In Lockdown

We conclude the series with a bonus episode, as David O'Leary tells us all about his international career with the Republic of Ireland, culminating with THAT historic penalty kick at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. The Gunners defender made more than 50 appearances for his country, but it's his match-winning penalty against Romania 30 years ago that he is still most fondly remembered for by Irish fans. In this episode, David tells us about his frosty relationship with long-standing boss Jack Charlton, talks us through his emotions as he strode up for the vital kick in the penalty shootout and reveals some of the stories he has heard from supporters about that moment ever since. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are in conversation with David O'Leary - the man who holds the club record for most appearances with 722. The defender enjoyed an incredible 20-year playing career with the Gunners, and he tells us about realising his secret ambition of becoming the first man to ever play 700 times for the club. David also outlines just how much football changed between making his debut as a 17 year old under Bertie Mee in the 1970s, to when he left the club during the Premier League era, on the back of another trophy-winning season in 1993. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest this week is former striker, and league title winner, Kevin Campbell. Earmarked for a successful career ever since his record-breaking days in the youth teams, Kevin recalls how he broke into the side as an 18 year old, and soon made his mark alongside Alan Smith and Ian Wright up front. In a far-reaching interview, he tells us exactly what representing the club meant to a boyhood Arsenal fan, and looks back fondly on the league title success of 1991 and 1994 Cup Winners' Cup triumph. He also reveals his emotions when it was time for him to leave the club in 1995. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of our special, in-depth interview with Jens Lehmann, the former Gunners goalkeeper picks out his highlights from the 2006 Champions League run, and describes his emotions in the immediate aftermath of his sending off in the final. In a fascinating insight, he reveals how he turned to meditation to cope with being dropped from the side, and how he earnt his place back. He tells us what he really thinks of former team mate Manuel Almunia and how he got on with international team mate Oliver Kahn. Jens also recounts the circumstances around his return to the club, and how he became our oldest ever Premier League player during his second spell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're in conversation with Jens Lehmann this week, for the first half of a two-part special with our outspoken former goalkeeper. In part one Jens discusses replacing David Seaman in 2003 and what he thought of training sessions at his new club. He looks back over an incredible first season when he played every minute of the Invincibles campaign - culminating with the title-winning match at White Hart Lane. He also gives his honest take on the game that ended our 49-match unbeaten run at Old Trafford, and tells us about his relationship with referees in English football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest this week is former striker, and now Sky Sports commentator, AlanSmith. The 13th highest scorer in the club's history, Alan won a host of trophiesduring his eight years at the club, including two league titles. In this in-depthinterview he tells us about the unusual circumstances around his signing, andhow he won the Golden Boot award twice. He relives the incredible title-clinching game at Anfield in 1989, but also reveals the crisis of confidence hesuffered following Ian Wright's arrival in 1991. Always honest and forthcoming,Alan also tells us about his retirement soon after his heroics in the 1994European Cup Winners' Cup final. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are in conversation with mercurial midfielder Alex Hleb, who spent three years at the club between 2005 and 2008. Alex tells us about his first impressions of the club when joining from Stuttgart, and the relationship he had with Arsène Wenger. He relives the heartache of the 2006 Champions League final, and his friendship with Mathieu Flamini, Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky. But most revealing of all is his sorrow and regret at leaving the club for Barcelona, a move he still cannot comprehend himself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest this week is former captain and current academy manager Per Mertesacker. The BFG tells us about his excitement around his transfer deadline day move to the club in 2011, and talks us through becoming a mainstay of the defence alongside Laurent Koscielny. He recalls the highs and lows from his seven seasons in the team, culminating with the incredible performance in the 2017 FA Cup final against Chelsea. Per also reveals the circumstances around calling time on his playing days aged just 33. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of our in-depth interview with Nicklas Bendtner, we hear about the car crash he suffered on the way to training that had serious consequences for the rest of his career, and about his conversations with Arsène Wenger when his Gunners career came to an end. The Danish striker also looks back over his career with the Gunners and outlines his highlights, as well as his regrets, while telling us about his plans for the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Lockdown returns for a second series, and outspoken former striker Nicklas Bendtner kicks things off with a revealing interview about life on and off the pitch. Nicklas has just released his explosive autobiography, Both Sides, and in part one of our in-depth interview, he recalls moving to London from Denmark as a 16 year old, and how his childhood shaped his confident personality in the dressing room. He tells us about his first Premier League goal in the north London derby and his on-field bust up with strike partner Emmanuel Adebayor. He also reveals the truth behind the infamous 'self-confidence' test that he took at the club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gael Clichy was just 18 years old when he won a championship medal in the Invincibles 2003/04 season, and in this episode he relives those days, telling us about learning from some of the very best players in the world at the time. He takes us through the move from Highbury to Emirates, and what it was like to be part of an evolving team entering a new era. He talks frankly about a lack of leadership and the challenges the team faced after Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira left, and explains the reasons behind his own departure to Manchester City in 2011 after eight years at the club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest this time is Thomas Vermaelen, the captain who lifted our first trophy for nine years when we won the FA Cup in 2014. The Belgian defender tells us about playing at Highbury and in the Dennis Bergkamp Testimonial for former club Ajax before joining Arsenal in 2009. Thomas relives the highs of his stunning debut season, when he scored eight goals and was named in the Team of the Season, and also talks about his days struggling with injury, whether the team lacked maturity, and his eventual departure to Barcelona in 2014. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of our special Dennis Bergkamp interview, the legendary former player tells us about the various captains he played with, and how he found extra motivation during every day training sessions, and on matchday. He reveals whether he ever came close to leaving the club, and tells us how he looked to inspire the next generation coming through during his later years. He finished by talking about future plans, and a possible return to London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There was obviously a lot to cover when we caught up with the legendary Dennis Bergkamp, so we've split this interview into two parts. In the first part we hear about Dennis's arrival at the club back in 1995, his first encounter with strike partner Ian Wright, and the relationship he had with Arsène Wenger. He tells us about his partnership with Thierry Henry and how his arrival changed his own role. Dennis also reveals what life was like inside the Arsenal dressing room at the time, and who he liked to socialise with away from the pitch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest this time is charismatic ex-goalkeeper Graham Stack. A regular member of the first-team squad in 2003/04, find out how he played a vital role in the Invicibles season, despite not playing a single minute of the Premier League campaign. Hear his experiences of being on the bench for the title-winning match at White Hart Lane - and his memories of the celebrations that night. A great story-teller, Graham also relives his explosive loan spell in Belgium, tells us exactly what it was like to work with Jens Lehmann every day, and recalls the day he scored a penalty on his first-team debut for the Gunners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we catch up with Bacary Sagna, the Premier League's outstanding right back throughout most of his seven years at the club. Bac tells us about overcoming personal tragedy during his first season in London, and the highs and lows of the title race. He recalls how the side was impacted by Eduardo's injury in 2008 and how he had to deal with his own injury problems after that. He relives the emotions of the FA Cup win in 2014, and reveals all about his move to Manchester City that summer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest this time around is Johan Djourou, who was just 16 when he joined Arsenal in 2003. He spent 10 years at the club, and he tells us about the highs and lows of his Gunners career in his typically honest fashion. Johan recounts learning from the Invincibles during his early days, to breaking through and becoming a regular in the back four. He relives the drama of the famous 4-4 draw away to Newcastle, beating Barcelona at the Emirates and tells us his emotions when he realised his Arsenal career was at an end.This episode is in partnership with Camden Town Brewery Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our interviewee this time is Fabrice Muamba - who came up through the Arsenal youth system before making his first-team debut as a teenager shortly after the Invincible season. But his career was drastically cut short aged just 23 after he suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch, while playing for Bolton in 2011. In this episode Fabrice candidly recounts that incident, and the aftermath, revealing how Thierry Henry, among others in the Arsenal family, gave him valuable support and advice at the time.This episode is in partnership with Camden Town Brewery Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of our Jack Wilshere interview we hear about the injury problems that wiped out his 2011/12 season, and what his relationship with Arsène Wenger was really like. He relives his emotions when lifting the FA Cup and talks us through that incredible goal against Norwich at the Emirates. Finally, we find out the real story behind why he left the club in 2018 and what his plans are for the future.This episode is bought to you in partnership with Camden Town Brewery Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jack Wilshere was on such good form for this interview that we've had to split it in to two. In this first part, he takes us back to when he joined the first team squad for the first time, and made his senior debut aged just 16. He tells us about his breakthrough season in 2010/11 when he was named PFA Young Player of the Season – from the heartbreak of the defeat to Birmingham at Wembley defeat to that incredible performance against Barcelona in the Champions League. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we catch up with fans' favourite Lukas Podolski, to relive the highs and lows from his Arsenal career. The German forward was always a bubbly character, on and off the pitch, and he opens up about his two and a half years at the club. He tells us about his relationship with Arsène Wenger, what he loved about life in London and what the the FA Cup final win in 2014 meant to him. Lukas also reveals his favourite football photo, and the secret of his famous left foot hammer! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest this time is Lauren, one of the key members of the Invincibles side. The tough-tackling right back tells us about arriving in London in 2000, being converted from a midfielder to a defender by Arsène Wenger, and his memories of winning the double in 2002. He explains the winning mentality that underpinned the Invincibles side, revealing how the team's fighting spirit boiled over on the training pitches. He also talks about the injury problems that brought an end to his Arsenal career, and reveals his theory as to why the 2005 FA Cup was the last trophy that group of players ever won together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest for this episode is Philippe Senderos, who talks us through his Arsenal story after joining the club as a highly-rated teenager in 2003. The intelligent defender recounts what it was like to learn his trade during training sessions with the invincibles, and tells of his pride in being an integral part of the side that reached the 2006 Champions League final. He speaks honestly about the tough times too - from facing Didier Drogba in the 2007 League Cup final, coping with injury problems, and the moment he realised his Arsenal career was over. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we catch up with Wojciech Szczesny, as he recounts the highs and lows from his eventful Arsenal career. The goalie tells us all about how he made it to the Arsenal first team after joining from Poland as a 16 year old, goes into detail about his relationship with Arsène Wenger, and how he bounced back from the disappointment of the 2011 Carling Cup final defeat. We find out exactly what happened in the dressing room at Southampton in 2015 and why the title bid unravelled the previous season. Finally Wojciech reveals his emotions when he eventually left Arsenal, after nearly ten years at the club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming soon, episode one of "In Lockdown"In a new mini-series recorded during the global coronavirus pandemic, we speak to former Arsenal players about the highs, lows and controversies from their careers - and hear some untold stories.Guests include, Wojciech Szczesny, Lauren, Lukas Podolski, Johan Djourou, Philippe Senderos, Graham Stack and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.