Welcome to The Preview on The Athletic FC, where this week our main focus is Chelsea vs Arsenal.

Which side will make the bigger statement with a win? Does Enzo Maresca have to start Estevao? Who would the panel have in their side out of Rice and Caicedo?

Mark Critchley and Cerys Jones join Matt Davies-Adams to look ahead to Sunday's clash before turning their attention to the fixtures elsewhere including Crystal Palace vs Manchester United, Spurs vs Fulham, and West Ham vs Liverpool.

Host: Matt Davies-Adams

With: Mark Critchley & Cerys Jones

Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

Producer: Jay Beale

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the battle of two of Europe’s heavyweights it was Arsenal who came out on top.

So, how much damage does a first defeat of the season do to Vincent Kompany’s Bayern?

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Seb Stafford-Bloor and Kev Hatchard

Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

Producers: Guy Clarke and Paul Iliffe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Real Madrid are top of La Liga and have won three from four in the Champions League, but there’s always drama around the corner at the Bernabeu.

Vinicius Junior has told the club he doesn’t want to renew his contract while his relationship with head coach Xabi Alonso remains strained.

So… who will end up winning this battle: star player or head coach?

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

Guests: Mario Cortegana, Dermot Corrigan, Jack Lang

Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

Producers: Mike Stavrou, Nick Thomson, Liam Warburton

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After six defeats in their last seven Premier League matches, reigning champions Liverpool sit 12th in the league.

Supporters streamed out of Anfield when Nottingham Forest’s third goal went in on Saturday.

So is Arne Slot’s position at risk?

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Jon Mackenzie and Oli Kay

Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

Producers: Mike Stavrou, Liam Warburton, Nick Thomson

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arsenal are six points clear at the top of the Premier League with Eberechi Eze playing a starring role.

So, how important has their summer business been?

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Adam Crafton and James McNicholas

Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

Producers: Guy Clarke and Paul Iliffe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Preview on The Athletic FC, where this week our main focus is Arsenal vs Spurs.

Which side is under more pressure to win? Who replaces Gabriel? Where can Spurs hurt Arsenal?

Reuben Pinder and Alexander Barker join Matt Davies-Adams to look ahead to Sunday's clash before turning their attention to the fixtures elsewhere including Newcastle vs Manchester City, Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest, and Manchester United vs Everton.

Host: Matt Davies-Adams

With: Reuben Pinder & Alexander Barker

Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

Producer: Jay Beale

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has a £65m release clause - as revealed by The Athletic's David Ornstein. 

He could be on the move in January. 

So who wants him? And where will he go?

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: David Ornstein, Carl Anka, Dan Kilpatrick and Dean Holden

Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

Producers: Guy Clarke and Paul Iliffe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2026 World Cup is almost set. We now know 42 out of the 48 teams going to next year’s tournament.

With the draw just around the corner, we're looking at who has qualified already, who is yet to qualify, and what a 48-team World Cup will look like.

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Jack Pitt-Brooke, Felipe Cardenas, Adam Crafton

Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

Producers: Mike Stavrou, Liam Warburton, Nick Thomson

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we bring you an audio exclusive with David Kogan, Chair of the Independent Football Regulator.

A role that makes him one of the most powerful people in English football.

So what powers will he actually have, and what difference will they make to fans of clubs in the Premier League and beyond?

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Matt Slater and David Kogan

Executive Producers: Adey Moorhead and Abi Paterson

Producers: Guy Clarke, Jay Beale and Paul Iliffe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A week ago we released a documentary about illegal streaming. It’s fair to say, you’ve had a lot to say about it.

So, today we’re going to answer your questions, and look to the future of watching football.

Host: Adam Leventhal

With: Adam Crafton and Matt Slater

Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

Producer: Guy Clarke

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re eleven games into the 2025/26 Premier League season. Arsenal are top, Man City are clinging to their coat tails, Sunderland are in the Champions League places and just four points separate 2nd from 9th. 

Meanwhile Newcastle are languishing in 14th, Fulham’s top scorer is own goals, West Ham and Nottingham Forest are in the relegation zone and Wolves sit rock bottom, still yet to win a game. 

So, is this the most unpredictable the Premier League has been in recent years?

Host: Matt Davies-Adams

With: Tim Spiers & Megan Feringa

Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

Producer: Jay Beale

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Como 1907 are one of the most intriguing clubs in modern football. They have gone from Serie D to Serie A in just six years, backed by billionaire owners they have ambitious plans to grow the Como brand and emulate a Disney model.

In this show we're talking to Mirwan Suwarso, President of Como 1907 about how the club rose to the top and their plans to sustain their success. You'll hear all about manager Cesc Fabregas's involvement in succession planning, their data-led recruitment strategy, and insight into plans for their match abroad against AC Milan.

We also talk fashion, Suwarso's surprising LinkedIn account, and Como's gorgeous lakeside stadium.

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Matt Slater and Mirwan Suwarso

Producer: Mike Stavrou and Nick Thomson

Exec Producers: Adey Moorhead and Abi Paterson

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're bringing you an exclusive interview for The Athletic, Crystal Palace and England midfielder Adam Wharton in conversation with David Ornstein.

Ahead of next summer's World Cup, they get into his England chances, being overly self critical, the constant transfer speculation that surrounds him and much more...

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: David Ornstein & Adam Wharton

Executive Producers: Abi Paterson & Adey Moorhead

Producer: Jay Beale

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ruben Amorim’s first year at Manchester United has been box office.

From the lows of the Europa League final defeat to the highs of that historic win at Anfield.

So how do we assess his time at Old Trafford - and what next for the project?

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Mark Critchley, Oli Kay and Charlotte Harpur

Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

Producers: Mike Stavrou and Nick Thomson

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pep Guardiola’s 1,000th game in management ended with Liverpool thrashed and Man City just four points off Arsenal.

Erling Haaland was among the goals, but Jeremy Doku got all the attention at the Etihad.

Can they now sustain a serious challenge for the title?

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Adam Crafton and Jack Pitt-Brooke

Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

Producer: Paul Iliffe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does the rise of illegal streaming pose an existential threat to football?

To answer that question, Adam Leventhal has spent the last six months looking into the culture, crime and crisis associated with pirating live football matches.In this special episode of The Athletic FC Podcast you'll hear undercover reporting and behind the scenes access to police investigations, including how the world's largest illegal sports streaming platform was taken down.

We get the takes of match-going fans, and ask if 'Premflix' is the future of Premier League broadcasting?

If you're an Athletic subscriber you can have your say here.

And if you're not yet a subscriber, join here and have your say.

Please note that the documentary has content some listeners may find upsetting.

Host: Adam Leventhal

Mixing: Jay Beale

Producer: Abi PatersonFeaturing footage from Amazon, Sky Sports, tallkSPORT, Leaders. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Preview on The Athletic FC, where this week our main focus is Manchester City vs Liverpool.

Where do you play Wirtz? How do you stop Haaland? And will either of them reel in Arsenal?

Andy Jones and Jordan Campbell join Matt Davies-Adams to look ahead to Sunday's clash before turning their attention to the fixtures elsewhere including Sunderland vs Arsenal, Spurs vs Manchester United and Crystal Palace vs Brighton.

Host: Matt Davies-Adams

With: Andy Jones & Jordan Campbell

Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

Producer: Jay Beale

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Halfway through the Champions League league phase and one pattern is emerging; the dominance of the Premier League.

But is that a problem for the balance of the Champions League?

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Michael Cox and James Horncastle

Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

Producers: Guy Clarke and Paul Iliffe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anfield roared - and booed - as Liverpool emphatically defeated Real Madrid in the Champions League.

So could this victory reignite their season?

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: James Pearce and Tomás Hill López-Menchero

Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

Producers: Mike Stavrou and John Rogers

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wolves have sacked manager Vitor Pereira.

With zero wins in the league, and just two points, all signs lead to relegation.

So, can anyone save them?

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: David Ornstein, Matt Slater & Tim Spiers

Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

Producers: Mike Stavrou and John Rogers

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.