"Every time I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel, it turns out to be an oncoming train."
It may look like a Kai Havertz injury has dashed the dreams of many Tottenham supporters, who craved Eberechi Eze in Lilywhite. But no, this debacle cannot merely be attributed to Arsenal acting ruthlessly in the face of a potentially significant setback.
The Tottenham hierarchy only have themselves to blame. This is a humiliation too far for Daniel Levy.
Daniel Levy's dallying allows Arsenal to swoop for Eze
Look, I'm very much aware that a whole lot more goes into transfer dealings than what the average Joe is exposed to. The vast majority of us see these sagas play out via the tiresome medium of social media, and, in truth, we probably have little grasp of the complexity.
However, in one fell swoop, Arsenal have made a mockery of the Spurs chairman. The club's desperate need for a No. 10 has been made clear for weeks. I was pretty sympathetic over the Morgan Gibbs-White situation, but the absence of urgency in the aftermath was nothing short of infuriating.
It was a similar story after James Maddison succumbed to an ACL tear. Two weeks have passed since we learned the diagnosis, and yet Thomas Frank still doesn't have a recognised (fit) central playmaker.
Eze was "the one". The maverick befitting of the mould. The Glenn Hoddle, Ossie Ardiles, David Ginola, Dimitar Berbatov type. A player capable of capturing the imagination through sheer technical mastery, and someone who could've emerged as the next poster boy in the wake of Son Heung-min's departure.
We were so close, with talks advancing to a level that surely no negotiation has ever reached. Levy and Steve Parish must've eventually discussed neuroscience. The meaning of life, perhaps?
And I'm not saying there weren't other factors at play as to why a deal wasn't wrapped up until it was too late, when Eze learned of Arsenal's re-emergence. This was a one-horse race, yet Spurs have somehow failed to land their man. Haggling over details has cost Frank a masterful creator, and the star we've long desired.
Simply put, this is not how a club of the aspirations Levy so proudly proclaims operates. The chairman has done plenty good for Tottenham Hotspur, I do believe that, and I also think some of the slander towards him is misguided. However, the fury here is absolutely justified. We've been shown up by our bitterest rivals, and they certainly won't let us forget it. There may be more nuance to it, but this will always be remembered as a Levy failing.
The major question is... what now for Frank's Spurs? We still need two through the door. The proposed deal for Savinho is refusing to get off the ground, and Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche is reportedly regarded as an alternative for the Brazilian. A move for the Frenchman certainly makes more sense now.
There's been interest in Nico Paz, and a move for the Spaniard will help ease the pain, as would a surprise swoop for the surely Chelsea bound Xavi Simons.
However, after this mess, the trust in the hierarchy is at its lowest for some time. How can you trust them to avoid panic and get it right now?
There's still time to complete a rescue act, but the clock is ticking.