The Totally Football Show · The Athletic

Bayern make a statement in Madrid as Arsenal get back to winning ways

April 8, 2026·52 min·4 clips

Bayern Munich secured their first win at the Bernabeu in 25 years with Harry Kane's clinical finish.

The preamble opens in proper panel mode. There is Athletic housekeeping, some Chelsea busy-season chat from Liam Toomey, and Ardor Rocher taking the Sporting-Arsenal long straw. Nobody tries to sell this as a classic. That dry tone helps, because Arsenal's 1-0 away win gets treated less like a statement and more like a useful job finally finished. Sporting had real home form. The panel notes they had won 17 straight there, which gives the flatness of the match a bit more bite once Arsenal pinch the first leg. The commentary clip brings the spark. Martinelli's ball toward Havertz is the point where a slow, stiff Arsenal performance suddenly has a runner, a pass, and a finish. Ardor calls it a great goal, and fair enough. Before Martinelli comes on, Arsenal sound almost stuck in walking football: little running speed, not much passing tempo, not much snap. Then the substitute changes the feel of it. He comes inside, clips a lovely ball over the top, and finds the channel where Havertz can do damage without making much noise. Havertz gets proper attention here. Liam's Chelsea familiarity feeds into the read, with Havertz praised for ghosting into space and taking a difficult ball cleanly. The finish is not waved through as easy. Through the five-a-side lens, the temptation is to shoot through the keeper's legs, but Havertz picks the corner instead. That is the football bit worth waiting for. The excerpt also keeps the bigger Champions League night nearby, with Madrid-Bayern sitting offstage as the game Ardor missed. A New York Times Games ad and network material break the rhythm, but the show gets back to its usual blend of jokes, names, and match detail. The goodbye is quick: Premier League business is teased, the panel thanks Liam, Art, Xavi, producer Charlie, and the listener, then sends everyone toward Thursday morning.

As heard by us

Dry, sharp Champions League chat built around Arsenal's late win and a lively read on Martinelli and Havertz.

The episode follows Arsenal's scruffy 1-0 win away from home and the wider drama in Madrid, using both as fuel for a conversation that stays alert without feeling pinned down.

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Why you'd press play

For when you want Bayern in Madrid and Arsenal's 1-0 away win explained without the varnish.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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