Transfer Period Fail

This is just about the worst outcome:  a disgruntled Alexis playing out his final year before he goes out on a Bosman; Ozil doing the same; the squad still loaded with extra baggage; no new impact signings; and a manager who's lost the plot and the dressing room.  At this rate, we'll be lucky to finish in the top half.  Unless there's a very unlikely turnaround soon, Wenger will have to go, and even that won't help much, because who wants to work for Kroenke--and who could they get now anyway?

It's just football, so we're not in tragic territory.  But it was all so unnecessary.

Liverpool 4 - 0 Arsenal

We looked like a team that thinks it can play with the EPL's elite but can't.  There was some huffing and puffing from the Gunners, but only a couple real chances.  The Reds carved us up repeatedly, and could have scored 4.  I don't see much hope for a turnaround.  Liverpool knows what it's doing out there, and we don't.  That's on Wenger, in my opinion.  Back at full time.

More of the same.  Arsenal showed more urgency for a few minutes, but no more organization, and finished without a shot on goal.  This was a total butt-whipping.  Liverpool played very well, we stank.  Only Cech can hold his head up, in my opinion.  Ramsey, Xhaka, Bellerin had nightmare games, but they didn't even stand out as especially awful for us.  Poor defensively, toothless on offense--it was Arsenal at its naive, impotent worst.

I could ask questions about team selection and tactics, but I don't have to, do I?  Awful.

We have to sell Alexis.  I wouldn't mind if we unloaded Ozil and AOC too.  We're a mid-table team until Wenger leaves, apparently.  This is us now, so Stan may as well make a profit this year and research how he can break the contract with AW.

Stoke 1 - 0 Arsenal

A turnover led to a too-easy goal after the restart, we weren't clinical in front of goal, a linesman wrongly ruled out a fine Lacazette strike, and some arguable penalty non-calls ruined an otherwise promising performance from the Gunners.  I don't have criticisms.  This is costly, but if we play this well we'll win a lot of games.  Kos and Mert were missed.  Holding might have been a better choice than one of the center backs selected today; I don't know.  That's all I have the heart to type about this gut punch of a result in Mordor.

Arsenal 4-3 Leicester

Alternately agonizing and exhilarating, this was an instant classic of a game.  The defenses did not cover themselves in glory.  Leicester was uncharacteristically open in the second half, even with a lead; they seemed to invite danger.  We were doing the same thing, but it's familiar from us, and we were behind more than they were.  Lacazette's opening header was perfect--what a start.  He was fine throughout the game, I thought.  The equalizer I blame on Cech, though he didn't give the ball away to start the move.  What was he doing chasing that cross?  He took himself out of position.  Monreal got bullied; size is his weakness at center forward.  (Gotta say, Koscielny would have made a huge difference.)  Leicester's second, off another giveaway, was a perfect cross to Vardy.  Welbeck's goal at the end of the first half looked weird, but it as no more than the Gunners deserved after making a large number of chances.

Two handball non-decisions were a factor, but one went each way, so no complaints here.  I liked the way the game was called.  The tackles flew in, but the whistle usually didn't blow and I can remember just one yellow card all game.

Vardy's second, a free header off a corner, was a gut punch.  Hello, Steve Bould!  You there?  Arsenal made chance after chance.  Ozil had a particularly poor game, but Xhaka was right up there with him.  With time running out, our two subs managed to get on the scoresheet, with Ramsey managing not to lash his shot straight at Schmeichel, and Giroud fighting off two defenders to head strongly off the underside of the crossbar and just across the line.

More later, but I'm spent.

Arsenal 1 - 1 Chelsea--Arsenal wins 4-1 on PKs (Community Shield) ...and USWNT

I did not see this game.  I'm on vacation and checked the score after the game was over, then read Arseblog's commentary.  But I wanted very much for Arsenal to win this one.  I don't understand those who say that it's a meaningless friendly.  It's a regularly scheduled match between the winners of the national league and the national cup.  It's one week before the league starts play.  There's silverware involved.  It's at Wembley, which still means something even if Spurs are going to rent it for a while.  From what I read, the Gunners played well.  A few guys who needed to impress Wenger actually did impress him.  Elneny showed his value, Xhaka played like the guy we were very eager to buy, and Kolasinac was excellent (and got a goal).  Iwobi and Monreal continued to impress.  No one's getting too excited, but this was encouraging.  Ozil, Alexis, Ramsey, and Koscielny weren't even available.  Confidence and silverware were gained; that's a good thing.

Wenger is moaning that the squad is too big.  Yes, he's right.  But before he gets carried away with sales and loans, he needs to think about making a run at the Europa League.  Why not?  We make the final 16 of the ECL every year, so it's not beyond us.

The US women looked toothless for 160 minutes of the "Cup of Nations", then they exploded for six goals in the last 110 minutes.  Australia won the thing, and good on you, mates.  I don't know what's needed, but the team is not playing up to its potential.