ARS 5 - 0 NF: An Emphatic Answer to the Doubters

 I admit that I was one of those doubters in gloomy moments.  It was just Forest, who have been pretty bad this year, but for once we took apart a low block and poured in the goals.  It could have been worse for the visitors too.  Artetaball features our "holding" midfielders (usually Xhaka) playing far upfield on a regular basis, and defenses get overloaded.  Forest was shellshocked and must be wondering now how they ever managed to blank Liverpool.

There was so much to like yesterday.  Reiss Nelson's renaissance was the best present Mikel could have gotten, because Saka can't play every minute of the season, and Nelson is his natural replacement.  Nelson was supposedly the next big thing from our academy until Saka burst onto the scene.  Injuries slowed his progress, but he had a very good loan spell at Feyenoord and he was shopped around for a good transfer fee.  Then another injury in the summer scared off suitors, so we kept him here.  That may have been a stroke of luck.  He's earned another run-out or five and if he plays as well as we know he can he'll be a huge asset this season that no one was really counting on.  Credit to Arteta for putting him in after Saka was kicked in the ankle repeatedly and had to come out.

Partey's belter, a carbon copy of the one he scored against Tottenham, was delicious.  Martinelli had another great game, and his opening goal header was spectacular.  Odegaard even got on the scoresheet.  The odd mistake at the back did not hurt us.  Believe it or not, this was our first League clean sheet at home, though all six were wins.

Fingers crossed that Saka recovers.  Arsenal and England will be relying on him.  I don't know how serious Turner's groin injury is, but the USMNT has to be concerned.  He's a commanding presence in the penalty area and not a bad shot stopper either.

Notts County won on Saturday and are three points clear of Wrexham at the top of the National League.  Only two of its 24 teams are promoted to League 2, and only the winner earns automatic promotion (the other has to negotiate a six team playoff).  Every point is precious.

PSV 2 - 0 ARS: From Bad to Worse

 The Gunners were outplayed by a wide margin today in the Netherlands.  PSV had three goals chalked off for offside, so it could have been even worse.  Now we have to win next week to make sure we top the group.  The good news is we're playing Zurich, who we beat at their place, while PSV has to go to the Arctic to play Bodo/Glimt.  If PSV wins, we have to win, and then we're top.  If they don't win, we're top.  Zurich did beat Bodo today, but we should manage to best them.  Bodo and Zurich both have a shot at continuing their European adventure in the Europa Conference League if they finish third, so they'll be playing for something too.

Our drop in form has reached alarming proportions.  We should have lost at Leeds but managed a 1-0 win.  We outplayed PSV at home but got just the one goal, meaning they have the tiebreaker now.  We drew at Southampton.  And today we got smacked around in humiliating fashion.  In three days, we face Nottingham Forest, who despite their lowly position in the league (in the relegation zone) defeated Liverpool last weekend.  We've gone from champagne football to Boone's Farm Apple Wine in just a few weeks.  A turnaround is required, and I'm not sure Arteta can engineer it.

ARS 1-0 PSV and SOU 1-1 ARS

 The win on Thursday was welcome, because it almost guarantees that we'll finish top of the group and avoid a round against a team dropping down from the Champions League.  The draw at Southampton yesterday was a letdown. It was a golden opportunity to put some distance between us and the Spuds, but instead City is just two points back now.  Our lack of goals is worrying.  Jesus has been a little off since the elbow from Tsimikas in the Liverpool game.  We got no help from the officials yesterday, but we should have won anyway.  Well, on to the next challenge, PSV midweek.  I'd try to play for 0-0.

Everton 3 Crystal Palace 0

 A real stinker.  

Everton scored early, and it was 1-0 at half.  Still a decent game.  

The second half, it all went to pieces.  The hostility between the two teams broke out into a near brawl once or twice.  Everton still wanted to play football, in spite of the animosity, but  Crystal Palace seemed to have lost all interest in anything other than fighting, and allowed Everton a couple of easy breakaway goals.  The score could have been worse.

A game both sides would like to forget, but Everton not so much. 

Lyon Feminin 1 - 5 Arsenal Women: Nobody Saw This Coming

 In last year's Champions' League group play, Arsenal was creamed by Barcelona in two games.  This first group game saw Arsenal defeat the reigning champions 5-1.  They scored some lovely goals, a couple of which came off bad turnovers.  Lyon has dominated women's club soccer for more than five years, so this was a statement win.

Leeds 0 - 1 Arsenal: Three Points Not Earned But Very Welcome

 We sure had a stinker at Leeds, but a combination of awful finishing from Leeds, gritty defending from Arsenal, a superb strike from Saka, and VAR meant we're four points clear at the top.  I checked the expected goals numbers from this game, and ours was less than one while Leeds was over two.  This result was surpassed in "unfairness" only by Chelsea's win over Palace that weekend.  I do not mind this at all.  It's better to absorb lessons from poor performances in a win than in a loss.  We know we can have a bad collective game and still win.

Both our center backs had solid performances but made terrible errors that could easily have cost us the game.  But Aaron Ramsdale bailed us out, going the right way on Bamford's PK and forcing him to put it wide, and also saving one from Bamford with his nuts.  Our midfield could not cope with the Leeds press, and I'm sure there will be a lot of work done on the training ground on that, when we get the time.

BG 0 - 1 ARS

 Bodo/Glimt had won their last 14 European home games, using their rabid supporters and plastic pitch to good effect.  They demolished Roma 6-1 last year.  So it was with relief that the Gunners walked away from the Arctic with three points.  The game was drab, and indeed most of the better chances were carved out by the home side.  But it was Saka who scored the game's only goal on a lovely give-and-go with Lokonga.  A defender made the block, but straight into Saka's chest, and it rebounded in.  The performances were not great, even from our regular starters, but Bodo/Glimt has a way of making opponents look bad in their place.

Now Arsenal has a two point lead over PSV Eindhoven.  If we can beat group doormat Zurich at the Emirates, we can clinch top spot by winning either of our two games against the Dutch side--and they still have to go to the Arctic for a tricky game on the last day.  It's important to finish top because the second place team has a knockout round against a Champions' League third place team, and we don't need those extra fixtures.

Another Look at the Liverpool Game

 Arseblog's excellent "By the Numbers" column, written by Scott Willis, shines a light on the performances of the two teams on Sunday.  I admit that I thought the balance of play was more even than it turns out that it was.  Liverpool's expected goal metric was under one, ours was just under three.  Field tilt was in our favor despite the Reds having more of the ball (a possession advantage is expected when a team is behind most of a game).  We held 'pool to their lowest shot attempts in a game since last October (against Man City).  While I still acknowledge that we had a bit of good fortune (for a change) in refereeing (non)decisions, it's clear that we outplayed Liverpool and deserved the W.

Willis highlights the devastating play of Gabi Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.  Our two 21 year old wide attackers have been excellent for quite a while.  Remember that last year's second highest scorer, Emile Smith Rowe, had surgery and has not played.  If he can return and get match fit in a few months, it will give Martinelli a chance to take a game off now and then.  Both wingers have electric pace, can finish, and can pick out a pass.  With Jesus terrorizing the center backs and Odegaard pulling the strings, and Xhaka playing high up the pitch, it's no wonder we're scoring goals at a high rate.  Thomas Partey has even gotten into the act.  It's only a matter of time before the fullbacks contribute a goal here and there.  We're also scoring off set pieces.  

Arsenal does have weaknesses.  There's the occasional lapse at the back, partly the result of playing such a high line.  We've given some goals that didn't have to happen.  But I love it when a manager decides he's going to outscore the opponents and commits to attack.  We're winning and we're a blast to watch.

Elsewhere in the league, the teams that were expected to win actually did win.  Spuds, City, United, and Chelsea kept pace with us; I should include Newcastle in that crew now, I guess.  It's way too early to make predictions about Champions' league or relegation battles.  But I think we're in for a super season.  It's too bad that stupid World Cup has to interrupt it.

ARS 3 - 2 LIV: What a Game!

 This contest had everything:  controversies, spikiness, injuries, and best of all, lots and lots of champagne football from both teams.  All the goals were beautiful.  Every player gave everything.  Arsenal scored in the first minute, Martinelli slipping past his marker to receive a perfect entry pass from Odegaard on a break, and finishing expertly past fellow Brazilian Alisson.  The Reds equalized on another break, with Diaz setting up Nunez with a fantastic cross.  Then, 15 seconds before the 5 minute extra time ended, Martinelli assisted Saka at the end of another lightning break for 2-1.  Controversies include a handball by Gabriel that was not given, and a hand to the face of Saka that was not carded.

The five minutes was for several injury stoppages.  Ramsdale, Alexander-Arnold, Saka, and Diaz were among those who took their time recovering from hard accidental knocks.  Unfortunately, Diaz had to come off after a knee-to-knee with Partey.  Alexander-Arnold had to come off at the half--he was being roasted by Martinelli anyway.

We were on top in the second half, but on Liverpool's first attack, Firmino (in for Diaz) finished expertly into the far corner of Ramsdale's goal.  2-2.  It was mostly Arsenal after that, but the game was open and both sides had their moments.  Jesus, who was battered on several occasions, most notably with a nasty elbow from Tsimikas that left him on the ground for minutes and even had the Liverpool players concerned, was kicked in the area as he was about to turn in a cross:  PK.  Saka dispatched it in fine style.  Liverpool threatened several times after that, but so did Arsenal, and we saw the game out without too much worry.  

It was a fair result, and one that will be especially bitter for the Reds, who may have lost two more important players.  It was good to see the players talking in friendly fashion afterwards (especially the Brazilians, of which there were five on the field), because it got rather heated during the game, with lots of pushing and shoving, hard words, and harder tackles.

Next up is a trip to the Arctic Circle for the return match with Bodo/Glimt in Europa League.

PS  Alex Iwobi just scored for Everton.  I like that guy.

ARS 3 - 0 BG (Europa League)

 As expected, Bodo/Glimt were defeated at the Emirates rather handily.  Arteta started only three of the players who took the field to face Tottenham four days ago, but they combined well enough to make this a comfortable match.  It may be tougher when we go to the Arctic Circle next week.  It can't be helped; the squad needs to be rotated if we're not going to run players into the ground.

I am impressed with Fabio Vieira.  He's still got some things he can improve on, but he's learning fast and has loads of talent.  Matt Turner is a very good shot stopper and can command his area, but with the ball at his feet he's a liability.  I love the quality and depth that Tomiyasu brings to the defense.  He can play fullback or center back and he's pretty good.  It was great to see Rob Holding get another goal.  Tierney had a successful outing.  

Liverpool will come to the Emirates on Sunday.  I think we'll need to score at least three to get the W.  I'm reasonably confident, but then I thought we'd beat Man U too.

ARS 3 - 1 TOT

 I did not know how confident to be about this one.  The home team has a great record in NLDs, so I should have seen this coming.  We looked fantastic early, but then we looked great early in Manchester.  Partey's opener was a majestic blast.  The equalizer was annoying, mainly because it was Harry Kane who tucked away the PK by driving it at the spot Ramsdale vacated.  I should have realized that when Gabriel Magalhaes screws up, as he did when he fouled Richarlison in the box, Arsenal always comes back to bail him out.  And so it happened.  Lloris's goalkeeping howler was pounced on by Jesus to put us up again, then Royale made a nasty ankle-stamp on a retreating Martinelli and earned a straight red, which was perhaps a bit harsh, but only a bit.  He made no attempt to win the ball and was in control of himself, and left in the studs.  Xhaka finished a period of strong Gunners pressure by sealing the win with a third goal.  Both sides threw on the subs to prepare for their midweek European games, and little happened after that.

This was one we needed.  We'd lost to the other Big Six club we've faced.  We have Liverpool up next.  (That should be a cracker.)  To have any chance of competing for the league championship, we'll need to beat our close rivals at home.  Man City is very strong; Spuds and Man U are looking good; Chelsea will be there.  Only Liverpool seems vulnerable now, with a leaky defense, as they showed in a very entertaining 3-3 draw with surprising Brighton at Anfield.