The international break started this week. Since my last game post, the 7-1 crushing of PSV, we've drawn at Old Trafford and at home in the second leg against PSV, then finished with a much-needed victory at the Emirates against a Cole Palmer-less Chelsea. The goal came off a corner, for the first time since January 15. It was a deft looping header from Merino that nestled into the far post side netting after glancing off the post. Perfect. The game wasn't brilliant, but Arsenal deserved the three points. They were very welcome, allaying fears that we might be caught by the trailing pack, putting our champions' league place at risk. Forest is just four points behind us, but the next two (Chelsea and Man City) are nine and ten points back. The real race now is for the European spots. There's just five points separating 4th place Chelsea from tenth place Bournemouth. A top five (four?) finish is worth about $100M to the clubs that finish that high.
It was disappointing to draw against the Red Devils, but it could have been worse. We were error-prone at times and toothless in attack. The 2-2 result at home against Eindhoven was meaningless apart from the $1M bonus that winning the game would have earned. Both teams sat out some of their first string.
I see that Palace has staked their claim to 12th place again. With nine games left, Liverpool will win the league, and Southampton, Ipswich, and Leicester will be relegated.
Notts County is experiencing a poor run of form and at this rate will drop out of promotion playoff contention. Bummer. Juve is hanging on to 5th in Serie A.
I will be interested in the USMNT's performances in Nation's League. Pochettino is a very good coach, and our players are hitting their stride in MLS and Europe.
Palace seems stuck in the boring zone of the table. It cold be worse, and we have our moments, now and then. Someday, I'd like to them finish well enough to play in Europe.
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