Monday 20 April, 2026

Lookman scored in a cup final. Eze hit the post in a title decider. Neither of them won.

PART 1

Ademola Lookman. Atletico Madrid. Copa del Rey finalist.

Seven goals and four assists in 18 appearances since joining from Atalanta in January. Started the Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad on Saturday evening in Seville, in front of 72,000 people at the Estadio de La Cartuja.

The final was fifteen seconds old when Real Sociedad scored. Ander Barrenetxea headed a Goncalo Guedes cross into the bottom corner. The fastest goal in Copa del Rey final history. Atletico were 1-0 down before most of the crowd had settled.

Lookman answered in the 18th minute. Antoine Griezmann played him in. Lookman shifted onto his left foot and drove a low strike into the far corner. Composed. Precise. Exactly what a big-game player does when the moment is biggest.

He became the second Nigerian to score in a Copa del Rey final, following Finidi George, who scored for Real Betis against Barcelona in 1997. Twenty-nine years between the two moments.

Sociedad regained the lead just before half time through a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty. Lookman had chances in the second half, including an effort that sailed wide in the 60th minute after meeting a Marcos Llorente cross. He was substituted in the 62nd minute. Atletico were trailing and chasing the game when Simeone took him off. That decision will be debated. Their most dangerous attacker, already with a final goal to his name, came off with half an hour plus extra time still to play. Nicolas Gonzalez came on.

Julian Alvarez scored a brilliant equaliser in the 83rd minute to drag the game into extra time. Neither side found a winner in thirty additional minutes. In the penalty shootout, Atletico missed two. Sociedad won 4-2 on penalties. The Copa goes to San Sebastian.

What this final showed is what the last four months have shown about Lookman. He performs on the biggest stages. He scored against Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final. He scored against Real Madrid in La Liga. He scored in the Copa del Rey final. The thing he hasn't done is win the final. That is partly football. It is also partly about the decisions his manager makes around him in the moments that matter most.

Atletico are still in the Champions League semi-final against PSG. That is the prize that remains. And Lookman, whatever came from Saturday night, has made clear he belongs on every stage the competition offers.

PART 2

Arsenal's lead is three points. They have played the same number of games as Manchester City.

City beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Etihad on Sunday. Rayan Cherki scored in the 16th minute. Kai Havertz equalised two minutes later after a Gianluigi Donnarumma error. Erling Haaland scored the winner in the 65th minute. Arsenal had a chance through Eberechi Eze, who hit the post. Eze was substituted in the 74th minute. Arsenal could not find another way through.

The result matters because of what surrounds it. Arsenal lost to Bournemouth last weekend. They have now lost twice in a row at the worst possible moment of the season. City have not lost in 14 Premier League matches. The momentum belongs entirely to Pep Guardiola's side.

The Nigerian angle in this game is Eberechi Eze. Born in Greenwich to Igbo Nigerian parents, he has trained with the Nigeria national team and represents England at senior level. He was Arsenal's best player on Sunday. He hit the post from outside the area. He created chances. He was still substituted with fifteen minutes left. After the match, fans and pundits couldn't agree on whether Arteta made the right call. The evidence from inside the game suggested Eze was the player most likely to find an equaliser.

A three-point gap with games running out is a thin cushion. Arsenal can still win this title. They have the points advantage. They have the squad. What they cannot afford is another defeat in the next three weeks.

City will be watching. They already know the gap is closing.