Today is the final episode of the Football Ramble. Sadly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has overhead kicked us into court.

Pete, Luke and Vish provide your midweek musings as the Premier League charges towards us. The cat gets revenge on Kurt Zouma, Conor Gallagher finally finds somewhere to sit, and Pete tries to release Paul Dummett into the wild… but he gets eaten by an eagle. 

And finally, of course, we pay our respects to an absolute institution of English football which has finally come to an end: Garth Crook’s Team of the Week.

We're back on stage and tickets are out NOW! Join us at London Palladium on Friday September 20th 2024 for 'Football Ramble: Time Tunnel', a journey through football history like no other. Expect loads of laughs, all your Ramble favourites, and absolutely everything on Pete's USB stick. Get your tickets at footballramblelive.com!

Find us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Arsenal appears to be closing in on the signing of Mikel Merino after his manager omitted him from the squad for their game this weekend.

The Gunners have been in discussions with Real Sociedad over acquiring the midfielder in recent weeks. Arsenal has received Merino’s assurance that he is eager for the transfer to proceed and is now working to agree on a fee with Sociedad.

Despite being in the final year of his contract, the La Liga club is seeking a substantial fee for his departure. They have rejected Arsenal’s initial offer and are looking to secure around £30 million for Merino.

Arsenal remains determined to finalise the deal in the coming weeks, and Merino’s omission from Sociedad’s lineup for their La Liga match this weekend suggests the transfer could be imminent.

The manager, Imanol Alguacil, was asked about his absence from the squad and said, as quoted by the Daily Mail:

Gabriel Martinelli has praised Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz after their standout performances helped Arsenal secure a victory in their opening Premier League game of the season against Wolves.

Arsenal faced Gary O’Neil’s side with the knowledge that securing a win was crucial, and most of their players delivered strong performances. However, it was Saka and Havertz who scored the goals that ensured the victory.

While every Arsenal player deserves recognition for their contributions, Martinelli specifically highlighted the impact of Saka and Havertz in the match.

The Brazilian attacker said on the BBC:

“We know his (Saka) quality and Kai’s quality as well. They are really important for us and we trust them and we know they can decided games in a moment.”

Wolves manager Gary O’Neil maintains that his team gave a good account of themselves in their match against Arsenal today.

Wolves visited the Emirates for their opening game of the Premier League 2024/25 season. Known for its challenging atmosphere, the Emirates Stadium proved difficult for the visitors.

Arsenal dominated the match, taking two of their chances to secure a 2-0 victory. The game was largely one-sided, with the scoreline reflecting Arsenal’s strong performance, which arguably could have seen them win by an even greater margin.

Despite the result, O’Neil praised his team’s effort, asserting that they performed well despite what the final score suggests.

He said to the BBC:

William Saliba set a new record for the number of wins by an Arsenal player after the Gunners’ victory over Wolves this weekend.

The Frenchman has been a consistent presence in the Arsenal team since he made his debut in the 2022/2023 season. Arsenal signed him three summers earlier, and after several loan spells, he established himself in the first team.

Since then, Saliba has been a key member of the Gunners’ squad and has proven his worth. At just 23 years old, he has etched his name into the history books at the Emirates as the Arsenal player with the fewest games needed to reach 50 wins.

The win against Wolves was Saliba’s 50th victory in just 66 Premier League appearances. According to Fabrizio Romano, he has now surpassed Nacho Monreal as the player to achieve 50 league wins in the fewest matches, and he has kept 30 clean sheets in those games.

Just Arsenal Opinion

Pundit Paul Robinson has reacted to Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Wolves today, insisting that not much has changed in their performance compared to last season.

Arsenal has been one of England’s top clubs for some time and reached a new high last season. Taking the league title race to the final day demonstrated their progress and set a higher standard for their performances.

As a result, they were the clear favourites for today’s match against Wolves, and their dominance was evident. Despite the final score of 2-0, Arsenal controlled most of the game, with Wolves having very few chances to challenge Mikel Arteta’s side.

After the match, Robinson acknowledged that Arsenal has simply picked up where they left off last season.

He said via the BBC:

Paul Merson commented on Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Wolves this evening, asserting that it was a comfortable win for the Gunners.

Arsenal prepared well for the fixture as Mikel Arteta aims to challenge for the Premier League title once again.

Wolves, known for being a tricky opponent, were always expected to pose a challenge for Arsenal. However, the Gunners have been title contenders for consecutive seasons, and they demonstrated their quality throughout most of the match.

Wolves struggled to make an impact, and even during their few promising moments, it never seemed like they could truly threaten Arsenal.

In the end, Mikel Arteta’s side secured a solid opening-day win, with Merson emphasising that it was as comfortable as it gets.

Arsenal earned a commanding 2-0 victory against Wolves this afternoon to start their season with a win.

It was a new term, but Arsenal continued their effective form from the outset, piling pressure on Wolves almost immediately.

The hosts quickly demonstrated their seriousness about the fixture, with Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli all looking dangerous in front of the Wolves’ goal.

Arsenal dominated in their search for an early goal, but they had to wait until the 25th minute to take the lead. Havertz connected well with a Saka cross to open the scoring.

Wolves hardly threatened the Gunners for much of the first half, making it relatively easy for Mikel Arteta’s side. However, they remained only one goal ahead until Jorgen Strand Larsen forced a fantastic save from David Raya.

Bukayo Saka has once again showcased his brilliance with a stunning goal against Wolves this afternoon at the Emirates.

Before the goal, Wolves had been applying some pressure, and there was some slack defending from the Arsenal players, but Saka’s fantastic strike quickly settled any nerves.

The 22-year-old cut inside and unleashed a powerful shot with his lethal left foot, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. In fact, words can hardly do the goal justice—watch one of the videos below to truly appreciate the beauty of Saka’s strike.

La spéciale de Bukayo Saka qui double la mise pour Arsenal ! #ARSWOL | #PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/yJwBXhBrji

— CANAL+ Foot (@CanalplusFoot) August 17, 2024

Arsenal have taken the lead against Wolverhampton Wanderers thanks to a well-placed header from Kai Havertz.

The Gunners started the match in control, and it seemed only a matter of time before they found the breakthrough. In the 24th minute, Bukayo Saka delivered a pinpoint cross, which Havertz expertly guided into the net with his head.

While Wolves remain a threat, Arsenal’s strong start suggests a positive opening-day result is on the cards, provided they maintain their focus and composure.

"Beautiful ball! Fabulous finish!"

Kai Havertz scores Arsenal's first goal of the 2024/25 season with a fine header! pic.twitter.com/6xdcbVmc7k

The wait is finally over—Premier League football has returned! Arsenal welcomes Wolves to the Emirates today, and this is the team Mikel Arteta has selected.

It is imperative that Arsenal get off to a winning start, especially at home. We all know that every single point is crucial when you’re competing with Manchester City for the Premier League title, and it is unthinkable for the Gunners to drop points this afternoon.

Wolves, like all Premier League teams, will not be pushovers. They will be tough opponents and will hope to catch Arsenal off guard in this season opener for both sides.

That said, Arteta will have his players well-prepared for whatever Wolves throw at them today and will be confident that all three points will be Arsenal’s once the final whistle blows.

Let us know in the comments below what you think of the side Arteta has chosen and what your predicted final score is.

The transfer window has been prettyyyy quiet – which has got one listener thinking: when was the last time a good old marquee signing really transformed a club's fortunes? 

After 20 years of constant shithousery, how can Pepe possibly be reintegrated back into ordinary society? What will he do?

Which little bald chap did Marcus admire as a kid? And is Positive Pete here to stay? All answered on today's Mailbag!

We're back on stage and tickets are out NOW! Join us at London Palladium on Friday September 20th 2024 for 'Football Ramble: Time Tunnel', a journey through football history like no other. Expect loads of laughs, all your Ramble favourites, and absolutely everything on Pete's USB stick. Get your tickets at footballramblelive.com!

Got a question for next week’s Mailbag? Find us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The world’s biggest super friendly – aka the Community Shield – is here and Kevin De Bruyne has grown a man bun to celebrate the occasion. Marcus, Jim and Pete, on the other hand, are celebrating the occasion by spreading Luke Shaw conspiracy theories.

Elsewhere, Marcus and Pete question whether Jim is a pickpocket working for Mikel Arteta and we pay tribute to the great Pepe after his retirement. Oh, and if you think the conspiracy theories are bad, just wait until you hear Pete’s story about gerbils….

We're back on stage and tickets are out NOW! Join us at London Palladium on Friday September 20th 2024 for 'Football Ramble: Time Tunnel', a journey through football history like no other. Expect loads of laughs, all your Ramble favourites, and absolutely everything on Pete's USB stick. Get your tickets at footballramblelive.com!

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: patreon.com/footballramble.

Have you been wondering how on earth Atlético Madrid can afford Julián Álvarez? Then you're in the right place. Today on our sister show On The Continent, Dotun Adebayo, Andy Brassell and Lars Sivertsen explain everything you need to know about this potential deal and discuss how Álvarez could become the new Antoine Griezmann.

Elsewhere, reports say that Borussia Dortmund might sack former Arsenal Head of Recruitment Sven Mislintat after just three months on the job. What’s happened? And why did Dortmund think dropping a live grenade into their boardroom was a good idea in the first place? Take it away, Mr Sivertsen…

If you enjoy this episode, On The Continent will be back tomorrow with a brand new edition of Ask OTC. Just search for "On The Continent" in your podcast app and hit subscribe so that you never miss an episode.

We're back on stage and tickets are out NOW! Join us at London Palladium on Friday September 20th 2024 for 'Football Ramble: Time Tunnel', a journey through football history like no other. Expect loads of laughs, all your Ramble favourites, and absolutely everything on Pete's USB stick. Get your tickets at footballramblelive.com!

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Julián Álvarez looks set to leave Man City for 81.5 million big ones! He’ll be gutted to leave Man City without winning the Carabao though.

Marcus is back and he’s joined by Pete, Luke and Jim to celebrate the arrival of Emile Smith Rowe at Craven Cottage. Elsewhere, some Champions League VAR officials have been arrested for stealing a road sign and Gary Neville spent his weekend DJing at a festival. Happy Rambling!

We're back on stage and tickets are out NOW! Join us at London Palladium on Friday September 20th 2024 for 'Football Ramble: Time Tunnel', a journey through football history like no other. Expect loads of laughs, all your Ramble favourites, and absolutely everything on Pete's USB stick. Get your tickets at footballramblelive.com!

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: patreon.com/footballramble.

Olympic football has reached the semi-final stages! But never mind that, have you been watching the swimming and the shooting?

Today, Pete, Jim, Andy and Vish are here to discuss all the latest news, including an incredible Jürgen Klopp lookalike, a Newcastle fan that was inspired by Alan Pardew, and RCD Mallorca’s pre-season tour of the Midlands and North of England. Plus, a manager in Scotland has been sacked after losing the first game of the season. Football’s officially back!

We're back on stage and tickets are out NOW! Join us at London Palladium on Friday September 20th 2024 for 'Football Ramble: Time Tunnel', a journey through football history like no other. Expect loads of laughs, all your Ramble favourites, and absolutely everything on Pete's USB stick. Get your tickets at footballramblelive.com!

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: patreon.com/footballramble.

We’ve answered more than 100 of your questions since kicking off the Mailbag last season. Today, we’re sharing some of our favourites! From the moral mazes of modern football and Jürgen Klopp’s legacy, to who we’d pick to take a penalty and which European food we’d take into battle, we’ve had a bit of everything. So sit back and enjoy as Luke rummages through the best of the Football Ramble Mailbag 23/24!

Got a question for next week’s Mailbag? Find us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We're back on stage and tickets are out NOW! Join us at London Palladium on Friday September 20th 2024 for 'Football Ramble: Time Tunnel', a journey through football history like no other. Expect loads of laughs, all your Ramble favourites, and absolutely everything on Pete's USB stick. Get your tickets at footballramblelive.com!

Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: patreon.com/footballramble.

***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***

The Premier League season is fast approaching and Luke, Jim, Vish and Andy have worked out how Arsenal can finally get to Man City and win the league… Hire Zlatan Ibrahimović in the Jason Tindall role.

Today, we hear how Zlatan’s beef with Pep Guardiola is still raging on in 2024. Elsewhere, news has broken that West Ham might be signing a new forward for the 56th time under their current ownership. Plus, Vish auditions to be Gennaro Gattuso’s interpreter.

Sometimes may be bat, sometimes may be foot…

We're back on stage and tickets are out NOW! Join us at London Palladium on Friday September 20th 2024 for 'Football Ramble: Time Tunnel', a journey through football history like no other. Expect loads of laughs, all your Ramble favourites, and absolutely everything on Pete's USB stick. Get your tickets at footballramblelive.com!

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Today, we're bringing you a special teaser of what you can expect every week on the Football Ramble Patreon.

For just $5 a month, you'll get an extended version of every Wednesday episode of the Ramble, which features 20 minutes of Ramble Uncut! Think spicy takes you won't get on the main show, correspondence from other Patreon subscribers, behind-the-scenes news and regular updates from Matt Le Tissier's newsletter (obviously).

Starting today, any new Patreon sign-ups can get 15% off an annual subscription! You'll get extended episodes of every Wednesday episode (meaning you'll get to hear Ramble Uncut every week), as well as access to our Discord and ad-free versions of every Ramble, On The Continent and Upfront episodes. Just head to patreon.com/footballramble now!

We're back on stage and tickets are out NOW! Join us at London Palladium on Friday September 20th 2024 for 'Football Ramble: Time Tunnel', a journey through football history like no other. Expect loads of laughs, all your Ramble favourites, and absolutely everything on Pete's USB stick. Get your tickets at footballramblelive.com!

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Bad news, everyone: the Amazon seller who sold Pete a durian for us to try today had to cancel the order due to “supply chain issues.” More news as we get it.

That leaves Pete, Luke and Jim with plenty of time to tuck into some other breaking news: Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane’s debuts in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Plus, Arsenal sign Italian defending dreamboat Riccardo Calafiori, Conor Gallagher might be about to buy an interrailing ticket to Madrid and Steve Bruce eyes up the next season of Death in Paradise. Plus, which footballer would make the best medieval blacksmith?

We're back on stage and tickets are out NOW! Join us at London Palladium on Friday September 20th 2024 for 'Football Ramble: Time Tunnel', a journey through football history like no other. Expect loads of laughs, all your Ramble favourites, and absolutely everything on Pete's USB stick. Get your tickets at footballramblelive.com!

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: patreon.com/footballramble.