I did not see this game, which was played at 4 AM where I am now and was not carried on a channel I can get here anyway. But as if by some strange power that operated from the opposite side of the planet, I woke up at the half and again just after the end of the game and checked the scores. Apparently, we played badly in dreadful weather, but this really fine goal and some heroics from Cech were enough to get us three vital points. Leicester drew, so now we're clear top by two points, and can cross our fingers and hope that chasers Tottenham and Manchester City stumble.
It's the transfer silly season, so rumors are flying. The one with the most credibility is that Elneny is coming in from Basel. He seems like someone who could work in the middle of the midfield, or on the wings, places we're short until our wounded warriors recover. I hope it comes to fruition and he gets a work permit quickly. Debuchy is being loaned to West Brom, which is good for him and for us. I was excited when we bought him, but he was injured twice in a nightmare season last year, and then the amazing Hector Bellerin established himself as a really good right back. With Chambers on the squad desperate for playing time, and Jenkinson still on our books, you could say we were very much overstocked in that position. Isaac Hayden was recalled from Hull, but will probably be loaned out again. He and Bielek are potential future DMs but neither is ready to play for Arsenal. In addition to Jenkinson, we have a number of other loanees who could feature for our first team one day, including Serge Gnabry, Ainslee Maitland-Niles, Gedion Zelalem, and Jan Toral, all midfielders. My guess is that Wenger is going to try hard to get quality help all over the midfield, and if he can't buy it, he may recall a loanee or two for backup. I think we're dangerously dependent on Giroud and wouldn't mind seeing a big forward on the squad in the Benteke or Lukaku mold. (Whatever happened to Sanogo?) But it's wonderful to know that we have excellent cover for our back line in every position. Let's not forget that we have a keeper situation, with Ospina very short on confidence and opportunities to show he's got what it takes. I have not been following Szczesny closely at Roma, but they do like him, when he's not smoking. I hope he sent a condolence message to Cech about the loss to Southampton. If you remember, it was a 2-0 loss there (followed by a smoke break in the shower) that sealed the Pole's fate and made Ospina our main man until the Cech signing.
Well, City won. Too bad.
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