In this week’s edition of The Football Interview, Kelly Somers speaks to Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard. They speak about last season at Arsenal, his qualities as a captain and reflects on Norway's journey at this summer's World Cup. They look at how Arsenal have already started this season, and whether they feel a different kind of pressure this time around.

TIMECODES: 0’22 - Looking back on the last few months 0'50 - Lifting the Premier League trophy 2’35 - His role as captain   4'15 - Difficulties with injuries  9'20 - Reflecting on the World Cup 12’50 - Sharing experience with Max Dowman 13'45 - Narrative changing around Arsenal this season?

Conor McNamara once again joins Ian Dennis and John Murray for the Commentators' View ahead of a big weekend in the Premier League.

With Manchester City travelling to Liverpool for the first time since the Premier League charges verdict, John goes through his approach ahead of commentating on the game. 

The team reflect on the international break, Ian recalls being pranked at Istanbul airport and can John go clear at the top of the table in Clash of the Commentators?

TIMECODES 03:30 International break reflections 05:00 Ian's Greek adventures 09:00 How to approach commentating on Liverpool v Man City 22:00 A terrifying prank in Istanbul airport 28:30 Clash of the Commentators 33:30 Unintend Pub Name of the Week 35:30 Great Glossary of Football

COMMENTARIES: This weekend SAT 1500 - Chelsea v Bournemouth  - 5 Live SAT 1500 - Aston Villa v Brentford - Sports Extra SAT 1730 - Man Utd v Tottenham  - 5 Live

SUN 1200 - Motherwell v Celtic - Sports Extra 2 SUN 1400 - Hull v Everton - 5 Live SUN 1400 - Crystal Palace v Nottm Forest - Sports Extra and Sports Extra 2 SUN 1630 - Liverpool v Man City  - 5 Live

BBC Sport's Football Issues Correspondent Dale Johnson speaks to Brighton & Hove Albion sporting director Mike Cave about the strategy behind the club's remarkable rise. From data-driven recruitment to profitable player trading, they explore how Brighton have established themselves in the Premier League and evolved into one of English football's smartest success stories.

TIMECODES 0’34 - How much Brighton rely on data to sign players 4’00 - At what point does analytics crossover with normal scouting 8’30 - Brighton’s success with loan-to-buys 11’00 - How important is the manager to the whole process? 15’43 - How important are big player sales to Brighton? 17'17 - How far in advance to they plan for players leaving? 19’29 - Brighton now compared to 15 years ago 20'08 - Working within financial rules

John Bennett is joined by BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore and former Reading and Watford winger Jobi McAnuff to react to the Spygate verdict. 

An FA regulatory commission has handed Southampton boss Tonda Eckert a suspended 6-week ban for his involvement in the Spygate scandal. What reasons were given for this verdict? And is it a fair outcome? 

With Middlesbrough the club to uncover the spying ahead of their Championship play-off semi-final, fan and editor of Fly Me To The Moon fanzine, Robert Nichols, offers what this decision is like from a Boro perspective. 

TIMECODES: 0'45 How did we get to this point?  2'05 Why is the ban suspended? 4'17 Jobi McAnuff's thoughts 9'12 Has the length of time taken to get this verdict benefitted Eckert?  11'51 What do Southampton fans think of the decision?  15'00 Middlesbrough fan Robert Nichols 18'05 How much damage has this done to Southampton's reputation?

Alistair Bruce-Ball is joined by 2026 World Cup final referee Slavko Vincic and journalist William Ralston, author of the Impossible Job about challenges faced by modern-day referees. Chris Sutton, Rory Smith and Charlie Adam also join the conversation as they discuss what it's like to take charge of the biggest game in football. Slavko shares what it’s like to operate under so much pressure, plus the highs and lows of his career. But will he discuss who is the biggest diver he had to deal with? TIMECODES:

01:10 William Ralston 05:50 Slavko Vincic on the impossible job 12:00 Active decision making 20:00 VAR

Kelly Somers is alongside John Murray, Ian Dennis, Matt Upson and Paul Robinson as England comfortably beat Czechia 3-0 at Wembley.

Harry Kane celebrated his record-equalling 125th England cap with two goals making it 91 goals for England on the night he drew level with Peter Shilton. How has this camp effected competition for places and should Harry Kane win the Ballon d’Or? Hear from manager Thomas Tuchel, Eberechi Eze and captain Harry Kane.

Elsewhere Ronaldo has released a lengthy statement saying he is not retiring, Portuguese football expert Tom Kundert drops by to explain more about what this means for Ronaldo’s future.

TIMECODES:

01:10 Full time reaction 04:30 Harry Kane goals 09:40 Consistency 17:50 Ballon d’Or 18:50 Eze 24:30 Tuchel 29:10 Harry Kane with John 39:00 Ronaldo is NOT retiring

Alistair Bruce-Ball is joined by Chris Sutton, Rory Smith and Charlie Adam. The panel reflect on England’s performance against Croatia and look ahead to England’s game against Czechia at Wembley with John Murray.

The team debate the benefits of playing abroad and also the controversy around Alex Scott’s withdrawal due to injury.

Plus Robbie Savage drops by to talk about becoming manager of League One side Peterborough.

TIMECODES:

03:10 England’s win 08:30 John Murray & Tuchel 15:40 Players going abroad 26:50 Alex Scott 33:50 Scotland 44:10 Robbie Savage

John Murray, Matt Upson, Alex Howell and Sami Mokbel bring reaction in Croatia to England's 7-0 Nations League win. Hear from Harry Kane, Morgan Rogers and manager Thomas Tuchel after humbling Slaven Bilic's Croatia in Rijeka. 

04:32 - Harry Kane interview 10:10 - Morgan Rogers interview 15:41 - Thomas Tuchel interview

John Murray & Ali Bruce-Ball are joined by Conor McNamara to chat commentator life. Hear from Jordan Pickford & Thomas Tuchel. Catch archive commentary of Conor doing an England game as well as the guys favourite goals they’ve commentated on. And who will take the point in an England-themed Clash of the Commentators? Glossary suggestions and messages welcome on WhatsApp to 08000 289 369 & emails to [email protected]

02:00 John is in Croatia! 04:55 Thomas Tuchel sunning himself! 09:20 Jordan Pickford on not being picked… 14:00 Hear Conor’s 2008 England comms! 17:25 Ali on WSL commentary… 19:40 Best goals commentated on? 25:50 Commentating as 11-year-olds… 34:20 What punishment should Man City get? 40:00 Clash of the Commentators, 48:30 Great Glossary of Football Commentary.

5 Live / BBC Sounds commentaries: Sat 1700 Croatia v ENGLAND, Sun 1400 Spurs v London City Lionesses in WSL, Sun 1630 Man City v Arsenal in WSL, Tue 1945 ENGLAND v Czech Republic.

Great Glossary of Football Commentary: DIVISION ONE 50p head Agricultural challenge, Back of the net, Back to square one, Backside and elbows, The Beautiful Game, Booked, Bosman, Bullet header, Buying a penalty, Caretaker manager, Channel of joy, Checked and cleared, Coupon buster, Cruyff Turn, Cultured/educated left foot, Dead-ball specialist, Draught excluder, Elastico/flip-flap, False nine, Fox in the box, Giving the goalkeeper the eyes, Gone to ground, Grub hunter, Head like a biscuit tin, Head like a sheriff’s badge, Head tennis, Hibs it, In a good moment, In behind, Lollipop, Magic of the FA Cup, The Maradona, Need one to get in off their backside, Off their line, Olimpico, Onion bag, Panenka, Parachute payment, Park the bus, Perfect hat-trick, Postage stamp, Put his cap on it, Rabona, Roy of the Rovers stuff, Schmeichel-style, Scorpion kick, Spursy, Stick it in the mixer, Sweeper keeper, Taking it to the corner flag, Target man, Tiki-taka, Towering header, Trivela, UEFA penalty, Where the kookaburra sleeps, Where the owl sleeps, Where the spiders sleep, You could have two goalkeepers in there and they still wouldn’t have saved it.

In a very special interview, Sir Alex Ferguson speaks with Nina Warhurst for BBC Breakfast. They talk about his upbringing in Glasgow and making his debut for St Johnstone, the class of '92 and his recovery from a brain haemorrhage in 2018.

1’48 - The impact of his brain haemorrhage & return to Old Trafford in 2018 4’00 - His first cup final aged 13 & upbringing in Glasgow 5’50 - Making his debut for St Johnstone & nearly emigrating to Canada 7’22 - Placing trust in the class of ’92 11’50 - Being presented with his Scotland cap in 2021

In this week’s edition of The Football Interview, Kelly Somers speaks to Luton Town manager Jack Wilshere. They speak about his earlier years at Arsenal and what made him want to start coaching. Plus his relationship with Mikel Arteta and how Jack's own children are on their footballing journey.

Timecodes:

02:45 Early years at Arsenal 05:50 Highlights 08:40 Start of coaching career 12:00 Relationship with Mikel Arteta 14:30 Jack's kids on their own football path