Hope I'm wrong. Hope our last two results are like Derby and Wimbledon in 1989.

Hope Everton, Brentford, Bournemouth and Villa can stand up and get something in their games against City.

But I fear they're riding the crest of a wave while we're wondering where its all gone wrong.

I said it back in February.

People will talk about Bournemouth, an off day against an in-form opponent.

They'll talk about today, a good performance away from home against our title rival.

For me, its the late draws at Sunderland and Wolves that have hurt us.

4 critical points dropped.

An incredible achievement 👏

Well done to all involved at @arsenalvpodcast.bsky.social and @arseblog.com and across their communities.

Its a shame the media and opposition fans don't acknowledge such positive things and instead focus on their ridiculous narratives.

Proud to be a Gooner. UTA ♥️🤍

Reflecting on the game further, it very much had 2006 vibes.

In every knock-out tie we won the first leg keeping a clean sheet (two of them being 1-0) followed by tough, tense, 0-0 draws in the second legs.

Its part and parcel of European football and hopefully sees us reach the final again.

UTA.

Swans vs. GIANTS on Friday night.

City vs. The Arsenal on Sunday.

You might say its a bit of a big sporting weekend.

HCTG 🧡🩶 UTA ♥️🤍

Tonight was all about getting the job done.

Low on options, low on confidence, very low on energy. So just manage the game, manage the lead, and get through the tie. That's what we did.

All eyes now on Sunday. Oh to have Saka, Timber, Calafiori and Odegaard available!

UTA ♥️🤍

Now its about the response. Have to go to City next week and get a result.

No 12 points clear as people hoped. And no chance Chelsea save our bacon tomorrow.

We're going to the Etihad only 6 clear and having played a game more.

Squeaky bums time. UTA.

Both goals horrible to concede too.

First Zubimendi gifts them a throw, from there were all over the shop and horrible deflection on a nothing cross.

Second, pulled out of position and Zubimendi just ball watching, let's his man run straight past him. Not a good day at the office for Zubimendi...

Fuck. That was horrible and feels pivotal.

Never got going, couldn't break their press (doesn't bode well for next week, given same issues in cup final).

Understand midfield / forwards looked off it (as the subs showed), but big issue of nerves and build out from Raya, Gabriel, and Zubimendi...

Paris ✅️
Bologna & Modena ✅️
Rome ✅️

Very enjoyable time travelling around parts of Europe this Easter Holidays... and a good job we did tens of thousands of steps everyday as there was some serious carbs consumed!! 😂

If he does this again at the Emirates we need the crowd all over it.

His approach is to be touch tight, early challenge whether he wins it or fouls, he doesn't care.

But I'd be interested to see his approach when on a yellow.

On another note, I miss Eze.

Feels like a big goal.

Credit to Martinelli, who I've been critical of, for a positive driving run and excellent clipped pass.

And brilliant finish from Havertz. Great first touch and composed finish.

Tough game, so good to come away with a (slender) advantage. Now finish the job at home. UTA.

How many games / minutes will Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Trossard and Saka play together (with Raya and Gyokeres) at a level of fitness that enables us to see the best, or at least a better, version of ourselves in the weeks ahead?

That's the key. UTA.

Start of the year - Merino up front. Then games with Timber / Norgaard at centre back. Then midfield got decimated.

It puts pressure on everything. Of our best 11, only Raya and Gyokeres look fit and firing.

The other 9 are either injured or minutes being managed as they're hanging by a thread!...

Media will spin their stories and narrative, talking psychology and 'bottle' but the reality / real concern is fitness now... do we have enough in the legs?

Many have overlooked another year of horrendous injuries because we've got a big squad, 'no excuses'... but cluster injuries have hurt us...

Well that was shit. Piss poor effort and application from first minute to last, far too casual and got what we deserved.

We've spent all season saying we only care about the big two, well time to step up now and get the job done in them because we've ended the two domestic cups pathetically.

Think we also need to take the half glass view that if it was a bad day for us and a very good one for them and yet we still restricted them to only two shots on target (one of which was a Kepa error, and unfortunately got punished both times) then we have a good chance when we play to our level.

I've said all season this year is all about the league title. We can't let today derail us.

And let's not kid ourselves, there's still work to do.

Tired of hearing 9 point lead. City have a game in hand, so in my head its 6 points and then we have our trip to the Ethiad too.

Big month ahead. UTA.

Our League Cup record doesn't make for enjoyable reading, sadly today was no different.

I've often said it's a distraction. This season, our rearranged fixture with Wolves and now not winning it.

Hopefully the interlull helps players switch mindset and return ready for the home straight...

Wenger played the most beautiful football this league has ever seen, with some of the greatest players ever.

He won two doubles and went Invincible, an achievement people say is overrated because we drew 12.

Doesn't matter how The Arsenal win a title, we're told we didnt do enough.

Fuck em. UTA.

Also, now we've won and it can't be called sour grapes that non-penalty call for a clear foul on Havertz was a joke.

The speed with which they deemed it ok, seemingly off the worst replays, to then show the best angle from behind shortly after was a disgrace.

Could have cost us, thankfully didn't!

My head is on another planet... what a crazy game... felt destined for 0-0 and then two moments of sheer elation and joy!

West Ham grabbing a point against City the cherry on top.

7 to go, keep pushing Gunners!... UTA.

In the end, a positive driving run from Madueke to win the penalty gets us out of jail, but the second leg will be equally hard if that's the approach Leverkusen will take.

Now time to rest and recharge, huge game on the weekend against Everton! UTA.

Media continue to run narrative about set pieces ruining games whilst ignoring teams sitting on the edge of their box in a 6-4-0 formation for majority of the game.

Champions League has been enjoyable open games this season, but today felt more domestic. Our lack of sharpness compounding matters...

Job done. Definition of playing with your food, infuriating at times. And time to upgrade the left wing. Onto the next round. UTA.

YES, YES, YES... GET THE FUCK IN!!!

That was torture. Absolute torture. Feel like I'm going to throw up.

But that's huge. Fucking huge. Love you Arsenal. ♥️🤍

And breathe!... another enjoyable Monday morning, albeit a touch more stressful than last week!

That's a huge three points. Not gonna lie, was worried after the sucker punch just before half-time and was wondering where a goal was going from at 1-1.

Sometimes you just got to find a way. UTA.

But means nothing if we fall at the first hurdle. Take care of Leverkusen and go from there.

One game at a time. One round at a time. UTA.

Pleased with the Champions League draw.

As posted before, didn't want the chance to play City in the quarters, given it would have meant 4 games in 20 odd days against them.

And nice to see Chelsea and Liverpool in the other section too, plus PSG and obviously Bayern (given the 1 and 2 seeding)...