First, wasn't this a great game? Both teams snapped into tackles, pressed relentlessly, pushed forward quickly. The referee (Lee Mason?) let them do it, too. He could easily have ruined this game by brandishing the yellow card more often. No one was being nasty. The only serious injury was Welbeck's and he did that to himself by making a tackle along the touchline. It must be said that City dominated play and the scoreline flatters Arsenal, but this is exactly what several teams have done to us this and prior years, and we got the needed result with maximum efficiency (two shots on target, two goals) and considerable flair (Alexis's goal was the best move in a game filled with highlights).
The midfield was a battleground. City dominated both for tactical reasons (they were the ones who needed three points) and personnel reasons (Aguero and de Bruyne were superb). Bellerin and Monreal stayed back, which was probably what Wenger wanted. City was more fluid in attack: Giroud took his more familiar pivot role when he wasn't in his own half defending, and Alexis wasn't connecting with his teammates quickly. Navas was wasteful or we'd have been in real trouble--Alexis left Monreal to deal with him most of the game. I can't be too critical about the City goals; they were fantastic strikes. Yes, the commentators said Kos should have flown out on Aguero on the first and Gabriel should have done some unspecified something on de Bruyne's shot. We did give away the ball before that second goal. But both teams were forced into numerous errors all game. I think everyone did their job this game.
The result is pretty good for us. All we have to do is tie Villa and we're in Champions' League. All we have to do to be in third is to beat Villa. It's entirely in our hands. United has a very difficult fixture at West Ham; I think they're actually going to lose. Bournemouth should present no problems for them on the final day. Speaking of which, Tottenham's loss at home to Southampton makes it possible for them to surrender second place to us it they lose at St James's Park. I'm hoping Sunderland lose in midweek to give Newcastle something to play for: survival. It's a long shot, sure, but I'll be paying attention to their scoreline, especially if Arsenal score early.
Liverpool has an excellent chance to qualify for ECL by winning Europa League. Klopp has already made himself a beloved figure in Liverpool; watch out next year. The fight for Europa League qualification next year is complicated, depending on whether United wins the FA Cup, and perhaps Liverpool winning Europa League. United looks like fifth place, but West Ham and Southampton are scrapping for sixth, with Liverpool right behind. Any two of them could miss out if Palace beats United in the FA Cup and Sevilla beats the Reds in their cup final. Or all three could be in Europe next year if those finals go the other way. Crazy.
I can't believe I'm this elated over a draw. We got the result and the men played well. Wilshere and Walcott did OK when they came on. I was happy Cazorla wasn't needed; I could just see him breaking something in the first five minutes he was on. Maybe after we're 2-0 up on Villa next week. And damn, we better beat Aston Villa. Everyone else is. They're "playing for pride" but if anyone on that team is still proud, they're delusional. I expect they'll bunker in and hope to hit on a counter somewhere. We'll try to draw them out, and if that doesn't work, penetrate and go for the jugular. It may be a good game for Giroud, who had a great game today (goal and assist!). No Ozil, I guess, but those are the breaks. (I would have bet on him to break the EPL assist record, but the chances he created were spurned.)
Already, the sound of checkbooks being opened all over England is deafening. Huge sums will be committed to buy the few difference-makers available. You know, I'd take a bargain basement flyer on Rudy Gestede while I pursued the top class strikers. I think he could add something to Arsenal.
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