AVL 0-1 ARS: Just Enough to Win. Again. Dammit.

 Clean sheets are good.  They also seem to still be necessary, because we just can't score many goals.  The winner was slick and required the assister and the scorer to beat their defenders to the killing touch at full stretch.  Class all the way.  The rest of the game was something less than that, but the important thing is that we got the three points.

I don't know if a new marquee striker would mean more goals for Arsenal and easier viewing for me.  Maybe we were just a bit off in the attack, and subsequent weeks will bring better connections.  But this should have been more comfortable.

ARS 3-0 COV: Premier League Champions Overpower Championship Champions

Frank Lampard's Coventry did what they could, but integrating their new players probably cost them some fluidity.  They seldom threatened and the Gunners brushed them aside.  Our new man Tzolis was immense on the left wing.  He had lots of space--Calafiori's buccaneering approach helped with this--and was key on our first two goals, scored by Havertz and Saka.  Odegaard scuffed in the third, wrongfooting the keeper by hitting his shot off his standing foot.

Few of our games will be this easy, but it was a great way to kick off the season.  The drama was in team selection.  Martinelli and Jesus were not in the squad.  Neither were Guimaraes, who took a knock in the Community Shield, and Konsa, who was introduced to the cheering throng as our newest player.  Gyokeres, Dowman, and Nwaneri were unused subs.  

It seems to me that Madueke's function is simply to give Saka a break.  The stats say he created chances, but I saw just one.  Most of his possessions ended in our losing the ball.  Why not give Nwaneri a chance there?  A good showing might help him get a better loan move.

It's Villa in ten days.  Maybe Konsa will start against his former club.

ARS 3-0 MCI (Community Shield)

 The Gunners played well and deserved to win, but this was one of those games in which the keepers were decisive.  Donnaruma was poor for all three Arsenal goals, while Raya made two or three stellar saves.  However, our midfield overpowered the Citizens.  Odegaard was in World Cup form (he was great for Norway) with a very good goal, Guimares was strong, and MLS had a solid game (and a fine assist for Calafiori's opener).  The second half subs did well, too, especially Rice.  Defensively we did the business, but the absence of Timber and Saliba was felt.  Doku beat White a couple times, and Semenyo troubled Calafiori off and on.  Haaland got no service, though, which was the aim.  Gabriel and Mosquera marshaled him well.  Up front, Tzolis assisted twice--a header to Havertz and a delicate cross to Odegaard--and took care of the ball, Havertz scored and was an effective target man, and Madueke was threatening without quite finding the final ball (again).  When Saka came in for Noni, he sported a new hairdo.

It was a good day at the office for sure.  It ought to give us confidence and I hope it convinces Mikel that Myles has to be on our roster.  Zubimendi was immense for us last season, but I'd rather he were sold if someone has to be.  Nwaneri could use another loan; there's no room in midfield and there are three right wingers ahead of him in the pecking order.  

(Highlights)

Preseason Friendlies and Transfer Stuff

 The games with Girona, Betis, Dortmund, and Como weren't great and didn't tell us much.  Arteta got a look at some of the academy products and he introduced some of the regulars into competitive games.  Is the Community Shield the last preseason game or the start of our season?  Arteta will want to win it.

We acquired Tzolis early in the transfer window and he looked really good in preseason.  He'll have to be, because he's replacing Trossard, who was sold.  The Vinicius Junior saga ended fairly quickly, fortunately. Of course he's a wonderful player, but the price and the salary would have caused problems.  Buying Guimaraes was a shrewd move.  He's an expensive 28 year old, but he provides more bite in midfield and has an eye for the killer pass.  Our midfield is incredibly strong.  We have excellent players who will struggle to get minutes.  Zubimendi, Merino, Lewis-Skelly, and Eze will have to scrap for playing time, if we don't sell one or two of them.  Another crowded position is right wing, where Saka is first choice but Madueke, Nwaneri, and Dowman will all feel as though they should be used there.  I'd love to see some rotation to keep Saka fresh and healthy while giving Dowman a chance to develop with us.  Nwaneri should be loaned out.  

Saliba's bad back has us looking to buy a center back, and with Timber and White having their own fitness issues, that center back will probably be a right footer who can play at right back.  Konsa is the target.  Marli Salmon and Christian Mosquera are great prospects who can fill the bill, but who may be too young to entrust with that responsibility just yet.  Hincapie is ours permanently now, and let's hope Calafiori stays fit.  We even strengthened at GK, with Meslier coming in and looking more secure than Kepa, who is still ours for now.  Neither will challenge Raya, of course.

Even if we don't sign any other players, I like our chances to retain the title.  We'd have to be the favorites now, but every squad has strengthened and I expect a real dogfight for top spot all season.  I'll leave you with this fashion bulletin.

World Cup Rambling

 FIFA tries and tries to ruin this tournament, but the football always bails them out.  Ad breaks, expansion to 48 teams (another 40 games in which to sell ads that run in those breaks), ticket pricing nonsense, etc. are annoying and make a mockery of all the records being set.  We've got top teams playing the #83 nation, and an extra game for all the good teams; of course scoring records will fall.  But once past the mostly boring group stage (little was at stake for any of the teams with a shot at winning the cup), the round of 32 has served up some really good games, most of which were real nailbiters.  

The Arsenal players in the tournament have done their part.  I was very impressed with Trossard taking charge for Belgium, and even more impressed with Odegaard's running the show for Norway.  Martinelli got Brazil's winning goal against Japan, and Gabriel Magalhaes assisted the equalizer.  Declan Rice is England's most important player.  Madueke does not look great to me even if he is energetic; Saka is obviously injured.  Eze is a bit player but a useful sub.  Gyok never really hit top gear for Sweden.  Saliba is his usual magnificent self.  Our Spanish players may get a shot later.  Havertz has scored for Germany but he missed a pen that helped Paraguay oust them.  Hincapie covered his mouth instead of uncovering his butt, and the ref gave him a red card out of disappointment.  Former Gunners abound--Kolasinac shared a postgame chat with Flo Balogun after the USA's 2-0 win over Bosnia today.  I love our players and want them to be happy, but I also would like them to get some time off from crunching tackles, so I'm conflicted.

England-Mexico looks like a good game in the next round.  I like the USA's chances against Belgium.  But France will probably win it all.  Argentina is the only squad that might stop them.

Close But No ECL Trophy

 You know what happened.  Neither team created much, and the 1-1 score after extra time was a fair reflection of the game.  Arsenal had very little of the ball, but PSG's 77% possession did not result in an open play goal.  The relentless pressure did give us plenty of chances to concede a penalty, either through a foul or handball, and Mosquera (who had an excellent game) was the victim.  Raya saved a penalty in the shootout, but Safonov was spared having to make any saves due to two awful misses from Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes.

We lost, but I couldn't be prouder of the players.  The fans were magnificent this season.  Arteta has improved each season and has become a better tactician in the process.  He's always been a consummate man manager, and he communicates extremely well to the public.  I don't care that he's excitable on the touchline.  He's no worse than Klopp and is better behaved than Simeone or Mourinho.  What I love about Arteta is that he never criticizes his players, whatever the situation.  He praised them when they were finishing 8th.  If he doesn't think a player is going to help the team, that player will not get on the field.  It hurts, but it seems they all understand and have the proper professional attitude.  Norgaard played about 100 minutes in the league but never complained, for instance.

The stupid World Cup worries me.  The expanded format means more games (i.e. more money for FIFA) and our players who are participating may go deep into this thing.  Rice has played an insane amount of minutes and will surely start every England game.  Saka is just recovering from whatever was keeping him out.  I read that Saliba has a back problem.  I hope Timber can get through without getting hurt again.  At least Calafiori gets the summer off.  Here's an SI article on the Arsenal players in the Cup.

Will Hincapie do this on the world stage?  It went over big a few weeks ago.

Conference Final Tomorrow

 This is interesting.

Mismatch?