You already know the drill. After my fellow analysts and I have the privilege of calling the SEC championship game in Nashville, Tennessee, we move swiftly to process the men’s NCAA tournament field as it is revealed. Our bosses at ESPN ask us each to fill out a bracket — while we are on the air — so we can reveal our picks before the end of the show.

They give us less than five minutes. Hardly ideal, but perhaps our first instincts are better than considered thought. I decided that I would give you more than five minutes so you can dazzle your friends and win your office pool — and perhaps our Tournament Challenge.

Last season, my bracket was chalky: I had all four No. 1 seeds reaching the Final Four, Houston and Florida advancing to the championship game, and the Gators cutting down the nets. The backlash was swift and unrelenting. I was criticized for not picking an underdog to reach San Antonio. But when the dust cleared, all four No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four, and the Cougars and Gators battled it out for the title. You’re welcome — and I forgive you. All of you.

This season is different. Cinderella just took a year off. The top teams aren’t so much better than the rest of the field, so there will be more surprises. Though picking a bunch of upsets might make you feel good when filling out the bracket, it is a much better feeling to be strategic and win. Pick only the upsets you feel strongly about, the ones you know the winner will lose in the next game. This strategy allows you the upside of early upsets, while limiting the downside if Cinderella’s slipper doesn’t fit later in the tournament.

Here are my best guesses for the bracket. Use your best judgment. And remember: This is supposed to be fun.

EAST REGION

First round

No. 1 Duke Blue Devils vs. No. 16 Siena Saints

The 1 vs. 16 matchup has featured two amazing upsets, when UMBC beat Virginia in 2018 and FDU beat Purdue in 2023. But two wins since the field expanded in 1985 aren’t great odds for Siena. As a rule, take the No. 1 seed. This game matches two coaches who won national championships as players — Jon Scheyer and Gerry McNamara. The difference? Duke has Cameron Boozer.

Winner: Duke

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No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 9 TCU Horned Frogs

The Buckeyes have Bruce Thornton, Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer and a respected player across the country. TCU has David Punch, who scored a season-high 26 points against Oklahoma State in this week’s Big 12 quarterfinals. This is an underrated team, one that beat Florida early in the season. The 8-9 matchup is a coin flip, but I am taking TCU.

Winner: TCU

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No. 5 St. John’s Red Storm vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa Panthers

There is usually an upset alert in the 5 vs. 12 game, but St. John’s is too strong — and Rick Pitino does not often lose first-round games. The Red Storm are underseeded. Take the Johnnies.

Winner: St. John’s

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No. 4 Kansas Jayhawks vs. No. 13 California Baptist Lancers

Kansas was awful in its Big 12 tournament loss to Houston — the Jayhawks’ 47 points were by far their fewest of the season. Regardless, they should win this game thanks to Flory Bidunga protecting the rim.

Winner: Kansas

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No. 6 Louisville Cardinals vs. No. 11 South Florida Bulls

One thing is for sure in this game: There will be a lot of long rebounds because both teams like to shoot 3s. This is a great upset pick: Mikel Brown Jr. has been out because of a sore back, and South Florida is tough. It’s worth rolling the dice on this one because Michigan State will likely beat either team.

Winner: South Florida

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No. 3 Michigan State Spartans vs. No. 14 North Dakota State Bison

The months go: January, February, Tom Izzo. Take the Spartans.

Winner: Michigan State

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No. 7 UCLA Bruins vs. No. 10 UCF Knights

The Bruins have Donovan Dent, one of the five best point guards in the nation, but UCF has Themus Fulks, Jordan Burks and the Big 12’s version of Draymond Green in Jamichael Stillwell. With UCLA banged up, the Knights are worth a flier.

Winner: UCF

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No. 2 UConn Huskies vs. No. 15 Furman Paladins

Though the Huskies have not been as dominant as many expected this season, this is still a really good team. Furman’s Alex Wilkins has been one of the best freshmen in the country, but UConn’s interior should be the difference.

Winner: UConn

Second round

No. 1 Duke vs. No. 9 TCU

Even banged up, Duke should win, although TCU should be a really tough out. Could the Blue Devils lose? Yes. Still, take them — a lot of brackets will be busted, so the rest of your choices will carry you.

Winner: Duke

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No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 5 St. John’s

Though Kansas can beat anyone, the Jayhawks can also lose to just about anyone. And St. John’s isn’t just anyone.

Winner: St. John’s

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No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 11 South Florida

As we established earlier, I trust Michigan State in March. Jeremy Fears Jr. is the difference — and he’s coming into the tournament hot, having scored 20-plus points in each of his past four games.

Winner: Michigan State

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No. 2 UConn vs. No. 10 UCF

I don’t have UConn as a Final Four team this year, but the Huskies are a second-weekend team.

Winner: UConn

Sweet 16

No. 1 Duke vs. No. 5 St. John’s

This one will depend on Duke’s health. If Patrick Ngongba II is healthy, the Blue Devils win. If not, that lowers Duke’s ceiling — and the Johnnies can absolutely prevail. Still, unless you went to St. John’s, take Duke in this one.

Winner: Duke

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No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Michigan State

Both teams are experienced and worthy of the Elite Eight. But the Huskies are coming into the tournament cold after a loss in their regular-season finale to Marquette and then a rout by St. John’s in the Big East final. I like Michigan State’s draw, and the fight the Spartans show — they’ve beaten No. 5 Illinois and No. 8 Purdue in the past six weeks, and played tough against Michigan twice.

Winner: Michigan State

Elite Eight

No. 1 Duke vs. No. 3 Michigan State

These two played in East Lansing earlier this season, with Duke winning 66-60. Michigan State has a great chance to avenge that loss. The Blue Devils would win a seven-game series, but this is only one. Go with Green.

Winner: Michigan State

SOUTH REGION

First round

No. 1 Florida Gators vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M / Lehigh Mountain Hawks

Florida is too big and strong inside for an upset here. Take the Gators. Chomp, chomp.

Winner: Florida

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No. 8 Clemson Tigers vs. No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes

The Tigers are big and well-coached, but the Hawkeyes have Bennett Stirtz, one of the best shotmakers in college basketball, who is averaging 20.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists. Take Iowa. Neither beats Florida, anyway.

Winner: Iowa

No. 5 Vanderbilt Commodores vs. No. 12 McNeese Cowboys

This 5 vs. 12 matchup is always a trendy upset pick — and then-No. 12 McNeese beat Clemson last year. But in this case, Vanderbilt’s guards, Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles, are too good for a Cowboys upset. Take Vandy.

Winner: Vanderbilt

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No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. No. 13 Troy Trojans

The Trojans won at San Diego State and lost in triple overtime at USC. Troy can play. And though Nebraska has never won an NCAA tournament game, this year ends that drought.

Winner: Nebraska

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No. 6 North Carolina Tar Heels vs. No. 11 VCU Rams

This is a scary game for the Tar Heels. Without Caleb Wilson, they have a lower ceiling. North Carolina is better and should win. But VCU is a fair upset pick here.

Winner: North Carolina

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No. 3 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. No. 14 Pennsylvania Quakers

The Quakers have TJ Power, who had 44 points against Yale in a magnificent performance. But this Illinois team is very talented, especially on the offensive end — and after all, the Illini’s freshman phenom, Keaton Wagler, topped that mark with 46 points against Purdue in January. Illinois wins.

Winner: Illinois

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No. 7 Saint Mary’s Gaels vs. No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies

Talk about a contrast in styles. Texas A&M under Bucky McMillan wants to get up and down the floor; the Aggies want to press, they want to be annoying. But Saint Mary’s is going to be a problem to play against. It seems different to take Saint Mary’s here and call it chalk, but the Gaels will slow the game down.

Winner: Saint Mary’s

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No. 2 Houston Cougars vs. No. 15 Idaho Vandals

The Cougars have Kingston Flemings, one of the best freshmen in the country and a certain lottery pick. Houston’s defense is too good for an upset pick here.

Winner: Houston

Second round

No. 1 Florida vs. No. 9 Iowa

Florida has arguably the best frontcourt in the nation, featuring Thomas Haugh (an SEC Player of the Year contender); Rueben Chinyelu, an elite defender; and Alex Condon. Size matters. With a big game from Stirtz, Iowa could certainly win this game, but I favor Florida.

Winner: Florida

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No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt

This is a great matchup. Nebraska can beat almost anyone, but Vanderbilt’s guards will be the difference. It’s a close call, but take Duke Miles’ Commodores. He made a steal in the SEC final on Sunday at midcourt against Arkansas with his left hand that I thought was one of the best thefts I’ve seen all season long. He’s legit.

Winner: Vanderbilt

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No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 6 North Carolina

Illinois can make life difficult for North Carolina, which will be relying on Henri Veesaar (16.7 points per game) in Wilson’s absence. With Wagler leading a group of five Illini averaging double digits, Illinois just has too many scorers.

Winner: Illinois

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No. 2 Houston vs. No. 7 Saint Mary’s

Houston can play against fast or slow teams — and can match Saint Mary’s physical, slower pace. The Gaels can win, especially if the Cougars shoot poorly, but I favor Houston.

Winner: Houston

Sweet 16

No. 1 Florida vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt

In a rematch of the SEC tournament semifinals, this time Florida will have a little extra motivation. The Gators turned it over too much in that game against Vanderbilt’s pressure and steal-happy guards, Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles. Despite the Commodores’ talent there, Florida is bigger and stronger. Vandy will score, but Florida will be out for payback.

Winner: Florida

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No. 2 Houston vs. No. 3 Illinois

Illinois has the better offense, and Houston has the better defense. I am taking offense in this one, but it’s an agonizing choice. Take the Illini, but understand the Cougars are fully capable of winning.

Winner: Illinois

Elite Eight

No. 1 Florida vs. No. 3 Illinois

If the adage goes that guards win in March, well, Illinois has better guards. Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell will be the difference, even as Florida is better inside and on the glass. I am taking the Illini because they can rain down 3s over the Gators’ big men.

Winner: Illinois

WEST REGION

First round

No. 1 Arizona Wildcats vs. No. 16 Long Island University Sharks

The Sharks are coached by Rod Strickland, one of the best point guards in college hoops history, but he cannot play in this one. Arizona is too good, and remember: The 16-seed wins less than 1% of the time.

Winner: Arizona

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No. 8 Villanova Wildcats vs. No. 9 Utah State Aggies

There is no such thing as an upset in the 8-9 game, but Utah State winning would feel like one. Mason Falslev is the Mountain West Player of the Year and MJ Collins Jr. is a good 3-point shooter. This is a coin flip, but take Utah State. Either team is likely to lose to Arizona in the next round.

Winner: Utah State

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​​No. 5 Wisconsin Badgers vs. No. 12 High Point Panthers

High Point can really score and has had a great year, but Wisconsin is the pick here. The Badgers have really good guards in Nick Boyd and John Blackwell — and in fact this team can provide a tough matchup for Arizona down the line.

Winner: Wisconsin

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No. 4 Arkansas Razorbacks vs. No. 13 Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors

The Rainbow Warriors can slow the game down against the Razorbacks, but Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. is the type of player who can carry a team to a Final Four. This is a tempting upset pick, but I am going with Arkansas.

Winner: Arkansas

No. 6 BYU Cougars vs. No. 11 Texas Longhorns/NC State Wolfpack

I like Texas to beat NC State because the Longhorns have size and good guards and wings. BYU has the nation’s leading scorer in AJ Dybantsa, but the Cougars can struggle to score beyond him and Robert Wright III. BYU isn’t the same team it was earlier in the year, and I think its seed reflects what it was earlier in the year rather than late. I’m taking a flier on Texas here.

Winner: Texas

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No. 3 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State Owls

History tells us Gonzaga will advance — the Bulldogs haven’t lost before the second round since 2008. Coach Mark Few lives in the Sweet 16.

Winner: Gonzaga

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No. 7 Miami Hurricanes vs. No. 10 Missouri Tigers

Miami has had a great season — no team improved more year-over-year than the Hurricanes, who picked up 18 more wins — but I like Missouri in this one, led by Mark Mitchell‘s 18.3 points per game. This is a coin flip, so take the upset pick.

Winner: Missouri

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No. 2 Purdue Boilermakers vs. No. 15 Queens University Royals

Queens, in its first NCAA tournament appearance, brings six players averaging double-figure scoring — but Purdue, coming off a Big Ten title and win in its rematch against Michigan in the final, is finally playing like the team we imagined at the start of the year. Braden Smith is the best point guard in the country. Purdue wins.

Winner: Purdue

Second round

No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 9 Utah State

Whether it is against Villanova or Utah State, Arizona is too big and talented to lose before the second weekend. The Wildcats have four wins against top-10 opponents in just the past month and seem to be picking up steam — they haven’t lost since Feb. 14. Utah State is a tough out, but Arizona advances.

Winner: Arizona

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No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 5 Wisconsin

Wisconsin has good shooting big men who can make things challenging for Arkansas — in fact, I think the Badgers present a tough challenge for Arizona if they get to the second weekend. They can rain down 15 3s in a game — that’s what they did to Michigan. But the Razorbacks have Darius Acuff Jr., and nobody else does.

Winner: Arkansas

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No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 11 Texas

The Zags are playing without Braden Huff — and his 17.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game — which limits their offense and defense. Gonzaga is the better team, but consider taking a flier here. Texas is a sneaky 11-seed because of its size, Dailyn Swain‘s ability to score and Sean Miller’s coaching chops.

Winner: Texas

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No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 10 Missouri

The Boilermakers can give pause, but they’ve got a decent draw, and Braden Smith is the separator. He’s averaging 9.0 assists per game (second in the country) and is shooting at the best clip of his career.

Winner: Purdue

Sweet 16

No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 4 Arkansas

Darius Acuff Jr, meet Koa Peat. Two of the best freshmen in the country would face off in this matchup, featuring two first-round NBA draft talents. Acuff is the bigger star. He’s gravity: He pulls defenders to him, and then he kicks it out. But Arizona is more talented all-around, and the Wildcats escape from this challenging matchup.

Winner: Arizona

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No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 11 Texas

The Longhorns have size and talent, but Purdue will win this game.

Winner: Purdue

Elite Eight

No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 2 Purdue

While very young at key spots, Arizona is simply bigger and more talented. Purdue is more experienced and will not be afraid of Arizona. But I love the Wildcats here.

Winner: Arizona

MIDWEST REGION

First round

No. 1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No. 16 UMBC Retrievers/Howard Bison

Michigan lost L.J. Cason for the season a few weeks ago, which certainly limits the trajectory of the season for the Wolverines. But not yet. Again: 16-seeds are not good bracket choices. Even if the nearly impossible happens, the 16-seed is very likely to lose the next game.

Winner: Michigan

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No. 8 Georgia Bulldogs vs. No. 9 Saint Louis Billikens

Saint Louis hunts great shots and runs a beautiful offense. Georgia has better athletes — sophomore Jeremiah Wilkinson averages 17.0 points per game — and can beat Saint Louis in transition.

Winner: Georgia

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No. 5 Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. No. 12 Akron Zips

There’s an argument to be made that Akron had a better résumé than Miami (Ohio) — and maybe was even the better team, even though the RedHawks won the one head-to-head meeting. The Zips are legit, and they’re going to be a tough out. But if Christian Anderson is healthy and can find Donovan Atwell, one of the best shooters in America, for open shots, Texas Tech takes this one.

Winner: Texas Tech

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No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. No. 13 Hofstra Pride

The Crimson Tide will have the best player on the floor in Labaron Philon Jr. (21.7 PPG), who had 28 points on 56% shooting in the SEC quarterfinal loss to Ole Miss.

Winner: Alabama

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No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks/SMU Mustangs

Miami (Ohio) is really good. So is SMU — and the Mustangs are finally getting healthy and have better talent. That matters. Take SMU in the First Four, but neither will get past Tennessee in the first round. Ja’Kobi Gillespie has been a great addition to that team, and as long as the Vols play with the kind of defensive intensity that they usually do under coach Rick Barnes, I think they get past either team.

Winner: Tennessee

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No. 3 Virginia Cavaliers vs. No. 14 Wright State Raiders

Virginia is underrated and a very good defensive team, allowing just 68.4 points per game (top-50 in the country, fourth in the ACC). The Wahoos send Wright State home early on the back of Thijs De Ridder, the standout freshman forward from Belgium.

Winner: Virginia

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No. 7 Kentucky Wildcats vs. No. 10 Santa Clara Broncos

Kentucky is banged up and inconsistent, and Santa Clara is big, skilled and has positional size at almost every position. To be clear: Kentucky could very well get upset here. I’m picking the Wildcats, though, assuming Otega Oweh has another big game.

Winner: Kentucky

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No. 2 Iowa State Cyclones vs. No. 15 Tennessee State Tigers

The Cyclones are among the nation’s best defensive teams, scoring almost 20 points per game off turnovers. The only pause you should have here is Iowa State’s inconsistent free throw shooting. Everything else is Final Four quality.

Winner: Iowa State

Second round

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 8 Georgia

The Bulldogs have played and beaten some great teams — but none as good as Michigan. Yaxel Lendeborg is a legit star. one of the best two-way stars in the country. He and the Wolverines will not lose here.

Winner: Michigan

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No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 5 Texas Tech

The Crimson Tide do not defend at the highest level, but they can really shoot it. Philon is a dude, but so are Latrell Wrightsell and Amare Allen. They’ve got a bunch of guys who can score. The shotmaking Alabama team takes it.

Winner: Alabama

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No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 6 Tennessee

Virginia can protect the paint and the 3-point line, but Tennessee is physical and pounds the offensive glass. The Vols are better with Nate Ament in the lineup, and he returned for the SEC tournament. If he can approach his season averages of 17.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, alongside Gillespie’s talent, they should take it.

Winner: Tennessee

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No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 7 Kentucky

Kentucky is wounded and a bit worn down. Iowa State has Joshua Jefferson, one of the most versatile and talented point forwards in the game — who happens to be averaging career highs in points (16.9), rebounds (7.6) and assists (4.9) as a sophomore. Advance Iowa State.

Winner: Iowa State

Sweet 16

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama

I think Michigan is clearly the best team in this region, but if I’m the Wolverines, Alabama is the one team I wouldn’t want to play. If Alabama makes shots, the Crimson Tide can beat Michigan. Hell, if Alabama hits shots, the Crimson Tide can beat anyone. That said, I go with Lendeborg. Advance Michigan in your bracket. I already have.

Winner: Michigan

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No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 6 Tennessee

Coach Rick Barnes’ Volunteers are always standouts on defense, but here, they meet their match. The Cyclones are one of the five best defensive teams in the nation. If they can force Tennessee into turnovers — the Vols have not been great at taking care of the basketball late — they’ll win this game. Iowa State is the real deal.

Winner: Iowa State

Elite Eight

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 2 Iowa State

If L.J. Cason were available, I would take Michigan in this game. But Iowa State is just too good on the defensive end. The Cyclones are the best team in this region, and they’ll get it done here.

Winner: Iowa State

FINAL FOUR

No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 3 Illinois

Apparently I like surly coaches — maybe that’s why I’m going with Brad Underwood and Tom Izzo. These two are going to prepare their teams well, and it will be a great matchup of the nation’s best offense in Illinois and a top-10 defense in Michigan State. Izzo hasn’t been to the national championship game since his squad won in 2000 — that changes this year.

Winner: Michigan State

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No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 2 Iowa State

Arizona hasn’t been to the Final Four since 2001, but coach Tommy Lloyd won’t be satisfied with just that. This Arizona team is good enough to compete for a national title, and it gets it done against Iowa State.

Winner: Arizona

National Championship

No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 3 Michigan State

In the battle of droughts, the West will be won: Arizona wins its first championship in nearly 20 years.

Winner: Arizona

Whether Russia and its collection of NHL stars will be invited to the 2028 World Cup of Hockey remains very uncertain.

“We’re going to see how things develop. Time will tell,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Monday at the GM meetings in Florida. “There isn’t an immediate need or urgency to make that decision, so let’s see how things play out.”

The World Cup of Hockey, a joint venture between the NHL and the NHLPA, will next take place in February 2028 with eight teams playing in three cities — Calgary, Edmonton and Prague.

Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has been banned from international play in all age categories by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The IIHF has cited security concerns as the primary factor.

Russia’s participation in the World Cup of Hockey has been the source of fierce debate, with some arguing a true “best-on-best” tournament must feature the Russians.

Entering Monday’s games, three of the NHL’s top 20 scorers were Russian-born: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov and Los Angeles Kings winger Artemi Panarin. Russia might also have the world’s best goaltending trio in Tampa’s Andrei Vasilevskiy, New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin and Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers.

That said, concern over how to integrate Russian players into an NHL-led international event and opposition from countries such as Finland were major reasons the planned 2024 World Cup of Hockey was scrapped in favor of the 4 Nations Face-Off, a four-team tournament held in February 2025 that provided huge returns for the NHL thanks to a pair of USA vs. Canada games.

The NHL isn’t obliged to recognize the IIHF ban for its international events, but Bettman has indicated that the league will follow “what the international community is doing in terms of athletics” in determining Russia’s status.

“I don’t see any need for us to weigh in separately,” Bettman said at a news conference during the Olympics.

IIHF president Luc Tardif has indicated that his organization would take its lead from the International Olympic Committee. Neither Russia nor Belarus had a team in the recently completed Winter Olympic hockey tournaments in Milan.

Last December, the IOC advised international governing sports bodies to let Russian and Belarus youth teams and athletes compete with their full identity of national flag and anthem — a move many felt was the first step toward reintegration of the nations into international tournament play.

The IIHF has considered welcoming back Russia and Belarus into under-18 competition in the 2027-28 season, with Tardif calling it “a first step.”

Marty Walsh, executive director of the NHLPA, said last year that he’d love to see the league’s Russian players participating in best-on-best tournaments again.

“They’re incredible hockey players. The issues are political. Not political as far as the NHLPA; it’s world politics we have to get through,” Walsh said. “I’m hoping that as we get closer to the World Cup, we will start seeing Russian athletes back in the competition.”

This will be the fourth edition of the World Cup of Hockey, having been previously held in 1996, 2004 and 2016, most recently won by Team Canada. The World Cup’s return is part of an aggressive expansion of the NHL’s international calendar. Bettman has said the vision is to alternate between the NHL’s participation in the Olympic men’s hockey tournament and a World Cup every two years.

The 2028 World Cup of Hockey will have eight teams, with two pools of four teams each and the top three advancing.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the intensity of competition at the World Cup could be greater than that of the Olympics.

“What you saw in the Olympics is an indication of what you’ll see in the World Cup of Hockey,” Daly said. “It’s the top teams in the world. [But] here are only eight of them, not 12 of them, so obviously the hockey got better as the Olympics progressed. We’re going to be in a situation where the hockey is really good right away.”

Max Dowman might have done more than merely score a historic and potentially decisive goal in the Premier League title race to seal Arsenal‘s 2-0 win against Everton at the weekend. The 16-year-old wonderkid might have also achieved the improbable: making Mikel Arteta’s team likeable.

“Lovable” would probably be pushing it too far, considering the negativity that has built up around a team that is still on course to achieve an unprecedented quadruple this season.

Brighton & Hove Albion coach Fabian Hurzeler criticized Arsenal’s tactics and “time-wasting” during a 1-0 defeat earlier this month, while former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes said the Gunners would be the “worst team to win the league.” Peter Schmeichel, a five-time title winner with United, said Arsenal play an “ugly brand of football that is annoying to watch.”

– Arsenal turned to teenager Dowman, and it paid off tremendously
– VAR review: Why Arsenal should have had a penalty vs. Everton
– Predicting who wins Champions League based on past winners

But even Arsenal’s most strident critic would struggle to ignore the feel-good vibes of a teenager who returned to school on Monday morning after scoring the stoppage-time goal — shortly after creating the opener for Viktor Gyökeres — which clinched a crucial victory for the Premier League leaders and made him the competition’s youngest-ever scorer.

Dowman’s late intervention was everything great about football. His goal was about risk, adventure, individuality and the freedom to play off the cuff. Maybe that’s why it created such a stir.

The goal showcased all the attributes that Arteta’s Arsenal have not only lacked this season, but perhaps even deliberately stifled as they have reduced their game to one of percentages — a game where risk and individuality are viewed as dangerous elements rather than must-have factors for a trophy-winning team.

And this is the great contradiction of Arteta’s Arsenal. His team could be less than three months away from becoming the first English side to achieve a clean sweep of trophies by winning the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup in the same season, but nobody outside the Emirates Stadium likes it.

When Arsène Wenger’s 2003-04 side became known as the “Invincibles” by becoming champions without suffering a single league defeat, their breathtaking style earned them global admiration. An Arteta quadruple would eclipse Wenger’s team as the greatest year in the club’s history. They would also the surpass the Manchester United and Manchester City treble-winning sides of 1998-99 and 2022-23, respectively.

But if they win all four trophies this season — even if they win only the Premier League — Arsenal’s success would be regarded as a backward step for football and even a bad thing for the game because of the way Arteta’s team plays. Success leads to imitation. Everybody wants to be a winner and the shortcut to winning can often simply be a case of copying the best.

Just look at how many teams worldwide have adopted a model based on Pep Guardiola’s philosophy of possession and control triggered by a ball-playing goalkeeper. Guardiola has evolved his approach many times over, and his City side now has a keeper in Gianluigi Donnarumma who would not have suited Guardiola’s greatest Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City sides.

But the Guardiola influence has become deep-rooted because his philosophy brought success and, if Arteta’s direct approach delivers silverware at Arsenal, it will have a similar impact. Indeed, we have already seen “Artetaball” take hold in the Premier League with rival coaches putting greater focus on set pieces — particularly corners — because of the success Arteta, aided by set piece coach Nicolas Jover, has enjoyed in making Arsenal one of the most consistent teams in Europe.

Arsenal have scored 21 goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season — more than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues. That total for 34.4% of their league goals. Before this season, Blackburn Rovers (1994-95) and Manchester United (2007-08) recorded the most set piece goals as champions with 35% each.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s United won the Premier League and Champions League that season with a forward line of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, so they were anything but overreliant on goals from set pieces. Arsenal don’t have a Ronaldo, Rooney or Tevez, however, and that might go some way to explaining why Arteta’s team focuses so heavily on set piece goals.

The greatest teams of recent years have all had prolific scorers and attacking players capable of hitting double figures in goals. City have won trophies with the goals of Erling Haaland, Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden. Liverpool did the same with Mohamed Salah, Luis Díaz, Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino.

In Europe, over the past decade, Real Madrid have had Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé, while Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League last season with Ousmane Dembélé, Gonçalo Ramos, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola scoring 99 goals between them in all competitions.

The sensational attacking football played by Luis Enrique’s side last season was evident again last week when PSG blew Chelsea away with three goals in the final 20 minutes of their 5-2 Champions League round-of-16 first-leg win in Paris.

Before Dowman’s late show against Everton, you would be hard pushed to recall any similar Arsenal moment this season because their forwards are less prolific and lack the free-flowing flair and freedom of the PSG stars or the attacking players in those great Real, City and Liverpool teams.

Only Gyökeres (16) and Gabriel Martinelli (11) have hit double figures for Arsenal so far this season, but Arteta’s side are nonetheless still the leading scorers in the Premier League. It is the aesthetic of Arsenal and their goals that makes them difficult to warm to, but Arteta has unquestionably hit upon a winning formula by reducing the game to a battle of marginal gains.

And that’s a problem that football will have to overcome. The Arteta approach has already led to imitation, and it will increase if Arsenal win major silverware. Not even a Max Dowman wonder goal will change that.