MC 1 - 0 ARS (FA Cup)

 The game wasn't televised here.  I saw a few highlights and listened to it live.  I'm not sure why Arteta made so many changes to his first team, but he almost got away with it.  City was just too good again, but not by much this time.  Nathan Ake had a fabulous game for them, throttling Saka and scoring the winner.  Trossard was very good for us.  Holding was, as everyone feared, not a match for Haaland (who is?) but he did his job before being hauled off at the half, having earned a yellow card.  Matt Turner was excellent.  All in all, there's hope for a good result when the Citizens come to our place on the 15th.  But they served notice that there's still a gap in quality and it's up to us to close it.

Games will be coming thick and fast after this week.  We could use another good midfielder, but so could everyone else, and some of those clubs have more money to spend.  We bid for Caicedo (Brighton), who would be a good fit, but I don't expect that to come through.  You never know, though--Partey picked up an injury and Caicedo could play his position almost as well.  Arteta may be pleading for Stan to cough up another couple million before midnight Tuesday.  Most clubs (like us) don't have a superstar-packed bench and their seasons could be derailed by a couple key injuries, as ours was last year.  We're in a better spot now, but as we saw, Lokonga is nowhere near Partey in defensive awareness and strength.  Smith-Rowe didn't even make the bench; he may be our new Diaby, always on the training table, never the pitch.

ARS 3 - 2 MU: Not really as close as the score indicates

 Scott Willis's By the Numbers column really makes it clear how thoroughly Arsenal dominated United.  In terms of big chances, shots, possession, field tilt, etc., Arsenal were far and away the better team.  I thought ten Haag's tactics were poor; they'd press us coming out, but after we got into their half they all dropped deep.  It led to relentless pressure for long spells of the game, and of course goals.  Speaking of which, all the goals were really good, even Martinez's floated header after the Ramsdale mistake.  I think Odegaard's shot would have gone into the net, so Eddie probably took a chance there that he'd have rued had his touch not been good or had he been an inch offside instead of an inch onside.

Anyway, we've passed most of the tests and the games with City may well decide the title race.

Welcome Leandro Trossard

 No Mudryk, no cry.  For a third of what we'd have spent on the young Ukrainian, we got the 28 year old Trossard from Brighton, where he was doing well but was at loggerheads with the new boss.  Honest, I've liked this guy for a couple years and was thinking he'd be a great addition.  He's a winger with some good ball handling skills but without the blistering pace of our current wingers.  Arteta is probably thinking about how he can combine with Odegaard in and around the box to create chances.  And Trossard can finish those chances, too, with either foot.  He can play across the front line and can do some playmaking as well.  He'll need to play more defense than he currently does, but he's no patsy in that department.  I hope the boss integrates him into the rotation in the next few weeks.

It looks as though we're getting Polish centerback Jakub Kiwior from Spezia in Serie A.  At just 22, he's battle-ready and may be a fixture at the Emirates for a decade.  Now if we can bolster our midfield, we'd be in good shape for the run-in.  The prospect of Lokonga having to step in for an injured Partey is worrisome.  Of course, Zinchenko can play midfield, but he's got a different skill set.

In two days, it's the return match with the team that beat us 3-1 at Old Trafford.  It ought to be a good one.

TOT 0 - 2 ARS: A Complete Performance

 Spurs have been a slow starting team, and Arsenal a quick starter.  We got two first half goals and made them stand up against a comeback-minded home squad that in truth did not deserve to get anything out of this game.  Our midfield was dominant.  The scoreline did not flatter the Gunners.  This was one of those games in which the goalkeepers made a big difference.  Ours was on it, but Lloris was not in top form.  He made a few smart saves, but both the goals raised questions about his positioning and reaction time.

Everyone in a red-and-white shirt (and Ramsdale of course) did himself proud today.  We moved the ball crisply and managed the game well after the two goal lead was established.  A Spuds fan managed to kick Ramsdale in the back after the game, which will certainly mean we won't see that thug in Tottenham's place again, which will only make it even quieter.  It's a squad that is not performing up to their talent level.  Kane must be regretting not leaving for a better team years ago.  He's one of the best strikers of his generation and has won nothing.  Spurs have cashed in big time on Berbatov, Modric, and Bale over the years and wasted it all, and I have no doubt they'll blow the $120M they'd get for Kane too.  But he's fastened himself to an anchor.

Well, that's another three points gained over City (beaten by Man U via a hilarious offside goal) and Spuds, meaning we're 8 points clear of our nearest rivals.  We're still thin but if injuries don't wreck us we have a very good chance of winning the league.  This victory, our first ever in this sradium, was huge.

Chelsea did what they usually do:  see what player the better-run clubs are after, then offer $15M more and get him.  Mudryk will be joining Felix, Pulisic, and the other overpaid bunch at Stamford Bridge.  No way is he worth what they paid, as good as he is, so it's on to Plan B, whatever that is.  I wonder if we can recall Balogun.  It will be at least two months before we get Jesus on the field again.

ARS 0 - 0 NEW

 Arsenal was the more attacking team but could not score.  Newcastle sat back for most of the game.  There was a lot of fouling too.  Arteta was going crazy on the sidelines.  Well, next game, right?

Unai Emery Turning Villa Around

 From today's Arseblog, on yesterday's TOT 0 - 2 AVL game:

In this incredible world we live in there are sounds that just feed your soul. Rolling thunder. Songbirds in the jungle. The majestic roar of a big cat. The ocean crashing on the shore. And Sp*rs fans booing their own team in a stadium that’s just way too big for them. Glorious.

Emery is a good manager.  He came to us at a bad time, and he was not what we needed.  But he's got Aston Villa on a roll.  Villa has Emi Martinez (who did not play yesterday and was not needed) and Calum Chambers, two ex-Gunners I always liked.  Plus, my wife loves the claret and blue kits worn by the Villans, West Ham, and Burnley (who will be in the Premiership next season).  So when they aren't playing us, I root for Villa.  Needless to say, I'd root for the flesh-eating aliens of Glormak 7 if they were playing Tottenham.  Conte's interview after his team's loss was pathetic.  Despite all the money spent on players he wanted, he was saying they needed more, that he was "building a foundation."  He had the foundation.  Spurs have been very good since before he came.  But he seems to have "lost the dressing room" as thy say.  They don't believe in his management and he is not getting the best from them.  Roman Abramovich would be looking for his replacement now, but of course he's sailing around on a gargantuan yacht somewhere trying to avoid the law.

Spurs had their nearly moment four years ago when they narrowly lost the Champions' League final to Liverpool.  Otherwise, they haven't been close to silverware for quite some time.  That said, there has been no St Totteringham's Day since 2016, an outrage that I expect to end soon.