6 moments that defined Arsenal’s 2021/22 season

2. Manchester City loss had ripple effects

Gone are the days when Arsenal play against the big boys and wilt under pressure with their tails between their legs. Arsenal were enjoying a four-game winning streak when City visited the Emirates and the young Gunners had confidence about what it could produce for the rest of the campaign.

On New Year’s Day, Arsenal should have beaten Manchester City, without a doubt. Bukayo Saka put Arsenal ahead in the first half as Pep Guardiola’s side couldn’t get near the home side.

However, the second half saw a swing in momentum as Riyad Mahrez netted a contentious penalty. Then, two minutes later, Gabriel was shown a second, questionable yellow card as Arsenal went down to ten men.

As expected, City piled on the pressure, and Rodri netted to secure all three points for the visitors in the third minute of injury time.

The loss was then compounded as Arsenal would then be knocked out of the FA Cup by Nottingham Forest and the Carabao Cup by Liverpool in the space of 11 days. It brought back the pressure from the start of the season and ruined any chance the Gunners had of winning silverware.

Continued on the next slide…