French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will host a diplomatic summit with the UK in Paris on Friday to tackle the Strait of Hormuz crisis — and it will not include Trump

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US President Trump faces the prospect of being marginalised by a frustrated Europe tomorrow over his “belligerent” stance on Iran.

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will host a diplomatic summit with the UK in Paris on Friday to address the Strait of Hormuz crisis.

Notably, Trump will not be invited to the summit. Macron took to X to call for the strait to be reopened ‘as soon as possible.’

Following talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Macron confirmed the gathering would bring together ‘non-belligerent countries ready to contribute, alongside us, to a multilateral and purely defensive mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the strait when security conditions allow.’

The summit comes as Trump finds himself increasingly frozen out by several European nations from post-war Middle East negotiations.

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White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said: “The United States doesn’t need help from any other country – the blockade is working perfectly, implemented by the greatest Navy in the world, while Iran’s navy is at the bottom of the ocean.”

Yet Trump himself had previously declared the strait ‘permanently open’ following discussions with Xi Jinping, during which it was suggested the Chinese leader had agreed to stop arming Iran.

The Wall Street Journal reports that French diplomats believe Trump’s participation in any proposals would obstruct diplomatic progress. Nevertheless, British officials have voiced concerns that excluding the US could further antagonise Trump and create additional difficulties.

Keir Starmer has made his intention clear to maintain Britain’s distance from the growing tensions between the two countries. He told the BBC: “We’re not supporting the blockade.

“My decision has been very clearly that whatever the pressure, and there’s been some considerable pressure, we’re not getting dragged into the war.”

The coalition’s main aim is to ensure that shipping companies feel confident navigating the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities have ceased.

To achieve this, the plan includes rescue operations for stranded vessels, de-mining efforts to remove Iranian mines, and the creation of a programme for military personnel.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot indicated on Tuesday that this depends on regional stability.

Barrot said: “The mission we are referring to could only be deployed once calm has been restored and hostilities have ceased.”

Germany is also widely anticipated to participate in the operation.

Throughout the conflict, Trump has been vocal in criticising NATO allies for doing ‘nothing’ to support the US in safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz, warning that his country might pull out of the alliance.

Writing on his social media platform last week, Trump said: ‘None of these people, including our own, very disappointing, NATO, understood anything unless they have pressure placed upon them!!!’

Last year, Nigel Farage’s party took control of Durham County Council in a historic result and has led national opinion polling for much of the last year.

Data compiled by PollCheck shows Mr Farage’s party are currently polling well in the North East, with many seats up for grabs in the May 7 elections – Gateshead and Sunderland look to be the places where Reform UK might perform the best.

PollCheck has predicted that Reform would take control of Sunderland City Council, making it the second in the region to be controlled by the party, with it winning 38 of the 75 seats up for grabs in the all-out election where every ward is up for re-election.

Projections suggest Labour could see its number of councillors cut from 49 to just 23.

A Reform spokesman said: “Last year, Reform UK won hundreds of council seats, including in the North East, and already we’re seeing the positive impact the party is having in those areas.

“This election is an opportunity for voters to have their say on the weak and incompetent Labour administrations both locally and nationally.

“Only by delivering big Reform wins in the North East and across the UK can we deliver the fatal blow to the two-party establishment, get Starmer out, and begin fixing Britain.”

Green

Another insurgent party hoping to do well on May 7 is the Green Party, led by left wing eco populist Zack Polanski.

The Greens already have a strong base in South Tyneside, where they are now projected by PollCheck to challenge Reform for second place, while party insiders feel confident that they can ‘directly challenge’ Mr Farage in the area.

Alex McKay, Green Party North East regional coordinator, said: “Across the North East we’re very excited by the reception we’ve received on the doorstep.

“When we’ve analysed this response, it looks like we’re challenging for control of both South Tyneside and Newcastle Councils.

“We also expect to make major gains across Gateshead, North Tyneside and Sunderland. National polling results, though positive for Greens, very clearly underestimate the levels of support we have identified and so we are hopeful of excellent results this May 7.”

Green Party leader Zack Polanski visits Darlington. (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Labour

The Labour Party is projected to have a troublesome May, with seats up for election that they last contested at the height of the Boris Johnson Partygate scandal.

Sir Keir Starmer’s party has slid down the national opinion polls since it was elected to government in 2024, becoming the third most popular party in many UK-wide polls. And it looks set to lose control of Sunderland, Gateshead and Newcastle councils in what would be a huge blow for the party given its historic ties to the region.

Despite this, Labour says it is “fighting hard for every vote” in the North East.

“Labour councils in the North East have a proud track record of delivery and now working with a Labour government we’re making changes that will lift children out of poverty, back local businesses and strengthen communities across the region,” a spokesperson said.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

Potential results

Poll aggregator, PollCheck, has said these could be the most likely results on May 7, based on current opinion polls.

Gateshead – No overall control (was Labour)

Newcastle – No overall control (was Labour)

Sunderland – Reform (was Labour)

South Tyneside – No overall controll

North Tyneside – Labour hold

Hartlepool – Labour minority

It was always going to be difficult for the second period to match the high-octane tempo of the first, and instead the decisive moments, both mad and magnificent, were compacted into the final few minutes.

With extra time looming, substitute Camavinga was dismissed for two yellow cards within 24 minutes of coming on. The first was for a foul on Jamal Musiala in the 78th minute and the second for taking the ball and delaying a Bayern free-kick following a foul on Kane.

The red card was to prove costly for him, and his team as the hosts made the most of their advantage.

Luis Diaz struck in the 89th minute to make it 5-4 to Bayern on aggregate, before Michael Olise put the icing on the cake in stoppage time.

With Guler also sent off in the aftermath, Real boss Alvaro Arbeloa admitted: “With the red card everything was over.

“It’s unbelievable to send off a player for this action. It’s not possible in a player like that, match like that. We feel really upset, really angry, really disappointed. We feel all of this is a bit unfair.”

For Bayern, a semi-final against holders Paris St-Germain will follow and boss Kompany said: “The boys were mentally strong to recover from setbacks.

“The fans helped us as well. We stayed calm and always felt that our moment would come. The boys deserved this win.

“We showed absolute belief and will to fight our way back into the game.”

Gerrard, a 2005 Champions League winner with Liverpool, described it as “an incredible game of football, end-to-end, fascinating tactical approaches”.

“Extra time was looking likely, but one moment of madness, indiscipline and silliness has cost Real the chance of getting to the last four,” he added.

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock told Match of the Day: “Both teams were brilliant going forward, but defensively both have been poor.

“If you want to win the Champions League, can you play like that? It is going to be fascinating to see how that pans out when Bayern face Paris St-Germain.”

Rev. Franklin Graham, the son of the late Billy Graham and a leading evangelical figure close to Donald Trump’s administration, doesn’t believe the president “knowingly” depicted himself as a Christ-like figure in a now-deleted AI-generated image.

In a post on his Truth Social account on Sunday, Trump depicted himself in a white robe and red sash with a glowing outstretched hand placed on the forehead of a man in a hospital bed. The president later said it showed “me as a doctor.”

In a statement shared with The Independent, Graham condemned what he called “ill-intended speculation” about the president’s image, standing in stark contrast to backlash from other faith leaders — including conservative evangelicals — who accused him of grotesque blasphemy and making a mockery of holy symbols to serve a political agenda.

“When I looked at the illustration, I didn’t jump to the same conclusion as some,” Graham said.

“There were no spiritual references — no halo, there were no crosses, no angels,” he added. “I think this is a lot to do about nothing. There is so much ill-intended speculation. I think his enemies are always foaming at the mouth at any possible opportunity to make him look bad.”

Graham said he did not believe Trump “would knowingly depict himself as Jesus Christ — that would certainly be inappropriate.”

“I’m thankful the president has made it very clear that this was not at all what he thought the AI-generated image was representing — he thought it was a doctor helping someone, and when he learned of the concerns, he immediately removed the post,” Graham added.

Graham, a prominent evangelist and president of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, has been allied with the president through both of his administrations.

He recently appeared at the White House with other Christian pastors, including Robert Jeffress, one of Trump’s longtime religious advisers who leads First Baptist Church in Dallas, to celebrate Easter.

On Palm Sunday, Trump shared a letter from Graham on his social media platform that addressed the president’s suggestion that he thought he was going to hell. “I don’t think there’s anything gonna get me in heaven, OK?” Trump speculated on Air Force One last year.

In response, Graham wrote: “Maybe you responded in jest, but it is an important issue to know for certain that your soul is secure and will spend eternity in the presence of God.”

At last month’s Conservative Political Action Conference in Texas, Graham said, “love Donald Trump” and “we’ll never get another president” like him.

“That’s why it’s important that we do everything that we can to try to get him reelected,” he said.

Graham said he “misspoke” in a statement immediately after his remarks.

His latest comments follow a wave of bipartisan outrage from conservative Christian commentators and pastors who have otherwise aligned with the president’s agenda.

But evangelical figures close to the president have thus far either declined to weigh in publicly or have opened the door for Trump to consider the episode a teachable moment.

A fragile alliance between conservative Catholics and evangelicals has been increasingly tested by the president’s growing hostility towards Pope Leo XIV and Catholic leadership as well as the administration’s characterization of war with Iran as a Christian calling.

“I’m not a Catholic, I’m an evangelical, but I appreciate how President Trump has defended religious freedom for people of all faiths, including millions of evangelicals and Catholics in the U.S. and around the world,” Graham said in his statement.

“He is the most pro-Christian, pro-life president in my lifetime and he doesn’t shy away from it,” he added. “I would hope that the President and Pope Leo can meet at some point, and that the Pope would have the opportunity to thank the President for his efforts to protect religious liberty.”

Some of the cheapest supermarket wholemeal loaves have outscored expensive artisan and organic breads in a Which? nutrition study

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A recent investigation by UK consumer champion Which? discovered that premium malted and artisanal rye breads—frequently costing five times more than budget supermarket wholemeal loaves—generally contain higher salt levels and lower protein content, rendering them less nutritious than more affordable alternatives.

The consumer champion examined 60 popular loaves spanning five categories—wholemeal, seeded, malted, blended, and rye—to identify the healthiest choices available on British supermarket shelves. The investigation compared loaves from all price ranges, from budget varieties as low as 59p to premium breads priced above £3.

Which? evaluated the loaves utilising the 2004 Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM)—the same system employed to determine whether foods are high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) and are consequently restricted from prominent advertising slots and in-store promotions. The model assigns products scores out of 100, rewarding beneficial nutrients such as fibre and protein while penalising negative nutrients including sugar, saturated fat, and calories.

Each loaf in the investigation exceeded the healthy NPM threshold of 62. Nevertheless, there was a 10-point variation between the highest (80) and lowest (70) scorers. A maximum score of 80 signifies minimal salt and sugar, alongside high protein and fibre—making these the most nutritionally concentrated options on offer. While pricier loaves — such as organic rye — may seem like the healthier choice, they frequently achieved lower scores than more budget-friendly supermarket alternatives. That said, rye contains less gluten and carries a lower glycaemic index, which could mean it offers benefits over other bread varieties.

The research revealed that 13 loaves achieved an overall score of 80, with some of the most affordable options, including Aldi Village Bakery medium wholemeal (59p), attaining the impressive nutritional rating. Additional supermarket loaves from Asda, Co-op, Morrisons, M&S, Ocado and Sainsbury’s also reached the same high nutritional score, while Aldi’s medium wholemeal loaf also boasted one of the greatest fibre contents (7.9g), reports the Mirror.

Hovis featured twice among the healthiest loaves, with both its wholemeal variety and its ‘blended’ Best of Both loaf each scoring 80.

Iceland’s The Daily Bakery malted bloomer similarly attained the top score, recording some of the lowest levels of sugar and salt amongst the leading 13 loaves.

While Iceland’s loaf performed impressively, many of the malted varieties — frequently marketed as Granary, harvest grain or Dutch-style malted — fell short of the same rating. In fact, eight of the nine varieties assessed were found to use refined flour coloured with malt extract or caramel, rather than fibre-rich whole grains. Hovis Granary (medium sliced), for instance, achieved an NPM score of 72; it was marked down for containing roughly half the fibre (3.7g vs 7g) of the top-performing wholemeal loaves and for its elevated salt content (1.03g per 100g). It is worth highlighting that a separate loaf within this category, from the same manufacturer — Hovis Granary Wholemeal — recorded a higher score of 78, making it the preferable choice for health-conscious shoppers.

The poorest-performing loaf is one that the majority of consumers might arguably assume to be the most nutritious: Biona Organic Original Rye Bread. This rye bread received the lowest NPM score of 70 out of 100, despite carrying a price tag of £3.10.

If you regularly purchase this loaf, it isn’t necessarily an unhealthy choice, however it contains 1.13g of salt per 100g, placing it amongst the saltiest breads examined in the study. It also recorded one of the lowest protein levels (4.2g) of all loaves assessed and ranked among the most calorific, though this is typical of dense bread varieties.

A score of 70 still surpasses the Government’s benchmark for ‘healthy’, yet it sits at the foot of the rankings as it lacks the nutritional balance of certain supermarket own-brand alternatives.

For those mindful of their protein consumption, some of the seeded varieties could prove a worthier option. Sainsbury’s Soft Multiseed Wholemeal (Taste the Difference) boasts an impressive 12.8g of protein per 100g, the highest figure recorded across all 60 loaves tested. Nevertheless, a high protein content doesn’t automatically guarantee the best health rating. Sainsbury’s Multiseed loaf was just pipped to the ideal 80 score by options including Ocado Wholemeal, which struck a better balance with its substantial protein content (12g) alongside reduced salt and sugar quantities.

While some recorded superior NPM scores compared to others, shoppers can feel confident that all these loaves are essentially nutritious. Every one of the 60 loaves met the Government’s Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) standard, demonstrating that even the lowest-ranking breads can form part of a balanced diet.

For those looking for an easy method to find the healthiest loaves without scrutinising packaging, it’s worth noting that, unlike terms such as “malted, “brown” and “grainy,” “Wholemeal” is legally protected in the UK. Unless a loaf carries the label “100% Wholemeal,” the brown appearance is probably just for show.

Shefalee Loth, a Which? nutritionist, explained: “Our analysis sends a powerful message to shoppers: you don’t need to pay a premium to get a nutritionally superior loaf. In fact, some more expensive breads may even be less healthy than budget wholemeal supermarket versions that cost a fraction of the price.

“Choosing 100% wholemeal guarantees bread naturally richer in B-vitamins, magnesium, and iron, providing essential fibre and protein for lasting satiety.

“For those not keen on wholemeal, our findings show that a blended loaf could provide a significant nutritional boost without compromising on the flavour of a white loaf.”

The healthiest loaves (listed alphabetically as they all have the same NPM score of 80)

• Aldi Village Bakery medium wholemeal
• Co-op Bakery Wholemeal Toastie
• Hovis Best of Both
• Hovis Wholemeal medium
• Iceland The Daily Bakery malted bloomer
• Lidl Rowan Hill Thick wholemeal
• M&S Wholemeal Farmhouse
• Morrisons wholemeal medium
• Ocado wholemeal medium sliced
• Sainsbury’s Medium Sliced wholemeal
• Tesco Wholemeal Medium
• Waitrose Essential Wholemeal
• Warburtons Wholemeal

The unhealthiest loaves (listed with the lowest scorer at the top, followed by the next two, then the rest in alphabetical order, where NPM scores are identical)

• Biona Organic original rye bread
• Hovis Granary (medium sliced)
• M&S Only 4 Ingredients wholegrain sliced rye
• Aldi Both In One medium
• Aldi Village Bakery Classic Malted Bloomer
• Allinson’s Lightly Seeded
• Biona Organic Rye Bread with sprouted seeds
• Biona Pumpernickel
• Black Sheep malted bloomer (sliced)

How to determine whether your brown loaf is nutritious

Not every brown loaf is as wholesome as it seems—some are merely white bread coloured with caramel or malt extract. Here are four methods to identify a genuinely nutritious loaf of bread:

1. Examine the ingredients list. Ingredients appear in descending order by weight. Should ‘wheat flour’ feature first, it’s legally categorised as white bread. For blended varieties (such as 50/50), the packaging must declare the precise proportions of white and wholemeal flour.

2. Search for the term ‘wholemeal’. In the UK, ‘wholemeal’ is a legally protected term—any bread labelled as such must contain 100% wholemeal flour. Terms like ‘brown’, ‘wheat’, or ‘multigrain’ lack protection and frequently conceal refined white flour. For rye bread, select those listing ‘wholegrain rye’ as the primary ingredient.

3. Do the ‘squish’ test. Should a dark loaf feel unexpectedly soft and pillowy, it’s probably manufactured from refined flour and coloured to appear brown. Genuine high-fibre bread tends to be denser, as bran naturally restricts the fluffiness that gluten can deliver.

4. Check fibre content. The Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) awards maximum credit at 4.7g of fibre per 100g or more, but to be legally labelled ‘high fibre’, bread must contain at least 6g per 100g (or 3g to qualify as a ‘source of fibre’). Standard white bread typically contains just 2.9g, while wholemeal bread generally provides around 7g.

Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off at the Emirates. In case you missed it, here is a reminder of how the two sides line up tonight:

Arsenal: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi, Eze; Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres. 
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Setford, White, Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Havertz, Dudziak, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Salmon.

Sporting: Rui Silva; Quaresma, Diomande, Inácio, Maxi Araújo; Hjulmand, Morita; Catamo, Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves; Luis Suárez
Substitutes: Virgínia, Vagiannidis, Mangas, Blopa, Debast, Kochorashvili, Bragança, Simões, Quenda, Faye, Gonçalves, Nel.

Students from 12 schools in the Northern Lights Learning Trust – across Teesside and Wearside -travelled to Westminster last month for a visit to the Houses of Parliament.

The trip coincided with the visit of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who was in London to discuss the UK’s ongoing support for Ukraine with MPs.

Summer and Alfie of Grange Primary School (Image: Supplied)

Leanne Yates, who leads the Trust Pupil Parliament, said: “It was inspiring to watch our young people so fully engaged in the experience.

“They represented their schools with maturity, enthusiasm and curiosity, and it was wonderful to see them embracing the opportunity to learn more about how our democracy works.”

The Trust Pupil Parliament brings together two representatives from each Northern Lights Learning Trust school, and this year, their work focuses on the value of community.

During the London visit, pupils took part in a guided tour of the Palace of Westminster and an interactive workshop.

Leo and Lara of Holley Park Academy (Image: Supplied)

They explored the building’s history, artwork, and architecture, and witnessed a live debate in the House of Commons.

Joshua, from Firthmoor Primary School in Darlington, said: “I really loved the robing room because we got to walk in the steps of King Charles.”

The group was joined by Jonathan Brash, MP for Hartlepool, who praised both the pupils and those who support them.

Mr Brash said: “Behind every confident question was the dedication of teachers, support staff, and families who nurture that curiosity and belief.

“It’s a real testament to the incredible work happening in classrooms across the North East.”

She said: “The entire group were fantastic ambassadors for their schools and the Trust.

“The visit offered an unforgettable insight into democracy, leadership and civic responsibility – an experience that will stay with our pupils for years to come.”

The schools in the Northern Lights Learning Trust include Benedict Biscop CE Academy, Dame Dorothy Primary School, Firthmoor Primary School, Grange Primary School, Hart Primary School, Holley Park Academy, Ian Ramsey CE Academy, St Aidan’s CE Academy, St Helen’s Primary School, St Peter’s Elwick CE Primary School, Tilery Primary School, and Venerable Bede CE Academy.

Joe Cole has backed Mikel Arteta to start 16-year-old Max Dowman in Arsenal’s potential Premier League title decider against Manchester City but says Viktor Gyokeres should be dropped.

The Gunners travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday to take on Man City in the biggest game of the Premier League season.

Arsenal, chasing a first league title since 2004, boast a six-point lead over Pep Guardiola’s side but Man City’s game in hand means the title is effectively in both club’s hands.

Arsenal missed the chance to move 12 points clear of their title rivals on Saturday as they slipped to a potentially damaging 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth.

Manchester City still had to take advantage to keep the title race alive and did so impressively, thumping Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.

A goalless draw with Sporting on Wednesday night means Arsenal have won just one of their last five games in all competitions.

But that was enough to send Mikel Arteta’s team through to the Champions League semi-finals courtesy of a 1-0 aggregate win over Portuguese champions Sporting.

It was another underwhelming performance from Arsenal in the final third, with Arteta’s side creating just one shot on target.

Arteta’s £64m summer signing Gyokeres was subbed off for Kai Havertz with over half an hour remaining and Cole believes the forwards should switch places at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

‘I think Mikel Arteta goes with Kai Havertz because you’re going to need to hold the ball up against Man City,’ Cole said on TNT Sports.

‘Viktor Gyokeres fluffed his lines tonight in terms of holding the ball up and that’s why he got dragged off. Havertz did that better and they looked a more composed team.’

Teenage sensation Dowman was introduced at a similar time as Havertz and Cole was impressed by his second-half cameo in the Champions League.

‘It would be a massive call [to start Dowman against Man City] but he is special, he’s clearly special,’ Cole added.

‘What he’s already done at the game at his age is incredible. He could start…

‘Arsenal were in a Champions League quarter-final tonight and Arteta turned to Dowman and that shows you the faith they have in him.

‘We might even see him on Sunday and that would be huge.’

Meanwhile, Arteta was full of praise for his Arsenal team after they reached back-to-back Champions League semi-finals for the first time ever.

‘It’s a massive moment,’ Arteta said. ‘To be part of those four teams [in the semi-finals] is great work.

‘It’s a great night. I’m very happy for all our people. We are making steps that haven’t been done at this club for 140 years.’

Arsenal have played Manchester City twice so far this season, drawing 1-1 at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League and losing 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

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It didn’t feel like Arsenal had just qualified for only their second Champions League semi-final in 17 years. The final whistle came with overwhelming but cautious relief rather than ecstasy; the feeling that Arsenal had got away with one by the skin of their teeth, but next time they won’t be so fortunate.

Had Joao Simoes 94th-minute effort crept a few inches to the left, this last-eight tie was heading to extra time. That would’ve been catastrophic for Arsenal’s physical state ahead of their biggest game of the season on Sunday. In their current mental state, Arsenal progression would not have been a safe bet.

Mikel Arteta made a rallying cry in which he asked Arsenal’s supporters to come to the Emirates not with their dinner, but with “pure fire” and “zero fear” for the visit of Sporting. Fans struggled to comply. There was less a fire in their bellies, more a collective knot.

It was a stark comparison to this exact occasion 12 months ago. When Real Madrid came to town, there was an atmosphere unadulterated belief and optimism that this team could create magic. Maybe it helped that their Premier League title race had already been run at the time; Liverpool were 11 points clear, so their focus was streamlined.

But on this night, there was more than a tinge of anxiety in the air, a hangover from still being very much in the thick of a title race, and one that has a yellow flag being waved. Some were no longer allowing themselves to dream of the best, instead conditioned by three years of hurt to fearing the worst. “Please, enjoy where we are as a club,” Arteta said after the match, having asked for perspective of Arsenal’s position in major competitions before this game. It’s easier said than done.

This did not help a team of players who currently appear tortured by their own psyche. Arsenal were error-prone, especially at the back, with David Raya and William Saliba each gifting Sporting possession when unsuccessfully trying to play out from the back. It was Tottenham-esque at times.

Both blunders went unpunished; against the attacking quality of any other team in the last eight, probably barring Liverpool, things would’ve surely been different. But the concern is these aren’t isolated incidents in one match – Arsenal’s build-up from deep was hugely problematic against Bournemouth, too. A team previously heralded as one with the most resolute defence arguably in world football now looks shaky.

Such was the case for the best chance – the only real chance – of a pedestrian first-half. The culmination of a sweeping Sporting move that cut Arsenal open far too easily, Geny Catano was left completely untracked at the back post and volleyed Maximiliano Araujo’s dinked cross off the left post. On the brink of half-time, this tie should have been level.

That is not to say Sporting were playing a perfect game. They were similarly susceptible to an error (or eight) at the back; just Arsenal rarely looked like capitalising. Those meant to drive the hosts towards goal, like Noni Madueke, were frightened to take on a man as Arsenal overthought their opportunities until dispossession. Screams of “go forwards!”, often with an expletive, were ever-present.

When the Madueke finally did go through the gears, it fashioned Arsenal’s best chance of the game so far – darting across the box before firing into the side netting on 57 minutes. The Englishman turned a corner five minutes before he was forced off injured. “It was something in his knee so we had to take him off,” Arteta said.

The moment that encapsulated the difference in mindset between now and that famous night against Real Madrid a year ago, fittingly, came with a free-kick. Declan Rice, then the hero from the dead ball, was stood with the ball set 25 yards out – but played it short. Sporting quickly snuffed out the routine and countered. If not for the lung-besting recovery of left-winger Gabriel Martinelli down the right, the visitors were in. In diametric opposition to the Real encounter, even Arsenal’s game-changers looked scared to go for the spectacular.

But in response to any frustration about the performance, Rice’s response was emphatic. “Who cares what people think?” he told TNT Sports.

In a second half that saw Sporting gas, the visitors bookmarked the 45 with two close calls; first from Araujo three minutes after the restart, set up by Morten Hjulmand – an Arsenal fan and possible transfer target who has the club crest tattooed on his left bicep – and then Simoes with practically the last kick of the game.

Otherwise there was improvement to speak of from the hosts, who pressed a tiring team well and came close to killing the tie when Leandro Trossard hit the post with seven minutes to play. He was found at the back post by Max Dowman, who replaced Madueke and did provide the spark that had some arguing for him to start this match. A bright finish could instil a bit of confidence, even if a late scare will leave them wiping their brow.

Between the 67th minute and the game’s final moment, Arsenal didn’t allow Sporting a shot nor a touch in their box. One of their specialties this season has been holding onto slender leads. Arteta trusts them to do this but still wouldn’t mind making things more comfortable. “I do [trust my players with one-goal leads,” he says, “but I prefer to score the goal.”

This time, Arteta’s men managed to survive. In keeping with their first-leg display in Lisbon, they emerged from the night having done what was required and nothing more.

But heading to the Etihad, it is imperative they clear the mental fog that comes with the possibility of repeated failure. Against this Manchester City team in a ruthless vein of form, the question of whether they can emerge unscathed while still racked by such anxiety seems to answer itself.