Post‑Leverkusen (A) UCL R16 L1 / Pre‑Everton (H) Hotel Rooms, Red Bulls & a Ropey 1–1 Recorded the morning after Arsenal’s Champions League Round of 16 first leg in Leverkusen, Tabs and Mos deliver a very different episode — live from a Cologne hotel room, running on limited sleep, too much caffeine, and the emotional hangover of a frustrating 1–1 draw. We relive the entire away‑day experience: travel disasters, train strikes, last‑minute flights, Red Bull‑fuelled insomnia, and the surreal vibe of watching Arsenal in Germany for the first time. On the pitch, they break down a performance that felt flat, disjointed, and strangely passive. Saka struggled, Eze drifted, Martinelli couldn’t get going, and even Saliba and Gabriel looked shaky. Tabs and Mos dig into why Arsenal never found rhythm, how Leverkusen controlled phases without creating much, and why Odegaard’s absence left a glaring “O‑zone” hole in midfield. There were positives: Noni Madueke’s impact off the bench, Havertz’s ice‑cold penalty, and the fact that Arsenal leave Germany level — a result that looks a lot better when compared to the other English clubs’ first‑leg disasters. The episode wraps with a look ahead to Everton at home: the lineup questions, the fitness concerns, and why Arsenal need to snap back into gear quickly with the season entering its decisive stretch. Key Talking Points Chaos in Cologne: travel nightmares, caffeine overdoses, and hotel‑room podcastingThe BayArena experience: friendly staff, easy access, and a strange “friendly‑match” vibe early onSaka’s off‑day, Eze’s nonchalance, Martinelli’s struggles, and an off defensive displayNoni Madueke’s directness vs Saka’s stop‑start styleHavertz’s penalty narrative and composureLeverkusen’s control vs Arsenal’s lack of intensityThe away‑end infighting and negativityChampions League context: a draw that might age wellEverton preview: selection dilemmas, fatigue, and the need to reset Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app. Find us on socials: @thegroveafc This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome. COME ON YOU GUNNERS! ---- Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc Email us here: thegrovepodcast@outlook.com 🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #ARSCHE #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #EPL #havertz #calafiori #norgaard #timber #white #norgaard #saliba #UCL #EFLCup #FACup #dowman #salmon (Audio Edit v3)
