Two titles already lost... two more to go
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 05.04.26. | 12:20
From a potential Quadruple to Treble to the fear of missing out on every single piece of silverware, Arsenal's season is taking an awful turn
It doesn't get worse than this, does it? After a brutal FA Cup knockout on Saturday night, Southampton made sure Arsenal would remember the day for a long time. Responding to the comment of an Arsenal fan, who reacted on X after the game, the official Saints' account posted the following message:
And it summed up perfectly. What seemed like potentially a once-in-a-lifetime season only a few weeks ago has transformed into a genuine horror for the Gunners. They are still in contention for the two most important trophies, though, but two domestic back-to-back cup losses, one after another, have showcased all of the flaws of Mikel Arteta's side.
There are quite a few of them...
"It was only a couple of weeks ago, people were saying Arsenal could do the quadruple. Now they are in two competitions," former Manchester City defender, now pundit, Micah Richards said last night. "Manchester City, after what they did earlier on, looks like they are going to push them all the way for the league."
On the other hand, Arteta himself doesn't seem too worried. Or at least, he's not showing it when the lights are on...
"I love my players. What they have done for the past 9 months. I'm not going to criticise them because we lost a game here in the manner that they tried," Arteta said after the loss to the second-tier Southampton.
"And the way they are putting their bodies through everything. Some of them probably didn't even have to be here. I'm not going to do that. I'm going to defend them more than ever.
"Someone has to take responsibility. That's me, and we have the most beautiful period of the season ahead of us.
"In the season, you always have moments. Normally two or three. This is the first moment that we have. So stand up, make yourself comfortable and deliver like we've been doing all season."
The Gunners boss was asked whether he could prevent this season from unfolding the worst possible way for his team, given their ongoing Premier League and Champions League campaigns.
"Giving them [the players] clarity, giving more conviction, trusting our players, believing in what we are doing," Arteta said.
"And continue to do that with the tweaks that every game demands. But especially maintaining the speed, attitude, and energy at the highest possible level. Because that's critical to perform at the level that we need to win matches."
In mid-March, around the Emirates, people were dreaming of a Quadruple. By mid-May, it could be another trophyless season that would hurt the Gunners more than any other before. Arteta and his boys have so much to prove here.
FA CUP - QUARTER-FINALS
Saturday
Manchester City - Liverpool 4-0 (2-0)
/Haaland 39 pen, 45+2, 57, Semenyo 50/
Chelsea - Port Vale 7-0 (3-0)
/Hato 2, Pedro 25, Lawrence-Gabriel 42 og, Adarabioyo 57, Santos 69, Estevao 82, Garnacho 90+2 pen/
Southampton - Arsenal 2-1 (1-0)
/Stewart 35, Charles 85 - Gyokeres 68/
Sunday
18.30: (2.45) West Ham (3.55) Leeds (2.80)
***odds are subject to change***