There are moments in soccer games that can be predicted. Old men, beer in one hand and fist on the bar in front of them, say it in one word: 

“ Goal.”

 “Shot.” 

“Pass.”

“ Shit.” (if it’s going to be bad and can’t be summed up more simply).

“Yes.” (if it’s good and happening so fast you can’t think of anything else)

Years of watching 22 people kicking a ball around gives you that pattern recognition. The crowd inhales or exhales as they seem to move towards the field, gravity pulling them towards the pitch. They wait to be disappointed, awed, maddened or gleeful. 

The second Trent Alexander-Arnold flicked a ball betwixt the legs of Oleksandr Zinchenko, you knew it was going to be a goal. I am sure every Arsenal fan watching from Baltimore to Tokyo to Liverpool knew it was going to be a goal. The frustration of being a seasoned viewer is that you knew it was coming and there was nothing you or him could do about it. We watched in horror as a 2-0 stroll in Merseyside became a 2-2 shock. And there was nothing anyone could do.

I sometimes see the image of Zinchenko’s face as he is subbed off soon after. The tears running down his face, head in hands as he finally sits down. His teammates and coaching staff do nothing as he sits distraught on the sideline. It’snot his fault we did not win that game (there were chances to put it away before and after). But we all, especially him, knew how much this means.This team thought its wings had caught flight again after a wobble. We had been so close to the finish line. The wind underneath them was merely just a small breeze instead of a powerful gale. We fumbled it all. 

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There is little joy in the buildup to a game like the one we will watch on Saturday, away at Liverpool, for Arsenal fans. I will not bore you with stats or recent results. It’s almost all bad. 

But, Brighton, the opponent from last week, held a similar power over the team in recent years.  Not last Sunday. Brighton had one single good chance. It was a miracle that it wasn’t more than a 2-0 win for the Gunners. It was much the same against Manchester City, a team that made the team from London look ill-fit to be on the same field for years. Arsenal have won twice this season against them this year, never looking less than a worthy opponent.

Maybe it’s the sunshine of Phoenix or the two week holiday. Maybe it’s because these demons are finally squashed. But I’m hopeful—though not excited—for what lies ahead for the team come Saturday. 

The team and fans know what’s coming. Zinchenko knows what’s coming. And, hopefully, as the referee blows his whistle, I can hold a beer in one hand and fist on a bar and shout “yes”. 

Panic Ranking: 4/10