Taking a Break

 The succession of dropped points has been dispiriting, but the reaction on the blog I follow from  alleged "supporters" of Arsenal has been much worse.  It's a stream of profanity-laced invective against a group of young men who were only two months ago hailed as heroes by this same gaggle of football addicts.  It's embarrassingly stupid behavior.  Most of the posts assert that the Gunners are perennial "bottlers" and Manchester City is now certain to win the league.  And it gets worse.  I can't follow these people where they're going.  The second post in this blog was sage advice to myself, and I'm going to follow it by dialing back my angst and putting some distance between me and Arsenal.  I may post after games if I feel like it.

WOL 2-2 ARS: Miserable Conditions, Miserable Result

 Substandard all around from the Gunners, I thought.  This may be looked back on as the moment we lost the title.  Wolves showed plenty of fight, and their first goal was real quality, but the equalizer was a sloppy gift.  With a two goal lead, it should have been over.  But worst drew with first and you could see the belief draining out of the Arsenal team at the end.  

ARS 4-0 WIG: Just About What You'd Expect

 We scored four times in the first half hour.  There were substitutions for the second half and the Gunners took their foot of the gas, and we went through the rest of the game comfortably.  The injuries are piling up again, but maybe most of them are slight.  We'll need everybody.  Players who got much-needed confidence boosts were Eze (two fine assists), Madueke (good goal), Martinelli (even better goal), and Jesus (best goal).  Norgaard was his usual dependable self, and even got an assist to Jesus.  Kepa and Setford both had a turn in goal.  Salmon played at CB in the second half.  A good day at the office.

BRE 1-1 ARS: Fair Result

 Disappointing for sure.  It could have been worse.  Both goals were nice.

BHA 0-1 CP: Great Place to Get a Win

 After 12 games without a win, dragging Palace into the relegation conversation, the Eagles earned three points at the home of traditional rivals Brighton.  New acquisition Strand Larsen had a good game, and it was Sarr who got a 61st minute goal from a Guessand assist on a counter.  

ARS 3-0 SUN: Professional Win

 We're nine points clear of Villa and City, albeit the latter has a game in hand tomorrow against 'Pool.  We dominated the Black Cats but it took 40 minutes and a fabulous strike by Zubimendi to put us in front.  Gyokeres replaced Jesus in the second half and scored twice.  Sunderland never really looked as though they were going to get anything out of this game, but they made it hard for us to win.  Zubi and Rice were excellent.  Havertz continues to progress; he had an assist today, playing in the right 8 role.

ARS 1-0 CHE (4-2 agg): Ugly Game, Beautiful Result

 The conditions were awful again.  Players were slipping in the rain, and the referee let a lot go, so it was not great football.  Chances were few, far between, and not gilt-edge.  It was torture to watch, as it looked as though a mistake would decide this one.  The only goal came at the very end, when Chelsea overcommitted in a desperate attempt to send this into extra time, and we broke from the back with a 3 on 1.  Havertz rounded the keeper and that was it.

City will undoubtedly finish the job at the Etihad against Newcastle--they're 2 goals up--so we will play them in the final at Wembley next month.  We still have to go to Manchester for the league, and we may meet them in Champions' League and the FA Cup too.  Sheesh.

Eze started and was virtually anonymous.  Rice was MOTM for me, but a lot of the men played well.