{"id":870,"date":"2026-04-06T14:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T14:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=870"},"modified":"2026-04-06T14:40:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T14:40:00","slug":"arsenal-panic-signs-spotted-by-gary-lineker-with-alan-shearer-in-agreement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=870","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal &#8216;panic&#8217; signs spotted by Gary Lineker with Alan Shearer in agreement"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_e792fe\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">After Arsenal saw the chance to lift two trophies slip away within just two matches, Gary Lineker has a feeling nerves may be affecting Mikel Arteta&#8217;s silverware-chasing Gunners<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33720896\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Gary Lineker speaking on a podcast\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33720896.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-06-091037.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33720896.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-06-091037.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33720896.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-06-091037.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33720896.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-06-091037.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Gary Lineker outlined a suspicion he has with Arsenal\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Gary Lineker outlined a suspicion he has with Arsenal<cite aria-label=\"Image: Spotify\/The Rest is Football\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Spotify\/The Rest is Football)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gary Lineker has a feeling Arsenal brought most of their players back from the international break out of &#8220;panic&#8221; after losing the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City. Before the club season took a pause, City comfortably beat the Gunners 2-0 to win the Carabao Cup at Wembley.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">William Saliba, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Magalhaes, Leoandro Trossard, Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke have all returned to north London from their respective camps or failed to travel at all.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Out of those players, Saliba, Gabriel, Madueke, Zubimendi and Odegaard either started or came off the bench in the shock FA Cup exit to Southampton. Before the match, Arteta insisted those who left their international camps did so because they were injured and claimed he wouldn&#8217;t haul a player back for any other reason.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Rice, Eze, Saka, Hincapie, Timber and Trossard were left out of the squad, with Eze and Hincapie in particular set to undergo a period of time on the sidelines due to their injuries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">While acknowledging it&#8217;s easy to allege this after two costly defeats, Lineker believes it may have been beneficial had the players who were brought back from their international squads \u2013 if they were fit enough \u2013 competed for their countries, instead of returning early to north London.<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Up to 70% off Arsenal kits and merch<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM AffiliateContent_content-details__U6C2M AffiliateContent_has-content-img___LY95\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-image__FxPNL\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article32730319.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Untitled-9jpeg.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-price-details__OpMC_\">\n<p>Various Prices<\/p>\n<p>Kitbag<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"AffiliateContent_content-buy-btn__xWiVO buy-btn\" aria-label=\"Buy button\" href=\"https:\/\/kitbag.evyy.net\/c\/344386\/789332\/11316?subId1=Regionals-football.london&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kitbag.com%2Fen%2Fpremier-league%2Farsenal%2Fo-54310484%2Bt-47520158%2Bz-81-746375396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer\">Buy Now on Kitbag<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM\">\n<div id=\"product-description\" class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Kitbag has slashed the price of Arsenal kits and merch with up to 70% off select items.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking on <a aria-label=\"The Rest is FootballLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/4O7PILbPWPSKE1NWzzf5oA?si=1cc9ef334b52430c\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">The Rest is Football<\/a> podcast, Lineker said: &#8220;I want to throw something at you and whether you agree or disagree, I don\u2019t know, and it\u2019s also obviously easier in hindsight after they lost. I thought there was a slight signal of panic at Arsenal after the City game when they withdrew so many players, or the players themselves withdrew, from the international games they were going to play.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Most of those players featured at some stage during the game at St Mary\u2019s, either coming on from the bench or otherwise. I just wonder whether it showed a bit of, \u2018Oh we need to\u2026like&#8230; just to\u2026&#8217; just a little bit of panic when you just need a bit of calm and confidence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Perhaps it was good just to let the players play a bit of international football, I don\u2019t know. It\u2019s easy to say that now, but I just wonder whether it shows just a little bit off\u2026 would you ordinarily do that, I\u2019m not sure you would.\u201d<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-33720889\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33720889\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary's Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Southampton, England\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33720889.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2269834957.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33720889.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2269834957.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33720889.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2269834957.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33720889.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2269834957.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Arteta looked devastated after the loss at St Mary's\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Arteta looked devastated after the loss at St Mary&#8217;s<cite aria-label=\"Image: 2026 Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: 2026 Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Alan Shearer agreed, replying: &#8220;I totally understand why they all pulled out. They are on the brink of history and still could be. I think that\u2019s really important to say that.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;They are still in the two big main competitions which they would rather win. They\u2019re looking pretty good, they\u2019ve got a good draw in the Champions League and they are obviously going really well at the top of the Premier League.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-33720895\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33720895\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.51\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A dejected looking Mikel Arteta manager \/ head coach  of Arsenal after  the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary's Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Southampton, England\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33720895.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2269836511.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33720895.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2269836511.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33720895.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2269836511.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33720895.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2269836511.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Arteta and his players will need a big reaction in Portugal on Tuesday\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Arteta and his players will need a big reaction in Portugal on Tuesday<cite aria-label=\"Image: 2026 Catherine Ivill - AMA\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: 2026 Catherine Ivill &#8211; AMA)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I understood when so many pulled out, but there were genuine injuries, Saka did not play, Declan Rice did not play, others did not play who had pulled out, some of them did. Regardless of who pulled out, and who didn\u2019t, and who was playing, they still should have had a good enough team to beat Southampton.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;That would be the worrying thing for me. Southampton wanted it more than Arsenal did. That would be a worrying sign for me. I don\u2019t care who you are, squad players or not, you can\u2019t turn the form on and off just like that when you want to, because momentum is such an amazing thing in football.<\/p>\n<figure data-testid=\"embed-placeholder\" class=\"EmbedPlaceholder_figure__NLMFl undefined false\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"90\" height=\"90\" viewbox=\"0 0 90 90\" fill=\"none\" data-testid=\"consent-placeholder-icon\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_10846_5865)\"><circle opacity=\"0.16\" cx=\"45\" cy=\"45\" r=\"33.75\" fill=\"var(--color-sem-icon-neutral-default)\"\/><path d=\"M21.1351 21.1351C15.0276 27.2427 11.25 35.6802 11.25 45C11.25 63.6396 26.3604 78.75 45 78.75C54.3198 78.75 62.7573 74.9724 68.8649 68.8649M21.1351 21.1351C27.2427 15.0276 35.6802 11.25 45 11.25C63.6396 11.25 78.75 26.3604 78.75 45C78.75 54.3198 74.9724 62.7573 68.8649 68.8649M21.1351 21.1351L68.8649 68.8649\" stroke=\"var(--color-sem-icon-neutral-default)\" stroke-width=\"7.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/><\/g><defs><clippath id=\"clip0_10846_5865\"><rect width=\"90\" height=\"90\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/clippath><\/defs><\/svg><figcaption>Content cannot be displayed without consent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;That would worry me if I was an Arsenal fan, the way they were easily beaten. Yes, they had a rally in the second half and Gyokeres got a decent goal, but no one watching that game would say anything other than Southampton were the better team and deserved to win the game, and that\u2019s the worrying thing for me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal face the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie away to Sporting CP on Tuesday before taking on Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League this Saturday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It will be interesting to see how many absent players from Saturday&#8217;s FA Cup exit return to the fold.<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>England&#8217;s 2026 World Cup kits<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM AffiliateContent_content-details__U6C2M AffiliateContent_has-content-img___LY95\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-image__FxPNL\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33638757.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Untitled-2jpeg.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-price-details__OpMC_\">\n<p>Various Prices<\/p>\n<p>England Official Store<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"AffiliateContent_content-buy-btn__xWiVO buy-btn\" aria-label=\"Buy button\" href=\"https:\/\/england-fa-shop.sjv.io\/c\/344386\/852317\/11901?subId1=Regionals-football.london&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.englandstore.com%2Fen%2Fengland-national-team-football-kits-three-lions%2Ft-25619315%2Bd-9072656104%2Bc-340607%2Bz-9-3856279017\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer\">Buy Now on England Official Store<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM\">\n<div id=\"product-description\" class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer&#8217;s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: <!-- -->ENGFREEDEL<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After Arsenal saw the chance to lift two trophies slip away within just two matches,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":871,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=870"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/870\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}