Have to feel for Saka, genuinely terrific player. Player of the year material, but of course the freak at the dopeheads will win that.

Well, its all over now.

What a horrible performance, especially after being 2-0 up.

Who gets more than a 5 out of 10? Tierney maybe.

What a moment for Partey and Saka to drop stinkers.

Rob Holding is a big step down from Saliba, particulary in speed of ball progression and playing balls in between the lines.

Arteta's substitutions were just mindboggling.

Brings off our best player Jesus, takes off Martinelli as well and gives Nketiah, the only actual striker we have on the bench, exactly 6 mins including extra time.

That’s the spirit decaf.

Remember 1989 run in?

Yes its disappointing, but here's some positive maths.

If we'd have won today, City win their game in hand, beat us, go top. A draw at Etihad would see us stay top.
We've drawn today, City win their game in hand, beat us, go top. A draw at Etihad would see us stay top.

Today's result, according to mathematics, doesn't really change much. The only thing that has changed is the narrative.

To be fair it was a masterclass in poor game management both from the players and Arteta today.

Jesus our best player? Can’t agree with that. He was far too deep for me. Unless of course he was told to play that way.

Here we go

Unfortunately, dress it up any way you want but we didn't manage the game well, we barely created anything after going 2 up and Arteta's subs were a bit bewildering.

We've been brilliant most of the season, today we dropped a disasterclass. At 2-0 it felt like we should score at least 3 or 4 and no one envisaged 2-2. We gifted them a way back into the game. It happens and its very sad at this stage but realistically we do not have the squad depth to cope when key players are either out injured or not at the races.

Talking bollocks again. Verbal diarrhoea. Pissing and sh1%%&ng into your own bathtub of misery and pushing it into your own eyes and screaming

I don't think that's fair on Arteta, Soc. Partey started the game really well but he made a big mistake for the goal, got a harsh booking and his game deteriorated after that. Our control of the midfield improved considerably when Jorginho came on. Jesus also lost his composure and he is only back from injury so it made sense to replace him with Trossard (or maybe Eddie).

Bottom line is if Saka scores the peno, it would be a totally different second half. Bad day at the office.

City's form is relentless at the moment. Our only hope is that they unexpectantly start to wobble which is why I was never confident that our lead was going to be enough. As for the reasons why we are wobbling now, I'm not really sure. Its odd that in the last two games when we were 2 nil up, cruising, and silenced the crowd we've not only managed to let Westam and Liverpool back into the game, but we haven't looked like we knew how to get back into it ourselves. It just seemed like an all round poor 2nd half performance from everyone.

...and of course as Dec said had Saka scored we probably win the game

Gabriel was excellent again. But other than that, yeah.

The player really tried to turn it around, but that bit of composure was just not there. When we get knocked off our precision game, we tended to be both too frenetic and too ponderous. Our inability to reassert ourselves, especially when we are defending a narrow lead, is a bit worrying. Arteta can't do much from the bench. I thought that bringing on Trossard, whose decision making tends to be excellent, and Jorghino, was correct. Not sure if Partey was the right player to withdraw. Maybe Vieira could have come on for Ødegaard earlier.

If you disagree with Soc, why don't you articulate your points instead of providing this foul potty-mouthed rant?

Love you pompey but sorry mate it’s not just the narrative. It’s truth. It went today.

Because after a while it feels like you are Cassius clay trying to teach boxing to a quadriplegic for the millionth time so I’d rather not bother anymore

Absolutely gutted.
Can't believe we have started so well in both games and thrown away 2 goal leads.
Infuriating and bloody hurts.
Not sure we can come back from this.
Win at St James Park and the etihad, just can't see it

Oh wow, did you really just say that. The state of you.

Your complete lack of self awareness is just beyond comprehension.

Because he knows he is correct. He has no argument to support his position. And let me add for someone who is always wanting KT in the team, today we found out why he is not the best option.

After he missed the penalty I thought Saka lost confidence in himself and instead of shooting on one occasion he dithered and otherwise looked poor. It’s not over yet but I fear the City game will be the end of the challenge. I think the pressure is telling and we lost all shape and I agree with Soc.

Didn’t you just say “that’s it….no chance”. the points raised on here have mostly been a fair reflection of what happened on the pitch today.

We are more than capable of winning games and winning the title, but as we all know its more than ability, its teamwork and mental strength and unfortunately we are learning it on the fly. A few of the players have been in a title race and know what it takes. Jesus, Zinchenko. Celtic dominate the SPL for the most part. A good portion of the starters don't know. Also, winning forms strong bonds but this is the first season they are playing together.

2 of our titles ('98 and '02) we didn't seem like title contenders in January and just went on a run sneaking up on the league. But they were veterans as well, not kids. By 2004 we were grizzled vets who knew what to do.

2008 was kinda similar. Loads of talent but only a few with title experience and what it takes. Shockingly, Gallas lacked the prerequisite leadership. if we fail to win the title, we will be the better for it the next few seasons. If there is any silver lining if we don't win it.

Well it is it and I’m just being factual. We have no chance but I’m not going to cut my own winkle off just because we lost like others here.

We didn’t draw the game yesterday because of the timing of substitutions and the in game changes blah blah blah total nonsense. That isn’t being truthful.

Drew in an identical manner last week with a different left back. We didn’t draw yesterday because of the left back or that mikel didn’t want to sub his best players off earlier. You talk nonsense.

The most frustrating thing about the last two games is allowing our opponents to dictate the type of game they wanted to play rather than the one we wanted and we had in our hands.

When teams want chaotic, transition based games with lots of direct balls we have to find a way to stop the flow instead of getting drawn in to that game.

At 2-0 up we just seem to stop doing what we’ve done. It’s not just the last few games. It is a trait of ours to play really well, score then stop

....meanwhile at classy Sperz their 'fans' were booing every touch of Sanchez. Lloris is quoted as saying he has never seen anything like it before.

I agree its frustrating but why is it happening? Yesterday I felt that we really could have done with Zinchenko when we started to lose control as he is able to bring the ball out of defence and improve our midfield.

Thanks for the love Tops. Not enough of that around these days.

I totally get that there are intangibles and a lot of subjectivity that goes into the course of a season. And like you (a bit at least, but not quite so err... forthrightly) I do get cheesed off with posters coming on sticking the boot in to this fantastic team/manager that have given us so much genuine joy this season just coz a couple of tricky away games didn't end up going our way when they coulda shoulda.

But my point is irrefutable. Take out the subjectivity, disappointment, narrative, and impending sense of doom. If we'd have beaten West Ham but City win their game in hand and beat us they go top. If we get a draw at City they dont. And the same is true now that we've drawn with Hammers. Sure we've lost a bit of buffer should we get the draw but its the truth. It's maths. Undeniable adding up of numbers, which when push comes to shove is the deciding factor every season. I get that 2 sickening draws makes it feel a lot more unlikely that we will get the draw, and if City do win all their games then in the biggest, most ironic statement of all time, fair play to them. Im going with the maths though. And I hope that what looks likely to be 2 games against Madrid takes something out of their legs. We're in this. Come on man!

Ok I’ll offer some context and my thoughts

Problem 1, Our midfield has done superbly well this season but it’s not really a naturally balanced midfield. I feel sometimes Partey is very isolated and when we play away from home there’s always going to a moment when the home crowd gets on their sides back and their midfielders go crazy chasing everything like a crazed terrier and we struggle in those moments. The midfield kind of collapses. It sounds like I’m dissing him but xhaka really isn’t what we need in there. He’s fine at home when we are playing a side like Bournemouth when he kind of acts like a pivot far up the pitch enabling our attack. Away from home or in certain games like city at home we just struggle and I think the midfield in balance is the responsibility. I look at city and they often use Bernardo silva or gundogan in that role. Exceptionally fast mobile players buzzing around the pitch pressing and teaming up with Rodri to get a foothold back in midfield. Our balance is off and I totally understand why we are linked with rice and caicedo

Problem 2, Jesus is a great wildcard. He’s so unpredictable that the opposition don’t know what to do with him. However he’s such a wild card that he’s not much of a focal point at times as he drops deep to cause chaos and if the midfield have lost the plot a bit we stop progressing the ball as well in the final third. Feels to me we need another option up front that really isn’t Jesus or Nketiah. Something totally different.

Yes I’ve seen people this morning suggesting it’s our new anfield 89 moment which to me feels like we’ve definitely *%^@** it up then !

Before I get too negative, everyone is talking about how difficult it is to go to Newcastle and win and automatically assuming Chelsea at home is a 3 point banker. We 'should' win but a draw is not a far fetched scenario. We win every other game but draw at city, if my math is correct, we win the title, or am I missing something?

Arteta was an assistant manager winning titles and I thought he'd know how to manage a title chasing side. I'm seeing that being an assistant to a manager who knows how to win titles, is different than actually having to manage one yourself.

No way Saka should have been taking that penalty. Ødegaard or one of the strikers should have. I'd only have Saka take penalties in games we are safely winning. The Euro trauma and all that, and given his age, I would not have asked him of that in a must win game where a lot is riding on it. From what I understand most teams pick someone who will take a penalty if one is given. Some don't maybe but I know some do. Whoever said Saka takes penalties is the one to blame.

Jesus was all over the place but he's the most talented striker on the pitch. In a desperate situation, I'd want Jesus on the pitch, he's the most likely to pull something out of his Arsenal.

Im not sure why Saka is on pens to be honest. They must have done analysis on it but I never really feel confident that he’s the most clinical pen taker. Surely it should be gabby Jesus. Never mind what’s done is done. Love our starboy

To be fair to Saka the 5 penalties he's taken since the one he missed at the Euros and before the one he missed yesterday were all scored and were in the following games:
Beat Chelsea 4-2 away, he scored the 4th goal to seal the result
Beat Man U 3-1 home, scored the 2nd to put us 2-0 up
Beat Liverpool 3-2 home, scored the 3rd goal at 2-2 to win the game
Lost 3-1 home to City, scored his penalty to make it 1-1
Penalty shoot out v Sporting

Every single one of those penalties had a lot riding on it in big high pressure gaems against top 6 rivals or a european shoot out

I was racking my brains to work out which Sanchez was playing against Spurs, then I realised you meant their own Sanchez the £40m defender.

I agree on Zinchenko. I think we still have a tendency to panic a little bit away from home when we're bought in to a frantic paced game. We've tried these tactical injuries for an Arteta time-out but there are only so many of them we can do. There is a need for more clear heads and leadership and bravery on the pitch. When everything is chaotic and flying towards you at 100mph the easy option is to release the pressure by whacking it clear - but then it keeps coming back, so we need someone to put their foot on the ball and get the defensive line up the pitch - that takes bravery, and the skill to be able to deliver that under pressure.
Attacking wise we play a high risk game, a high line and high press, 5 players spread across the front line etc, if we mess it up we are susceptible to transitions, so it is a brave attacking structure and it works - but we obviously find it difficult to keep doing it once we establish our lead.

By the way, I think if the ref doesn't give West Ham the penalty on the pitch then I don't think it is a decision that should have reached the threshold for clear and obvious error. I don't mind that sort of decision making process by keeping a greater weight to the onfield decision unless it is clear and obvious. It just needs to be more consistent

No matter what his previous successes are in PKs, it only takes one bad PK to ruin someone (Bergkamp, Man Utd game).

We aren't lacking for good PK takers.

That said and one of the ones who could be arguably viewed as 'negative' with regards to Arsenal, I am not writing off the title. It's unlikely perhaps but the fact remains we still control our own destiny. City has to have other teams take points off us.

Hoping against hope that this was some cold water on our faces. We may end up playing better now that we are written off by most pundits. It actually takes some pressure off. Lets see what happens.

If you’d have said at the start of the season that we’d have taken 23 points from 27 available at this time of the year and we’d be four points clear, we’d have gone insane and bitten the hand off whoever offered us that. Of course context is everything and as gutted as we are, this team have been sensational. Out scoring the invincibles and possibly bettering their points total to still not win the league says everything about how distorted the PL now is. Man City are a behemoth who have distorted the game. Liverpool only winning one title over the last few years with their points accumulation is bonkers.

We have nothing to be ashamed about. We can still do it. I don’t think we will, I haven’t ever really. But this season has been the best for many, many years. As disappointing as things may turn out let’s not lose sight of what this season has bought us.

Thats essentially my view too. In addition if we manage to add some world class quality to our midfield and maybe a plan B (tall) striker then next season this team may even improve....

Pretty much spot on Darren.

Just one small point I'd disagree about - I think we will do it.