ARS 1-0 HUL: Was There Any Doubt?

 As nervous as I get watching the Gunners hang on to a one goal lead, I never think we're actually going to lose it.  Raya will claim enough crosses and stop enough shots, Gabriel will make enough clearances, Rice will clean up enough dangerous loose balls, and we'll come out of it with three points.  But would I like to see us romp to a 4-0 win?  Oh yeah.

Not much chance of that with our center forwards, though.  Our attack is almost as blunt as our defense is sharp.  Today it was Havertz's turn to get caught offside, spray shots wide of the target, and be anywhere except where he needed to be to turn in a cross.  Next it'll be Gyok's.  Can't argue with success, though.  27 points from a possible 30 is a fine return, and we're sitting pretty on top of the Premier League, without Saliba or Saka at present.

This game was not a great watch.  Our xG was one better than Hull's, and that's the number of goals we scored.  We will have games in which the goals will rain into the opposition net, I promise.  I can hardly wait.

SLA 1-2 ARS: Gyokeres Impresses

 With a majestic assist and a very well-taken goal, Big Vik built enough of a first half cushion, barely, to withstand a much-improved Slavia in the second half.  Raya was called upon to save the points with some fine work in the net.  We've played the toughest game (Bayern away) already, and it's not unreasonable to hope we finish in the top eight again this year, having won 10 out of a possible 12 points and sitting in third (but with nine clubs on nine points).  Dortmund, Real Madrid, Real Betis, and Sabah.  Real Betis is away.  Only Sabah looks to be a sure thing.  Just win 'em all, guys, and get two games off!

LIV 0-1 ARS: Finally, a Win at Anfield

 It's been 14 years since we last picked up three points at Liverpool's iconic home.  Mikel Arteta was playing and suffered a concussion that day.  Since then it's been all losses and draws.  We didn't score against Liverpool home or away last season.  Today, one goal was enough, and it was a nice one.  Odegaard intercepted an Allison goal kick, and in short order Madueke fed Rice on the overlap, who zipped a great square pass through the six yard box for an onrushing Havertz to slot home perfectly.  They called it a tap-in, but it was a bit more complicated, what with the angle and the movement.

Both teams had chances, but the Reds just weren't firing--they had no shots on target, for the first time in the Premier League at Anfield.  Wirtz hit the crossbar from a free kick.  Mac Allister headed over when he should have scored.  We caught a break when Timber was not penalized for pulling Isak back in the box. 

We're three clear of Mancheater Cheaty at the top of the table.  It's Prague on Wednesday for an ECL tilt against Slavia, then we're home to Hull on Saturday.  Then it's the international break. 

FLE 1-1 ARS (5-3): Deservedly Bounced From EFL Cup

 I could point to Salmon's being beaten by his attacker for their goal, and Meslier's inability to keep out the shot.  Meslier also looked really bad on the pens.  Bruno had his saved.  Our players missed several chances that should have been taken.  But the main culprit here is Arteta.  Mosquera and Salmon as the centerbacks was dumb, especially when Hincapie was on the field.  Gyokeres wasn't brilliant despite getting a tough goal, but Havertz missed chance after chance.  They did not both need to be out there.  The team Arteta fielded lacked cohesion and composure.  Fleetwood stuck to their task, and after their goal they had something to hang onto.  There can be no questioning their deserving to win this game, mystery drone and unmerited red card for Dowman notwithstanding. 

I never know what to think about this competition.  It would be nice to win it, though we never do.  It's a distraction but it does keep the fringe players involved.  I would certainly have liked to win this game.  Well, we just got beaten by a squad 84 places below us.  Liverpool awaits.

ARS 2-0 EVE: Center Backs Show Why We Don't Need Strikers

 Konsa bundled over from a corner (our first set piece goal of the season) early, and aside from one self-inflicted scare near the half, Everton never looked like scoring.  Trouble is, we didn't either, though we bossed the game.  The substitutes played a role again when they came on, and a pass from Bruno and a fine cross from White set up Gabriel for the easy header.  (He was up because of a free kick.)  Five yellow cards were handed out, including one for Arteta.

City lost to Villa earlier today, and Chelsea flopped against the Spuds.  We'll see how Brighton do tomorrow.  The table looks good.

BAY 2-2 ARS: Great Game!

 Arsenal can play some really nice football when the opponent comes to play too.  While Bayern did go into a low block for periods of the game, especially when they got the lead, they also pressed, held a high line, and did their best to break us down.  They did that in the first half, scoring a non-penalty goal against Arsenal in the ECL for the first time since Almaty did last March.  Our old nemesis Harry Kane assisted on the equalizer (what a pass!) and scored the pen.  Odegaard sprang Eze ten minutes earlier with a similar wonder assist.  Both goals were taken sweetly.  Bayern took the lead after Timber unluckily blocked a goalward shot with his arm while sliding to attempt a block.  The points were split because Rice smacked one past Neuer from a tight angle after receiving the ball off Gyokeres, who if he intended it, made a really nice assist.

The level of play was high all around.  Both keepers were called upon to claw shots off the line and tip them around or over the woodwork.  The Germans had a higher xG, which tracks with my impression watching the game, but a draw was a fair result, I think.  I'm happy with this result, but am not pleased that Saka had to be replaced after sustaining a muscle injury.  It didn't look good.  But it got Eze on the pitch to score the first goal.

ARS 3-0 LIlle and NFO 0-1 ARS: Catching up.

 I've been traveling and was not able to see these games.  But having seen highlights and reports, I have to say I'm wondering where the goals are going to come from.  We aren't "easy to play against" like some earlier versions of Arsenal, but we are eminently possible to defend against.  There's no point criticizing the players or the manager; this is the squad Arteta built and it's immensely talented at everything but putting the ball in the opponent's net.  Maybe it'll click soon and we'll be free-scoring, both in open play and on set pieces.  I can only hope.  

Meanwhile, we're doing quite well except for the Brighton loss.  Bayern tomorrow, and I can watch that one.  I have to say that Paramount's Golazo Show is fabulous if your team isn't playing then.  There were a bunch of goals, most of them lovely, today.  A great watch.