Arteta discovers not every cloud has a silver lining, England thump Italy, India win

Titles won, titles lost and titles surprisingly within reach, silverware was the main focus for most on Sunday, even if there was, as General Melchett might say, “a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face”.

Mikel Arteta is no Baldrick, but even he has to acknowledge that the Premier League was over as a competition long before his Arsenal side drew 1-1 at Manchester United.

Elsewhere, India completed a Champions Trophy triumph in which they were gifted the best draw, the best conditions and the least upheaval of any team, while England’s 6 Nations thumping of Italy has raised the ridiculous prospect they could win the whole thing.

But first to Old Trafford, and another example of why having players in your team who know that the ball goes in the goal is actually fairly important.

A title lost

Arsenal had 68.2 per cent possession against Manchester United, they managed 17 shots to the home side’s 10, both teams had six on target, and both scored once.