This is objectively true. But the fact remains that, at no point this season have Arsenal played well enough to make this *feel* like a champion season. Anything could happen in the Champions League (though I suspect it won’t). But the vibes compared to the title run 2 years ago are massively off.
Arsenal very, very unlucky to lose that in my view. Had to weather the storm at times, but deserved at least a point, with Havertz missing two great chances, and both Eze and Gabriel hitting the post. Sometimes it’s just not your day.
Better performance than I thought I’d see from Arsenal today, but unfortunately if you don’t take your chances in games like this, you’re always going to struggle.
Pleased to see Arteta prioritise technical quality today. I still don’t really think it will be enough to prevent a City win, but at least we’re putting our best foot forward.
“FIVE attackers on the bench, Jeremy? Are you insane?”
RIP Alex Manninger. Such an important player for Arsenal in the 97/98 double season, and the fact we didn’t miss David Seaman while he was out that year for a period spoke volumes. Will never be forgotten.
Spotted in downtown Boston: a big, old, dirty pile of trash, pictured here directly next to a rubbish bin.
City and their supporters have spent the entire game here laughing at Arsenal. I don’t have any hope that we’ll get a result at the Etihad next week, but if the players needed any more motivation pre-match, the image of a gurning City drinking ‘tears’ from an Arsenal bottle should suffice.
Exactly this. Ødegaard is such a good fit for games like that where Arsenal just need to hold the opposition at arm’s length, join up play and slow down the tempo. You don’t notice how effective he is at doing that, and how useful it is until he isn’t there.
Let’s just hope they don’t screw up the 2nd leg!!
Didn’t even cheer that Havertz goal - I was convinced he must be offside. Great movement and such a cool finish. A word also for Ben White tonight, who - a few tricky moments aside - dealt with his opponent superbly. Nice to see prime Zubimendi back after a rest too.
Huge, huge win for Arsenal and their confidence as we enter the run-in. Saw a lot of criticism at HT for our stodgy play, but it takes two to tango - the onus was on Sporting to get a result here in the home leg, and they sat in a mid block. Arsenal were perfectly happy to wait for their chance.
Pretty sure Aurajo must have set a new record tonight for numbers of blatant fouls conceded without getting a yellow card. Unbelievable.
Wishing a very happy, well-earned retirement to Aaron Ramsey. After a bit of a hair-raising 90 minutes plus extra time, Aaron helped give me my most treasured Arsenal memories in May 2014 (back when I still had hair!).
The worst part about tonight’s result by far? Matt Le Tissier is happy.
Judge this team on the results they get in the games that matter most when the team is at its strongest. We learnt nothing tonight about the team’s readiness to win the big two trophies - only that some squad players aren’t up to it (and one very young one most certainly is). (2/2)
Look, getting dumped out of the FA Cup by a Championship side is never good, but I do think some of the reaction has been a bit hysterical since the final whistle. Look at the lineup: none of Kepa, White, Mosquera, Myles, Norgaard, Jesus or Dowman are starting the big games. (1/2)
Not sure if anyone’s seen the title odds with the bookies, but you could get odds of around 7/1 for City to win the title a few days ago. For any Arsenal fans of a nervous disposition looking to soften the blow of possible upcoming trauma, this might be a good time to place an insurance bet.
I wonder how long it was after he was substituted that he remembered he was supposed to be? He’ll be the first out the door in the summer.
More positively, at least we avoided extra-time ahead of Tuesday’s game. And we can now concentrate on the competitions that really matter between now and the end of the season. Also, for me at least, Max Dowman showed tonight he can be anything he wants to be. What a player - and still only 16!
The team shape and structure never looked right from the start - I also think we learned a lot about what dead wood needs to be cleared out after tonight’s game, and where we need reinforcements. Midfield and in attack should be an urgent priority.
Well, that’s annoying. Arsenal probably got what they deserved for putting out a weakened side, and while it’s clear priorities lie elsewhere, it’s frustrating to lose like that.
People are probably writing Jesus off after that poor 45 minutes, but just you wait until tomorrow - he’ll be reborn. #Easterjokes
I think he might just have made an unseemly mess in his trousers after that Southampton goal.
Why is this TNT Sports commentator shouting at me?
I like it. Move in on them while they are distracted.
Comes to something when the dramatic representation of an authoritarian state-sponsored militia in a TV superhero franchise (Daredevil Born Again) somehow falls some way short of the actual horrors perpetuated by a real-life authoritarian, state-sponsored militia.
Wow. Project Hail Mary is a seriously good film. Didn't think it would be possible, but it lived up to the hype.
A Jesus birthday? On Good Friday?
Nobody at the BBC will see it!