Things go from bad to worse at The Emirates.
Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Runarsson has deactivated his Twitter account after his error contributed to his side’s quarter-final exit from the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
With only four Europa League appearances for the club to his name, the Icelandic goalkeeper was surprisingly given the nod to start the game against Manchester City, with Mikel Arteta deciding it was the ideal time to give Bernd Leno a rest.
Runarsson finished the night having conceded four goals, the second of which coming from a Riyad Mahrez free-kick which, despite looking to be a routine save, slipped straight through his gloves.
"It's like a bar of soap." 🧼
Oh dear! Runarsson won't want to see this one again. Mahrez's free-kick goes straight through his hands. It's a howler.
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Follow online here 📲 https://t.co/OW4PIL91is pic.twitter.com/eE6f2WfFx0— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 22, 2020
The error prompted plenty of criticism from Arsenal supporters and, as noted after full-time, the 25-year-old’s Twitter account was later deactivated.
The 4-1 defeat was just the latest loss in a wretched domestic run for Arteta’s Arsenal. They currently sit just four points above the Premier League relegation zone, with things reaching the point where the idea of them dropping out of the top flight is almost a genuine possibility.
Prior to kick-off against City, Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards suggested that fan channel AFTV may even be contributing to the lack of confidence amongst the club’s players.
“I’m a massive fan of it,” Richards began. “I love it, but for the players, the amount of pressure… You could be scrolling through and the next minute your name pops up, you look at something and someone’s being horrible. It can affect your confidence.
“These players now, they look at social media.”
Arsenal return to league action on Boxing Day, where London rivals Chelsea will be looking to heap even more pressure on Arteta’s shoulders.
