Arsenal Women Earn Passage to Champions' League Knockout Round

 We beat Juve 4-0 in Turin and 1-0 at home, meaning that with two games to play in the group stage we're already through.  We could finish top of the group if we beat Bayern at the Emirates.  League results are also good since Eidevall was sacked.  Sleger is making a strong case for her being made permanent replacement.

ARS 3-0 NFO: Taking Care of Business in Style

 Before I write about the Gunners, I have to note that our North London rivals beat Manchester City four goals to nil at the Etihad.  Pep has never lost five in a row before.  City hasn't lost at home for two years.  Well.

Palace got a good point at Villa Park, but still slid into the relegation zone after Wolves beat Fulham.  Other teams played today too, but I wasn't as interested.

Arsenal was dominant today, weaving complex patterns that left Forest defenders confused and outmaneuvered.  We could have had more goals, but for some errant finishing and some fine saves from Sels, the Forest keeper.  Rice's broken toe kept him on the bench.  Martinelli was rested too.  Saka looked very good today, especially on his goal, our first.  Partey made it 2-0 early in the second half with a screamer from 25 yards.  Nwaneri scored the third, sending the hometown fans into delirium--he's already a big fan favorite at 17 years old.  Forest was never in the game.  Here are some stats:

That actually understates Arsenal's control of this game.  We have a run of fixtures now that isn't as tough as the one that tripped us up recently, and Odegaard is back.  He bossed this game and he can do it against almost anybody.  We didn't have Havertz today either.  I'll give a shout-out to Mikel Merino too--he was quite good.

I know nine points is a big gap, but it's just one team with a significant lead on us and Liverpool could easily stumble a few times.  They play City next weekend.  Let's see how the table looks after the New Year.

USMNT 4-2 Jamaica (Nation's League quarters), and Some Arsenal Musings

 Three gorgeous goals and a deflected own-goal gave the USA plenty of room for error, and Demarai Gray put one great and one very good goal past Matt Turner (who made some difficult saves earlier) after we got a little sloppy in possession with a big lead.  Turner looked solid to me, and our defenders gave him plenty of help and made some swashbuckling runs forward.  We won most of the duels and the passing was sharp.  Pulisic, Pepi, and Weah struck the ball as well as anyone could--the first and last of those on the half-volley!--from far enough out to have made these difficult chances.  Pulisic created the second goal with a slightly wide effort that a Reggae Boy deflected past his keeper.  Gray's first goal was a lovely side-foot volley after he made space for himself to receive a cross near the penalty spot, and his second was to put in a rebound of a nice save from Turner.  We got away with a lot of floating cross-field passes all game, but Jamaica pounced on a few to good effect.  It's always tough to maintain shape in international games.  Subs come in and want to make an impact, and the players' unfamiliarity with each other leaves men out of position.  Lots of good stuff, but also some areas to tighten up before we play in the semifinal.  

https://www.nbcsports.com/watch/highlights-usmnt-defeats-jamaica-to-advance-to-concacaf-semifinal 

Mexico retrieved their situation by hammering Honduras at home 4-0, reversing the 2-0 beating they suffered in Honduras, which also saw their coach beaned by a beer can from the stands.

Canada and Panama are also in the semis.  We play Panama March 20, and will play in either the third place or championship game on March 23, in LA at the Kroenke's sporting palace in LA (home of the Rams).  (There was considerable envy expressed by the Arsebloggers after they attended a friendly there featuring Arsenal.  The Emirates is still a great place to play, but The House That Arsene Built is 20 years old now.)

I know I wrote off Arsenal's chances to win the league after the Newcastle loss.  We really did stink in that game.  But consider:  1) that we've dropped seven points in games in which we received highly controversial red cards;  2) we're looking up only at Liverpool (we're nine points back) and Man City (four);  3) Liverpool has had the easiest schedule by far, while we've had rather a tough one;  4) City has lost four games on the trot and look lost without Rodri (ACL--probably out for season); and  5) we have Odegaard back, finally.  Unfortunately, Ben White has just had knee surgery and won't be available for a while, Tomiyasu is a permanent fixture on the training table, Trossard's hamstring is twanged, Calafiori is still injured, Rice is hampered with some lower body injury, and Saka isn't completely back.  But maybe there will be some luck on the recovery front, or Gabriel Jesus will rediscover his form.  

https://youtu.be/KX5jNnDMfxA

SPI 1-1 GOT (3-0), Semifinal: Really Good Game at Audi Field...Plus Some Arsenal Stuff

 The Washington Spirit were almost out of the NWSL championships, but leveled the match in second half stoppage time.  Despite Gotham's losing a player to two yellows in the first extra time period, the Spirit didn't manage to score the winner, and Gotham had a chance or two.  But to PKs it went, and three worse PKs than Gotham kicked are hardly to be found.  All were saved rather easily by the Spirit GK; she had only to avoid diving the wrong way.  The Spirit kicks were quite good and beat the Gotham keeper, though two just barely.  On to the final!

Arsenal and Chelsea drew 1-1 at the Bridge in a game in which the Gunners (to my eye) looked a bit sharper.  It leaves us nine back of Liverpool and four behind City, who've lost four games running in all competitions.  There are 27 games to go, so there's a chance, if we can stay healthy.  We lost 1-0 in Milan to Inter in CL via a generous handball call.

NEW 1-0 ARS: Outthought, Outplayed, and Out of the Race

 It was a pedestrian display from the Gunners as they fell victim to a scrappy, aggressive Newcastle.  I don't blame anyone for the goal; it was a great cross and superb header.  Livramento canceled out Martinelli and our midfield was simply not up to the task of breaking the Magpies down.  I can't remember Nick Pope having to make a save, certainly no difficult ones.  Fair result.

Barring a miracle, Arsenal's chances of overhauling both Liverpool and Man City are extremely remote. They'll try, of course, but the focus may shift to the cup competitions.  I wondered what would happen if Odegaard had a long term injury, and now I know.