Latest news with #HandbrakeOff
New York Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Could Martin Zubimendi be just as important to Arsenal as signing a new No 9?
It's set to be a pivotal summer for Arsenal in the transfer market — arguably the most important window since Mikel Arteta took charge. After finishing as Premier League runners-up for a third straight season and falling to eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals, the pressure will be on next season as only silverware will suffice. Advertisement The consensus is that a new No 9 is the missing piece to get Arsenal over the line, but the club appear to be on the verge of signing Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad. On the latest episode of Handbrake Off, Ian Stone, Liam Tharme, and Adrian Clarke discussed why Zubimendi's arrival could prove just as crucial as landing a new centre-forward. A partial transcript of his interview has been edited for clarity and length. The full episode is available on the Handbrake Off feed on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Ian: This is an interesting topic, so let's hear from The Athletic's tactics writer Liam Tharme on how the arrival of a player like Zubimendi could be just as important as a new No 9. Liam: With Arsenal currently, it's really important to hold multiple different opinions all at once. The reality is that they need a goalscorer, but the trick has been finding the right kind of midfield combination to improve them in open play. The left No 8 spot has been a problem for Mikel Arteta in the post-Granit Xhaka era. Kai Havertz was initially signed to fulfil that spot, but he's worked better as a No 9. Arteta has also seemed to prioritise physicality in the midfield, but it's come at a bit of a cost. We saw a drop-off last season in terms of their open play creativity, and they were maybe a little bit too reliant on set pieces, especially to break games open. It wasn't just the sheer volume of goals, but there were plenty of games, especially against mid-table and lower-table opposition, where they needed a set-piece goal to break the game open. And then they would create more chances once the opposition team were worn down a bit and had to come out and play against them a little more. So you can look at that left No 8 where Declan Rice will now go into as that spot now being filled. He put up his personal-best numbers last season for goals and assists. And he's had a real box-crashing threat which has been really important for those in-swinging crosses, especially from the wingers. So improving the midfield area is absolutely huge. Advertisement It really struck me in one of Arsenal's more recent games against Newcastle at home when they were struggling to play against the press — they did end up winning with a Declan Rice goal from range, but they really didn't create much in open play. Martin Odegaard was dropping so deep at times, especially in deep build-up, that you'd actually see a lot of improvement across the team if you could invest in Zubimendi. Or a profile of player that's got that press resistance and can hopefully shoulder a bit more of the creative burden. That's not just in terms of the final pass, but a bit deeper downfield in terms of linking the play too. They would definitely be improved by having a player who could score 15 to 20 goals, but there are definitely ways they can improve their build-up and in open play especially. Ian: Adrian, we're looking for players with attributes that will fit in with our other players in their best positions aren't we? Because we now think that Declan Rice's best position will be in that left No 8 position, where he can get forward. And we know Martin Odegaard plays on the other side, a little bit nearer Bukayo Saka and whoever the fullback is, so Zubimendi is going to play behind them. Again, it's about filling in the stuff that's missing from the team, and that seems to be what he does very well. Adrian: Yeah, definitely, and the point Liam made about the size and physicality of Arsenal's midfield is really important. Because we've maybe overcompensated by signing a lot of tall players who are physically dominant, which has made us an absolute force at attacking set pieces, but has it slowed down our build-up play? The answer is definitely yes. Whether it's Mikel Merino in there, Kai Havertz, or Thomas Partey as well. These are all players who are bigger guys and are really good at certain things, but are they brilliant at playing little one-twos in sharp areas and moving the ball between the lines like Santi Cazorla and Arteta did back in the day? The answer is probably no. So it's about getting the balance right, and you can have all the little guys because PSG have. Advertisement But for us, it's good to have a little bit of everything, and Zubimendi maybe counteracts the lack of balance that we've had. So that for me is quite exciting. He and Odegaard are really sharp on the ball and they're high-touch players. And with Rice, it's surprised me how few touches he sometimes has because he can obviously play. But he's definitely someone who's developing into more of a ball carrier and someone who can take the ball up the field, and obviously someone who can crash the box as well, which is really important. He's a proper box-to-box midfielder. So between the three of them, that's a really strong central midfield. You could have Zubimendi and Rice sit there in certain situations with Odegaard in front. And then when we get it, Myles Lewis-Skelly will be coming into midfield, so it will be Lewis-Skelly and Zubimendi with Rice and Odegaard pushed on. That's your box of four in midfield that hopefully can go and control games, that's how I see it working. When we're playing out from the back for instance, it won't just be Zubimendi that goes and shows for the pass, it'll be Lewis-Skelly as well. Then opponents will have a quandary over who they pick up, and if they get tight to both of them, we'll just miss them out and clip one into Declan Rice or one of the forwards. So he will improve the balance of the team, for sure. Remember, can listen to full episodes of Handbrake Off for free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. (Top Photo: Juan Manuel)
New York Times
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
What to watch in sports this week: Playoffs, Champions League semis and 151st Kentucky Derby
'I got a color TV so I can see the Knicks play basketball,' Sugarhill Gang's Big Bank Hank famously flexed back in 1979. Almost a half-century later, and just about everyone owns a flatscreen (if not a full fleet of devices to stream from). Better still, we can tune in to more than just the New York Knicks, though Sunday's stunner in Detroit was very much worth watching. Advertisement This week's national TV slate is absolutely loaded, from nightly NBA and NHL postseason looks to main-stage racing events (F1's Miami Grand Prix and the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby). We also get two banger matchups in the Champions League semifinals, a primetime look at the Los Angeles Dodgers superteam and the unofficial WNBA debut of Paige Bueckers. Let us know what we're sleeping on for the week ahead, and of course, make sure to 'up jump the boogie.' The NBA put on a show Saturday and Sunday. All this went down across one weekend: This week's action keeps rolling onward. KAT and the Knicks return home to The World's Most Famous Arena seeking a series closer. The Lake Show and its starry cast are unnervingly close to early-season hiatus. LA and Denver should be allowed to go a full 10 games. There are between two and four playoff games on each night this week. Set your lasers accordingly. Read next: Anthony Edwards and the complicated pathway to becoming the face of the NBA Hockey saw pro basketball's frenetic weekend, laced up the skates, and went Annie Oakley on 'em. Wind the tape back: The ever-chaotic NHL postseason is on all week, and it gives us multiple games on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Coming into Monday, four different series were knotted at 2-2. Read next: NHL Power Rankings: The playoff teams 1-16, plus — who is stepping up? 'The last few weeks of this season could be so spectacular that we forget about almost everything that came before. Football's a strange game in that respect. We've suffered at times this season. It's felt like everything has gone against us and it's not been our year. But suddenly, there's this path to glory opening up in front of us. Advertisement Sometimes it defies analysis. Arsenal sense their moment, sense their opportunity, and it's difficult to disagree. Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals, and what a tie that promises to be. London and Paris, Arsenal, with all the French heritage in the club historically. PSG have been in brilliant form and were superb against Liverpool and Aston Villa. But Arsenal are the vanquishers of Real Madrid, the conquerors of the holders, and perhaps favourites at this point. If you knock out Madrid, it's very hard to dismiss that idea.' — James McNicholas in Handbrake Off 'The first bars of Coldplay's 'Viva la Vida' rang out and Barcelona's fans went wild. On the pitch, possibly more than half of the players didn't know why. Some because they weren't in Barcelona in 2009, others because they were less than five years old. That Coldplay song was the soundtrack to Pep Guardiola's treble, and since his departure, it has not been played again. The message was clear: this Barcelona team has a special aura once again. They won the Spanish Super Cup in January against Real Madrid — who they have scored 12 goals against in three games this season — they have now won the Copa del Rey, they are top of La Liga, and they are in the semi-finals of the Champions League. We shall find out in the coming weeks what happens in the European competition when they face Inter. In the domestic competitions, they are very well positioned. And what is most surprising is that there is talk of a treble in April, considering that this season was supposed to be a transitional one.' — Laia Cervelló Herrero Here's a cool change of pace for the sporting schedule, and an apt way to usher in some early summer vibes. This year's tourney is the 13th edition of the suntanned international competition, and the first to be hosted in Africa. It takes place in Victoria, the capital of the Republic of Seychelles, and the Mahé coast will provide a serene and majestic setting. The 16-team action begins Friday, May 1, and runs through Sunday, May 11. Brazil is the reigning champion and the most decorated program in beach soccer, with six titles in 22 years. Advertisement Read next: The 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup: Sun, sand and overhead kicks All-galaxy talent Paige Bueckers was nothing short of sensational in her women's college basketball career. She was a unanimous All-American, a pioneering personality and a graceful national champion. Up next, of course, is the W, a league surging in popularity and rapidly expanding its talent pool. Preseason work doesn't count for stats or records, fair enough, but a first look at Bueckers in her Dallas threads is worth watching. A'ja Wilson's Aces are among the best in the game. Arike Ogunbowale is going to take Bueckers under her wing (Wings), and DiJonai Carrington should take another step forward with more spacing on the floor. Read next: Which WNBA Draft players are the best fit with their new teams? 'D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, sat in the front row. A few rows back, sat seven-time winner Bob Baffert, in Louisville for his first Derby after a three-year ban. Across the aisle from Baffert, Michael McCarthy, trainer of this year's favorite, Journalism, sat beside his daughter, Stella. And on the other side of the setup for the Derby draw, stood a person in a horse head and jockey silks, hooves crossed at the ankles, casually hanging at a high-top bar table. Derby week officially kicked off with the perfect mix of the splendid and the absurd here on Saturday night, the sport's stars doing on-camera TV interviews as they rubbed shoulders with a person who took time to rent a horse head. Mixed in the sublime evening, the 151st run for the roses got down to business, with the post positions drawn for the 20-horse field. Journalism, slated by odds maker Mike Battaglia as the 3-1 favorite, drew the eighth position, a fortuitous spot in Derby history. Nine winners have come from the 8-spot, the second most of any place in the field. Only two other horses earned single-digit odds, Sovereignty at 5-1 and Sandman at 6-1. Both, however, are outside, in the 17 and 18 posts, the crowd audibly groaning when their positions were announced.' — Dana O'Neil 'Each Formula One race has its own identity. Monaco is known for its history. Circuit of the Americas is the American track for motorsport fans. Las Vegas embraced the sport's glitz and glamor. But nailing down the identity of the Miami Grand Prix is complicated as the world of F1 merges with the culture of a vibrant city known for its food, art, and nightlife. It's a race where people want to be seen, with celebrities and influencers flooding the campus. And it is unashamedly Miami, merging the racing product with high-end entertainment and local culture. The attendance continues to grow each season, even with the viewership numbers dipping in 2023. This year, the race set a record for the live U.S. television audience as Lando Norris secured his first F1 victory. However, it doesn't mean Florida's F1 race has escaped criticism, whether about the track in year one or the over-the-top driver introductions in year two. Advertisement However, Miami and F1 somehow struck the right balance in year three.' — Madeline Coleman Let's appreciate the institution of 'Sunday Night Baseball' before it leaves us at the end of the 2025 season. Yep, roll the music! This one sells itself. It's Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman (each with an MVP trophy) versus Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson (all former Silver Sluggers). Atlanta has a nightmarish start, dropping its first seven games, but the hosts begin this week with a more respectable 12-15 record. LA is the incumbent World Series titlist and the team to beat until proven otherwise. Read next: Dodgers' Tyler Glasnow leaves second consecutive start with injury NYT archives: Monday — On this date (April 28) in 2011, future NFL MVP and preeminent dab enthusiast Cam Newton was drafted No. 1 overall by the Carolina Panthers. Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Bukayo Saka: Justin Setterfield / Getty Images)
New York Times
18-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Are Arsenal the favourites to win the Champions League?
Arsenal's 2-1 victory against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Wednesday not only sealed a famous 5-1 aggregate victory over the 15-time winners, but it also sent them to their first Champions League semi-final since 2009. The Champions League remains the one major trophy that has eluded Arsenal throughout their history, but after knocking out the defending champions and with a semi-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain — who they beat 2-0 in the league stage — Mikel Arteta's side will undoubtedly believe this could be their year. Advertisement On the latest episode of Handbrake Off, James McNicholas, Ian Stone, and Art de Roche discussed whether Arsenal should be considered favourites to win the competition. A partial transcript of his interview has been edited for clarity and length. The full episode is available on the Handbrake Off feed on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. James McNicholas: The last few weeks of this season could be so spectacular that we forget about almost everything that came before. Football's a strange game in that respect. We've suffered at times this season. It's felt like everything has gone against us and it's not been our year. But suddenly, there's this path to glory opening up in front of us. Sometimes it defies analysis. Arsenal sense their moment, sense their opportunity, and it's difficult to disagree. Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals, and what a tie that promises to be. London and Paris, Arsenal, with all the French heritage in the club historically. PSG have been in brilliant form and were superb against Liverpool and Aston Villa. But Arsenal are the vanquishers of Real Madrid, the conquerors of the holders, and perhaps favourites at this point. If you knock out Madrid, it's very hard to dismiss that idea. Ian Stone: I really love what James said there, Art. The way he talked about it and how important this is for the status of the club, for where we are now. We are the favourites. The bookies have us as favourites although, obviously, that would be in the UK, where more money would be lumped on Arsenal rather than the other teams. We are missing some players and the suspended Thomas Partey will miss the first leg as well, which was the one annoying moment aside from Bukayo Saka's missed penalty. It showed by the way Declan Rice had a go at him, he was like, 'What are you doing? That's making it harder for us?'. Rice will just have to do more work now, but that's all right. Are we the favourites now, Art? Advertisement Art: Arteta and the players have to be bold and view themselves that way. Otherwise, there's no point being in a semi-final. From an observer's point of view, they might edge it as favourites. I'd rather face Bayern Munich than Inter from the other semi-final because Arsenal and Inter have had the two best defences in the Champions League this season. That would be very attritional to watch. Ian: I said I'd prefer to get Real Madrid than Atletico Madrid for the same reason. Art de Roche: Right, and in the semi-final against PSG, Arsenal have that edge of beating them already this season. They're a different team, but Arsenal will also be a different team heading into the tie. You can listen to full episodes of Handbrake Off free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
New York Times
10-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why Lewis-Skelly's ‘coming of age' performance should be a shock to nobody
Arsenal's 3-0 win over Real Madrid on Tuesday night was undoubtedly one of the greatest nights of football at the Emirates in recent memory, possibly the greatest across their 19 years there. The game will rightly be remembered for Declan Rice's brace of free kicks, but it was the youngest player on the pitch, Myles Lewis-Skelly, who again impressed and set up Arsenal's third goal in what is becoming a remarkable breakout season for the 18-year-old. Advertisement On the latest episode of Handbrake Off, Ian Stone, James McNicholas, Art de Roche and Amy Lawrence discussed whether Lewis-Skelly's performance against Real Madrid showed he has the potential to become a generational talent. Listen to the full episode below. A partial transcript of his interview has been edited for clarity and length. The full episode is available on the Handbrake Off feed on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Ian: Before we talk about the free kicks, just a moment on Myles Lewis-Skelly. James, we are witnessing the first season of what may be a generational talent. He's in the England team, scored a goal on his debut, and scored what turned out to be the winning goal against Manchester City. And, as Amy said, he was probably one of the best players on the pitch last night. He's 18 years old, stepping into midfield and looking as comfortable as Jude Bellingham, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice, all experienced international players. Nothing fazes him at all, does it? James: His superpower is his personality. There are kids in academies who have a very high level of technical ability or natural physical gifts, but what Myles has that separates him from others is his attitude and this special charisma that he's able to exert on a football pitch. He's only played around 30 games of senior football in his young life, he's only 18 years old and he never went out on loan or been exposed to men's football before this season. But he was playing against Real Madrid, against idols, heroes and people he grew up hoping to emulate, and he was bossing it. It's really extraordinary. Like Bellingham at Real Madrid, and like Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fabregas did, he has a capacity to influence games at an unnaturally early age. And as gifted and talented as he is, that stems from a core personality and a core belief in himself. It's what really could make him special. It's obviously tempting to project forward and imagine what he might be in the future, and we know from years of watching Arsenal that the trajectories of any player's career are difficult to predict. But what he's doing right now is truly extraordinary. Advertisement This was a performance you could conceivably file alongside Jack Wilshere against Barcelona and Cesc Fabregas in the Bernabeu as a coming-of-age and announcing-himself moment. Not just to the Premier League — he's an England international and goalscorer, in this country we all know him well — but to Europe and the global game. I'm sure a lot of people will have sat up and taken notice last night. Ian: Art, anything to add about Myles? It's not that I don't want to move on, because we do have a couple of free kicks that I'd really like to talk about (laughs). But Myles is Arsenal DNA, and he's part of the fabric of the club. He's been there for years, and we're all so proud of him. He just takes it all in his stride, doesn't he? Art: Aside from the fact I'd like him to keep the No 49 shirt for his whole time at the club… I want to mention one moment in the game. Jurrien Timber went off to receive some treatment, and Arsenal had to keep the ball while they were waiting for him to come back on. And Myles was the one who was in the centre circle, just controlling everything. In real time, it seemed amazing. He's 18 years old, Real Madrid were a man up at the time and could have easily picked us off when we had the ball. But he just knew what pass to make, where to move and where to look. That moment just felt like, 'OK, wherever he plays, it'll be fine. If he's in midfield in the future, he'll be fine.' And I just thought to myself, 'Wow, what is this?' James: There was another moment in the game after Arsenal defended a corner, but the ball stayed in play for about five minutes afterwards, or it felt like it anyway, and they weren't in their customary formation. William Saliba was basically playing as a left-back and Lewis-Skelly, for this whole passage of open play, was effectively the right-sided centre half in the back four. Advertisement And you could see him cajoling the guys around him, setting the offside trap and leading the line. As I keep saying, at 18 years old, that is not normal. Amy: Just on the goal as well. Like most of us, we've seen hundreds of versions of people's footage who were in the ground of all the goals. When Myles got the ball just before the third goal, you could hear people shouting, 'Shoot!'… but he had the wherewithal and the intelligence of decision-making to just roll it across for Mikel Merino to bury it in. Which, again, just shows great maturity of thinking. You can listen to full episodes of Handbrake Off for free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
New York Times
04-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Can Arsenal take down Real Madrid without Gabriel?
Arsenal's 2-1 win over Fulham at the Emirates on Tuesday was bittersweet. Despite Bukayo Saka returning after three months out and scoring just seven minutes after coming on, Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber were both forced off through injury. Mikel Arteta's side visit Everton on Saturday lunchtime, but they will have one eye on their massive Champions League quarter-final clash next Tuesday, as holders Real Madrid travel to north London. Advertisement With Gabriel now out for the season and Timber, Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori all under evaluation, Arteta faces a defensive injury crisis ahead of Arsenal's biggest game of the season. On Wednesday's episode of Handbrake Off, Ian Stone, Adrian Clarke and James McNicholas discussed Arsenal's chances of taking down Madrid amid their injury woes. A partial transcript of his interview has been edited for clarity and length. The full episode is available on the Handbrake Off feed on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. James: Unfortunately, we've become very accustomed to seeing what hamstring injuries look like at Arsenal this season and Gabriel is another one. The disappointment was written large on his face because I think every footballer knows that when your hamstring goes, you're looking at an extended period on the sidelines. Ian: He just doesn't deserve to miss the Real Madrid game in terms of the way he's played and what he's given to the club. This is the biggest game we've had in quite a few seasons and he deserved to be on that pitch. James: Definitely. It would have been a massive game for him personally, too, because this is a game where he would have been coming up against some top Brazilian talent as well. It will be a game that's massive in Brazil and I'm sure many people over there will be watching. He actually missed the second international game during the break because he was suspended. He played against Colombia and was suspended for Brazil's game against Argentina. Collectively as a fan base, we were like, 'That's great news, we'll get him back early and he'll be well-rested.' Then sod's law and something like this happens. I also think for Arsenal, the reason it's so disappointing is that when I think of that Real Madrid tie, every iteration and scenario that I play out in my mind, which has Arsenal coming out on top, is reliant on the defensive foundation that Gabriel and William Saliba provide. That really was the foothold that was making me feel like we had a chance here. Without that, I think it's going to be extremely tough. Advertisement Looking at the broader picture, it's not just Gabriel that we've got concerns over. Jurrien Timber took a couple of knocks against Fulham, Ben White wasn't fit to be in the squad, and Riccardo Calafiori was absent with an injury sustained on international duty. So once again, we have a part of the pitch that has been struck by several injuries simultaneously. Ian: Adrian, with the defence, whenever I looked at the Madrid game, I thought, 'You know what? They've got an unbelievable team and a brilliant attack, but we've got a brilliant defence.' But that central defensive partnership was such a huge part of that. And as James mentioned, we don't know Timber's status. He went down injured early, stayed on and then he limped off a bit later in the game. We're really short of defenders now and it just reduces our chances of getting through, doesn't it? Adrian: I think it does, and probably quite substantially, too, because Gabriel and Saliba are a fantastic combination. Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham are an awesome forward line, but most Arsenal fans would have trusted those two to handle them as best as they possibly could and even potentially dominate someone like Mbappe. But it's going to be really difficult now. What does Mikel Arteta do? Does he rush Calafiori back? Does he give Ben White game time at the weekend in a bid to try to get him up to speed? I'm more optimistic about Timber because it felt like it was more of a contact injury, hopefully it was just a dead leg or something above his knee. Ian: Would you play Timber at centre-half? Adrian: I'd probably play White at centre-half and stick with Timber at right-back. If White's fit enough, I would go with White and Saliba at centre-half if Calafiori isn't right. Even though Jakub Kiwior did some good things in the Fulham game, Real Madrid is football at the very highest level and I just feel like he could get found out. He made one or two mistakes against Fulham. You look at the big miss from Rodrigo Muniz where he left him unmarked inside the box after losing his position. There were also a couple of other instances where he took a heavy touch that Adama Traore was able to run on to… Ian: Traore's very quick, though, isn't he? Advertisement Adrian: He is very quick, but so are Mbappe and Vinicius Jr! So I think in Mikel Arteta's head, he'll be really hoping that White or Calafiori can come good just in time. But whether or not that happens, we'll see. You can listen to full episodes of Handbrake Off for free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
