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The men beat Newcastle, the women came from behind against Lyon, while the under-21s and under-18s endured difficult defeats.
Arsenal beat Newcastle 1-0 at the Emirates on Saturday, picking up three new injuries as they went back to the top of the table.
Kai Havertz and Ebere Eze both were taken off with muscular injuries while Gabriel Martinelli seemed concerned with his hamstring at the end of the game.
Neither Mikel Arteta nor Eze seemed that bothered by his problem, although that was also the case before he recently missed a month out.
Havertz himself seemed a lot more frustrated and went straight down the tunnel while few seemed to notice Martinelli so Arteta was not asked about it after the match. You can read everything Arteta said about the injuries here.
Arteta was asked about the view that Nick Pope should have been sent off for his foul on Viktor Gyokeres and was unequivocal in his answer. “I don’t know [why the referee didn’t give a red card],” he said.
“They will have their opinion. I’m here to give my opinion. I’m someone who has been in the game for a long time, and you talk to any of the players because the trajectory, where the ball is, there’s no keeper there. If that were to happen the other way around, it’s a red card.”
He was then asked if he felt decisions were going against Arsenal, and said, “I’m saying it’s been the reality of the last two games in crucial moments when everything is at stake. We need everything to go our way and it hasn’t. I’m not making any excuses; I’m the first one to understand. I didn’t talk about it when we lost the game. I’m doing it when we won. It’s a red card today, it’s a red card in Manchester and the world is different. That’s it.”
It’s the second time this season that Pope has got away with one against Gyokeres after he should have conceded a penalty at St James’ Park earlier in the season.
Eze scored Arsenal’s only goal, a wonderful finish that curled away from a flailing Pope after a short corner, the third in a row that had fans groaning before the net rippled.
Wednesday 29 April, 8pm BST – Champions League semi-final first leg v Atletico Madrid in Madrid.
Atletico Madrid‘s Pablo Barrios has suffered an injury setback, and is now a major doubt to face Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals. More here.
On Sunday, Arsenal women took on Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, hoping to make the final as they defend their trophy.
After a solid start in which Lyon were allowed to put in a number of heavy challenges on Arsenal players (mostly on Olivia Smith), Lyon’s quality alongside poor Arsenal defending, cut the Gunners wide open to take the lead with 20 minutes on the clock. It was to be the only shot they would be allowed in the match, and that’s how it remained to the break.
In the second half, however, Arsenal came out flying and within five minutes Kim Little, bursting in to the box, was fouled. The referee pointed to the spot.
VAR, however, called the ref to the monitor as this ‘touched the ball’ nonsense continues to infect football. Nowhere in the rules does it mention getting the ball as being relevant and the Lyon captain’s touch on the ball was so minimal Little would have had it at her feet in front of goal, had she not been fouled.
Less than 10 minutes later, Set Piece FC and Own Goal FC combined to level in hilarious fashion. A free kick, slid harmlessly into the box was fumbled by the Lyon keeper, sending it spinning towards the goal and in off the post. 1-1.
Arsenal pushed and dominated, searching for a winner. With less than 10 minutes remaining, Smith’s speed and determination forced an error in the centre of Lyon’s defence between their centreback and keeper. Smith got a toe in and took it from both of them as they collided with each other, leaving her to slot into an empty net.
It was the perfect response to the kicking she took all afternoon. Arsenal finally had the lead they deserved and were able to see it by smothering the life out of Lyon.