Paul Merson and Michael Dawson endured an excruciating few moments of silence on air after Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Tottenham.
They had just watched Arsenal survive a second-half comeback from Spurs and were completing their debrief of the game on Sky Sports when social catastrophe struck.
Merson, an Arsenal striker in days of yore, tried to taunt Dawson, once of Tottenham – but his tongue-in-cheek jibe was met with silence.
‘It stands them in good stead for next year, doesn’t it, that fightback?’ Merson said, nodding towards Dawson.
Presenter David Jones and co-pundits Roy Keane and Micah Richards permitted themselves a smirk, but Dawson didn’t seem to catch on – or care.
Paul Merson (centre) tried to wind up Michael Dawson (centre-right) by suggesting that Spurs’ season was over
But Dawson didn’t respond, leaving Merson confused as an awkward silence descended
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Three seconds of silence – which felt more like three minutes at the time – followed as Dawson remained mute before Jones moved conversation on.
Merson gestured towards Dawson, confused as to why he hadn’t responded.
He had basically been saying that Tottenham’s season and their Champions League hopes were over, even though they have two games in hand to narrow a seven-point deficit to fourth-placed Aston Villa.
But the light mockery seemingly didn’t register with Dawson – unless he was folling us all.
Arsenal thought they were breezing to three points when an own goal from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, plus strikes from Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, gave them a 3-0 advantage at half-time.
It was the first time they had been 3-0 up away at their bitter rivals’ ground since 1959.
However, Spurs had a lifeline when David Raya gifted them the ball and Cristian Romero – who was consistently playing as if he was a striker and not a defender – finished in the 65th minute.
They were riding the crest of a wave and a late penalty from Heung-min Son had everyone on tenterhooks, but Arsenal clung on.
Arsenal survived a second-half comeback to win 3-2 and go five points clear of Man City
Had a penalty been given in the first half to Dejan Kulusevski after a challenge from Leandro Trossard, which both Dawson and Richards felt was a penalty, the story might have been different.
Arsenal extended their lead the top of the table to five points over Manchester City, who had two games in hand going into Sunday afternoon’s trip to Nottingham Forest.
