Based on how preposterously good Arsenal and Lionel Messi have been this season, there's only one possible explanation for their respective failures this week: tourist Kim Kardashian.
On Thursday, the 42-year-old socialite made her presence felt at the Emirates with her son Saint (the second-oldest of Kim and Kanye's four children). Cruising at the top of the Premier League table and targeting European glory, Arsenal suffered a shock elimination to a Sporting side that's sitting fourth in Liga Portugal.
The first ever competitive penalty shootout at The Emirates stadium sees Arsenal lose to Sporting. pic.twitter.com/1QMaSp3PVP
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 16, 2023
But with Kim K gone, Arsenal returned to normalcy on Sunday by hammering Crystal Palace 4-1.
Meanwhile, Kim and Saint popped up across the Channel at Paris Saint-Germain's home match against Rennes on Sunday. Looking to maintain their strong lead at the top of Ligue 1, PSG slipped to a damning 2-0 defeat to the visitors.
Great to welcome special guest @KimKardashian to the Parc des Princes today! #PSGSRFC pic.twitter.com/xbWtnDTEER
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) March 19, 2023
There was a debunked story that PSG Ultras planned on booing Messi throughout the match because of the Champions League elimination to Bayern Munich and the ongoing uncertainty over his contract, but that ended up happening anyway after an abject performance from the home team.
— Out Of Context Football (@nocontextfooty) March 19, 2023
PSG lose 2-0 to Rennes
It's their first Ligue 1 loss at home since Messi joined the club pic.twitter.com/BeILOoQpm9— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 19, 2023
Let's hope that Kim's next travel plan isn't to see the USMNT play Grenada in the Nations League.