Was that really a cup final as it certainly didn't feel like it after Arsenal were thrashed 3-0 by Manchester City at Wembley.
We had less than 50% of the possession during the whole match, but the first 15 minutes or so of the Carabao Cup Final was fairly open. That's about as good as it got as after Sergio Aguero's 19th-minute opener we well and truly fell apart in what was one of, if not, our worst performance of the season.
The manner of the performance was abysmal. I knew it was going to be an incredibly difficult game with league leaders Manchester City, who have outplayed most sides they have faced this season, but the performance we gave was inexcusable.
Regardless of the opposition the players should have been fired up for this contest. It isn't as prestigious as the FA Cup, but is still silverware and the effort shown by the players, with the exception of Jack Wilshere and Sead Kolasinac, was a million miles away from where it should have been.
Arsene Wenger got his tactics wrong and the players didn't show up. The first goal was soft and a poor one to concede, but we should have regrouped and shown more fight to get back into it. Instead we crumbled!
We can't blame playing tougher opposition either as, although City are top class and head and shoulders above the rest of the Premier League, they are beatable. When we beat them in last season's FA Cup semi-final we showed no fear, and a lot more hunger and fight to get the result.
This time, however, we attempted suicidal passes near our own penalty area and gave the ball away far too cheaply. Manchester City made mistakes in the first half and didn't look at their best, yet we still couldn't capitalise and it was far too easy for them to get the result.
It wasn't just any old game, it was a cup final, but you wouldn't have guessed it from our performance! Wenger got it totally wrong and the players were woeful. We should have showed more pride than that in a cup final, but we didn't and it was simply not good enough.
On our day we can be great, but far too many times this season we have been caught out and not been able to muster a response. I'll always love Wenger for what he did in his earlier years and those memories will never been forgotten, but it's time for change.
I think this summer would be the time for a change, but I think it will be more likely the year after when his contract expires.
We have some great talent in the squad, but have failed to hit our full potential too often. Obviously the result hurt, but any team facing Manchester City knew they'd be up against it, and it is more the manner in which we capitulated that is hardest to take.
Even in the closing stages when we should have been throwing the kitchen sink at them to at least get a goal we continued to gift them possession.
Maybe it could have been different had we been more clinical with the great chance that came our way after just eight minutes. We offered very little after that though and deserved what we got. Wilshere, Aron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil combined superbly to set up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Claudio Bravo reacted excellently to make a save with his feet to keep the striker out - maybe he should have done better, but it was great goalkeeping.
Bravo also had a big say in the first goal of the match as his goal kick set up Aguero. Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi's feeble attempt to get the ball made it far too easy for Aguero, who then beat Ospina with a sublime lofted finish.
It got worse for the Gunners after 26 minutes when Nacho Monreal was forced off injured, although his replacement Kolasinac was one of the only players not to totally embarrass himself at Wembley.
Going in at half-time at 1-0 down wasn't too bad, but the second half that followed was an absolute disaster!
City lost Fernandinho within seven minutes of the restart, but it didn't stop them from dominating the contest and they doubled their advantage soon after.
Before the second goal though, Arsenal missed a rare opportunity that came their way. Hector Bellerin sent a superb ball over the top for Aubameyang and Bravo missed his clearance, but the Arsenal striker was adjudged to have fouled the Chilean goalkeeper.
City's 58th-minute second saw their captain Vincent Kompany get the goal his performance deserved. Kevin De Bruyne found Ilkay Gundogan on the edge of the box and the midfielder's low strike was diverted in from close range by the Belgian defender.
Seven minutes later and it was 3-0 - Danilo picked out David Silva, who raced past Calum Chambers and slotted a low shot beyond David Ospina in the Arsenal goal.
Kyle Walker was maybe lucky to stay on the field after a very clumsy challenge, but it wouldn't have mattered either way. We were well and truly outclassed and deserved to lose the final.
Arsenal were struggling to create anything and Granit Xhaka's long-range strike sailing over the crossbar is really about as good as the second half got for them, which says a lot. We didn't even look remotely close to getting a consolation and this was well and truly Manchester City's day.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Manchester City fan Joseph Barnes believes his side more than deserved their victory and is already looking forward to seeing the two teams meet again in their next match.
"Sub par Arsenal, superlative City! Only one team was ever going to win it," said Barnes. "How soft is Mustafi claiming a foul from Aguero.
"Big Vinny with the second and a captain's performance from him.
"Arsenal may as well gift City three points on Thursday along with the cup we got gifted."
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
Sometimes in defeat you can at least pick out one or two positives, but there weren't any from this horror of a cup final.
Knowing Manchester City are also our next opponents - this time in the Premier League - is a scary thought and they'll no doubt approach the game in confident mood.
Surely it can't get any worse than this performance though. Wenger and the players owe us a response after that farce, although I'm not sure if we'll get it.
The Europa League could be our only positive this season if we can summon more fight and hunger, but after drawing AC Milan in the round of 16 I don't feel hopeful about our progression.
Whatever happens in the next few months, a response to the final is needed as soon as possible and I don't care if City are the best team in England we must take the game to them right from minute one in the league match.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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