LIV 2-2 ARS: Jekyll and Hyde Performance Earns a Valuable Point

 I was at a holiday event yesterday at which it was not possible to tactfully watch this game.  I had to catch up on it via LiveScore and the later highlights and writeups.  The Reds outplayed us by a wide margin in the first half and were good value for their two goal lead.  The Gunners turned it around with a re-energized performance in the second half.  (Verbal fireworks from Arteta at halftime no doubt played a role.)  This point means that Arsenal is sure to finish in the top five if they get as little as one point from the six on offer against Newcastle and Southampton.  Beating Newcastle at home means a second place spot.  The table:

Villa and Chelsea can only pass us if they win their last two and we lose.  Forest is too far back to catch us but they can get top five.  (Remember that goal difference is the tiebreaker and Arsenal's is better than any except Liverpool's.  Of course, a slip-up by any of the chasers means we're in, and they may be out.  I hope Chelsea and Villa lose out.  It would put their shoddy financial practices in the spotlight when the loss of ECL revenue means big losses.

The race for 8th place and a spot in Europe is interesting.  Brentford, Brighton, and Bournemouth are all alive in that.

Fingers crossed for the in-form Eagles in the FA Cup on the weekend!

PSG 2-1 ARS (3-1 agg): Fine Margins

 The Gunners have no reason to hang their heads after being beaten in this ECL semifinal by the French champions.  Our lack of finishers was exposed; Arsenal actually had a 5-3 advantage in xG.  We are so close.  This ECL campaign was a real showcase for our talent and tenacity, but the squad was too injury-hit to stay with a fully healthy PSG.  

We now have to play out the league matches.  Three points will keep us in the Champions' League no matter what the other teams do, and Southampton should provide them.  Anything we can get from Newcastle and Liverpool would be great.

The summer transfer window is crucial.  We need a good striker and a midfielder or two.

ARS 1-2 BOU: Late Season Collapse, or Hiccup?

 Arteta picked a strong side and we lost anyway.  No excuses.  It took a handball goal (inexplicably allowed) to get them the win, but Bournemouth managed this game very well and I don't begrudge them the three points.  Wednesday is not looking any easier after this display.

ARS 0-1 PSG: It Could Have Been Worse

 This game was carried on CBS, so I got to see my team in ECL.  I wish they'd have done better.  I think that on balance, PSG deserved to win, and Arsenal did enough to merit being down just one, the third minute strike by Dembele.  However, it should probably have been 2-0 after Timber grabbed their guy and impeded him in the penalty area.  The ref played on, and VAR didn't tell him to take another look.  Good thing, because every time I see it it looks more like a penalty.  The game was quite watchable, with nice passages of play throughout and some hotly contested duels.  The Gunners had the ball in their net via a Merino header off a free kick, but he was offside by maybe a foot.  Donnarumma made a great save on a shot by Martinelli.  PSG had a few good opportunities at the other end.  

PSG were the better squad on the night.  But I saw reasons to think we can beat the Parisians at their place next week, as the Arsenal women did to Lyon.

Lyon 1-4 Arsenal Women (3-5 agg) Champions' League semifinal

 Arsenal turned around the first leg deficit and then some, blowing away Lyon to book a date with Barcelona for the final in Lisbon.

ARS 2-2 CP: Not a Great Game

 Palace were the more dangerous side tonight, and if anything the draw was a lucky one for the Gunners.  Both teams had some nearly moments, both keepers made great saves, and there was some spectacle in this contest, but neither side looked especially sharp.  The managers picked strong teams, so that wasn't it.  Maybe both were focused on their upcoming season-defining semifinal games.  If Arsenal play like this on Tuesday, they'll be swept away by PSG; and if Palace play like this, Villa will beat them on Saturday.

Sterling showed once again what a mistake it was to get him on loan.  He did squat.  Odegaard was in poor form; it was down to him that we lacked incision.  Saliba made another error as bad as the one that Vinicius Jr punished a week ago, and it cost us two points when Mateta cashed in on the giveaway with a splendid chip over Raya, who once again was playing far out of goal.  Mateta is the Palace player I most covet, but I'd take Eze.  All the goals were nice, and some of the saves, blocks, and the disallowed goal featured sharp play that could have been rewarded.  But there were many stretches of play consisting of passes around the back leading nowhere, so it was more a case of frequently punctuated boredom.

IPS 0-4 ARS: Taking Care of Business

 After spending most of the season in second place, the last thing the Gunners want is to get pulled down into the scramble for Champions' League positions.  So it's important to beat the teams we should beat in the run-in to maintain the (depending on who plays first each week) approximately six to nine point cushion over the third through sixth place teams.  Ipswich Town is one of those teams we should beat, and boy did we on Sunday.  Arsenal had over 90% possession in the first ten minutes.  The Tractor Boys tried to press at first but quickly dropped that tactic and defended deep.  It didn't help.  constant pressure told, and we were cruising at 2-0 in the first half when Leif Davis made a very nasty challenge on Saka, and earned a red card for his naughtiness.  After that we stayed in second gear and scored just two more.  Saka is OK, but it could have been a season-ending tackle.

Next up is Crystal Palace tomorrow, who will be focused on their FA Cup semifinal against Villa at Wembley this weekend.  I hope they rest their stars.  This game is meaningless for them in the league; they're in 12th (they always seem to be in 12th by the end of the season) and can't be relegated or qualify for Europe unless they win the Cup.  Arteta has already indicated he will play a strong team to keep them sharp for their showdown in the ECL semis against PSG at the Emirates next Tuesday.