Gunners do demolition job but big dream fades

THE hope lasted for all of 16 minutes at the Emirates Stadium as news of Tottenham’s opener at Norwich killed the mood. The Gunners did their job against Everton. But so did Spurs as Mikel Arteta side’s Champions League dream went up in smoke. Instead, Arsenal will play in the Europa League next season. It was within touching distance but they bottled it. It’s hard to look beyond Monday’s loss at Newcastle and the defeat to Tottenham four days prior. They needed three points from a possible six. They got zero. The fact it was Spurs who capitalised on their collapse made it worse. ‘We needed a miracle and it didn’t occur, the league table doesn’t lie,’ said Arteta. Gabriel Martinelli slotted home a 27th-minute penalty awarded by VAR after Alex Iwobi handled. Four minutes later, Eddie Nketiah doubled the lead with a header. Donny van de Beek halved the deficit just before half-time. However, Arsenal plundered three more goals courtesy of Cedric Soares, Gabriel and Martin Odegaard.