First gear, second gear, foot to the floor! That’s how Arsenal’s season started. And for a long while, it looked like one of the best cars you’re ever going to see on the road. Sleek lines, grippy tyres, a roaring, efficient engine, luxury equipment and road computer inside. It had just about everything. Just about.Driver Mikel Arteta knows his machine very well: he knows when to ease off, when to step hard on the accearetor pedal and how to take the trickiest of curves. The opposing car, the one painted sky blue, has always been fast, but in this particular race, Arteta was destined to only see the rivals in the rear view mirror. However, there was a miscalculation in the pit lane. The car started to make strange noises on the last curve and lost some of its power. Arteta couldn’t believe it – there was a red light shining on the dashboard. The car hasn’t got fuel!Arsenal’s title challenge: August 2022-May 2023It was a good run 🕯️ pic.twitter.com/zVs9iO5Blz— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 14, 2023 The fastest machine, assembled using quality parts and a genius driver wasn’t enough. The north London car is running on fumes.The sky blue car passed the red-and-white on the exit of the last turn to the disbelief of everyone in the crowd. They all shouted for Arteta to shift up and put the pedal to the floor, but there doesn’t seem to be the power in that engine. The finish line is in sight, but the car will barely reach it – placed second.GOAL | Arsenal 0-1 Brighton | Encisopic.twitter.com/unCNcoRgTn— VAR Tático (@vartatico) May 14, 2023 Okay, this racing analogy has been going long enough. Arsenal lost to Brighton at home and handed the title to Manchester City on a silver platter. Nervous-looking Gunners couldn’t find a way past the battling Seagulls and ended up losing 3-0 at Emirates Stadium to second-half strikes from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan. All goals were results of poor defensive movement and a lack of concentraction from the home team. When there’s no energy, the concentration is gone too. To make the day even worse, the late killer-goal was enabled by the former Brighton forward Leandro Trossard, whose mistake gave substitute Undav the chance to seal the win.GOAL | Arsenal 0-2 Brighton | Undavpic.twitter.com/cm1lB8baLO— VAR Tático (@vartatico) May 14, 2023 The result doesn’t mean Manchester City are champions, but Pep Guardiola’s team now only needs three points in their last three games. It’s nearly done. Meanwhile, Brighton are on course to making European competitions for the first time in club’s history. It’s a fantastic achievement for coach Roberto De Zerbi.GOAL | Arsenal 0-3 Brighton | Estupinanpic.twitter.com/U1MOtQPUVj— VAR Tático (@vartatico) May 14, 2023 Next year, Arsenal, next race. Just don’t forget to fill the petrol tank all the way up.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 36Saturday Leeds – Newcastle 2-2 (1-1)/Ayling 7, Trippier 79 og – Wilson 31 pen, 69 pen/Aston Villa – Tottenham 2-1 (1-0)/Ramsey 8, Luis 72 – Kane (p) 90/Man. Utd. – Wolverhampton 2-0 (1-0)/Martial 32, Garnacho 90+4/Chelsea – Nott.Forest 2-2 (0-1)/Sterling – 51, 58 – Awoniyi 13, 62/Crystal Palace – Bournemouth 2-0 (1-0)/Eze 39, 58/Southampton – Fulham 0-2 (0-0)/Vinicius 48, Mitrovic 72/Sunday Everton – Manchester City 0-3 (0-2)/Gundogan 37, 51, Haaland 39/Brentford – West Ham 2-0 (2-0)/Mbeumo 20, Wissa 43/Arsenal – Brighton 0-3 (0-0)/Enciso 51, Undav 86, Estupinan 90+6/Monday22.00: (5.40) Leicester (4.00) Liverpool (1.65)***odds are subject to change***
