Where Arsenal expected to spend the week preparing for a Carabao Cup semi final second leg with Liverpool, they have instead found themselves having to spend it defending themselves from unprecedented criticism.
The decision to postpone Sunday's North London Derby at the Gunners' request sparked disproportionate outrage among almost everyone away from the Emirates, despite the fact that by Mikel Arteta's insistence, his team had simply followed the rules put in place by the Premier League.
"I don’t know if I understand," the Spaniard said of the fall out over the past few days. "What I’m telling you is what we’ve done. When other teams have come to us and said we cannot play and we need the game to be postponed, we have never, ever publicly questioned any of that.
"And we will not because that’s why we have the Premier League the FA and the regulators to consider and to find out and to do the due diligence necessary – which is a lot – to try to postpone the match and maintain the fairness of the competition."
In and among all this drama though, it has been very easy to forget that there is actually a very important game still going on.
Arsenal's Carabao Cup semi final second leg against Liverpool has the potential to allow them in to a first final since the FA Cup win in 2020, and a chance at Arteta's third trophy in three seasons.
To get there having beaten one of the best teams in England, if not Europe, would represent a remarkable achievement and indication of the direction the project at the Emirates is going. However, it seems the odds are stacked against them for this one.
Having said that, it seemed unlikely anything could be salvaged from Anfield when Granit Xhaka was dismissed, but the Swiss is one of a lengthy list of absentees who will miss out at the Emirates.
One person who will almost certainly be there is Aaron Ramsdale despite what was probably the shakiest performance he's put in at Anfield. The England international has set such a high bar for himself though that he's allowed the one bad day at the office.
In front of him Kieran Tierney looks likely to be fit, while Gabriel should be in place on the left side of central defence.
The right side though is a little more complicated.
Under-23s right back Ryan Albeiosu was involved in first team training suggesting perhaps that the Gunners are struggling in that position.
Cedric is almost definitely out after sustaining a hip injury in the first leg while Takehiro Tomiyasu has not featured since the New Year's Day defeat to Manchester City due to a calf problem.
Calum Chambers would therefore have been a contender to make his first Arsenal start since August on Thursday, but after picking up a knock of his own at Anfield and not being pictured in training he could be a doubt.
As a result Arteta may be tempted to shift Ben White out to right back, with Rob Holding back in to the heart of defence. That said though, the Spaniard will surely only look to do this as a last resort, with White having been so imperious in the middle last week.
Midfield is a position where the Gunners are still struggling. Arthur Melo has still not arrived despite reports last week that Edu was pushing hard to get the deal done, and despite an early exit from AFCON on Tuesday, Thomas Partey will not be involved for this one.
Xhaka is suspended while Charlie Patino is probably still too wet behind the ears to start such an important match.
With this in mind the return to training of Martin Odegaard after a battle with COVID-19 is timely, with the Norwegian likely to start on the left of the double pivot alongside Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Bukayo Saka was another who was doubtful after a late knock at Anfield but he should be fit to hopefully replicate his outstanding performance there, while Gabriel Martinelli - who was so exhausted he had to be almost carried off the pitch at Anfield - is likely to start on the left.
That would seemingly leave the number 10 spot open for Emile Smith Rowe, but with the England international still not pictured back in training, it's appears to be a lottery whether he'll make it or not.
Alexandre Lacazette could then drop into the number 10 position where he started the first leg, with Eddie Nketiah leading the line and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang unavailable as he undergoes medical checks after being sent home early from AFCON amid concerns over his health.
Arsenal predicted XI vs Liverpool - Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Sambi Lokonga, Odegaard; Saka, Lacazette, Martinelli; Nketiah.
