The problem with this is when the convo goes beyond the initial common phrase. The response is likely to go more in depth. Then you're stuck nodding awkwardly, laughing awkwardly or just fudging it further... Awkwardly. Personally if it's a sport I'm not into I'll just admit that and explain why. The conversation will usually naturally move on and you won't seem phony.

The person you’re responding to was making a joke/reference.

https://youtu.be/EfE-ts3IwPM?t=68

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1320784/

The thing about Arsenal is they always try to walk it in.

I've been known to drop this one in conversation to see if people pick up on it.

Have no idea if it's still true, but it certainly was in Wenger's time.

The current trendy insult is that they rely on set pieces too much.

Let's use blockcha... I mean, AI!

Huh, an AI that reads the latest news and suggest conversation topics would be funny, if conversing with someone interested in celebrity gossip, then it could delve into that topic, e.g. "What about astronaut Katy Perry, am I right?! Did you read that she was spotted having a meal with Justin Trudeau?".

"How about this season, huh?"

"You catch the game?"

"They got some bad calls."

"Aren't you concerned that so many people tie their civic identity to watching some rich guy's overproduced commercial sports theatre, but are disinterested in actual civics?"