There are numerous stages of grief, and Arsenal’s official website was firmly stuck on the denial phase when news broke of their last-16 Champions League tie against Barcelona.
Gunners fans, logging on to the club’s official website to get tickets for the tie, may have had to do a double take.
Rather than accept their fate as Barcelona’s victims opponents, the Gunners clung onto a bizarre hope that Danish side Brondby might be granted permission to take the Catalans’ place despite the fact the Danes have not even qualified for the Champions League group stages since Manchester United’s treble-winning season of 1998/99.
Why is the site showing Brondby in CL? @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/u0QgP2CYe8
— Christian (@Christian1607) December 14, 2015
Tasty potential tie with Brondby? @arsenal #ChampionsLeagueDraw pic.twitter.com/bMg0WPswii
— Jablo Aimar (@jabloaimar) December 14, 2015
The Arsenal website thinks there's a chance we'll get Brondby. Here's hoping. pic.twitter.com/PYcgMirVVu
— Andrew Allen (@AAllenSport) December 14, 2015