Issue 1 · Fri Nov 20
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Sources for this issue
Unofficial. Not affiliated with Arsenal FC, the Premier League or Arsenal America.
Every fact in the issue is on this page, section by section: what the issue said, where it came from, and the date it was read. A quote came from the club's own transcript. A channel came from the broadcaster's listing, or is marked expected with its basis. An outlet that was linked and not read is marked so. If something here is wrong, reply to the email, and the correction prints under this list with the date.
Opener · The Board · The Table · One Number · The Week in One Breath · What They Posted · From the Vault · The Front Office · Player Card · Quote of the Week · Out of Town · One Photo · The Decoder · The Branch · The Pod · Complete the XI
Opener
Slavia Praha 1-2 Arsenal on Nov 4, Madueke 9’ and Gyökeres 38’, and 3rd in the Champions League on 10 points from four games. The club’s match report, read Nov 6.
3rd on 10 points, confirmed against UEFA’s standings data, read Nov 6, when the table was final and no game was in play.
Newcastle on Sat Nov 21, 17:30 in London, which code converts to 12:30pm ET and 9:30am PT; Dortmund on Tue Nov 24 and Manchester City on Sun Nov 29. Premier League match data and UEFA’s match data, read Nov 6. Nine days counting both ends is our count.
The Board
Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal on Nov 1, Havertz’s goal. Premier League match data, read Nov 6, and NBC’s release for the Nov 7 weekend.
Slavia Praha 1-2 Arsenal, Madueke 9’, Gyökeres 38’, Nowak 90’, and the Match Worm drawn from those three minutes. The club’s match report, read Nov 6.
Newcastle vs Arsenal, Sat Nov 21, kickoff 17:30 Europe/London, St James’ Park. Premier League match data, match 2645303, read Nov 6; Wikipedia’s season page agrees.
Peacock, expected, for Newcastle. The basis: NBC says its coverage runs across NBC, Peacock and USA Network, and the release titles for Arsenal’s last three games (Oct 18, Nov 1, Nov 7) all list Peacock. NBC’s release for Nov 21 was not out on Nov 6 and usually lands on the Wednesday or Thursday before.
Arsenal Women vs West Ham United, Sun Nov 22, kick-off 14:30 at the Emirates. The club’s ticket page, read Nov 6; Wikipedia’s women’s season page agrees.
Paramount+, expected, for the women’s game. The basis: ESPN’s schedule data listed it when read Nov 3. No CBS or Paramount+ listing for this game has been read, and ESPN’s route has answered 403 to this letter’s agent since Nov 3. The weaker of the two expected lines.
Arsenal vs Dortmund, Tue Nov 24, 20:00 UTC, matchday 5. UEFA’s match data, match 2049627, read Nov 6, and CBS’s schedule page for Nov 24, which lists the time and no channel.
Paramount+, expected, for Dortmund. The basis: Paramount+ named itself for the Slavia game when read Nov 3; not re-read since, and CBS’s Nov 24 page names nothing yet.
Every kickoff time on the board is converted from the source’s own value by code (Python zoneinfo). Nothing is typed.
The Distance Translator line: Emirates to St James’ Park 244.7 miles as the crow flies, Chicago to Detroit 237.5, New York to Boston 191, and 13 of 14 listed league trips shorter than that. Our calculation, Vincenty inverse on WGS84, from Wikipedia’s coordinates for each ground and city, over the fixture list built Nov 5.
St James’ Park is in Newcastle upon Tyne. Wikipedia, read Nov 6.
Eleven men’s games in London after Newcastle, the 12th at Hull on Jan 16, and the FA Cup third round on Jan 9. Our count from the fixture list (Premier League match data and UEFA’s match data); the January rows were not all re-read on Nov 6. A reporter put the number 11 to Arteta on Nov 6.
Manchester City at the Emirates, Sun Nov 29, 16:30 in London, which code converts to 11:30am ET and 8:30am PT. Premier League match data, match 2645305, read Nov 6. US TV: TBD, since NBC’s release for that weekend is due the week of Nov 23, which holds Thanksgiving on Thu Nov 26.
Is it light yet: sunrise on Sun Nov 22 in Seattle 7:25am, Portland 7:20am, San Francisco 6:57am, Los Angeles 6:32am, against a 6:30am Pacific kickoff; Seattle’s sunrise on Sat Nov 21 about 7:23am against a 9:30am kickoff. Our computation, offline, with the NOAA solar equations (tools/sun.py) and Wikipedia’s city coordinates. Methods differ by more than a minute, so Los Angeles is printed as about level.
The Table
The top six, Arsenal 3 clear of City with City’s goal difference one better, Everton from 7th to 5th with a game more, Liverpool 6th and Brentford 7th, and four straight league wins since the 0-3 at Brighton on Sep 19. Our calculation from all 91 final scores in Premier League match data, compared with the league’s standings data: no differences on any of the 20 rows. Read Nov 6, after Everton 3-1 Coventry.
Champions League: 3rd after matchday 4, up from 7th, 10 points, 8 scored, 3 conceded, behind Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid on 12; Dortmund 12th on 9; no team yet carries a confirmed-place label. UEFA’s standings data, read Nov 6, when the table was final. The top 8 to the round of 16 and 9th to 24th to a play-off is from the step 4 read of the format.
Third on 10 points, also in the club’s match report.
One Number
Arsenal’s first Football League match, Woolwich Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle United, Sep 2, 1893. Wikipedia, list of Arsenal records, read Nov 6. The same page dates the first top-division game Nov 3, 1904, which conflicts with the season page below.
The first top-division match, a 3-0 loss to Newcastle, on Sep 3, 1904, with other games through September and October after it. Wikipedia, 1904-05 Woolwich Arsenal season, read Nov 6. The season’s fixture list is the date used.
4,018 days from Sep 2, 1893 to Sep 3, 1904. Our calculation in Python. The records page’s date would give 4,079.
The Week in One Breath
Slavia’s 17 shots after halftime, level with Sporting in November 2024 for the most in one half against Arteta’s Arsenal in the Champions League; Gabriel’s clearance off the line and Raya’s two saves. The club’s match report, read Nov 6.
Arteta on the second half: below the team’s standards, some reasons kept to himself, the blame his. The club’s post-Slavia transcript, Nov 4, read Nov 6.
Saka: weeks, pitch work after the international break, no date; out of the Hull squad and England’s. Arteta’s pre-Hull press conference, Nov 6, and the club’s update the same day. The club’s two versions of the sentence differ in wording, so it is paraphrased, not quoted.
Saka as the only injury at present, and Saliba’s return still ahead. The club’s Hull preview, Nov 6, read Nov 6.
Saliba on the bench at Slavia, his first squad of the season. The club’s update, Nov 6.
France left Saliba out for the break: Sky Sports’ live-blog title, Nov 6. Feed title only; the page was not read. No French FA page was read.
England’s November squad: White, Konsa, Lewis-Skelly, Rice and Eze; Croatia at Wembley on Nov 12 and Spain on Nov 15. The club’s page, read Nov 6.
Emily Fox’s Reddit answers: a forward until college, left back for the national team’s opening, no early specializing, under-6 coaching only. The club’s page, Nov 6, read Nov 6.
What They Posted
Gyökeres, carousel, Nov 5, 22:06 UTC. Post address, time, caption and type only, from one read of the accounts on Nov 6.
Eze, carousel, Nov 5, 23:31 UTC, caption of two emoji and no words.
Fox, carousel, Nov 6, 15:25 UTC.
From the Vault
Danskin’s move to London in 1885 and the Dial Square workshop; the first ball and the captaincy on Dec 11, 1886; the Clapton injury in January 1889; the 1936 radio and his death in 1948 at 85, both as the page reports them. Wikipedia, David Danskin, read Nov 6.
The smoking concert at the Prince of Wales on Oct 4, 1886; sixpence each from 16 men and Danskin’s three shillings. Wikipedia, Arsenal F.C., read Nov 6.
The first game against Eastern Wanderers on the Isle of Dogs, 6-0 on this page; Royal Arsenal reportedly on Christmas Day; Plumstead Common, the Sportsman Ground and the Manor Ground in 1888; professional in 1891 and barred by the London FA; Woolwich Arsenal and the Second Division in 1893 as the first Southern club in the League. Wikipedia, History of Arsenal F.C. (1886 to 1966), read Nov 6.
The same first game as 7-0, so both scores are printed. Wikipedia, list of Arsenal records, read Nov 6.
The Front Office
Charge 0425 0459 0004, created and delivered Oct 29, 2026, outstanding, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, the freehold of Emirates Stadium and land; charge 0425 0459 0003, created Jan 30, 2026, Barclays Bank PLC as security agent, satisfied Nov 2, 2026; 4 charges, 2 outstanding, 2 satisfied. Companies House, Arsenal Holdings Limited, read Nov 6. No amount or term appears in anything read.
Nothing newer than those two entries; then the July 2026 confirmation statement and accounts filed Feb 27, 2026. Companies House filing history, read Nov 6.
No change on the board since the four appointments of Nov 12, 2025. Companies House officers, read Nov 6.
The Christmas film with Colin Firth, Alessia Russo, Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel, Nov 5. The club’s page, read Nov 6.
No Arsenal item from Ornstein in the window, and nothing on the Kroenkes or Berta in any feed or page read Nov 6.
The Kroenkes as Arsenal’s owners: the bank’s fact on Stan Kroenke’s company, from Wikipedia. Andrea Berta as sporting director: the Arsecast feed’s note on his appointment, Mar 31, 2025. Background, not this week’s news.
Player Card
Raya born Sep 15, 1995 in Barcelona; goalkeeper; debut as a starter at Goodison Park on Sep 17, 2023; three Premier League Golden Gloves in a row since joining in 2023, the 2024-25 one shared with Matz Sels on 13 clean sheets; the 50th Arsenal clean sheet in his 110th game at Slavia Praha on Nov 4, 2025, past Jimmy Ashcroft’s 114 from 1903. Wikipedia, David Raya, read Nov 6. Age 31 is our calculation from the date of birth to Nov 20, 2026.
From Brentford on loan on Aug 15, 2023, reported £3m, permanent on Jul 4, 2024, reported £27m. Wikipedia, 2026-27 Arsenal F.C. season, read Nov 6.
Raya’s saves at Slavia on Nov 4, 2026. The club’s match report, read Nov 6. A year to the day is our count.
Quote of the Week
Liverpool’s penalty claim at Anfield on Nov 1, for Timber’s pull on Isak’s shirt, not given. Opta Analyst’s match piece, read Nov 3 for the model issue.
Arteta on Nov 3 in Prague on his library of clips of shirts, pulls and grabs. The club’s pre-Slavia transcript, read Nov 3 for the model issue and referred to in this week’s pack.
“One file, not big! I talked about when you were asking me about the grabbing incident at Anfield.” Arteta, asked about keeping files of teams grabbing opponents, pre-Hull press conference, Nov 6. The club’s transcript, checked word for word, 18 words.
Out of Town
Rivals’ places and league results as of Nov 6: City 0-1 Brighton (Oct 31), Everton 3-1 Coventry (Nov 6), Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal (Nov 1), Newcastle 13th on 11 points from 9. Premier League match data and standings data, read Nov 6.
City 3-2 at RB Leipzig and Liverpool 3-2 losers at Fenerbahçe, Nov 4. Wikipedia’s league-phase page, read Nov 6, with BBC Sport’s City and Liverpool feeds (titles and summaries only) agreeing.
City at Forest on Sat Nov 7, 12:30pm ET, NBC and Peacock; Everton vs Coventry on USA Network; USA Network for Nov 7 and 8: Leeds vs Spurs, Fulham vs Newcastle, Sunderland vs Chelsea, Manchester United vs Aston Villa. NBC’s release of Nov 4, read Nov 6. USA Network’s own page was not readable on Nov 6.
Brighton as the one team with a league win over Arsenal this season follows from Arsenal’s 8-0-1 record with the single loss at Brighton on Sep 19. Our reading of Premier League match data.
One Photo
Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal on Feb 5, 2011, 51,561 at St James’ Park, Tioté at 87 minutes. Wikipedia, 2010-11 Arsenal season, read Nov 6.
Walcott after 43 seconds, Djourou on three minutes, Van Persie twice, 4-0 at halftime; Diaby’s red card for pushing Barton and Nolan; the first Premier League comeback from 4-0 down. Wikipedia, 2010-11 Newcastle United season, read Nov 6.
Tioté’s volley as the only goal he scored for Newcastle. Wikipedia, Cheick Tioté, read Nov 6. The two pages give the volley as 25 and 30 yards, so no distance is printed.
Newcastle’s plans for Gosforth or a shared ground with Sunderland, dropped in 1971. Wikipedia, St James’ Park, read Nov 6.
The Decoder
The song’s American origin, 1918 and late 1919, Ben Selvin’s Novelty Orchestra, Kellette’s music and the Kenbrovin pen name for Kendis, Brockman and Vincent, and Arsenal fans singing it at Highbury’s last league match in 2006. Wikipedia, I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles, read Nov 6. The page gives no day for 2006, so the year alone is printed.
The Branch
Cascadia Gooners, The Atlantic Crossing, 7200 Woodlawn Ave NE, Seattle, listed under Washington with X and Facebook links and no website; over 86 branches on the page. Arsenal America’s branch list, read Nov 6. The page gives no schedule and no date, so nothing about the bar’s hours or screens is claimed.
9:30am in Seattle for the 17:30 London kickoff on Nov 21, by code from Premier League match data; Seattle’s sunrise that day about 7:23am, our computation with the NOAA equations.
The Pod
Arsecast 899, Nov 5, 11:01 UTC, 1:01:43; The Arsenal Women Arsecast 180, Nov 3, 08:01 UTC, 1:04:40. The show’s public Acast feed, read Nov 6. Episode titles, dates, lengths and descriptions only; no one listened.
The women’s episode page.
Complete the XI
Arsenal’s eleven for the 1932 FA Cup final, Apr 23, 1932, Newcastle 2-1 Arsenal at Wembley, with the page’s position labels. Wikipedia, 1932 FA Cup final, read Nov 6.
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