I thought it was a long shot to hope for winning the Europa League. There are too many good teams in it. Arsenal showed it just isn't strong enough to beat them and that's reality. Arteta has to take some of the blame. He must have worked on set piece defense, but what he said apparently did not sink in. Those two goals were really soft. Olympiakos players cruised in untouched and with no one to beat but the keeper. Ridiculous.
The only positive I get from this is that Saka might get a few days off now and then. We're in serious danger of running him into the ground. Other than that, it's a disaster to be ejected so early from a cup competition. At least it used to be the Champion's League we'd be dismissed from in the first knockout round.
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Sunday, February 23, 2020
Arsenal 3 - 2 Everton
The Toffees have been good guests in recent years, and we have no reason to complain (well Sead might) about them today. Their goals both came off set pieces and some questions can be asked about how Kolasinac and Bellerin kept the scorers onside, but that's how it goes sometimes. Our goals all came in the run of play and were gorgeous. Saka's cross and Eddie's finish for the first were majestic--wow. The through ball from Luiz, and the run and finish from Auba, for the second were equally sublime. Auba's header from Pepe's excellent cross was both brave and expertly done. There were several more chances for both sides, too. It was a great show.
Saka must be feeling the wear and tear of being used so often. In the second half, he gave the ball away several times. Tierney is probably not going to be fit until April, and Kolasinac appears to be another long term absence; it's a worry. Why not Maitland-Niles as backup? I know he's a right footer, but he can play fullback.
Nketieh justified his selection, but I really expected Laca to start.
Ceballos blows hot and cold. This was a dropoff from his last EPL outing, but on balance he was fine. Ozil was similarly in and out of the game. Xhaka continued his run of excellent form. The assist from Pepe was great; when he has time he can put in a perfect ball. His decision making is a little off the pace most of the time, though; he can beat almost anyone on the dribble, but tends to keep the ball too long. Auba had two really fine goals and helped on defense. Bellerin is pretty solid now. Our center halves did the business and we can have no big complaints about them. Leno was once again superb.
Don't look now, but we're just four points off fifth, the final ECL spot this year now that City has been banned from Europe. Just win, men!
Saka must be feeling the wear and tear of being used so often. In the second half, he gave the ball away several times. Tierney is probably not going to be fit until April, and Kolasinac appears to be another long term absence; it's a worry. Why not Maitland-Niles as backup? I know he's a right footer, but he can play fullback.
Nketieh justified his selection, but I really expected Laca to start.
Ceballos blows hot and cold. This was a dropoff from his last EPL outing, but on balance he was fine. Ozil was similarly in and out of the game. Xhaka continued his run of excellent form. The assist from Pepe was great; when he has time he can put in a perfect ball. His decision making is a little off the pace most of the time, though; he can beat almost anyone on the dribble, but tends to keep the ball too long. Auba had two really fine goals and helped on defense. Bellerin is pretty solid now. Our center halves did the business and we can have no big complaints about them. Leno was once again superb.
Don't look now, but we're just four points off fifth, the final ECL spot this year now that City has been banned from Europe. Just win, men!
Sunday, February 16, 2020
Arsenal 4 - 0 Newcastle
It wasn't a perfect performance. We allowed too many free kicks in dangerous areas and too many corners. The Toons could have potted two goals. The first half was laborious. However, the second half showcased how Arteta is getting more out of this collection of talented players than we were getting before. Pepe with a goal and an assist! Ozil scores! Auba rolls on! Laca with a goal and an assist in just a few minutes! A CLEAN SHEET! This is the sort of game that builds confidence. And now we're in positive goal difference territory.
With Hector back and Saka playing left back, we are a terror on the wings. I can't wait until Tierney or Kolasinac works into playing shape, so Saka gets a rest now and then. Maitland-Niles must be on the outs with Arteta not to get any time on the field lately; he was a very good deputy for Bellerin. With Soares coming in and our crowded midfield lineup, he has to be thinking about an exit strategy.
I kept waiting for a Mustafi Moment, but he was solid again. David Luiz sent several long balls into touch, but I think it was part of the strategy to get their fullbacks worried about the long throughball so the middle third was more open, and it seemed to work fine. This is the sort of game Ozil can take over, and he played his part. Ceballos was quite good. Xhaka did well too, but he is going to get a second yellow one game soon.
The front line scoring goals--lovely.
This was one we expected to win, and to be fair we made hard work of it in the first half, but the pressure told and we opened them up frequently all second half, albeit allowing them two or three prime chances too. Being Newcastle at the Emirates, they spurned them.
Olympiakos. Again. Let's progress, men!
I think we have our Arsenal back.
With Hector back and Saka playing left back, we are a terror on the wings. I can't wait until Tierney or Kolasinac works into playing shape, so Saka gets a rest now and then. Maitland-Niles must be on the outs with Arteta not to get any time on the field lately; he was a very good deputy for Bellerin. With Soares coming in and our crowded midfield lineup, he has to be thinking about an exit strategy.
I kept waiting for a Mustafi Moment, but he was solid again. David Luiz sent several long balls into touch, but I think it was part of the strategy to get their fullbacks worried about the long throughball so the middle third was more open, and it seemed to work fine. This is the sort of game Ozil can take over, and he played his part. Ceballos was quite good. Xhaka did well too, but he is going to get a second yellow one game soon.
The front line scoring goals--lovely.
This was one we expected to win, and to be fair we made hard work of it in the first half, but the pressure told and we opened them up frequently all second half, albeit allowing them two or three prime chances too. Being Newcastle at the Emirates, they spurned them.
Olympiakos. Again. Let's progress, men!
I think we have our Arsenal back.
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