Champions!

 City's draw with an excellent Bournemouth handed Arsenal the title. The scenes in the area around Emirates Stadium reflected the joy of the Arsenal fan base.  It's been twenty two years since the last time we won the top division (the Invincibles) and after three straight second place finishes (we also finished second to Leicester in 2017) it seemed as though this day would never come.  But the owners kept faith with Arteta's project, funded it well, and he delivered.  This is a squad built to withstand injury crises.  There's quality backup for every position.  It's unusual for a team to win the league without a big scorer (or two), but Gyokeres was our top scorer with 14 PL goals (tied for 5th on the list with 14--Haaland had 27) and or second highest were Saka and Eze with seven each, tied for 34th.  Our strength was defense.  Raya was superb all season, winning the gold glove for the third straight year, and he had Saliba, Gabriel, and Rice in front of him.  We allowed 26 goals so far, seven fewer than the next meanest defense (City's).  I think we've had eight 1-0 wins.

On Sunday, we play a meaningless game against Palace, another team with a European final in their immediate future, and it will be interesting to see how the managers deal with it.  The trophy will be hoisted there, and Palace fans will see their former star Eze holding it.  He won the FA Cup for them last season, which earned them a shot at the Conference League, and if they win that final they'll be in Europa League, so they owe him a lot--and they made about 60M pounds by selling him to the Gunners.  I expect they'll show him a lot of love at Selhurst.

The following Saturday is the Champions' League final in Budapest vs PSG.  I really don't know what to expect.  It will be very difficult to shut out the Parisians, but if any team can, it's us.

ARS 1-0 BUR: Just Enough to Win

 Although Burnley did not have a shot on target, it was impossible to remain calm through this game.  The Gunners had a good first half but were flat after the interval, and it would have taken very little--a handball or foul in the area, for instance--to create disaster.  But the job was done thanks to a firm defensive foundation.

WHU 0-1 ARS: Too Much Drama, Not Enough Goals

 This game is a good illustration of why we are not going to get a better goal difference than City (so let's hope it doesn't come to that).  We just find it absurdly difficult to put the ball in the net.  I figured this would be a tough game, at their place and with them desperate to get points to avoid relegation.  I was still confident we'd win, but that confidence ebbed as the clock wound down.  But the breakthrough came, it held up (the Hammers had a stoppage time goal disallowed for mugging Raya), and we're still in control of the race.

The Everton-City game handed us control of our destiny.  We have to beat Burnley at the Emirates and Palace at Selhurst.  If City drops points against Palace, Bournemouth, or Villa, the task becomes easier for us.  City has the FA Cup final vs Chelsea to play next Saturday as well.

ARS 1-0 ATL: We're in the Final

 It wasn't easy but the Gunners got the job done with a workmanlike performance.  Saka put in the game's only goal off a rebound from a saved Trossard effort.

PSG dealt with Bayern in Munich, scoring early to put Bayern two down in the tie, and holding on until a very late Kane goal.  They're a powerhouse, but I think we can take them.  For one thing, their keeper isn't as good as Donnaruma.

ARS 3-0 FUL: Finally, a Complete Performance

 As in the Newcastle game, we got an early goal.  But whereas we could not put the Magpies to the sword, we put two more past the Cottagers in the first half to make the game safe (and add to the goal difference).  We had additional chances too, but offsides and lucky blocks kept us from scoring more.  Hey, I'd have taken 3-0 before the game started.  Calafiori started and was very good.  MLS started in midfield and was fine.  Eze was great in the first half but faded in the second.  Saka started and was magnificent, assisting on the first goal and scoring the second.  Gyokeres scored twice and assisted Saka on his goal, bringing his goal scoring tally in all competitions to 21.  Madueke came in for Saka for the second half and was lively.  Zubimendi was on the bench until minute 64.  Trossard played the whole game, which suggests he won't be starting Tuesday.  We got some Max Dowman in the second half and he supplied some danger from midfield, coming in for Eze.

Arteta's team selection was spot on, and his tactics very effective.  Calafiori was obviously told to get forward and had the ball in the net (chalked off for offside) once.  Saka was the key, breaking the game open with his brilliant cross to assist Gyok (see photo for goal) and fantastic finish when Gyok found him beautifully.  Trossard had the assist on Gyok's second (Arsenal's third), an excellent header.

The squad should be confident and sharp for our game with Atletico.  It better be, because they're very tough in cup competitions.

OL 3-1 ARS Women (4-3 aggregate): Lyon Just Too Good

 The Gunners gave a good account of themselves, but both individually and as a team, we were outplayed today to lose our semifinal with a very impressive Lyon.  We dodged a bullet when Lyon's first goal, off a corner (they looked like scoring on every one), was chalked off for an offside (wrongly in my opinion).  We looked to have dodged another bullet when von Domsselar saved a Renard penalty, but she'd come off her line before the save.  It was retaken and the tie was all square.  Then, off a corner, a back post shot beat our keeper (she should have done better) and we were behind in the tie.  In the second half, Arsenal looked more dangerous.  We hit the woodwork twice, and the ball beat their keeper (an OG I think) off a dangerous cross, and we were all square again.  But one last superb play from Lyon won it for them, as their scorer was (after a ridiculously long delay) been adjudged to have been onside, despite the on-field offside call.  It was very close.

I think the better team went to the final, but I'm obviously disappointed.  VAR got most of the calls right in the end, but it took forever.  The Gunners should feel good about their effort, I think.

ATL 1-1 ARS: No Open Play Goals in Tense First Leg

 Three penalties were called on the field, all of them soft in my opinion, and two were awarded, both converted.  There were chances at both ends, though.  Atleti had the better ones on balance, and I thought we were fortunate to escape with a draw.  Eze and Saka were fit enough to come in as second half subs, which is good news.  Saka is still off the pace, but Eze looks to be close to fully fit.  For me, Rice was our MOTM, but Raya was also excellent.  I expect us to play with more intent in London.