When Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ran on to a David Luiz pass early in the semi-final of Arsenal’s FA Cup clash with Manchester City, nearly every Gooner watching at home expected Ederson’s net to bulge to send Mikel Arteta’s men 1-0 up.
It didn’t quite pan out as imagined as the Gabon star shot straight at the Brazil goalkeeper in a manner that suggested an inexperienced forward rather than this year’s 20-goal Premier League marksman. Pictures showed Nicolas Pepe, hands on head, stood in disbelief at what he had just witnessed.
Indeed, the post-match narratives had the North London side lost were already being predicted; from criticism ranging from ‘bottling’ chances to perpetual ‘flat-track bully’ claims, the headlines were probably starting to write themselves.