The Celtic vs St Mirren Scottish Cup semi-final delivered exactly the kind of chaos this podcast lives for — a 6-2 scoreline that makes Celtic look dominant on paper but hid 120 minutes of genuine white-knuckle stuff. On Episode 164, the guys dig into how Celtic blew a 2-0 lead, conceded a gut-punch 90+1 equalizer, and then needed a super-sub to drag them to Hampden glory in extra time. That's just the appetizer, though.

This episode also tackles a Premier League title race that's suddenly razor-tight after Arsenal's co-host spent months insisting the Gunners had it won. Manchester City's win over Arsenal has leveled the table on points and goal difference, and with five matches left, nobody's calling this one early anymore. Add in a brutal Scottish Premiership three-way title fight between Hearts, Rangers, and Celtic, a relegation scrap that could send Tottenham down, and Alex Palou's latest IndyCar win at Long Beach, and you've got one of the densest episodes of the season.

If you want the full breakdown of how Arsenal folded against Pep Guardiola's side, why Celtic's cup form keeps giving fans heart attacks, and what Palou's Long Beach victory means heading into May, this recap walks you through every storyline the hosts covered — plus a few hot takes you won't want to miss.

Celtic's Wild 6-2 Scottish Cup Semi-Final Win Over St Mirren

Let's start with the headline act. Celtic reached their fourth straight Scottish Cup final by beating St Mirren 6-2, but anyone just glancing at the final score is missing the real story. After 90 minutes, this thing was level at 2-2, and St Mirren — wearing the striped kit the hosts half-jokingly blame for upsets — had just as much claim to extra time as Celtic did.

Daizen Maeda opened the scoring early off a goalkeeping blunder, and Anthony Ralston, now Celtic's fourth-choice right back due to injuries, doubled the lead before halftime. That should have been that. Instead, St Mirren's Michael Mandron scored twice, including a brutal 90+1 equalizer that had the hosts bracing for a repeat of last season's shock Aberdeen defeat in this same competition.

Enter Kelechi Iheanacho. Brought on in the 83rd minute, he scored twice in extra time — including a standout header just six minutes in — and set the tone for a four-goal outburst that also saw Luke McCowan and Benjamin Nygren get on the scoresheet. Celtic eventually ran out 6-2 winners, but the hosts are right to flag the warning signs: if this were a league match instead of a cup tie, shipping two goals late while sitting on a two-goal cushion could easily have cost two points in a title race that's tighter than it's been in years.

Are Arsenal Bottling the Premier League Title Again?

This is the question driving the entire episode's Premier League section, and it's a fair one. After Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, the two sides are now level on points and goal difference, with City only ahead because they've scored three more goals on the season. Five matches remain, and suddenly the co-host who's been "Steady Eddie" on Arsenal all year has to reckon with a pattern: this is the third time in four seasons Arsenal have led for months only to watch City close the gap in April.

The match itself turned on sloppy goalkeeping at both ends. Gianluigi Donnarumma gifted Kai Havertz an equalizer in the 18th minute after lazily playing out of his box, while City's Rayan Cherki had already put City ahead by dribbling straight through Arsenal's back line. The most contentious moment, though, came around the 64th minute when Gabriel appeared to headbutt Erling Haaland without so much as a yellow card. The hosts argue Haaland's sheer size changes how fouls against him get officiated — a smaller player goes down and it's a clear red, but Haaland barely budges and the referee waves it away.

With Arsenal still juggling a Champions League semifinal against Atlético Madrid, the question of whether they can manage both competitions is very real heading into the business end of the season.

Scottish Premiership Title Race: Hearts, Rangers, and Celtic All Still Alive

While the Scottish Cup semi-final grabbed the headlines, the real shocker of this Scottish Premiership season is that there's an actual three-way title race for the first time since this podcast started. Hearts sit top on 70 points, Rangers close behind on 69, and Celtic on 67 — a gap that would have been unthinkable in past seasons when Celtic simply ran away with the league.

The split is now in effect, meaning the top six clubs play each other once more to close out the year, and every fixture suddenly carries massive weight. This weekend's standout is the Edinburgh derby between Hibernian and Hearts, which the hosts call the biggest league version of that fixture in decades — bigger, even, than recent cup meetings. Hibs will be desperate to play spoiler and dent Hearts' title charge, while Rangers host a tough Motherwell side at home.

Looking further ahead, two dates are circled: Hearts host Rangers on Monday, May 4th, and then Celtic host Rangers on Sunday, May 10th in the Old Firm derby that could decide everything. Nobody on this podcast expected a genuine title fight this season, and that's exactly what makes it great.

Alex Palou Wins Long Beach Grand Prix as IndyCar Heads Toward May

Away from soccer, Alex Palou picked up another IndyCar win at the Long Beach Grand Prix, though the hosts are candid that this wasn't a classic. Felix Rosenqvist led roughly 50 laps for Meyer Shank Racing before Palou leapfrogged him entirely through pit strategy rather than an on-track pass — a reminder of just how difficult overtaking is on street circuits. Palou now leads the IndyCar championship standings by over 20 points over Kyle Kirkwood, with David Malukas sitting third and established as Penske's lead driver this season, a nice vindication for a hire plenty of people doubted.

The conversation naturally turns to the Indy 500, and the news isn't great for fans who love a dramatic bump day. With Andretti not fielding a fourth car because Colton Herta can't compete, the entry list sits at 32 cars, with Katherine Legg expected to make it 33 in a Foyt entry. That's enough to fill the field with no bumping required — a disappointment for anyone who enjoys the tension of qualifying weekend. The hosts also flag Rahal Letterman Lanigan as a team that's quietly thankful there's no bump day, given their recent oval struggles, while teams like Meyer Shank and a potential Foyt surge are ones to watch once the month of May gets rolling.

Premier League Relegation Battle: Wolves and Burnley Down, Spurs on the Brink

It's not all title races — the bottom of the Premier League table delivered plenty of drama too. Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley are both confirmed relegated to the Championship, leaving Tottenham in a genuinely precarious spot. Spurs sit two points behind West Ham with games in hand equal, winless in their last five matches, including a gutting draw against Brighton after conceding a 90th-minute equalizer.

Spurs' run-in doesn't offer much comfort either: already-relegated Wolves away, third-placed Aston Villa away, struggling Leeds, a Chelsea side that just fired their manager, and a season-closing clash with Everton on May 24th — Indy 500 day, as the hosts point out with a laugh about potentially watching Spurs get relegated from the speedway infield.

Elsewhere, Bournemouth and Brighton occupying sixth and seventh is a pleasant surprise, Aston Villa sit fourth level on points with Manchester United in third, and Chelsea's chaotic managerial carousel (now on manager number four... excuse me, Spurs are on number four; Chelsea's own instability is a separate mess) continues to make the European qualification picture genuinely unpredictable.

Key Takeaways

Want the full back-and-forth, including the soundboard chaos over Wolves and Burnley's relegation and the deeper dive into Arsenal's run-in against Atlético Madrid? Hit play on the full Episode 164 and subscribe so you don't miss next week's preview before F1 finally returns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Celtic vs St Mirren Scottish Cup semi-final?

Celtic won 6-2 after extra time, though the match was level 2-2 after 90 minutes. Daizen Maeda and Anthony Ralston scored in regulation before St Mirren's Michael Mandron equalized with a 90+1 goal, forcing extra time where substitute Kelechi Iheanacho scored twice, with Luke McCowan and Benjamin Nygren also finding the net.

How did Arsenal lose to Manchester City?

Arsenal lost 2-1 to Manchester City after Rayan Cherki put City ahead by dribbling through Arsenal's defense, and Kai Havertz equalized after goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma lost possession carelessly outside his box. City's eventual winner left both clubs level on points and goal difference with five Premier League matches remaining.

Why didn't Gabriel get a red card against Erling Haaland?

Gabriel appeared to headbutt Erling Haaland around the 64th minute without receiving any card at all. The hosts argue Haaland's large frame means he doesn't go down as easily as smaller players would from a similar contact, which may lead referees to perceive the incident as less severe than it actually was.

Who won the Long Beach Grand Prix and what does it mean for the IndyCar standings?

Alex Palou won the Long Beach Grand Prix, passing race leader Felix Rosenqvist through pit strategy rather than an on-track overtake. The win extends Palou's championship lead to roughly 20 points over Kyle Kirkwood, with David Malukas holding third as Penske's top performer heading into May and the Indy 500.

Will Tottenham get relegated from the Premier League this season?

It's a genuine possibility. Tottenham sit two points behind West Ham with games in hand level, have gone five matches without a win, and face a tough closing stretch including Aston Villa away and a season finale against Everton. Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley are already confirmed relegated.

Will there be a bump day at the 2026 Indy 500?

It's unlikely. With Andretti not entering a fourth car and the entry list sitting around 33 after Katherine Legg's expected addition in a Foyt entry, there appear to be just enough cars to fill the field without a genuine bumping battle for the final starting spots.

Conclusion

Episode 164 captures exactly why this podcast exists: a soccer season where nothing is settled, a Scottish Cup semi-final that nearly went sideways before Celtic's bench saved the day, and an IndyCar championship that's quietly building toward a big May. Whether Arsenal can hold their nerve against Manchester City, whether Hearts can close out a historic Scottish Premiership title, or whether Tottenham can avoid the drop, there's no shortage of drama left this season — and the hosts break all of it down with the kind of detail only true fans will appreciate.

Catch the full conversation for all the color commentary, soundboard bits, and hot takes that didn't make it into this recap.

Listen to the Episode

You can stream the full episode, including the complete breakdown of Celtic's 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren, Arsenal's collapse against Manchester City, and Alex Palou's Long Beach win, right here: Episode 164: Are Arsenal bottling again? Wild Scottish Cup semi-final, Another Palou victory.

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