Every so often in the world of sports, you can watch a game and realize you’re witnessing the end of an era.
For example, seeing Michael Jordan at the twilight of his career playing for the Wizards or Peter Forsberg and his failed comeback attempt for the Avalanche last year, you just knew that the golden years were finally past.
For Arsenal Football Club, that end came during 90 short minutes on a Sunday afternoon.
The Gunners have been a force to be reckoned with in England since the mid 1990s. But against Manchester United yesterday they lost 8-2, their worst loss ever to the Red Devils.
And the last time Arsenal gave up eight goals in a league game? 1896. That’s not a typo.
For a team that went undefeated for a whole season in 2003-04 and consistently plays in the Champions League, it’s a complete and utter disaster.
Unless the club decides to spend some of the money it made selling its best players over the summer on replacements, it won’t get any better.
But things can always get worse.