Arsenal, did we say quadruple? We meant double, yeh? What a composed, bold, generationally magical night of memory-making for second-tier Southampton, who played the kind of organized, robust, counter-attacking football I wish Pochettino’s U.S. would employ. Manchester City obliterated Liverpool. Erling Haaland activated like a sleeper cell, while the Reds were worse than Geno Auriemma. Chelsea treated third-tier Port Vale like Manchester City treated Liverpool, and then a West Ham-Leeds game that Leeds won, then lost, THEN won again on penalties… FA Cup spoiled us. Especially you Tottenham fans, who probs had your weekend of the season. 😉

ii. Oh, Arsenal. Southampton, under the excellent coaching of 33-yearold German Tonda Eckert, were brilliant, becoming just the fifth team to beat the league leaders in 51 games this season. The win was deserved. The post-mortems have been loud: Barney Ronay wrote this morning:

“Arsenal can still achieve something unprecedented this season. No English side has won a quadruple. But nobody has surely ever blown a quadruple quite like this, either. Six games to lose them all. Carabao Cup final. Check. FA Cup exit at Southampton. Got it. We’re two from two right now.”

In truth, Arsenal have not played well for most of 2026, and the external noise will be deafening as Mikel Arteta leads his team to Lisbon midweek, then hosts pluck-filled, draw-hungry Bournemouth. What has been fascinating to me is how many Arsenal fans in my life have embraced the catastrophizing. So many texts along the lines of “I told you, we will never win anything with this group,” or “Player X should never pull on an Arsenal shirt again.” I understand the PTSD for past seasons, from past Aprils, a month of historical dread for Arsenal fans in which their team has often slumped, undermined by injuries, lack of mental composure, and failure to turn up in season-defining clashes. There is a growing sense of “Won’t get fooled again,” and speaking aloud the worst-possible outcome as an unconscious defense mechanism to compensate for lack of control. The extent to which it spreads to the players in the locker room will define the outcome of the season… 😅

iii. Rayan Cherki is, as they say in Manchester, different gravy. Every week a different sublime moment of magic. Every match, a moment of weird, wonderful chutzpah. Remember: City wanted Wirtz, but Liverpool were ready to pay a fortune for him. Crazy-like-a-fox Cherki cost just $41.76 million and he has been ecstatic. 🦊

iv. What a prospect: A Chelsea vs. Leeds semifinal echoes through history! Roots of the enmity lie in the battle between the North and South, which peaked in the 1970s FA Cup final replay. A game so brutal, referee Michael Oliver watched it and said he would have awarded 11 red cards by modern standards. The ref at the time gave just one yellow. Enjoy this brilliant video and get ready to rumble. 🥊

v. Watch this stunning Flo Balogun finish now! A goal so good Paul Pogba called him “Balogoal.” A goal so good, it made you wonder why we played a false nine in our last game before announcing World Cup squads… 🇺🇸

vi. As a reminder, we’re heading to Tampa Bay on April 17 for Men in Blazers Live from Tampa Bay, presented by Verizon. Joined by the legendary Alan Shearer, we'll revel in the magic of the Premier League, shoulder to shoulder with this city’s vibrant footballing faithful. Get your tickets now. 🌴

And then next month, on May 12, we’ll be live in the City of Brotherly Love (and cheesesteaks) for Men in Blazers Live from Philly, presented by Verizon. We have some very special guests lined up for a night of making memories through football, you won’t want to miss it. Come raise a glass with us. 🙌

vii. I am off to Augusta on Thursday for a Masters live show with my friends at Bank of America. If you are there on Friday, come and give us a hug. New Orleans, I am going to be popping into my spiritual home Saturday. Come and have a pint with me! 🍻

Courage,
ROG

P.S. - Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes is coming on this week. Let me know what questions you have for him. ❤️

P.P.S. - Glorious coverage of the ancient English village Easter tradition of Hare Pie-Scrambling where pieces of pie are blessed before getting thrown into the crowd, followed by a sport with few rules: Bottle-Kicking. Get hyped here. 🥧

By Tommy Stewart & Jacob Schneider

Southampton 2-1 Arsenal

As they frantically came out the blocks at Arsenal, Southampton never looked like they were ready to surrender their 15-game unbeaten run at St Mary’s on Saturday, so it was no surprise when Ross Stewart opened the scoring on the counter in the first half. Despite their dominance of possession and shots, Mikel Arteta’s aspiring champions struggled to take ownership of the tie, and Viktor Gyökeres’ second-half equalizer proved to be a false dawn. Shea Charles’ 85th minute winner not only gave the Saints the semifinal spot they deserved, but it breathed life into the FA Cup because moments like this keep the 155-year old tournament relevant. Arsenal have been knocked out of two competitions in two consecutive games, and while conceding the Carabao Cup to Manchester City was disappointing, it was at least comprehensible, but being Goliaths to Southampton’s David was a bit too close to Spursy for comfort. 

Are Arsenal Choking Again? 😅

Images of a bustling and sunny Arsenal training ground emerged today, but they had the same energy as that cartoon dog smiling and saying “This is fine” as everything around him burns. When Prince sang “Sometimes it snows in April,” he could have been figuratively prophesying Arteta’s record of just 12 wins in 27 matches during this cursed clutch month over the past five years, but this spring they must defy history and their own nervous fandom to defiantly exorcise their demons. The quadruple and now treble are off, but the Holy Grail for Arteta’s bridesmaids is the Premier League, where they are still nine points ahead of City and masters of their own destiny.

Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool

Remember Erling Haaland? He’s back, in goalscoring form, bagging a vintage hat-trick that reminded everyone how ruthless a finisher he is. The Norwegian striker’s not had a vintage year so far, but he’s still Liverpool’s kryptonite, with four of his eight goals in 2026 coming against the wilting Premier League champions. Mohamed Salah’s saved penalty with his side already 4-0 down was emblematic of Liverpool’s collective capitulation, something only emphasized by their resigned body language that suggested Arne Slot may have lost command of his squad. City’s semifinal against the Saints will be their 23rd visit to Wembley since Pep Guardiola took the reins 10 years ago, and as evidenced against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, it’s essentially become a holiday home where they’re as comfortable as they are at the Etihad. Good luck, Southampton…

West Ham 2-2 Leeds (2-4 on Penalties)

The most absurd tie of the round, West Ham scored twice in the dying minutes to force extra time after being down two. Some fans of the Claret and Blue had left before the final whistle, and were denied re-entry after Nuno’s squad’s late heroics in regulation. Hammers goalkeeper Alphonse Areola pulled up with an injury in the 120th minute, leading to a debut for 20-year-old Finlay Herrick - who went on to save the first Leeds penalty - but it wasn’t enough. Brenden Aaronson and the Whites prevailed, and now, they’ll meet Chelsea at Wembley in the semifinals; a rematch of the 1970 classic that is dubbed one of the most physical matches in cup history.

Chelsea 7-0 Port Vale

Speaking of Chelsea’s history, they’ve waited 97 years to avenge the 1-0 defeat they suffered against Port Vale when these two last played each other in 1929, and they’ve clearly been taking names because this ice-cold payback was vindictive. Seven different goal-scorers put Liam Rosenior’s side into the FA Cup semifinal where they’ll meet Leeds, and amidst intra-squad squabbles, it was a remedial victory that showed a total disregard for the Magic of the Cup™️.

🇪🇸 La Liga: In the first of three meetings over a 10-day period, Barcelona got the best of Atlético Madrid in match one, with the Catalan side winning 2-1 in a derby that saw Diego Simeone’s side play the entire second half down a man due to a Nico González red. Goals from Marcus Rashford and Robert Lewandowski secured all three points – but this was just the appetizer. The main course now awaits with two UCL quarterfinal duels over the next week. In other La Liga action, Real Madrid were stunned by Mallorca, who defeated Los Blancos 2-1 courtesy of a stoppage-time winner. With the result, Barca are seven clear at the top of the table, with the result serving as a massive blow for Mbappé and Co.'s title hopes.

🇮🇹 Serie A: Two words: Hakan Çalhanoğlu, what did the ball do to you? OK, not actually two words, but this has to be up there for Serie A goal of the season – potentially the Puskás, even. The second of five that Inter Milan put past Roma, the league title is now looking more and more likely to land in the hands of the Nerazzurri after the big win. They sit nine points clear at the top, though second-placed AC Milan and third-placed Napoli clash today, meaning the gap could close to six if the Rossoneri defeat their Neapolitan rivals.

🇩🇪 Bundesliga: Without Harry Kane available due to injury, Bayern Munich had to rely on teenage sensation Lennart Karl and 20-year-old fullback Tom Bischof to secure a result in a five-goal thriller against SC Freiburg. Down two with 10 minutes to spare, Bischof bagged twice before Karl scored the winner in the 98th minute off an Alphonso Davies cross to complete the stunning comeback. Meanwhile, second-placed Dortmund have won four in a row now, but with the Bavarian giants overcoming their late deficit here, the title looks all but sealed in Germany.

More: Boy-wonder Karl’s Topps trading card just sold for HOW MUCH?!

🏆 UCL: Real Madrid 🇪🇸 vs. Bayern Munich 🇩🇪 (Tuesday, 3 p.m. ET, Paramount+)

The footballing equivalent of Godzilla vs. King Kong is the sort of match that rewards your increased subscription fees, irregular sleeping pattern and any other symptom that comes with obsessing over football. Harry Kane trained today, despite a mystery injury that Benoit Blanc is currently mulling over, while UCL specialists Real Madrid look to compensate for another lost La Liga season by winning back their trophy for a 16th time.

🏆 UCL: Sporting 🇵🇹 vs. Arsenal 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (Tuesday, 3 p.m. ET, Paramount+)

We can only presume that Mikel Arteta’s pregame speech will just be putting on “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba ahead of this one. Following their FA Cup exit, this UCL run is all Arsenal have left if they want to push for the double; another year trophyless in Europe would be nothing short of a disappointment. Sporting, slayers of the Cinderella story that was Bodø/Glimt, however, will look to pull off a stunner as they host the Gunners in leg one.

More: Certainly not what Arsenal fans want, Arteta has two star defenders listed as doubtful.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Championship: Wrexham vs. Southampton (Tuesday, 2:45 p.m. ET, Paramount+)

Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac’s Red Dragons will look to bounce back from their draw against West Brom on Friday as they aim to clinch a spot in the promotion playoffs come the end of the season, but all eyes will be on the Saints. Arriving off their terrific FA Cup win over Arsenal, will the high of that result carry over, or will the slump from celebrating hit?

This week’s question: Mohamed Salah will leave the Premier League as its fourth top goalscorer. Which three players are above him?

Email us with your answer for a chance to win a much-coveted MiB patch!

Last week’s winner: Congratulations to Eric Ponton, who was the first to correctly answer that Olivier Giroud is France’s top goalscorer of all time. Your patch is in the post, Eric!

👋 We’ll see you tomorrow for Champions League. In the meantime, keep sending your stories and questions to [email protected].

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