That's the way the cookie crumbles.

A colloquial expression, with origins that trace back to the 1920s in the USA. Often used to underline a failure of an action, or dissapointment in reaching an undesired result, with the additional meaning that the result was not an unexpected one.

Arsenal's ever-unpredictable title race finally hit a brick wall. There will be no silverware at the Emirates Stadium this year. Every time supporters of the Premier League’s most watchable side have dared to fantasise about glory this season, the rug has been swept from under their feet in almost apocalyptic fashion. Just when they felt that Chelsea were hungover from sniffing too much champagne and that Manchester United could not keep dredging up last-gasp goals, Wigan hammered the nails in Arsenal’s already battered coffin. With a two-goal advantage shortly after the break against a largely profligate Wigan Athletic team who seemed to be gently slipping through the relegation trap-door, Arsenal discovered yet another way to demonstrate why there is no such thing as a foregone conclusion in the Premier League. Three goals in 10 minutes that clearly illustrated the failings of Arsene Wenger and his aversion to invest in proven mettle to paper over his threadbare squad. The lack of established reinforcements in defence, a world-class striker and a quality goalkeeper. Case closed.

Wenger has a long way to go before he can disprove the assertion of a self-confessed admirer, his former Monaco midfielder Glenn Hoddle, who said perceptively if a little dejectedly of Arsenal last week: "Every year, they've got a good team for the future."

A bit of flesh on the bones.

Robin Van Persie will make his comeback tonight as Arsenal take on Tottenham in the North London Derby at White Harte Lane. It's over five months since his last run-out, but the Dutchman will smacking his lips on the bench hoping for a slice of the action. Having scored nine times in his previous 11 games before sustaining the injury, Van Persie will now seek to recapture his early season form. Had he remained fit, Arsenal might have been better placed in the table. But with four games to go, Manchester United staring down the barrel and Chelsea holding on to a narrow lead, Arsenal finally have a little bit of firepower upfront to press for a final surge.

Not Rooney, but a bit more expensive.

Manchester United's title hopes appear dead in the water after a stalemate at Ewood Park last night. Blackburn have only lost three times at home this season, so the odds were heavily stacked against United. Starved of quality service and bereft of any real creativity, Berbatov toiled through the night but couldn't earn those three valuable points for his faltering team. Not to say Berbatov was the most ineffectual performer on the night, but his price tag confers expectations to influence a game in the way Rooney might have had. At times, he found himself at right-back and defensive midfield positions appearing increasingly frustrated with his team-mates. But even all of those callisthenics couldn't alter the result at the end of 90 minutes. It begs the question whether Sir Alex Ferguson's £30.75 million signing from Tottenham Hotspur has been given a rope long enough to decide whether he can be branded a failure. At £5.15 million more than what Wayne Rooney cost United, I think yes.

Hobbling over the finishing line.

So the men in blue have made it to the final of the FA Cup 2010. Providing them with the opposition could be either Spurs or Portsmouth. I've got my money on a London derby, with all due respect to Pompey that is. But I don't suppose all the turmoil would in any way help press their chances for a second FA Cup final appearance in two years.

Barely recovered from the horrors of the 7-1 demolition job at Stamford Bridge, Aston Villa were cruelly dealt with another blow. Barring a few promising spells and a denied penaltly, they had to leave Wembley in tatters yet again with Martin O'Neill picking up the pieces. Perhaps he could revisit Richard Dunne's shocking excuse for a clearance that led to the first goal.

Chelsea have been galvanised ever since their premature Champions League exit last month. While that raised many eyebrows across the Bridge, it also chartered their course for a double this season. With the wheels coming off Manchester United and Arsenal down to their bare bones following injuries to key players, it's set up nicely for Carlo Ancelotti and Chelsea.

It's not been the best of seasons for English clubs. For those who won't be laying their hands on any silverware, the stakes might need to be raised. Liverpool have admitted a massive overhaul is imminent. Likewise with Pompey, although on a scale several grades lower. Arsenal may finally decide to loosen the purse strings and invest in a new breed of proven talent.

Victorious in battle, defeated at war.

Manchester United won a thoroughly gripping Champions League second leg but lost a quarter-final to a vastly superior Bayern Munich at Old Trafford. Superior in terms of maturity over 90 minutes, swiftness in rectifying defensive flaws and most critically, desire to seal a semi final berth. Overwhelmed at one point and overrun at times, Bayern still managed to overcome United on a night that captured the entire spectrum of emotion in football. It was a game where not a lot went in United's favour once they were 3-0 ahead. Initial euphoria gave way to eventual heartbreak as it did in the first leg at the Allianz Arena. This is a team that has developed an unfortunate habit of letting leads slip and frittering the advantage. Why? Perhaps because they're a strange hybrid of mediocre and magnificent. And it can alarmingly oscillate between the two at the blink of an eyelid. They took the foot off the pedal within seconds after going up 3-0. They retreated into their shells even after Bayern pegged a goal back, and were steadily worn down as the game went on. It usually takes a moment of brilliance to settle these sort of games. And indeed it came. But from someone in a Bayern shirt.

A lot of the blame needs to be shouldered by Sir Alex Ferguson. After claiming on Tuesday that Rooney had "no chance" of being involved in the second leg, it hinted a real sense of desperation when his name figured on the team sheet. Quite bewildering and to a certain degree, imprudent. After 20 minutes – and most of the damage inflicted on Bayern – Rooney was evidently struggling and couldn't continue. Why then did Ferguson wait until the 55th minute to haul him off? For those 35 minutes or so, Rooney was a spare wheel. And United were effectively playing with 10 men even before Rafael da Silva was given his marching orders. Which leads me to the next bone of contention. Rafael proved a marked improvement on the pedestrian Gary Neville. But he ruined the good impression made until then by foolishly tangling and later unwittingly tugging Franck Ribery right under the referee’s nose. Ferguson babbled on: "Young boy, inexperience, but they got him sent off. They all rushed towards the referee. Typical Germans!". Somebody missing a brain here?? The short supply of football intelligence in a player has to seek out the manager, not the referee. Sometimes, Ferguson does give you the impression he believes the rules don't necessarily apply to him. In my opinion, neither does the knowledge of his opponents. The "Typical Germans" in question here happened to be Franck Ribery and Mark van Bommel, who were French and Dutch the last time their passports were checked. It was a confusing night admittedly, but Ferguson's mindless remarks did him no credit.

Ferguson may not regret fielding the oldest-ever United Champions League side in last week’s away fixture. But he'll be kicking himself for substituting two midfielders with two attacking players when perhaps a more cautious approach ought to have prevailed. There was a changing of the guard, too. Ferguson, often the advocate of experience, became an apostle of youth by opting for Gibson, Rafael, Nani and Valencia. Ferguson was left to reflect on a gamble that looked a winner all the way, but lasted just 40 minutes. Bayern's more decisive 40-minute spell was orchestrated by Robben and Ribery as United’s midfield repeatedly failed to close down their offensive forays. And when Rafael was sent off – correctly despite Ferguson's silly anti-German sentiments – the writing was on the wall.

Positives for United? There were plenty. The wounded Wayne Rooney still covered 5.95 kilometres and incredibly helped fashion two goals. Nani's coming-of-age display featured an audacious flick and a calmly taken side-foot strike; two of many personal accomplishments on a night he can be proud of. Darron Gibson's no-nonsense approach, off-the-ball athleticism, defensive discipline and clear eye for goal only set in stone his claim for a more prominent role next season. Patrice Evra was imperious in snuffing out the threat of Arjen Robben for most parts of the game. Valencia tormented poor Holger Badstuber with his blistering pace and impeccable delivery. And far from his first flourish of youth, Van Der Sar's consistent, decisive and brave brand of goalkeeping kept United in the hunt.

United were fantastic in the first half. Yet the final verdict may be that – barring the superlative double over AC Milan – this was largely an undistinguished campaign on the continent. With no English team in the semi-finals for the first time since 2003, the Cross of St. George has been lowered. For United, one ambition has gone unrealised for another year. The autopsy on an exit on away goals may yet suggest a few top-quality reinforcements are needed. The rearguard is old. Giggs, Scholes and Neville are way over the hill and must give way to young, but proven mettle. Johnny Evans is primed for central defence, which seems sensible. But a reliable understudy for Evra at left-back is long overdue. In midfield, the future looks bleak for Michael Carrick, easily the weakest link in this United side. The best passer of the ball they say. Maybe. But only sideways or back to the goalkeeper. There's no authority, tenacity or cutting-edge about this game. When United most needed him, Carrick mislaid his shooting boots even as back-peddling Bayern opponents presented him with clear shooting opportunities. That apart, his positioning, timing and diligence have always been questionable. The profligate £19 million acquisition from Tottenham Hotspur could have done much better than to vainly challenge Ivica Olic in United’s penalty area for Bayern’s 43rd minute opener. He might have been closer to Robben too when the Dutch international set the streets of Bavaria in a frenzy with a strike of technical mastery.

In hindsight, the nuts and bolts of it suggest that United were beaten by a Bayern side that showed a professional appetite for the game and took chances when they were presented. Qualities which Ferguson's team failed to match. As always, Ferguson and United are left blighting their opponents, berating the officials and nursing the heaviest of regrets. None of it can paper over the cracks any more. United still have a shot at the Premiership. But it will remain an unrealistic target unless they step up to the arena and decipher what it takes to win significant wars and not insignificant battles.

The night of the midget masterclass.

Wenger might have branded it as a game for the purists when the draws were out two weeks ago. But it was well an truly a no-contest with a foregone conclusion. With all due respect to Arsenal that is. Barcelona displayed the stuff of pure class to rake up a 6-3 aggregate at the end of two legs. Arsenal laboured for the most part without much success. Most pundits and critics rave about the magic Barcelona can work when in possession of the ball. But the real cutting-edge is what they are when they don't have it. That's what illustrated the gulf in class between the two teams. Arsenal were given precious little space to work with when they had the ball. They were closed down, the gaps plugged and the ball quickly retrieved. Sadly, there was only one team capable of doing that over two legs.

Ironically, the smallest man on the pitch was head and shoulders above the rest through all of the 90 minutes of the second leg. Lionel Messi, with four goals of distinctive character, including one that reeked of ruthless demeanour. There was glimmer of hope when Arsenal went ahead against the run of play. A brisk counter attack engineered by Abou Diaby and finished off by Nicklas Bendtner. But that proved to be a false dawn, vindicated by a 21-minute three-goal salvo from Messi that ensued minutes later. No shame in defeat however. Arsenal played out of their skin but within their limitations. Sadly for Wenger, these limitations will quicky translate as flaws, now that another possible shot at silverware has been spurned. Such is the nature of this game. Sublime, yet cruel.