LIV 1-0 ARS: Costly Loss

 In a game where nether side showed much offensive threat, the difference was a spectacular free kick in the 83rd minute from Szoboszlai from thirty-some yards out.  It kissed the left upright a foot or so under the crossbar; Raya was unable to get more than a fingertip on it.  Both teams lost important players:  Saliba came off in the sixth minute, and Konate came off late.  It didn't look good for either central defender.  Wirtz also went down for Liverpool.

 I have to say that the home side played better and deserved the win.  It will take Arsenal a while to integrate the new guys properly, and they will have to, with all the injuries.  It's back to the drawing board for Arteta.  It does not ghet much easier after the international break.

ARS 5-0 LEE and Eze Comes Home

 Before this game started, I was thinking that anything less than four goals would be a disappointment.  So I'm happy.  We were doing that Arteta thing where control is key, but were attacking with a bit more freedom this game.  That was mostly because Leeds was a lot easier to play against than Man U, but it's a real confidence builder to score so freely in the league no matter who the opponent is.  The goals were all good, in their separate ways.  Saka's might have been the pick of the bunch, but Gyokeres's first was a fine solo run and shot, and his penalty was exquisite.  Timber's goals off Rice corners were both great, with the deft header edging the scrappy toe poke while falling for style.  I'm still not convinced that the penalty was merited, but so what?  Dowman had a good substitute appearance.

The injuries to Odegaard and Saka were blows, but we have decent cover now and we can weather their absences a lot better than we could last season.

And we'll see Eberechi Eze soon enough.  Cut from the Arsenal youth ranks at age 13, he always hoped he'd be back with the Gunners and now he is.  If he's anywhere near as good as he was for Palace he'll be fantastic.  He's the sort of player Arteta will just have to make room for.  He works best in central midfield, but I would not be surprised to see him start on the left wing and move inside while Calafiori overlaps.  With the security of Rice alongside and Zubimendi behind him, he can go nuts.  And Big Vik is there as the target man and for wall passes.

I'm afraid that we may have to sell Kiwior and Viera (and Lokonga and Zinchenko at least) at cut rates just to bring in some cash and to trim the squad, which is way too big now.  I applaud the owners for going all in and buying both top talent and depth, buying proven performers and young guys to develop, and buying defenders, mids, forwards, and a fine backup keeper.  And what an academy pipeline we have going!  I'm very optimistic.  

MNU 0-1 ARS: I'll Take It

 Had United scored and come away with a point, it would have been no more than they deserved.  We got outshot and outplayed.  I thought our midfield was going to boss the game, but Amorim's tactics were good enough to neutralize our playmakers.  They spread the ball wide and worked on penetrating the penalty area from there, and it nearly paid off several times.  Some good goalkeeping and great defending were just enough to preserve our early lead.  Speaking of goalkeeping, United's keeper was very poor for the goal.  Had Calafiori not nodded the ball across the line from inches out, it would have been an own goal. 

Gyokeres had little service, and when he did find some space, he lost the ball.  Zubimendi was good.  Madueke didn't do much when he came on.  I didn't hear Rice's name enough; he was a disappointment.  Havertz did fine when he replaced Gyokeres.  Odegaard looked like he did last season, which isn't great.  I love his energy, but in this game he was not finding good passes and his shooting was sub-par.

But give the Red Devils their due:  they played really well.  I expect them to fight for a top five spot.

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I did not write about the transfer market.  Arsenal bought big, and now they need to sell.  There are too many players.

USA* 2-2 CRC (4-3): Freese Comes Up Big in Gold Cup Quarterfinal

 What a frustrating game.  A sloppy penalty allowed los Ticos to take the lead, then Tillman hit the post with a PK a little later.  A big deflection gave the US a goal shortly after the restart, but Costa Rica equalized when their winger dribbled between two defenders in our box (that should never happen) and when he fired straight at Freese, our GK blocked it right back to him, and he picked out a great pass which was finished expertly.  In the penalty shootout, the US had the advantage three times when Freese made very good saves.  The first two advantages were wiped out by a Navas save and Berhalter shooting over the bar, but the third was put away by Downs for a hard fought win.  In truth, we made it harder than it needed to be.

Mexico strolled past Saudi Arabia, but the favorites in the other two quarters lost on PKs.  Canada and Panama are out.  Guatemala should not trouble the US, and Mexico ought to brush aside Honduras, setting up the classic Gold Cup final.  But anything can happen.

I thought we played rather well.  Costa Rica was missing several important players, and they had difficulty keeping us out of their third.  Navas made two fantastic saves.  The US squad should develop nicely together.  It's all about the World Cup next year.

Bad news for Crystal Palace?

 

PSG enabled 6^th place Lyon to qualify for the Europe league.

Lyon finished sixth in Ligue 1, which earned them a spot in the third-tier UEFA Conference League. However, Paris Saint-Germain won the Coupe de France final in late May having already qualified for the Champions League by winning Ligue 1, meaning that Lyon were given a Europa League slot.

Crystal Palace secured a place in the Europa League after winning the FA Cup in May, but their participation is uncertain due to UEFA's multi-club ownership rules. The club's majority owner, John Textor, also owns a controlling stake in French club Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League. UEFA rules prevent clubs with shared ownership structures from competing in the same competition. 

SOU 1-2 ARS: Season Concludes

 The goal scorers were Tierney and Odegaard.  There was no real chance that we weren't going to finish second, so the stakes were very low.  Raya and Matt Sels of Forest shared the Golden Glove award for most clean sheets.  The real drama played out as the teams in positions 3-7 battled for Champions' League spots.  In the end, there was no movement, but plenty of drama, as Newcastle shockingly lost at home to Everton, but Villa managed to lose to Man United to allow the Geordies to hang onto 5th spot.  Forest failed to beat Chelsea as well, while Man City won easily.  I was hoping for a Forest win, but sadly they are in the Conference League next season.  Villa will be in Europa League, courtesy of a bad refereeing job after a terrible error from GK Emi Martinez that got him sent off.  Emery was fairly dancing with rage.  Awww.

For the men's team, the focus will be on transfers in and out.  For the women, there's still the glow of victory.

ARS 1-0 FCB: Arsenal Women Are Champions of Europe!

 Barcelona were heavy favorites.  They crushed Chelsea 8-2 over two legs in the semis.  They won the last two Champions League finals.  They had 68% possession and several good chances in the game, but could not find the right finish.  Arsenal crafted a number of good chances too, and in the 74th minute Stina Blackstenius latched onto a Beth Mead pass in the area and blasted a shot through a defender's legs and into the far corner.  Barca's excellent keeper (who made a great save earlier) was nowhere near it.  The Gunners did win this trophy in 2007; the competition was started in 2001.  Congratulations to the whole team and to the rookie coach Renee Slegers, who got the most out of them.