Arsenal fell just short as Manchester City pipped them to the Premier League title, but the Champions suffered a shock defeat to rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
Pep Guardiola’s side were unbeaten for 35 games across all competitions leading into the final against United, whom they beat 2-1 in the same fixture last season.
Despite losing out on the title by two points to Man City, many Arsenal fans were still eager to see them beat old rivals in United, to ensure that Arsenal qualified for the Community Shield in August, as well as keeping a comfortable lead ahead of United as the team with the most FA Cup triumphs to their name.
However, goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo handed United a shock win at Wembley, and Arsenal fans are divided on how to feel.
Man City’s air of Invincibility had been broken, possibly raising the chances of Mikel Arteta’s side winning the title next season, but many simply lamented the fact that City did not lose like this in the league.
Arsenal fans divided as Man Utd beat Man City in FA Cup final
Some fans saw the positives, pointing out that losing to their bitter rivals in a cup final could affect Man City’s title chances next season, with Arsenal still expected to be their main competitors.
“If United win here this is a huge psychological dent for City going into next season,” one fan posted on X during the match.
However, one fan was sceptical that the cup defeat would dent the City machine in any way next season.
“City will absolutely not care if they lose and I promise it will not effect them in anyway shape or form,” he replied.
Arsenal will no longer compete in the Community Shield in August, and matchgoing fans are frustrated that the prospect of another enjoyable victory at Wembley is gone.
“Of course Man City choose to play bad now. The one time I want them to win so we can have another Community shield day out at Wembley and they let us down,” one disgruntled Arsenal fan fumed.
Others were frustrated that United’s excellent performance, which saw them hit City on the counter attack with speed, and the players put in their best display of the season, could not be replicated by other teams during the title run-in.
“We needed one team – Just one team – to do this to City since Christmas,” one fan lamented.
READ MORE: All Mikel Arteta signings at Arsenal ranked from worst to best
The result meant that Ten Hag has now won more than Arteta in the last two seasons, but Arsenal fans are adamant that the Gunners had a better campaign overall.
“Same Arsenal fans that were saying Arteta’s 8th place finish + FA Cup win means nothing are the same ones saying ETH has outdone Arteta,” one fan pointed out.
“Btw we also finished 8th with an FA cup and got absolutely demolished regardless,” another highlighted.
Arsenal drew 0-0 at the Etihad when they last faced Man City, and some fans are now pointing out that their lack of speed was the difference, as Garnacho and Marcus Rashford’s pace on the counter troubled Guardiola’s side more than Arsenal could with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus.
“Man utd have pace killers in behind with garnacho, rashford and hojlund. arsenal don’t have any threats on transition but martinelli. that is why we couldn’t beat them at the etihad,” one fan pointed out.
Arsenal will hope that Man City do indeed suffer a psychological blow from such a defeat, and that they can capitalise in the title race next season.