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.

ARS 2-1 BHA: OG to the Rescue Again

,,,and I don't mean Olivier Giroud. David Raya made some excellent saves to allow us to leapfrog City once again to the top spot.  We could not cash in sufficiently on our first half dominance to make the game safe.  In the end, we needed another gift from the opposition to secure all three points.  Gyokeres is simply not doing enough.  I can see the makings of a proper center forward there, but when he has the chance to make it count, he falls short.  On the plus side, we had all three Gabriels on the pitch by the end, and Odegaard scored a rare open play goal.

All three leaders won by the same 2-1 score today, creating a 7 point separation to 4th place Liverpool.  I really can't see Aston Villa's last minute heroics carrying them to the end.  To me, it looks as though if Arsenal can just start scoring the way they should they have the best shot, despite the torrid form of City and Villa.  We host the Villans on Tuesday and it will be time to do the business if we have title aspirations.

ARS 1-1 CRY (8-7 pen): Through to the Semis, Barely

No one could have complained had Palace edged us in penalties.  We were very wasteful, and Palace worked hard.  The Eagles have serious injury issues and they have top players at AFCON, so our heavily rotated squad should have been enough to win it in normal time.  Instead, the Gunners tested the Palace GK several times but couldn't beat him.  His own defender did put one past him, however.  Then Palace produced a good free kick routine to draw level in the 95th minute.  We'll have to play a lot better than this against Chelsea in the semis.

Jesus looked dangerous.  Martinelli was most effective and could have had a couple of assists.  Eze was not very effective.  Madueke couldn't produce the finish when he had chances.  The PKs were all top class from both sides until Kepa guessed right on a penalty by the defender who got the own goal.  He won't be feeling good for a while.  We scored zero non-penalty goals in our lest three, compiling an xG or over 6.  We won all three games via three own goals and PKs.  It's not sustainable.

 And yes, we beat Everton 1-0 at their new place via a PK.  Not a great performance, again, but much better than against Wolves.

Leeds 4 CP 1

 An embarrassment.  No one played well.  The score does not indicate how one sided the match was.  For maybe five minutes they showed some signs of life.  The rest of the time it was hard to watch without wincing.  

January Transfers?

 The blog I read daily, Arseblog, is talking about a need for transfer help in January.  We've had a lot of injuries to defenders and we are putting in a patchwork back line.  But these are all quality players, and we're going to get Gabriel back in January. Mosquera some time after that.  Ben White may be out for December but probably he'll be playing some minutes in January.  Norgaard can fill in at central defense as well.  I might even try a back three.  I bet Martinelli would make a good wingback.  Anyway, I'd stick to this squad.  If Havertz ever plays, he should get into goal scoring shape soon, and we'd be at full strength up front.  The midfield is great, and healthy.  I think we'll be healthy enough at the back to stop allowing so many goals.  Two in that Villa game--scandalous.