'Abject as it was, Sunday does not have to be significant'
[BBC] [Getty Images] As the clock ticks over into stoppage time, there is a sea of light blue flags swaying at the opposite end of the stadium to me. Among the remaining Arsenal fans, there is almost no hope of any last-minute turnaround, so it is just a matter of time until we face the final whistle and the battle to get down Wembley Way before the Manchester City fans. This was my experience eight years ago, but also on Sunday evening.
This was a performance I have seen from Arsenal before, but not for many years. It is one that collectively we thought we would never see again. And for me, this is why this one hurts.
Compared to the 2018 Carabao Cup final, Arsenal are a different club. At the end of the 2017-18 season, Arsenal finished sixth and it would be another five years until they challenged for the title. Today, Arsenal sit top of the Premier League and are still in contention to win both the FA Cup and Champions League.
But in isolation, the manner of Sunday's performance could suggest that nothing has changed. Without any silverware, progress is just that - progress. I am allowing a few days to feel sorry for myself, but no more.
To quote Shakira and her song to which Arsenal fans sing about Kai Havertz, now is the time to "pick yourself up and dust yourself off, get back in the saddle". Abject as it was, Sunday does not have to be significant, or even a hint of evidence that the club is still where it was back in 2018. Arsenal do not play again until 4 April, leaving them time to rest, recuperate and most importantly learn from what went wrong.