BRU 0-3 ARS: Heavily Rotated Squad Was Good Enough to Win

 Brugge is a club in crisis.  They changed managers days ago and are beset by injuries.  So it was not really a gamble to put a back line out there that had never played together, with a CB (Norgaard) playing in a position he has not played for several years.  It was a disjointed defensive effort, with Raya being called upon 7 times to make good saves.  The xG numbers I saw were 3-1 in favor of the Gunners, so maybe the Belgians were unlucky not to score.  Anyway, all three of ours were great goals, for different reasons.  The first was the best, with Madueke muscling/turning past a defender 50 yards out, arrowing towards goal, beating two defenders and unleashing an unstoppable top corner blast from 25 yards out.

The 18 points Arsenal has now virtually guarantees a top eight finish, avoiding the first knockout round.  Not bad.  It will be interesting to see the team that plays in Milan against Inter.  Kairat Almaty at home should be another opportunity to give little-used players a break and still win.

You can see the best action here:

Wolves this weekend.  They're desperate, so we can't take anything for granted, but they aren't very good, so if we are decent, we should get the three points.

AVL 2-1 ARS: No Complaints

 I thought Villa looked the more dangerous team today in both halves.  Had it ended 1-1, I'd have felt as though we stole a point.  But Villa got the reward for their excellent work with the last kick of the game.  The absence of Gabriel and Saliba was key, but we have quality substitutes (one of which, Mosquera, is also out injured) and it's part of the game.  The Villans did a good job of neutralizing our attack.  Raya was the busier keeper.  So, fair result, though the last gasp winner from Buendia was a gut punch.

It's apparent now that Arsenal's success to date was built on defensive solidity, and without our two center backs we don't have that anymore.  We need more ideas on offense and more production from the attacking players.  Maybe Jesus will add that X factor.  

ARS 2-0 BRE: Nervy Win

 

Brentford has been on a roll, so despite Brentford's lack of a victory at Arsenal since WWII, no one was taking them lightly.  The Gunners started strongly, and after ten minutes took the lead at the end of a 14 pass move in which all ten outfield players touched the ball.  Ben White, back in the side to give Timber a rest and round him into form, was sent to the endline by Madueke with a clever flick, and crossed it for Merino, who headed down past Kelleher (see photo).  I agonized for the next 80+ minutes until the first minute of added time, when Merino found Saka steaming through the middle to put the game to bed with a powerful strike that Kelleher could not keep out.  Raya made a spectacular reflex save on a bullet header in the first half to maintain our slender lead.

The good news on the injury front is that Odegaard played the whole game and looked good.  Madueke was dangerous.  Gyokeres came in late.  Jesus was on the bench.  White was the MOTM.  The bad news is that Mosquera and Rice had to come off with injuries, severity unknown.  Gabriel will be out for a while yet; Saliba could be back in a week or so.  Havertz is still out until probably January.

We travel to Villa Saturday and to Brugge next Wednesday.  Maybe we can rotate heavily for that ECL match.  Nwaneri has to get more minutes.

CHE 1-1 ARS: Foul Game, Fair Result

 Arteta must hate games like this, where raw emotion and physical excess can lead to yellow and red cards, and of course injuries.  The Blues played hard and well.  We didn't quite match them, I thought, though we did not flinch in the duels.  I think it was a mistake to bring on Madueke, who had some really good moments.  He lost the ball several times;  except for the great cross that deserved to assist the winning goal, nothing he tried worked.  Martinelli must not yet be at full fitness.  Rice was fine, Merino excellent.  This is just the second game in the last 142 in which we had neither Saliba or Gabriel, and it cost.  Hincapie and Mosquera are fine backups, but against Chelsea, we missed having the best options out there.

Well, we've been reeled in to an extent, with City, Villa, and Brighton winning.  The lead is just five points now.  Chelsea has laid down a marker and look to be very good and improving.  We will get a shot at them in our place and we need to play better.

ARS 3-1 FCB: Tour de Force

 After Match Day 5 of the ECL League phase, only one club has a perfect record.  The Gunners look stronger as time goes on.  Bayern had been the class team of Europe, going undefeated this season until Wednesday.  They looked pretty good through the first half at the Emirates too, but after the break, Arsenal throttled them.  The scoreline was richly deserved.  Rice was awarded MOTM for his dominance in midfield, but there were a lot of stellar performers on the night.  The goals came from Timber (from a corner), Madueke (Calafiori assist), and Martinelli (lightning counter).  That the latter two were just coming back from injury spells made it all the sweeter.  Odegaard got some minutes too.  The only downer was a calf problem forcing Trossard's withdrawal.  We still have some big absences:  Havertz, Gyokeres, Jesus, Gabriel.  But they are all close to returning to action, which is a scary prospect for any opponent.

Arteta got his tactics right again.  Recognizing the Bavarians' potent offense, we let them have the ball for most of the first half.  After we got the goal, they struck back with a lovely sweeping move that caught us out.  The second half saw us go man-to-man as Bayern had been all game, and the men in home red and white were better.  I don't think they had a shot on goal--maybe not a shot at all.  Prolific scorer Harry Kane was anonymous.  Cue the "best team in Europe" talk from the pundits.  Arteta is not having it, correctly noting that the season is young.

This looked to be a tough stretch, with Spuds, Bayern, and Chelsea within seven days.  Two down and one to go.  Chelsea is also playing very well, and will have Cole Palmer back for the game at the Bridge on Sunday.  Both squads will be confident, but I think we ought to get the three points.

ARS 4-1 TOT: A Proper Hiding

 I'm not sure I've previously seen one side bully another as thoroughly as the Gunners did the Spurs.  With the exception of Richarlison's quick thinking and well executed long range chip over Raya, Arsenal had things all their own way.  Eberechi Eze was the hat trick hero, who found space in front of goal to spank three past Vicario, who did make a smart save on a fourth shot.  Before Eze's goal spree, Merino scooped the bal to Trossard, who collected, spun, and scored a deflected shot to open the scoring.  Before that, Eze scooped to Rice, whose powerful shot took it cleanly as it dropped over his right shoulder but straight at Vicario.  

Spurs are another team hit hard by injuries.  Our alternatives are just better than theirs.  Hincapie filled Gabriel's defensive boots, and Eze played Odegaard's position very well.  Trossard has to be our best option on the left, based on production.  We got to see Madueke late on, which is welcome.

Any win over our dear neighbors is welcome.  This one puts us six points clear at the top of the table, with second place Chelsea our opponents next weekend.  We will host Bayern Munich midweek, and Mikel will not be resting important players.  Maybe they can share the load, though.

Early days, I know.  We started like this three years ago but couldn't stave off City.  The difference this time is the depth the Kroenkes have financed.  Even the currently vacant center forward position has been filled quite adequately by a midfielder, Merino.  Today, he dropped back a lot, in between making menacing forays forward.  He connected play well.  He had an assist.  Everywhere else, we have talented starters and excellent backups for them.  When Havertz and Odegaard reach full fitness, we'll be even stronger.

SUN 2-2 ARS: Hard Fought Contest

 I can't really complain about this result.  The Black Cats were feisty and well-organized, and showed some real prowess.  We dropped two points, which is bad, but I thought the performance was good.  Eze was disappointing; I expected more from him today.