David Raya: Difference Maker

About this episode

The panel discusses Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Sporting CP, highlighting David Raya's performance and the team's overall play.

Art de Roché and Nnamdi Onyeagwara, making his Handbrake Off debut, join Ian Stone to discuss Arsenal’s 1-0 win away to Sporting CP in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League on Tuesday. The panel reflect on the impressive result, a controlled away performance, David Raya potentially being Arsenal’s player of the year after another outstanding display, squad depth as the finishers combined for the winner, the players not looking nervous despite the fans understandably feeling so, the attacking play needing to be more adventurous and whether fatigue is impacting it.  Plus, we hear from James McNicholas and Amy Lawrence out in Lisbon, look ahead to Bournemouth on Saturday, respond to some listener messages and we hear from Andre in Sydney, Australia in this week’s instalment of ‘Up Your Arsenal’. If you like the panel’s song choices, check out the ‘Now that’s what I call Handbrake’ playlist on both Spotify and Apple Music and listen to them all there:  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6cgJk1eJwQBmiUJlSFZMJN?si=pMHHbBb8S8Ky5LtlKp7pHw&pi=Rra8NSxDRVm58&nd=1&dlsi=62f2d7c1c10045ac Apple Music…

People in this episode

Hosts: Art de Roché, Ian Stone, James McNicholas, Amy Lawrence

Guest: Nnamdi Onyeagwara

Topics covered

• Arsenal
• Champions League
• David Raya
• Sporting CP
• football analysis

Keywords

• squad depth
• player of the year
• listener messages
• Bournemouth

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Handbrake Off, Spotify, Apple Music

Books & works: Up Your Arsenal’

Places: Lisbon, Sydney, Australia

More episodes of Handbrake Off: The Athletic FC's Arsenal show

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• Squad Audit: Where do Arsenal improve this summer? · June 4, 2026 · 47 min
• We'll be back · June 1, 2026 · 58 min
• All eyes on Budapest · May 28, 2026 · 53 min
• We are unbearable · May 25, 2026 · 57 min
• End of Season Awards: Champions Edition · May 22, 2026 · 1h 4m