INT 1-3 ARS: Much-Changed Starting 11 Outplays Inter

 This game, expected to be a close tactical battle, started with a bang.  It was 1-1 after 17 minutes, both teams laying siege to the other's goal for stretches, though Arsenal had slightly more big chances.  Gabriel Jesus scored early and late in the first half, first by redirecting an errant Timber effort and the second on a header two yards out after Trossard headed a corner, glancing it over Sommer's arms and off the crossbar for Jesus to power past defenders on the line.  The game was iced after Martinelli released Gyokeres, who'd made a great run into Inter's half.  A quick attempted interchange with Saka ended with him stroking the ball, in stride, just hard and far away enough from Sommer to glance off that GK's outstretched hand and ripple the net.

Eze, MLS, Mosquera, and Jesus started.  Gabriel and Rice started on the bench.  Not everything went our way.  I was very impressed with Thuram's play.  He held the ball up beautifully and involved the other attacking players.  We got passed several times through midfield.  But we escaped all but that once, when they powered a shot Raya could not touch.

This means the game against Kairat, the worst team in the ECL, is meaningless for both sides.  Arteta can rotate the hell out of the squad for that one and still almost certainly win at home.  That's useful.

NFO 0-0 ARS: Gunners drop points but increase lead in table

 The comments on Arseblog were angry and bitter.  I was disheartened by the scoreless draw at Forest, which is a team we should be beating easily.  But City's loss in the Manchester derby, and Villa's loss at home to Everton, means we actually are one point better off than we were on Friday.  Crazy.  So, opportunity lost all around, just like last week.  Realistically, only City and Villa are close enough to overhaul us, and neither is terribly convincing at the moment.  Had we won our last two, we'd be eleven points clear now and with one hand on the trophy.  But we're still in good shape, and if we ever score again, our chances of lifting that trophy look bright.  Villa's McGinn was injured yesterday, which will hurt their chances of making a run at us.  City has spent another $100M to shore up their defense (Guehi) and offense (Semenyo) with top quality players and are the more dangerous title chaser.

We need more goals.  Can Havertz supply some?  Gyokeres isn't contributing much, and Jesus isn't the electric player he was before his knees got operated on.  Eze is not trusted by Arteta.  Odegaard's form has dropped, and Saka is not the almost unstoppable winger he was last year.  Rice looks gassed at times.  The defense is obviously doing well, but a full recovery of Calafiori or Hincapie or Mosquera would be very welcome.  Timber can't play every game, can he?  Zubimendi is overused too.

Well, every squad gets hit by injuries over the season.  Ours was built to cope with that.  On to Milan mid-week, then United comes to the Emirates on Sunday and...two games a week for a few more weeks, thanks to the happy fact that we're in all four competitions.

CHE 2-3 ARS: Gunners Seize Slim Advantage

 Chelsea's Garnacho made this a competitive game with two good goals, but Arsenal should have scored at least one more.  I like our chances in the second leg, but they'll have Palmer and Caicedo back and might make a better showing at the Emirates.  It's just a one goal lead.

There was a lot to like about our performance.  Two of our goals were heavily enabled by the Chelsea GK's ineptitude.  Sanchez flapped at the corner White nodded in, and he spilled White's cross to Gyokeres, who swept it in under pressure.  Our third was a nifty move and finish from the player at the bottom of every alphabetical list, Martin Zubimendi.  It was a great game to watch, with lots of action.

I don't think anyone was injured (a Chelsea player was subbed after a collision; hope he's fine).  Kepa was pretty good but looked lightweight for their second goal.  Timber was playing left back, which has to be because Arteta has lost confidence in Lewis-Skelly.  It would be great to have Calafiori available, or Hincapie.

POR 1-4 ARS: Gunners Too Much For Lively Pompey

 I was actually not worried when Portsmouth's all-action Bishop blasted into our net in the third minute.  I figured our much-changed side would be able to overpower the injury-hit home side.  And so it proved.  Portsmouth was aggressive and showed some real skill, but they couldn't hang with us.  Corners led to our first two goals, but Martinelli had two golden chances he spurned, the first wide and the second off the post.  Our medium-sized Gabriel potted two more goals to go with his first half header (seen below), one from a very nice flowing attack and the last was another header from a Madueke corner.  (His corners have been superb lately.)  And Madueke put a penalty kick wide.

The positives I took from this include a fine 30 minutes from Kai Havertz, who looked sharp at comfortable.  Madueke was dangerous (except from the spot).  Martinelli was very productive.  16 year old beanpole Marli Salmon gave Gabriel, the only starter from last game, the last half hour off and looked good.  Nwaneri seemed to be playing his part.  Ben White was pretty good, but was hauled off in the second half carrying a yellow card.  Merino ably filled the 6 role.

Th negatives:  Eze was off the pace.  This was a game he should have bossed, but he seemed lost out there, unable to impose himself in a meaningful way.  Once again, Lewis-Skelly was poor.  He's our only left back option now, but he's a weak link.

Well, on to the next round, eventually, after Chelsea, Forest, and Milan away at least.

ARS 0-0 LIV: Missed Opportunity

 The top three all drew this match week.  Driving rain put the offenses at a disadvantage, but there was some good play from both sides and Liverpool did enough for their point.  This is ten games unbeaten for them, so they are in decent form.  We couldn't break them down.  Gyokeres does not offer enough up front; Merino might have done better.  Jesus did do better when he replaced Gyok.  Havertz has to play himself into form, because he'll be necessary if we're to lift a trophy this season.

BOU 2-3 ARS: Just Enough to Win, Again

 A dreadful early error from Gabriel put us a goal down, but he powered in a rebound at the other end to level things.  Two good team goals, scored by Rice, gave us a two goal lead, cut to one after a fine strike from Kroupi.  But three points again.  Madueke started and put in a good shift.  The Cherries looked quite sharp at home but lacked the quality to get a result.

We're in a great place right now.  We have no one at AFCON and the injury list is short--just Mosquera, White, and Calafiori, I think.  The games are coming thick and fast, but this squad really should be able to handle it.

ARS 4-1 AVL: It All Comes Together

 Villa had the best chance of the scoreless first half, and I was nervous.  But the Gunners turned their pressing to 11 in the second half and smothered the Villans, creating a lot of chances and converting a fair share.  The first was the classic 2025 Arsenal goal:  Gabriel heading in a Saka corner.  Zubimendi, Trossard, and Jesus put it out of reach, but Villa spoiled the party with a really good goal to crap on Raya's clean sheets.  Oh, wait, that didn't sound so good.  Sorry.

Anyway, we sure needed that.  Goals from open play, ability to put a game to bed, some minutes for Norgaard and Madueke and MLS.  Gyokeres even looked better, but Jesus was a level up.  Over to City to see if they keep pace.