewells would be to Highbury. That's the one that I...

as a send-off being the most kind of emotionally powerful. I mean, yeah. These are good ones, by the way. These two. These are really, really good ones. And I'm assuming you'd bet the guest bedroom that some of these players would be leaving, perhaps.

I think I'd go more than the guest bedroom. I'm fairly confident it's not only going to be Jorginho and Kieran Tierney that don't come back. Also, by the way, because we're going to talk about Arsenal 1-0 Barcelona and the Women's Champions League final, word for Kim Little as well. Adrian, signed a year extension. We'll probably see reduced playing time. Joined the club, joined Arsenal in 2008, the year after we won the Champions League the first time, and has capped in the side to European glory. Yes.

Yeah, and that was a great moment for her. She deserved it, didn't she? And a really good performance as well. Not easy to play in a two-player midfield up against this Barcelona side. But she covered some ground. She was brilliant on the day. But yeah, I mean, everyone loves her. Like, I've not...

Got to really hang out with the Arsenal women's team. But, you know, I've interviewed a few of them down the years. And, you know, you get to see them a little bit on these club days. And you can just tell everyone loves Kim Little. She's the one that they always talk about in really glowing terms. So, yeah, I think it's really good news. It's a little bit like Jorginho, I suppose. Just having someone there that's still really good...

but also a great character for the dressing room. So, but as far as she's concerned, she kind of completed it now, isn't she? You know, winning the Champions League with Arsenal is the icing on the cake.

Stay for one more year, win the treble next year. Yeah, exactly. On Saturday, as we know, we beat Barcelona 1-0 in Lisbon thanks to a Steiner-Blaxtinius goal to win the Women's Champions League for the second time 18 years on from the first win back in 2007.

Steiner Black, Stenius. Salma Parrauelo. It's Arsenal. It's Arsenal. Champions of Europe, 18 long years. Amy, a tremendous achievement. I mean, the first team to go all the way through the qualifying rounds to lift the trophy. It's been a season of highs and lows, but this just...

Caps it all off nicely, doesn't it? I found myself at one point just like watching Renee Slagers on the touchline. Just looking like she was so in control of the situation during the game, you know. And what an unbelievable impact she's had. This reward, this huge reward for all of the people involved.

is about all of them. The manager, the coaching staff, the players, everybody who supports them along the way. But I think sometimes in seasons, in defining seasons where magic things happen, you have these pivotal moments that change the whole dynamic. And her coming in, or being promoted...

And at the time, I think there were possibly people, I don't know, I'm not that much of an expert to know, but whether they were thinking it should be somebody new coming or somebody more high profile or somebody more experienced or whatever. But she's just been flawless almost, I think, in the way that she's kind of found new levels and injected new kind of principles and belief into the team and allowed them to express themselves individually and collectively better.

in a way that has just grown and grown and grown with every sort of stepping stone on the way to this final. And I think that there've been so many golden moments to win a trophy like that by dispatching, you know, along the way, two or three of the gold standard teams in the competition. It's, it's,

It's such a... I'm trying to think of the right word, really. The esteem to do that is of the highest level. And Adrian, Rennie Segers, I mean, Amy was talking about her there.

She had a real connection with the players and what I've been reading when she was the assistant, but she really connected with them. So when she came in, it was a fairly seamless transition. But what got me was the bravery of the performance. I mean, I remember speaking to Art after the semifinal and saying, this is a grown-up team now. They felt like a grown-up team and...

That was a grown up and as brave a performance as I've seen from an Arsenal side in quite some time. Yeah, it encapsulated all the things that you want to see from an Arsenal team, didn't it? It reminded me of sort of backs to the wall, famous Arsenal victories of yesteryear. And yet we had chances, Adrian, didn't we, as well? Yeah, that's where I want to start, really, because I think when you're an underdog,

I think the best way to go about it is absolutely not to start the game sat on the edge of your 18-yard box. I think the best way to always approach it as an underdog is to take the fight to the opposition and to basically show them in the first half an hour of a game, we're here to win.

We're here to win. And that's what they did. We didn't have loads of the ball, but when we had it, we kept it confidently and we tried to attack. And we attacked down the side. You know, we had that disallowed goal where Marlon puts it across. You had Ford flying down the left as well. When we attacked, we did it with real intent. And that, I think, just sowed seeds of doubt into Barcelona. They're like, whoa, okay. Okay, this is a game, is it? Yeah.

And what really stood out to me, and this, you know, we've done it before. I mean, the Arsenal, was it the Arsenal-Chelsea FA Cup final, the Mertesacker one. It reminded me a little bit of that, where as soon as the ball moved, the next player sprints out to get in the face of the opposition. They move it again. The next player goes. We didn't really give Barcelona an easy ride at all. It was unbearable.

unbelievable work rate in what was you know looked pretty hot conditions in Lisbon so yeah they warmed up they warmed up in the shade I noticed by the way I thought it was a stellar collective effort really it was the way you want to win a cup really

you know, to play as a team that way. As underdogs. Yeah, fantastic. And as a team, yeah. Go on, Amy. But I think sometimes when you are an underdog, you know, people think, you know, you have to be lucky. But I don't think there was any fortune about this. I think this was, you talk about things like bravery and courage, but I think this was an extremely intelligent performance. Yeah. I think the intelligence of the strategic approach and the way it was carried out and the level of focus that, you know, every player had

utilized to the max was really top yeah you could almost break it into thirds that first half an hour where we went toe to toe and then the second you know the second you know either side of halftime when we suffered we really were up against it they had a lot of the ball and we had to do a lot of last-ditch defending you know there's a lot of good blocks a lot of covering for your teammate covering your back there's a cut there's a block from chloe kelly in the first half that sort of probably went unnoticed it's brilliant

great recovery run I think from from Ford as well there were loads of bits like that and then came the subs and that was the key moment in the game and she's she's been compared hasn't she René Sligas to Serena Wiegmann in terms of her eye for a game in terms of reading the game and being able to make the right subs at the right time and and and she she absolutely nailed it because when you're under the cosh like we were then's the time to bring on an outlet and

that could just run in behind. Decent subs to bring on as well, Adrian. I mean, Beth Mead and Steena Black-Sennius, I mean, you're replacing high-quality players with other high-quality players. Well, this is what depth brings you. And maybe that's what Mikel Arteta wants next season. You know, he wants a Mead and a Black-Sennius to bring off the bench, doesn't he? To come off the bench, yeah, quite. And Amy, Ian Wright obviously was there looking excellent.

Absolutely delighted. And I'm delighted for all the people who followed this women's football team through the years, including my old man, by the way. I went around to see my old man last night. He's 93. And he's reading about the women winning. He used to go to watch the games back in Bournemouth. And he got to know a lot of the players. And he got to know Vic Akers. And I met Kelly Smith. And I worked with her a few times. And that was...

This is for everyone, isn't it? This win, you know, all those years of striving and now they'll get the acclaim. What I will say is something sparked by what you were saying about the greater context. Vic Akers being there and also David Dean, who was a huge supporter of promoting the Arsenal women's team or ladies as they were then known starting out back in the late 80s.

What an incredible thing for them to see. And the growth of the women's game and the people that have been there along the way and that were there from the start when the girls, they didn't get paid for playing. They had to pay. They had to wash their own kit. The club had to find them. Vic, I think at one point, went up to David Dean and asked for a small amount of money by today's standards to help support this new team.

And he had to go to the board, David, and say, look, I think we need to try and find whatever, 10,000, 100,000 pounds, whatever it was, but a drop in the ocean really to support the birth of women's football. And that was a battle to get that money from the board and to be able to support women.

the very start and to be able to turn around and say like look we need we've got a couple of girls coming in from Ireland or Scotland or whatever never mind further afield than that or the north of England that we'd like to bring bring in can we can we find them jobs around the club

So they would, you know, Monday to Friday, they'd work in the shop or the box office or answering the phones or whatever sort of tasks they could help out with. And then on a weekend, they'd play in front of tens, maybe hundreds. But what Arsenal have been from the very start, the very start is advocates and allies of women's football.

they have led the way in many ways. And even more recently, you see that in terms of big crowds at the Emirates and the way they've tried to foster a proper support base, include everybody who wants to, to be able to access that. You know, that's a fairly new development. So I think this is for all those people who fought for those evolutions step by step.

over the last 50 years. Brilliant. Yeah, exactly right, Adrian. I mean, you think about when, you know, Jonas Eidvall signed his contract. Obviously, it didn't work out, but he signed it on the same day as Mikel Arteta, didn't he? And those things, that symbolism means a lot. No club cares more about women's football than Arsenal, in my opinion. I just think we've always cared about it. I was there when those girls had jobs in the shop and whatnot. And, you know, you sometimes see them sort of on their break time having to kick around in the JVC centre. Yeah.

You know, obviously they're training in the evening. But yeah, it's been there for a long, long time. But just look at the way it's developed. You know, that big crowd in Lisbon for the Champions League final. And just look when we last won the Champions League. You know, the venue, the crowd. You know, it's grown so much, hasn't it? Yeah, onwards and upwards. I've always thought that this Arsenal women's team should really be as good as Chelsea. Like, I look at the names, the depth. Just like...

come on, you know, I think we should be beating Chelsea. And maybe now they'll start to believe that they can because, you know, they've just beaten a team that's miles better than Chelsea. Come on, come on, come on.

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Limit three offers per order. Expires September 5th while supplies last. Discount based on CPI comparison. Let's check in with Art de Rocher, who joins us now. Art, in a season that's been full of ups and downs, what a way to end the campaign. Yeah, I think...

When the full-time whistle went, there was almost a sense of just, is this real? I think this season alone has been a rollercoaster. I know in our post-match, Renee Slager said it wasn't as much of a rollercoaster inside the club as it seemed outside. But to have a managerial change, to go all the way through qualifiers, play 15 games and lift the trophy...

It's just an amazing achievement for everyone that was involved. And when you think they lost their first group game of the season 5-2 to Bayern Munich, I don't think anyone would have thought they'd be able to go on and win the competition. And to do it is just incredible. On Renée Slaggers, who took over managing in October, how much credit does she deserve?

And how impressive has she been tactically? Yeah, massive credit. I think before we get into the tactics, I'd just say I feel like she was probably the best placed person when Jonas Edevar left.

She'd worked with him previously in Sweden and he brought her over two summers ago as an individual development coach. So her remit was a lot more personal with the players. So basically trying to get the best out of them on an individual level.

And with that, she formed a lot of connections with those players, which of course benefited her when she then was given the role on an interim basis. She gave players a lot of confidence straight away. Was very honest with them as well, which I think was helpful. I think it's really important to not dismiss the work that's kind of been put into this team before this season. So even though Edevar left at the start of this year because of

his, I guess, football wasn't producing results anymore. One of the big improvements Arsenal made under him in his three years at the club was how they performed defensively in Europe.

His first group game was actually against Barcelona, so it was quite a nice full circle moment. Mariano Caldente scored the first goal in that game and Arsenal lost 4-1. And it was just a lesson in how intense being at Europe's top table actually can be. I remember being at the return game that year at the Emirates where Barcelona smothered Arsenal. It was ridiculous. And now the shoe is on the other foot. And I think

One of the key developments within that period was Arsenal women actually playing internal matches against the under-15s, the men's under-15s, because they knew, of course, physically, the boys, which we'll call them, would be a lot more developed, a lot more mature, a lot more aggressive, give them less time to make decisions. And that was something that Idoval appreciated.

did that summer to try and, I guess, close the gap, both figuratively and literally. And that gave them a really good foundation to build off. But then tactically, I think the big standout was the football itself was...

a lot more entertaining. One of the phrases that she used when she got the job permanently was that she wanted to play entertaining football, but winning football as well. And I think we've seen that throughout

her time in charge, both in interim capacity and permanently, because there've been, I think I counted 13, maybe 15 games where they've scored at least four goals since she took charge. And you saw immediately, it was just passive move football, very Arsenal football. Of course, she had a couple of years in the academy when they won the Champions League in 2007. So she knows it. And I think tactically,

It was all about finding that confidence again to be free flowing and fluid. And I think the embodiment of that was Alessia Russo when you look at her performances before she came, Slag as that is, and after. It's like night and day. And I think there's also the acceptance that not every game is going to allow you to play entertaining football, which is of course how the final actually panned out.

And I think defensively, they were very astute, were brave enough to put pressure on Barcelona. It did seem to tire them out a bit, but I think you've seen the resolve that they've built over the last couple of years, kind of got that through that sticky period in the second half. And thankfully, they had their

the ace in the pack in Stina Blackstone is to win the game. And how impressive has the recruitment been this season? Mariona Caldente has been a standout player all campaign. Daphne Van Domselo in goal. Chloe Kelly looks a different player after coming in on loan. Yeah, it's been massive. I think when you look at Arsenal's recruitment in the last two seasons, I'd say they've been really aggressive. Not all of their signings have been hits, but I think when you look at signing Alessio Russo from Manchester United,

That was a play that they were seriously after in a similar way to the men went after Declan Rice in that same summer. I think they were very almost comparable signings in the fact that they were both England internationals who were of a similar age that could really elevate the team. And to be fair to Russo in her first season, she had the almost baggage of competing with Vivian Miedema and Sina Black-Stenis, whereas this season...

she's been the main striker then when you look at this summer in particular Van Domselaar is a player who really first onto the scene makes it sound like Micah Richards but in Euro 2022 and I was at a few of those games those Netherlands games so I was at a game where she played against Switzerland and France as well and

She stole the tournament. I remember coming away from those games wishing that Arsenal would sign her. And I actually spoke to her in the summer when she did join. And she said that mentally she wasn't ready for a move to England at that point. So she stayed in the Netherlands. And then her first move to England was to Aston Villa to prove to herself that she could play in the WSL.

And then she was ready. And one of the reasons she actually joined Arsenal was because they got to the semi-final two years ago.

And her big dream was to win the Champions League. And who knew it would come in her first season? I think Caldente, of course, everyone really... She was the star name. Coming from Barcelona, having won 25 trophies there in 10 years. Having won the World Cup with Spain as well. I think everyone probably would just use experience as a word. But I think over the course of the season, you just saw...

the actual quality she played with and the decisiveness that's where you see how important recruitment is because

You can buy players who really made a difference in key moments and that's what Caldente did. And again, Van Domslaar, key, key saves in that Real Madrid game that made sure that the game didn't go to extra time. So I think you've seen a real ambition from Arsenal in their summer recruitment, both in 2024 but also in 2023.

Do you think that ambition will go even further now? We have to be an incredibly attractive place for players to come. Yeah, I definitely would hope that's the case when...

If you're able to recruit a Mariona Caldente before you've won the Champions League, I think you have to dream even bigger after winning it. And the big thing is, I think this has to be almost a launch point for this team. Now, I think when they got to the semi-finals two years ago, it was proof that the squad was good enough to disrupt Europe's elite.

They just needed something extra to take that extra step forward. But now I think they've shown themselves how good they are and they should look to disrupt Chelsea now in the league because they have the ability to do that. I think they've shown under Rene Slagers that they have the quality. Now it's about showing the consistency and I think just recruiting even more

almost astutely and aggressively would help them do that because we've seen how aggressive Chelsea have been in the market for years now it's time to compete with them again to be England's top team thanks Art enjoy the trophy parade let's have a listen to Chloe Kelly Beth Mead and Stina Blackstenius speaking to the Athletics Charlotte Harper after the game

It's great. I literally was speaking to Lotta on the pitch after the game. Me and Lotta used to get the undergrounds to Finsbury Park, Finsbury Park to Potter's Bar. Potter's Bar we used to get a bus and get off at the M25 bridge and walk to the training ground.

Looking back, it's been a journey and to do it with these girls is so good. Players that I played with growing up, Leah, when I joined Arsenal when I was 12. It's amazing because you see the journey that everyone's on but Arsenal have always paved the way for women's football and we continue to do so and this is for the ones that allowed us to be here today.

Beth, just one. What a pass. Yeah. Can you talk me through? What were you thinking? You know what, actually, watching the game, I'd like to think I understand football a little bit, and I think there was a lot of bodies on the line today from both teams. A lot of balls being blocked on shots, and this face-off, I've seen Stina and thought, why not put it there? So I'm happy it got to her feet and it went in the back of the net. And just a word on Stina, of course it's a team effort, but for her to score that goal, can you describe her as a person? Sure.

Dina turns up in big moments and a lot of people criticise her but she works so hard. She's such a genuine, amazing human and she deserves that moment today. Have a lovely evening. Enjoy the celebrations. Thank you all. Thanks, Beth. Take care. What does that goal mean to you personally and for the team?

I mean, just myself, it means so much just for us to win this game. That's the only thing that matters. But obviously, I'm so happy to score a goal. And this is what we have been fighting for for such a long time. And it hasn't been an easy road for us to come here. It's been some tough games, but we have proved ourselves so many times coming back. So I'm just really happy and proud of what we have achieved.

When I look back, you took a half turn just as Beth played the ball and you stayed onside. What was going through your mind at that point? I mean, it's a really good pass from Beth and I wasn't... I thought I wasn't prepared for the pass, but then I reached it and just trying to hit the target. And when it went in, were you...

What were your feelings? I felt like my feelings were all over the place. First, I was a bit in shock, I think. And then I was scared that I was outside. So I was trying to look at the liner to see if it... But then, of course, just really, really happy. Let's talk about the men for a bit. St. Anton 1, Arsenal 2. I mean, there's not a lot to talk about with the game, really. What do you mean? Well, we...

Adrian has done... I should say, Adrian has done a load of work. No, I haven't. I was just winding you up. So we can analyse the game from one minute to 90. No, I watched it. I commentated on it, you know, but yeah, not a lot happened. It wasn't very exciting. Not a lot happened. Shall we...

Should we get into the awards then? Should we get straight into the awards then and talk about... I can't just say that Erdegaard's goal was good, wasn't it? Like we talked about Tierney, but Erdegaard has finished this season like he's remembered how to shoot, hasn't he? We talked about it a bit on the pod. There's suddenly a bit more venom in his hits. And the fact that he's now scored one, because he's had some really close shaves, hasn't he? The fact that he's now scored one

hopefully just takes that into the summer and when he comes back he's going to have that confidence to put his laces through it from outside the box all of the time because he can score like Rice he can score a lot of goals like he did against Southampton. Got to be honest Adrian I saw him score the goal at 89th minute of the final game and the first words that came out of my mouth were about f***ing time mate. LAUGHTER

I didn't say that on commentary. I didn't say that, but... Take that into next season then, mate. Go on, then you know how to do it. Well done. Anyway... Actually, I'm quite impressed and proud with how Arsenal have sort of pulled it together over the last three games of the season after going out of the Champions League. You

you know, to end well and make sure that second was a formality. And, you know, we just can make comparisons with certain teams who I think lost 22 league games this season, which by all accounts is, nobody's ever lost that many games in a season and not been relegated. So well done then. Yeah.

All right, let's get into the awards then. This is the Handbrake Off Awards. It's prestigious. I mean, the trophy ceremony will be at some point in the next week or so. Keep a look out in the press. We're capping it at 10,000 crowd.

Yeah, we don't want people to go crazy like last year when we had to turn people away. It's a Palladium book, Dore, where we're at this year. The Palladium. I'd love to do the awards at the Palladium. All right, no particular order. Goal of the season. Adrian, I'm going to come to you first. Goal of the season for the Arsenal. Unoriginal, but for me, it's Declan Rice's second free kick against Real Madrid in the old postage stamp. But I do want to just...

Are you going to pick two or three? This might count to you first because Amy would have gone through every goal. No, no, no. But I do just want to draw your attention to a goal earlier in the season that really did kind of took my breath away a little bit at the time seeing it in the ground with Saka against Forest where he runs across the box kind of slalom in, slalom in. And he's kind of facing the, what would it be, the east stand. And

And then he suddenly lashes it back where he came from into the top corner like a rocket. That was an understatedly great goal, I think, from Bakayosaka. But for me, Rice is second against Real Madrid. It's Rice again! Oh, my goodness! This is Declan Rice's night! Arsenal 2-0!

Real Madrid 0. Amy, I'm limiting you to 10. Yeah, I know. Here's my crat, which is an envelope. This is classic how I operate with some notes on. And I'm looking at all the categories and I'm afraid to say none of the categories have only one

I'm really indecisive. I think that's probably endemic of this season, you know, because it's been a bit of a strange one that it's quite hard to pick certain teams. Even goal of the season? I mean, Detlef Rice is obviously, that was a big moment. That second one. I would also like, it was, it was, but I would also like to give mention to a goal that's probably been a bit forgotten and even a game that's been a bit forgotten, but at the time felt really monumental and amazing. And that was Califuri. Oh, it was a great goal.

Meantime, here's Martinelli to drive at Walker and set it back for Calafiori. It's a beauty. What a strike. What a moment. I think given the circumstances of seasons past, you know, the last few years building up to that moment and the kind of enmity between, you know, growing between the two clubs and the competition that had grown between the two clubs, to be, you know,

Having gone down to 10 men and reacting the way that Arsenal did away from home up there, that was really...

Goose bumpy, you know. I absolutely loved that. And I think it felt really significant. We weren't to know then what we know now about how kind of inept Manchester City would become over the course of the season. But it felt really like a sort of a symbol of how Arsenal were growing, that they could do things which traditionally hurt.

have been difficult and actually turned them into something completely different. It felt a bit like the butterfly emerging from the chrysalis of what Arsenal were trying to become. So I'd give him a shout out. And I'd also like to give a shout out to another of the goal scorers against Real Madrid. And that Marino got that third goal just for the madness of going 3-0 up against Real Madrid. Marino, who was the makeshift striker, and it was a wonderful finish. That was another one that I will always...

really have special feelings for but yeah it probably is that I would I would also mention Miles Lewis Skelly for the third against Man City Rice Miles Lewis Skelly comes a man and with what style for the celebrations and also for him

You know, he'd already emerged. We knew how, you know, we could start to see how good he was. But then for him to do that, to take it forward and put it away and then the celebration as well. But I think we have to have Detlef Rice's second free kick. It was just one. It was where he put it.

Two, it was what it meant and the absolute chaos, not only in the stadium, but in a bar in Australia at 6.30 in the morning. It was absolutely insane. Are you still banging on about Australia? I'm not banging on. I'm just saying that's where I watched it. That's where I watched it. So, oh, Amy, hello. How are you, Elaine? Tell us a bit more about your trip.

I think, do you know what? We have been sitting here for 48 weeks and Amy's having to listen to me and trying to move her on from her 14 choices for every single question I give her. Anyway, favourite game of the season? I mean, Amy, there's only one, isn't there? Really? One? I mean, it's Real Madrid at home, right? Yeah. There you go. Give you one answer. Adrian, you're agreeing, aren't you? Yeah, of course. Favourite game, maybe...

At Emirates City at home was pretty special Felt good Felt good I'll tell you what though Don't forget In terms of performance Don't forget Sporting Sporting won

Arsenal 5 now it was a league phase game back earlier in the season but I tell you what we played some unreal football that night against Sporting it was for me it was sort of peak football from us we had it was a very very rare occasion the team was Raya Timber

Saliba Gabriel Calafuri, because there was no MLS at this point. Partey, Erdegaard and Rice, Martinelli, Saka and Havertz. Now in that first half of the season, that 11 barely played together because of all the injuries. They played together against Sporting and they absolutely, and apologies for swearing, pissed it. They cruised it. They produced a high level of football that night that I thought said we can win it.

And obviously we came really close to winning it. So yeah, that was the night to remember for me, even though it kind of gets lost a little bit. I mean, game of the season. I mean, we could choose Real Madrid away as well, by the way. I mean, maybe you take them over the two, really, because Real Madrid away was a magnificent performance. And I know, Amy, I know you were there, Amy, and that's really something special to treasure, really. Yeah, it was beautiful.

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They get a humbric off and you can see that they are more free to play. Moment of the season then. I mean, by the way, for moment of season, I'm saying stay humble, you ****. LAUGHTER

I mean, for me, I just love all that. I genuinely do. And it was a marvellous moment. I'm assuming they got bleeped out. I do hope so. But 60,000 people or 57,000 people singing that in the stadium to Erling Haaland after what went on and then Miles scoring that goal and doing the celebration and the whole crowd singing that song, that will stay with me forever.

I mean, really, I was laughing about that for weeks. Yeah, brilliant. Any other candidates, Adrian? No, you stole it earlier. My moment of the season, aside from the bits against Real Madrid, was Luis Skelly's goal in the celebration. That, for me, was the most funniest, most sort of sweet moment of the season. I mean, we took some batterings off City down the years. So that was a great night to beat them so handsomely. Amy, anything to add to that?

I think we can have a clean sweep on that one. Great. Okay. Worst moment of the season then. Well, this might take a bit more sorting out. Amy, what have you got for worst moment of the season? I mean, I don't even know if I want to go here, but you know what? It's the awards. Yeah. So let's do it. Yeah. Okay. I've got a couple. Newcastle away in the league was a real...

a real down. I think that was one where it was the first sort of dropping points of the season where Arsenal didn't really have an explanation stroke excuse, whatever you want to call it, of like some sort of refereeing problem had created. That was sort of all of Arsenal's doing. And I was just a bit gutted because I'd taken my

My youngest son and his best mate up to Newcastle for a birthday treat for a big away game. And it was so rubbish. Arsenal just totally underperformed and kind of allowed Newcastle to, you know, to do what they do. Yeah, so that's just one that I couldn't let that one go for a while. But the other one is, I would say, is Man United at home in the cup.

came at the end of a pretty bad week for Arsenal in January where it really felt like everything was crumbling. You know, having just lost Gabi Jesus to the Crucia and then lost Saka to the hamstring.

There were a couple of games where it looked like Arsenal might be able to sort of survive this and still compete. And then suddenly in three different competitions, I think dropped points in the league badly and unnecessarily, and then got beat 2-0 by Newcastle in the

League Cup semi-final and then had clearly a very, very poor, catastrophic Manchester United at home in the FA Cup. They had a man sent off and contrived to lose on penalties. It was a horror show and...

yeah, that was probably the lowest point of the season, I think. I have to say, Adrian, losing in the Cup, I'm losing to Man Utd this season, losing to Liverpool last season when Klopp celebrated in front of the Liverpool fans at the Emirates. It's so, so painful. And if there's one thing I hope for next season, it's that we make more of a show of it in the FA Cup because...

We saw how much fun Palace had beating City. And we do want a bit of that. And the last time we won it, it was COVID and we couldn't celebrate like we should anyway. Yeah, that Man Utd game was a low point. It really was. Definitely. Just before, because I want to talk about that, because that's my moment I'd change, which is what we're coming to next. So I would go the home defeat to West Ham, because at that point,

we still believed a little bit. Obviously, we needed to put Mourinho up front. He came off the bench to score twice against Leicester and it's like, yeah, we're still in this. We're still in this. We can somehow turn it around and

And then we go and lose at home to West Ham with a no-show performance, really. It was awful. So that for me was the season ender, the title crusher. So that for me was the lowest moment. But yeah, fast forward into the moment you change. Sorry about this, Tony. Definitely on that, I would change David Raya's approach to the penalties. Unfortunately, you know, I love David Raya. He's had a stellar season, but...

He had a nightmare in that shootout, like just dive in a second too early every single time. And you could tell that they'd mentioned it because they just waited for him for each penalty and they scored every one. And that's the moment I changed because I refer you to the route to Wembley. It would have been Leicester at home, Fulham at home, Palace at home.

Villa at Wembley and Villa were absolutely knackered at that point and then City in the final if we'd have gone through potentially obviously things work out but that's how it that would have been our route that was a killer because there were so many Man United fans there that night and they were loving it and

And that Man U team is garbage, as we've seen. So, you know, the fact they even went to penalties is, you know, really frustrating. Any other worst moments? Sending some of the sendings off, by the way. I thought that might have been a category in itself. You know, most frustrating PGMOL decision. Yeah, but we would have been here too long for that because there's plenty of them, including, by the way, the one, I mean, it's not just for us, the one yesterday, Villa, the

the goalkeeper didn't know the ball in his hands and the referee decides to blow the whistle straight away in like record time. Just a nonsense. It's a nonsense. Moment you change, Adrian, while you're having May night in the FA Cup, Amy, would you, is there any other moments you'd change? I mean, there's loads, I should think. Yeah, I would change, I would change the January transfer window inertia. Definitely. Yeah. I think there was potential to bring in a forward, um,

The lack of doing so undoubtedly costs money.

certain points, certain games, certain situations. Yes. Notwithstanding the fact that Mikel Marino has been heroic, but it would have been nice to have an option, someone to bring off the bench. Yeah, definitely. The other thing is, you know, if we could possibly invent an instant hamstring repair kit, that would be something that would have been useful for this season. I would change that and make use of an instant hamstring repair kit.

And then the only other one of those is probably stretching a bit is at home against Paris Saint-Germain in those early minutes when Dembele hit the post. I would have liked that to have gone posting out rather than posting in because I think if Paris Saint-Germain don't score that game, get that goal.

then the whole time might have been rather different. Yeah, do agree on that. When Raheem Sterling is signing the contract, right? You're cruel, you are, mate. I'd have a moment when he dropped the pen and the pen hit the floor and they all thought, maybe this isn't the right move for the club or for me. And he sort of walked away because it was fated not to be. I'd like to have seen that. And they would have had to get someone else at that point. Yeah.

What, in that last half an hour before the window closed? Yeah, there is that. Obviously it would have been tight. I'd like no loanees next year, actually, just to get the business done nice and early so we don't have to go. Well, you talked about this. Yeah. I agree. Just a very quick one on another moment I'd change. It's that salary equaliser at the Emirates. We were better than Liverpool that day. And obviously...

obviously everything went against us in terms of players getting injured and we had a crazy back four and then there was that moment I think when Myles was forward and Martinelli loses the ball Myles is out of position and Salah goes and scores honestly I'm not saying we would have won the league but I do think that was a pivotal moment in the

in their belief that they would win it. Yeah. So that I'd like to take that back, please. Okay. But I'm still going for Raheem Sterling dropping the pin. All right. I'm taking the executive decision there. All right, let's go on with signing of the season. Well, we have signed a few. David Raya, obviously, you know, he'd sort of been there, but we did sign him. Mikel Marino, Riccardo Calafiore. We're not doing Sterling and Netto. So,

So it's basically one of them three, really. Bit of a stretch having Raya in. It is a bit of a stretch having Raya in. All right, let's just have... Is it Mikko Marino or Riccardo Calafiori? I mean, it's Marino, isn't it? That's it. He has been... I mean...

I've sort of grown to love him a little bit. Even when he got sent off at Liverpool the other day, when he made that mistake and David Rye put him in a slightly difficult position, the ball slipped away from him and he was so desperate not to lose it and he dived in. It was a stupid tackle and he deserved to get sent off, unlike quite a lot of our others this year.

But the way that he's adapted to playing up front, Amy, it's just, it's astonishing. And I'm so pleased. And I think there's a real love now and a real connection between the fans and him. I can't think of...

too many examples of players who within the space of one season or even less than, because remember he busted his shoulder, didn't he, in his first training session and therefore wasn't even available for the best part of the first couple of months or whatever it was. That was this year, wasn't it? That feels like a thousand years ago. I know. So within the space of, I don't know, six, seven months or whatever it might be,

opinion has shifted so radically about a player and in the first few months and I'm always keen to give anybody time and space and

you know, not rush to instant judgment, but I found myself scratching my head a bit for quite a lot of his early performances. I couldn't quite see what he did or what his role was or what sort of a player he was. I was trying to, and I just couldn't really grasp it. And to go from that to someone who I would herald for their quality of performance and

high intelligence and great sort of almost non-playing characteristics. I think he's someone who brings a great deal to the environment. I think he's a positive thinker. I think he's a positive influence, speaks a lot. He's got experience. He's a really good guy to have around, but obviously much more importantly than that, he was

fantastically influential on the pitch in an unfamiliar position in a time when Arsenal were absolutely desperate for someone to fill that gap. I think he's quickly become an absolute cult hero.

And where I think is interesting to look at what happens with him next season, I still think we're probably all a bit unsure about where he'll be playing some of his football positionally. Maybe you can expand on that, Adrian. Not striker, hopefully. Well, I mean, you know, if needed, he can come on. We know that he can be an impact, you know, in a forward position, but...

I think that with Jorginho leaving, Jorginho and possibly Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus, goodness knows how much involvement he's going to have. Those were all players kind of very heavily involved with the leadership group, with affecting the atmosphere, with being there for younger players and middle-aged players to make sure that they brought something extra to the mentality of the group there.

Not necessarily, but well, obviously Jorginho will go and we don't know quite what the situation is with the others. But I think Mourinho is going to be someone who steps in on that regard. I think he's going to be an important member of a sort of leadership type group.

you know, scenario next season. And he's very good for that. Adrian, I mean, anything to add really? Yeah, I agree with it all. Yeah, I would totally agree with what Amy said there. And Ricardo Calafiori, injury hit season, obviously, but scored a couple of great goals. Oh no, I'm a fan. Yeah. No, I like him. I really like him. I think he's going to be a good, really good player for us. He's obviously got to stay fit, but I'm excited to see what's to come because he's,

there's a character in there as well that you, you know, you know how much I,

You know, I keep banging on about players playing with personality. Now, Calafuri absolutely does that. He's got great personality. And I love the way he gallops forward and just takes a chance. But I also think there's a real gritty guy there. Someone that, a little bit like the Arsenal women's team, when you need them to step up with a big performance and put their way, you know, block something or make a last-ditch challenge or cover a teammate. I think Calafuri's the guy. I think he's a guy that we'll be able to rely on. So,

because he loves defending. So, yeah, I'm excited to see what happens for him moving forward. But, signing of the season is Mikel Moreno. I think so, yeah. No doubt, I would say. What would we have done without him? You know, in the second half of the season. So, yeah, absolutely. We've also got a category which is most improved player of the season.

I mean, I was going to suggest Adrian Miles Lewis Skelly, but it seems I sort of actually think that he might have been this good when he was like 14 or something, and we just didn't realise. I just think that all that's happened is he's come into the team, we've gone, oh my God, he is essentially the complete package. We'll certainly get into that point. What a season he's had. Amazing, yeah.

I mean, is there anyone else who would maybe warrant a mention? I've got one. I've got one. Gabriel Magalhães. Gabriel Magalhães. I think he's got miles better year on year. I just think he's now up there with Saliba. And he wasn't before. No. And I'll tell you what he has improved on. He's getting on the end of things. Bloody hell. I mean...

He was almost unplayable at one point in this season in terms of you could put two men on him on the penalty spot and he'd still get away from them and get his head on it. But it's not just about that. I think he...

He was really good for us at the start of the season before he got injured. So, yeah, he's come on definitely this season. Word for Detlam Rice as well in this category. I mean, obviously, we paid £105 million for him and he's an outstanding footballer and he was brilliant last year. But I think he's getting better and I think he's starting to learn. I don't know what you think about this, Amy. He's starting to learn...

starting to learn how good he actually is. You know, he's shooting more from outside the area. He's dominating games more. He's done it against Real Madrid. He took the game to PSG. I mean, I know it's ridiculous to talk about who was most improved because he was brilliant to start with, but you understand the point I'm making.

Yeah, but I'd also say that over the course of the season, he had, by his standards, a slightly underwhelming first few months. I think he looked really, really tired. He was sort of struggling a little bit to find his best form. But then when he did find his best form, he moved through the gears at an astonishing rate. I'd be really interested to see, obviously, the

the expectation of Zubimendi coming in as well. Sort of positionally, what happens with Declan as well, because I think it's kind of, instead of him, you know, I think he does have to do slightly different things in different games. He's given slightly different instructions in slightly different areas and kind of like him to be settled, to be, you know, know exactly what he's doing with whom all the time. And I think that may stretch him even further. Yeah.

I think you mentioned most of the prospects in this category, but I would also just say hello, Jakob Kivio, for most improved as well. Oh, yeah. I think he's been excellent over these last few months. Good call. Good call. I mean, it's a difficult category. Who are we having then? Who are we having? Yeah.

finally, Jakub Kivior is a really good call, actually. Yeah, he has it. Yeah, I think that's a fair shout. Because from where he was... I was going to go Big Gabby, so... Oh, were you? Yeah, yeah, yeah, but you said it all perfectly, Adrian. One of those two. And a special mention for Miles just because, my God, what he's done. Despite the, you know, the disappointment this season, I mean, you don't get a trophy for this, but we didn't concede more than two goals in the game in the entire season. In history...

That is a very, very rare feat. Only happened a few times. So like, you know, in the grand scheme of things, so what? But it does tell you that we've got a pretty solid... Defensively, we're pretty good. Yeah. All comps, by the way. That is all comps. Didn't concede more than two goals in a game. I think that's very good. Do you think that might be another little tiny clue about where the improvement needs to happen? Yeah.

69 goals this season as opposed to, I think it was 69 as opposed to 91. No one in double figures. No one in double figures. Shocking. For the first time since 1923, 1924, that an Arsenal striker scored less than 10. So, do you know what you have to do? And listen, Mikel Arteta was up in the stands yesterday. He had a whole afternoon with Josh Kronke. I imagine it came up. Player of the season, Amy. I think this is the hardest it's been for years.

I think normally it's relatively obvious, or at least it could be between a couple, but I really think you can make a case for lots and lots.

And you will. Yeah, but having one out, I don't know. I don't really think Arsenal has had one outstanding player this season. David Rea. I wrote down David Rea because he won the Golden Gloves again. He's not even on my list. He has had a great season. I thought he had a really good season. He made some outstanding saves. The double saves, the Atalanta and the game the other week. I mean, against Newcastle, he has been really pretty faultless. Pretty much.

I think prior to the injury, I would have gone Big Gabby. Yeah. He was my contender until he got injured. I think there's a huge case for Myles Lewis-Skelly. Yes. And I think if he'd have come into the team slightly earlier and had a bit more first half of the season playing time, he would have got my vote. I think he's been...

beyond remarkable in the calibre of his play for his age. And there have been times in games when Arsenal have been not quite there and he's been the trigger by doing something courageous and exciting. Just the amount of times this season that I've

been off my feet applauding some kind of intervention or impression that he's made in the game. I'm absolutely bowled over by him. And the other one I think is worthy of a mention for high, high quality of play and consistency is Jurien Timber. Jurien Timber. Absolutely right. He's been brilliant.

But I actually can't choose one. I'm sorry. I give up. They can share it. Adrian? Two names for me, Raya and Rice, I would have for various reasons, obviously. Rice did have a really slow start to the season, but he's ended it as player of the year, in player of the year form. Raya had an amazing first half of the season and maybe he's not been quite as good second half, but he's still produced some amazing saves. And I like his dominance, his

of the box so yeah given that rice has sort of hoovered up some of the other awards today i'm inclined to say that david ryer um should get it this season yeah okay let's have a song to finish this is a song for the season there's a lot riding on this one amy what have you got for us well it isn't really a song for the season in my case it's a it's a song for the 26th of may

which is today, which is the day that we're recording. And the 26th of May is and always will be

One of my favourite days of the year, the anniversary of Field 89. And when we were making the documentary on 89, one of the songs that I proposed that we use, we chose a lot of music from then, was Inner City and Good Life, which is one of my all-time favourites. And I just thought as well, I'm sitting here and I can hear the screaming outside of

10,000 or so people celebrating Arsenal women being European champions. And it feels like a good life for them as well in the way that they've ended the season. So there you go. Let me take you to a place I know you want to go. It's a good life.

Yeah, very nice. Nice, nice. You'd never mentioned 26th of May before, Amy. That's the thing. It's sort of interesting. It's my version of Australia, Stoney. It's the thing that just comes up constantly in conversations. I knew you'd been doing it for 36 years, but that's okay. A long way I continue. I'm happy to hear it as well. Adrian, what about you? Yeah, mine's not about the season. It's about where we are now. It's the end of the season. And I'm...

I'm handing it over to Mr. Berta because it's all about looking forward now and it's about giving the manager what he needs to make us multiple trophy winners next season. It's going to be a huge few weeks and it's a song that I can't get out of my head. It's the Luke Littler walk-on music. I love my darts.

I play this for the kids in the car. It's Green Light by Pitbull. Give me the green light. Hopefully, Mr. Berta is ready to go. Give him the green light to go and spend some money. Come on.

I was watching Erin Brockovich the other day. Marvellous movie. I think Julia Roberts and, was it Albert Finney? Great, isn't it? And the song they play at the end, Every Day is a Winding Road, Sheryl Crow. I get a little bit closer to feeling fine, is the line that really hit me. And I do, I love the song and I feel, I know we finished further behind Liverpool, so it doesn't quite fit, but you know what I mean. Got closer than the Champions League. Anyway, that's what I've gone for. Every Day is a Winding Road.

That's it for our Handbrake Off Season Awards. Tomorrow, we're recording a separate handbrake with Art and James where we'll maybe question some of these choices and also get some of your questions from the mailbag as well. Not mailbag. It feels like 1980s.

Nobody's had a mailbag for about 20 years. But anyway, you know what I mean. Anyway, my only comments, please send smoke signals. Yes, please send on a stamped address to Anbrake Towers. Thanks very much for listening this season. We're not stopping during the summer, by the way, but thanks to you for listening. Thanks to Amy. Thanks to Adrian. And thanks to Jay, our producer. And thanks to Arsenal as well. Speak to you soon. Ta-ra.

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Did you know that foreign investors are quietly funding lawsuits in American courts through a practice called third-party litigation funding? Shadowy overseas funders are paying to sue American companies in our courts, and they don't pay a dime in U.S. taxes if there is an award or settlement. They profit tax-free from our legal system, while U.S. companies are tied up in court, and American families pay the price to the tune of $5,000 a year. But

But there is a solution. A new proposal before Congress would close this loophole and ensure these foreign investors pay taxes, just like the actual plaintiffs have to.

It's a common sense move that discourages frivolous and abusive lawsuits and redirects resources back into American jobs, innovation, and growth. Only President Trump and congressional Republicans can deliver this win for America and hold these foreign investors accountable. Contact your lawmakers today and demand they take a stand to end foreign-funded litigation abuse.