I'm starting this at the half. Liverpool is deservedly up 2-0 after an all-action display in the first 45. The Gunners looked overwhelmed. There was a lot of yak-yak from the commentators about Wenger's decision to start Alexis on the bench, and Ozil's absence due to illness. But it was our defensive midfielders who looked most at sea so far. I was very annoyed to see Xhaka jogging back at one point. Coquelin is having an off-day as well. Iwobi is for me an odd choice to replace Ozil; Klopp was probably relieved to see Ox start wide right and not centrally. The goals were a case of our defense being swamped by Liverpool's commitment to get forward, aided by our inability to get back and cover. Oh, second half starting...it is Liverpool, after all, so I won't give up hope just yet.
Mignolet forced into a save from a Giroud header. Alexis is in now and firing good crosses in. After six minutes, it looks encouraging. Uh-oh...free kick earned by Coutinho in dangerous spot. But he hits the wall.
Magnificent move and great finish through Alexis to Welbeck, and it's 1-2, with 35 minutes to go. Liverpool seems to have decided to play back. There's a real open feel to this game now, making it exciting to watch. Chances at both ends. Firmino and Mane are looking very good today. Alexis is looking lethal. Xhaka looks ordinary at best. Was it Coquelin who was taken off for Alexis? I haven't seen him and now Ox is playing centrally. Oh no...Walcott coming on? Also Lucas Perez. Giroud and Welbeck off. Too many easy giveaways! Frustrating. Almost a Reds goal on a free kick. Awful challenge on Walcott by two Liverpool players results in Arsenal free kick and an apparently serious injury to Emre Can. Since Can is on a yellow, it could have been worse for Liverpool. The yellow goes to Xhaka, though, for mouthing off. He's a very stupid player sometimes. ten minutes to go...
Origi heads off the post, on a free kick. Haven't seen Perez involved. Have to say, Liverpool looks the more dangerous side now. 86 minutes gone... Perez finally has a chance, but well blocked by Klavan. Time running out. Liverpool finishes off the game in extra time after a great chance for Arsenal--Alexis blasted it when he could have tied the game with a side-footed shot. I thought Origi was offside, but really, 2-1 or 3-1, Liverpool wins, and deservedly so on the night. In truth, it could have been worse and we'd have no complaints.
It does not look good for Arsenal at this point in the season. It's the midfield that seems to be letting the team down. We're in fifth place with 12 games to go for most of the top six (Liverpool has just 11) so we'll have to become more ruthless against the lower-ranking clubs and find the ability to beat our top rivals if Champions' League is to be in our 2017-18 plans. Man U stumbled against Bournemouth today, managing a point at Old Trafford. No one except Chelsea seems immune to a run of bad form, and they're so far ahead that they must feel the rest of the season will be a precession. I don't have any suggestions. We may just not be good enough to be a top four team.
I'm very disappointed in Xhaka, today and on the season. Yeah, he's got talent, but he's also got a clinker in his thinker, as the late great Ann Landers used to say. I don't know where this group of players "should" finish, but it's becoming clear that Wenger is not organizing and preparing the team in a way that gets the most out of them. When he goes this summer, I think Alexis and Ozil will go too. No one will want Xhaka at a price we'd accept. AOC's emergence as a credible central midfielder with goals in him should help. Walcott needs to go. Ramsey needs to stay healthy. Our franchise player is probably Koscielny, if Alexis and Ozil leave as I expect. Welbeck is not the answer up front. Perez is very good but is also not going to replace Giroud or Alexis as the main man up top. We'll need to buy someone. If we don't get 50M pounds for Alexis I will be very surprised, so the money will be there even without dipping into cash reserves, of which Arsenal has a lot.
I don't see us beating Tottenham, United, or Chelsea for the FA Cup, but if we do, it will redeem the season as far as I'm concerned. But it shouldn't save Arsene's job. He's been wonderful about his situation, leaving it up to the club rather than angling for a soft landing at one of the big clubs who'd love to have him, but it's time.
I'm too bummed to rhapsodize about the crop of young talent coming up, or spin stories about Jack's triumphant return. I want Szczesny back. We have depth in defense. Stan Kroenke has sandbagged us yet again by refusing to provide the cash for a big time striker. But that's an old story. I just want us to be the best we can be with the resources available. We're short of that now.
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