It was one the season's biggest billings - Arséne Wenger's Arsenal, only recently dispossessed of their treble chances, taking on Claudio Ranieri's Chelsea, a team coping (just about) under the strain of millions of pounds worth of expectation, determined to end a five year spell of failure against their London rivals, and victory for either would mean a first Champions League semi-final in club history. In short, this was not the night to choke.
In the end, it was Ranieri's men who held their nerve, Wayne Bridge slotting home a low drive to add to Frank Lampard's 51st minute equaliser, as Arsenal were winding down for extra-time. A week ago Highbury was awash with talk of the treble, this morning Arsenal were left reflecting on another stumble - and hoping it will be the last. In Fleet Street meanwhile, the night's unceremonious dissection began.
'Bridge leaves Arsenal bereft' sighed the Telegraph headline, above Paul Hayward's "Chelsea found something way beyond the usual attribute of exemplary defending." He didn't miss the opportunity to stick the knife in to Arsenal mind, saying: "Masters of all they surveyed as recently as Friday night, Arséne Wenger's team are becoming the kings of cracking up."
And the rest of this morning's papers probably won't make any easier reading for Wenger and his men. "It's not a wobble anymore, it's a full-blown crisis, a seismic shock and the end of the dream that has been in their sights all season," cried Martin Lipton at the Mirror. "Once again we have to question the character and stamina of Arsenal, who have fallen at the last hurdle before," proffered Brian Woolnough in the Daily Star.
The Times offered a gloomy look at the Premiership run-in, Matt Dickinson saying "A four-point advantage and a game in hand will feel like scant protection for Arsenal this morning after the most crushing reverse of Wenger's reign".
Indeed, added the Daily Mail's Matt Lawton, "It seems Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was right. He said the FA Cup semi-final defeat could knock Arsenal off balance, and so it proved." That one will land below the belt for Wenger, whose psychological battle with Ferguson stretches back as long as his reign.
But there was almost unreserved praise for Chelsea, whose win counts as "a real football fairy-tale" according to the Express's John Dillon. 'Claud Nine' headlines made another appearance, with public backing for axe-threatened Ranieri reaching new peaks.
"Why don't Chelsea realise they have an outstanding manager and keep him?" asked Woolnough. A question Roman Abramovich may well be asking himself, especially if he had read this morning's Times. "Claudio Ranieri, for months a sacking waiting to happen, not merely tinkered but totally transformed the season," said Dickinson.
