Pep Guardiola's first cup final with Manchester City has ended in resounding success; their 3-0 win in this afternoon's League Cup final may yet be the first of a few trophies this season.
For Arsene Wenger, today could signal the French man's final attempt at bringing more silverware to Arsenal.
In recent years, important cup fixtures have become something of a force-field for Wenger in light of their progressive move away from being real contenders in the Premier League.
Although few would have had Arsenal as their favourites for today's clash, the manner of their defeat has aroused an even greater amount of abuse than usual.
Surprised Arsenal players have brass neck to go up to collect r/up medals. Would be better off heading straight for team bus.
— neil ashton (@neilashton_) February 25, 2018
With plenty of Arsenal players coming in for individual abuse also, it was perhaps Sky Sports' Gary Neville on co-commentary that best summed up the particularly poor fare on show:
Ramsey. Xhaka. Ozil. You're walking on a football pitch at Wembley. Why are you walking? You're a disgrace. An absolute disgrace.
I don’t even want to talk about them because they’ve been an absolute disgrace. Ramsey and Xhaka walking on a football pitch. Absolutely spineless.
When the camera panned to the image of a young child crying in the later stages of the game, the former Manchester United man couldn't help himself:
And look at that - that's what you cause!
I'm struggling to come up for words now to describe this pattern for Arsenal. I don't even like the football anymore. Liverpool play better, Tottenham play better - there's three or four teams that play better football than them now.
This is a dark, dark day - the team have just not shown up.
This is the angriest Gary Neville has been since he found out restaurants serve olives, oil and vinegar with bread.
— Sachin Nakrani (@SachinNakrani) February 25, 2018
Could listen to Gary Neville angrily bemoaning how soft Arsenal are for hours and hours. Very soothing stuff. Like coming home.
— Jon (@jonbir90) February 25, 2018
If you want further understanding of Neville's anguish, you can listen below.
This is absolutely Shakespearean from Gary Neville. Magnificent #CarabaoCupFinal pic.twitter.com/hG9nDzmE0S
— Gully Burrows (@gullyburrows) February 25, 2018
