Arsenal suffered two recent defeats, losing 0-2 to Man City in the League Cup final and 1-2 to Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals. These results shattered their quadruple ambitions in just two weeks, raising questions about their form and resilience in decisive moments.

"It's too easy to analyze after a loss, but I sense a bit of panic at Arsenal after the Man City game, with so many players withdrawing from international matches," Lineker said on The Rest Is Football podcast on 5/4. "Most of those players ultimately still played against Southampton, either from the bench or starting, and I just wonder if that suggests a bit of panic when they should have shown more calmness and confidence. Perhaps allowing players to join their national teams might be a good thing. It's easy to say now, but I wonder if you would do that under normal circumstances? I'm not sure."

Noni Madueke (left) replaced Martin Odegaard in Arsenal's 1-2 loss to Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals at St Mary's, Southampton, England on 4/4. Photo: Reuters

Lineker's analysis highlights that Arsenal's personnel issues have been heavily scrutinized recently. Notably, 11 of their players withdrew from national teams during the FIFA international break at the end of March, mostly citing fitness concerns. Among these, Gabriel Magalhaes and Martin Odegaard both started against Southampton, while William Saliba, Noni Madueke, and Martin Zubimendi came on in the second half. The remaining players were not registered for the match. These players are generally among the most played across Europe's 5 top leagues.

Regarding this issue, English football legend Alan Shearer expressed understanding. "I understand why they withdrew because Arsenal are on the verge of making history. Some cases were also genuine injuries, like Saka and Declan Rice," he said.

However, the Premier League's all-time leading scorer also emphasized that Arsenal's second-string squad is strong enough, and the defeat to Southampton indicates a more concerning issue. "What worries me is that Southampton were more eager than Arsenal. You cannot simply switch your form on and off like that. Psychological momentum in football is crucial," he analyzed.

Declan Rice (right) challenges Noni Madueke during Arsenal's training session on 6/4. Photo: Arsenal FC

Currently, Arsenal still have a chance to compete in two competitions, aiming to win their first trophy since the 2020 FA Cup. Mikel Arteta's side will face Sporting in the Champions League quarter-finals and are 9 points ahead of Man City in the Premier League.

Lineker hopes these two defeats are just a minor setback rather than a major crisis for Arsenal. "They still have a significant advantage in the title race. I believe Arsenal will win the Premier League, and that remains the most important goal," he stated, adding that the two upcoming matches are pivotal for Arsenal to regain stability and maintain their advantage in the crucial stage of the season.

Today, Arsenal will visit Sporting in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. Then, on 11/4, they will return home to host Bournemouth in the 32nd round of the Premier League.

Hong Duy (via Daily Mail)