Manchester City lift the first major silverware of the season. Arsenal denied the quadruple. Tottenham’s woes get even worse. Everyone has to hit the brakes because of an international pause. The newsletter has reached 200 subscribers. Thanks to you all. Issue 84. Go.

Manchester City with cause for celebration, Arsenal commiseration after Sunday’s Carabao Cup final. Much made of the goalkeeping selections by both managers, Mikel Arteta arguably wishing he had the benefit of hindsight.

It is always difficult when you use backup goalkeepers in a cup run. Do you reward the player that has got you to the final or do you revert to type in a bid to play your strongest team possible?

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Arteta opting for the former, the former has previous when it comes to Carabao Cup final woe. Remember when Kepa wouldn’t come off for a penalty shootout and then failed to win the game for Chelsea.

Remember when he failed to save a single effort from Liverpool’s 11 from 12 yards. Remember when he dropped the ball on Sunday and allowed Nico O’Reilly the opportunity to stoop in and score the first of two headers.

Four minutes where City used their heads, four minutes when Arsenal lost theirs and strangely enough they did not have an answer to their nearest rivals when finding themselves two goals behind.

Manchester City handing Arsenal only their fourth defeat of the season in all competitions and everyone wonders if this is the springboard for Pep Guardiola to mastermind the mother of all title chases or the strengthening of the Gunners.

Neutrals will hope that this is where the North London outfit crumble as they wilt under pressure but it might only be wishful thinking. Still nine points clear at the top, still very much in their hands when it comes to winning this season’s edition of the Premier League.

At the same time, the Gunners cannot relax now, if they do, they will have City approaching in their rear view mirrors. The object getting closer but perhaps not close enough.

Nobody knows what happens from here on in, but everyone knows that matters at the business end of the season just got a whole lot more interesting.

I do not want to lambast Igor Tudor too much after the news that his father died over the weekend. Desperately sad news for anyone, let alone for a Premier League manager who is yet to find a win for his current employers.

A three-week hiatus before Tottenham return to league action. The only genuine opportunity to course correct. Give the former Croatian international a modicum of respect and announce it as a departure by mutual consent but I think that has to be it now as far as the Tudor reign is concerned.

Imagine you were not cutting your hair until Bournemouth draw five games in a row. Time to get the clippers out. Another stalemate for the Cherries on Friday night, they just cannot seem to find the necessary edge required to win matches. That draw means Andoni Iraola’s men are 13th in the table, just a couple of extra wins would make such a difference.

While there was certainly no shortage of contentious decisions on Friday night. United already being awarded one penalty in the first half, should have had another. Diallo pushed off the ball - problem was that the hosts scored seconds later. A mess from those in the VAR control centre, probably easier to leave things as it were than try to unravel everything. Harsh on Michael Carrick’s men but Harry Maguire’s red the most costly.

In a week where it seems like everyone has been named in the England squad, Danny Welbeck gives a timely reminder as to why he should not be overlooked by Thomas Tuchel. His double over Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime the difference and a brace that now means it is four wins from the Seagull’s last five league outings.

As for Arne Slot’s men, it is now a 10th league defeat of the season. Unthinkable at the start of the campaign but a lack of thinking has arguably been Liverpool’s undoing on so many different occasions. Just a single point from the last nine on offer, a sigh of relief that rivals Chelsea have been so indifferent themselves.

Fulham gave their hopes of qualifying for Europe a timely boost after returning to winning ways on Saturday. The Cottagers having to come from behind when at home to Burnley, just two points separating themselves in ninth to local rivals Brentford in seventh - all eyes on West London it seems.

As for Burnley, what are they? Seriously, what is this club all about. Scott Parker has picked up one win in 23 league outings. A run that is going to see the Clarets relegated at the end of the season, while seemingly with no change in manager. They must be confident of bouncing back straight away. I do not share that confidence.

Everton doing their Merseyside numbers a huge favour on Saturday as they strolled past Chelsea at Hill Dickinson. Did you know that you are not meant to say ‘at the Hill Dickinson’ as per club’s request. Anyway, Beto at the double, the Toffees causing trouble. David Moyes’ men earning a louder voice in the European conversation.

As for Chelsea, their recent woes continue after their Champions League mauling and defeat to Everton means it is just one win from their last four league outings. Robert Sanchez once again causing palpitations for anyone following the Blues and whoever is the manager in the summer, needs to address this situation.

A decent point for Leeds within the context of the relegation battle. The Elland Road outfit now four points clear of the drop zone after their stalemate with Brentford. Daniel Farke’s men have not won any of their last six but four of those games have been draws. At present this is a team that is scratching and clawing their way to safety.

As for Brentford, you would have to say that by their own raised standards, it has been a rather rough week for Keith Andrews’ men. Considering the opposition that they have been up against, it has been four points dropped in their games with both Wolves and Leeds. Unbeaten in four but should arguably be sitting fifth right now.

A bruising week for Newcastle, only made worse after the derby defeat to Sunderland. A bright start, a dull finish as far as the Magpies are concerned. As for the managerial situation. The problem is that fans in general want managerial change but don't really know what change represents (I.e. who is next).

Someone like Howe wins a trophy and then people say he deserves time but same fans want continued progress and if you don't build on success, time's up.

Sunday’s win for Sunderland not only takes them above their nearest rivals but also keeps their European flame alive. The fascinating thing is that you can take any team from seventh to 13th and make a case for them earning European football. Right now, I have no idea who you pick.

A hat tip to the fans who created the parade before Sunday’s game, unfortunately it was all for nothing as Tottenham capitulated at the hands of Nottingham Forest. Good until going behind, useless after the interval. I just don’t think this current Spurs crop have enough fight in them, even if you were to change the manager in the next week.

As for Nottingham Forest, a huge win within the context of the relegation battle. The perfect combination of results as far as Vitor Pereira’s men are concerned. The decision to rest nine players for their European clash less than 72 hours before, now perceived as a masterstroke. The fact that Morgan Gibbs-White scored only rubbing salt in the wounds.

Aston Villa with a timely reminder to those who said they were running out of steam. Ollie Watkins with a timely reminder as to what he can do in attack. Will it be enough to get him in the England squad, only a late run of goals - one that secures a top four finish for Unai Emery’s will help his plight.

As for West Ham, still in relegation zone but you feel that there is currently more upside to them than there is Spurs who sit a point above. During the last six matches, the Hammers have picked up six points compared to the one of their North London counterparts. Keep that trajectory up and it is going to get rather ugly in N17.

Celtic lose ground in the Scottish Premiership title race after defeat to Dundee United on Sunday. The Hoops now five points off the pace, as Rangers move into second. Hearts stay top and have Lawrence Shankland to deploy after the international break.

Martin O’Neill’s second interim tenure not lifting the Hoops to the top of the table, not yet out of the race but certainly starting further back. The late season split will see the top three all play each other, three games that will define who wins the Scottish Premiership

Scott Lindsay was responsible for getting Crawley out of League Two when he oversaw a playoff win over Crewe two seasons ago. After then taking the MK Dons job the following season, he eventually came back to the Broadfield Stadium last March.

366 days later and Lindsay has almost been responsible for leading Crawley out of League Two - only this time via relegation. That responsibility now removed after being sacked on Monday. Another victim of the never go back curse.

Ben White back in the England squad for the first time since leaving the World Cup panel in Qatar four years ago. A move that will certainly divide followers of the Three Lions. On the surface it looks like a player who previously walked out on his country.

Was it ever that simple, do we really know what Steve Holland was supposed to have said. I think a lot of the anger towards the recall is the optic of White not really caring about football anyway (or so as we are meant to believe), why give him a place in the squad anyway.

Also says a lot that Trent Alexander-Arnold still cannot get in the squad. Harvey Barnes’ call up is interesting - more from the point of not changing allegiance but for as good as he has been for Newcastle, you feel like they are plenty more options ahead of him.

The race to win this season’s edition of Ligue 1 is shaping up to be a two-horse race (or should that be deux chavel grand prix?) between PSG and Lens - the two teams set to meet each other on Saturday April 11th.

However the club from the French capital have asked for the clash to be rescheduled in order to help their defence of the Champions League. Unsurprisingly, it is not a request that has gone down well with Lens.

After issuing a statement, PSG’s nearest challengers were quoted as saying that they are strongly against the "troubling sentiment" if the fixture is moved to a later date.

Had this not been the top two meeting on the same weekend, I would imagine there was scope to make a change. With the situation the title rivals find themselves in, I would say the scope for wiggle room is non.

This year’s Community Shield will not be held at Wembley. Not because the FA want to spread the footprint of the game and not have everything held at the home of English football but because The Weeknd got their first.

The Canadian singer having tour dates across that weekend. Modern football there.

Right, that’s the end of issue 84 as word continues to spread around the football world.

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Issue 85 drops NEXT Tuesday. I am having a well earned weekend off. In seven days time, I’ll be back with another round of insight, analysis and trends that matter. Any feedback or comments on this issue, contact me below:

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