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Let’s face it: Arsenal is not a good soccer team right now. The Gunners will celebrate Christmas in 15th place in the Premier League, four points out of the relegation zone and 11 points behind rivals Chelsea and Tottenham, which are tied for fifth. To make matters worse, the Grinch came early with a pathetic Arsenal howler that perfectly encapsulates how the club is playing right now.
Manchester City pounded the Gunners 4-1 in a Carabao Cup quarterfinal on Tuesday at the Emirates. Arsenal never really looked like it could compete with the Citizens, who probably would’ve received a bigger challenge from Santa Claus and his reindeer.
Gabriel Jesus scored barely two minutes into the match, taking advantage of some really sloppy defending. Actually, scratch that. Calling that defending would be an insult to defenders everywhere.
Gabriel Jesus gives Man City the lead after two minutes.
That defending from Arsenal pic.twitter.com/mpoAXVJS9R— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 22, 2020
Arsenal barely stayed in the match in the first half and even found an equalizer after half an hour.
Gabriel Martinelli, a promising 19-year-old Brazilian forward who has spent most of his time in North London injured, provided the energy the Gunners so desperately needed to set up Alexandre Lacazette for a goal.
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Gabriel Martinelli is giving the Gunners that creative spark pic.twitter.com/lawnla5WGi— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 22, 2020
Shockingly, that was the only pass Martinelli completed in the first half. I can’t imagine that ever having happened before, at least not for Arsenal. Far have the Gunners fallen since the days of Arsene Wenger.
Gabriel Martinelli completed just one pass in the first half vs. Man City - the assist for Arsenal's equaliser.
Efficient. pic.twitter.com/ilMHWzk43h— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 22, 2020
That goal was the high point for Arsenal.
Just before halftime, Martinelli was clipped by Zack Steffen. The American keeper was first to a 50-50 ball and not whistled for a foul, but the Brazilian was clearly shaken up on the play. He tried to continue in the second half but was pulled just minutes later.
And when Martinelli left the pitch, so too did the Gunners’ ability to do anything positive. Soon came a devastating Arsenal howler that essentially ended the match as a contest.
After a foul on the edge of the box, second-string keeper Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson looked as though he was set up way too far to one side at the far post. Instead, he was in perfect position — and still managed to commit one of the worst howlers you’ll see in top-flight English football.
Arsenal Howler vs. Man City
If there is a better representation of Arsenal’s flaccid season, I haven’t found it yet.
Riyad Mahrez barely celebrated because he knew his shot should’ve been saved. A practice dummy would’ve done better at stopping the shot than whatever Rúnarsson attempted.
Things only got worse from there for Arsenal, as seems to be the typical course of events this season.
Phil Foden scored about five minutes later on a goal that VAR would’ve disallowed for a clear and obvious offside — but there is no VAR in the Carabao Cup because … well I have no clue, but I suspect it’s because the British are Luddites who would rather complain about bad calls than actually get calls right.
Phil Foden appeared to be offside as he made it Man City 3-1 Arsenal.
VAR is not used in the Carabao Cup ♂️ pic.twitter.com/SdEYg70DHE— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 22, 2020
Arsenal can’t really complain too much about the call because in the 72nd minute, Gabriel committed a clear handball in the box, but the referee simply ruled the ball out for a corner. But, of course, Aymeric Laporte scored on the ensuing corner to make it 4-1.
From there, the only surprise was that the introduction of Ferrán Torres and Sergio Agüero didn’t result in a fifth goal — or that Arsenal managed to finish the match with 11 men, which has been something of a struggle lately.
Arsenal vs. Man City Highlights Carabao Cup Quarterfinals (Dec. 22, 2020)
Arsenal now has won just once outside of Europa League action in the last 11 weeks (a 1-0 over Manchester United). Christian Pulisic and Chelsea must be licking their lips in anticipation of facing this pathetic Arsenal side on Boxing Day.
