Arsenal 2 - 1 Burnley

What a goal from Lacazette!  The equalizer from Barnes took a bit of luck, but I can't say Burnley didn't earn it.  They could have had more.  I thought we made it way too easy for them to lump it into good areas.  We were dominant in the second half, though, and were good value for the win.  Auba's strike for his second winner in two games was lovely.

I'm developing a healthy dislike for Ashley Barnes.  If Troy Deeney is a 10 on the Jerk Scale, Barnes is a solid 6.  I think he was the one who kneed Guendouzi in the back, but i guess it could have been the other jerk up front, Wood.

It was nice to see Torreira in there, but he doesn't seem quite 100% yet.  Yes, we got three points in a convincing performance, but I expected more defensive bite in midfield.  When we did press, it seemed to work pretty well.  Burnley's press was stifling in the first half, and our guys are faster and more technical.

The buzz is about Ceballos, and it was merited.  He just thinks faster than most players.  Pepe displayed his talent too, and it won't be long before his final ball becomes as lethal in the EPL as it was in Ligue 1.  Luiz did his job alongside Sokratis.  I've seen Leno look sharper, but he did enough.

All in all, a satisfying three points at home. 

Newcastle 0 - 1 Arsenal

Our first meaningful game of the season, and it's one nil to the Arsenal!  An away win, an away clean sheet, decent performances all around.  We even got to see a little Pepe and Ceballos in the second half.  Yes, it was Newcastle, who looked a bit shaky in midfield, but the hosts gave a very good account of themselves with a disciplined defensive effort and a lot of hustle.  To this anxious Gunner, the Magpies seemed to get to more second balls.  Joelinton looked very very good with his holdup play and work rate. 

But enough about them.  Leno was quite good, the back line solid enough.  I was delighted to see Chambers play so well, though his distribution was a disappointment.  AMN made the goal, really, with a tremendous steal and a fine pass to a wide open PEA, who finished beautifully.  Auba had a good game, I thought.  Mkhi had a strange game, being involved in a lot of good offensive moves that seemed to go nowhere, but staying anonymous for stretches.  I don't think he gave AMN enough help defensively, but fortunately he and Chambers were up to the task on the right side of defense.  Reiss Nelson worked hard but doesn't look quite ready for the Premier League.  He tired in the second half, leading to turnovers.  Willock played his heart out, and it would be churlish to ask him to be brilliant too.  Xhaka seems insufficiently mobile for a central mid, but Guendouzi covered a lot of ground.  Still, the space we afforded Newcastle makes me uneasy about facing a more creative side.  When Ceballos came in, it didn't change much, but then it didn't have to, because we were in the lead.  Pepe and Martinelli had little to do.  I thought it odd that all three subs were brought in when we were one goal up and they were offensive.  I half expected Luiz to be added to the midfield in place of Willock, and Xhaka moved a little higher up.

We didn't learn much today, except that we have a couple of academy graduates who can help us this season.  I hope Chambers has earned Emery's confidence.  Nacho was pretty damned good, I thought.

Results elsewhere were as expected, it seems to me.  Spuds left it late again; I was hoping for the smash-and-grab by Villa, lots of red cards, and a sewer backup in the new stadium.  Damn.

What Have They Done With Stan Kroenke?

I assume he's been kidnapped and forced to spend money on players, because the signings this summer can't be of his own free will, at least the paying for them part.  And all this is without unloading our wage bill problem children Ozil and Mustafi and Mkhitaryan (and Kolasinac).  This is a serious bid at leapfrogging Chelsea and maybe Tottenham into a Champions' League slot.  Our offensive firepower is awesome, but out defensive prowess is not nearly at that level.  Expect some rough seas early in the season, until Tierney, Holding, and Bellerin get fit, and Ceballos and Pepe start to click with our dynamic duo up front. 

We're so stacked with offensive talent that it would not surprise me to see Iwobi sold to Everton.  Of course, I'd rather see Ozil and/or Mkhitaryan out the door, but that's not going to happen.  Torreira and Guendouzi are going to be solid, Xhaka is still a force, and how about the academy graduates for backup?  I'm pumped.

Real Madrid 2 - 2 Arsenal (RM wins on PKs) -- ICC

Weird game.  The second yellow on Sokratis was bullshit; he got the ball and it wasn't even a foul.  But Real was playing us more than even at that point a man down.  The rest of the way they were on top.  I can't understand why Emery kept his starters out there so long.  I liked the kids again.  Asencio looked to have suffered a really bad injury, unfortunately, when his knee appeared to buckle with minor upper body contact.

Jenko did OK, Chambers looked pretty good.  Sead had a poor game.  We've still got big problems at the back.

Arsenal 2 - 1 Bayern Munich (ICC)

I love these silly preseason games.  I get to see a bunch of kids looking like future stars, in a crazy, wide open game that doesn't mean anything.  There were a lot of chances in this one; the score could have been a lot higher.  The Gunners had more clear chances, I'd say.  Young players who shone were Willock, Nketiah, Nelson, John-Jules...really, everyone.  Players who didn't look so fantastic (for various reasons) were Mustafi, Kolasinac, and Mkhitaryan.  Auba was very sharp.  Bayern subbed their entire team at the half; Arsenal replaced most of their starters by the 70th minute.  Gnabry was dangerous for Bayern; I wish Arsene had kept him.

Our defensive problems were evident again.  AMN was fine at right back in the first half but Kingsley Coman turned him inside out in the second.  Left back was an issue when Monreal and Kolasinac were playing there.  Mustafi is a disaster waiting to happen.  Sokratis was solid.  Gotta say, the young midfielders were lively.  Ozil did his usual gliding around making good passes and not playing defense.  (He's blond now.)

Fiorentina is next up, then Real Madrid at FedEx.  I don't think I'll go.

I don't know what the deal is with Koscielny, but I'll always love the guy.  We should give him the transfer he obviously wants.

The youngsters beat Stan Kroenke's Colorado Rapids 3-0 a couple days ago in a tune-up.  Some really nice goals.

Every Promoted Youngster Is Like a New Signing

That's how I'm going to spin it, anyway.  I'm excited by the youth movement and am willing to see what we can do with our mix of veterans, young guys, and a few bargain purchases Edu can locate.  Honestly, if we make Europa League again, I don't think I will complain.  Anything we can manage to accomplish will be in spite of the owner, who seems indifferent to Arsenal's results.

It's sad how the Koscielny situation is playing out.  Let's hope Holding can come back in a couple months.  He and Chambers could be an awesome pairing in central defense.  Sokratis and Mavrapanos can also play there; Mustafi may be on the way out.

Chelsea 4 - 1 Arsenal

No predictions in the final minutes before the game.  It could go any way, really.  Not having Ramsey is a major blow; I'd actually be fairly confident if he were fit and starting.

...

nil-nil at the half, both defenses bending but not breaking.  Ozil and Auba are being kept from much possession.  I don't know who the impact subs would be from either side.  Guendouzi is not going to scare the Blues.  I suppose Iwobi could replace Kolasinac to some effect.

...

Game's suddenly gone to shit...fine play from Chelsea, but defensive lapses are killing us.  I'm definitely not giving up, but it's a long way back now from 2-0.

And now a PK as we're overrun again.  3-0.  Can I give up now?

4-1 and I have got to admit we've been outplayed.  Too many midfielders trying to dribble through people, giveaways turned into goals.

It's over.  Honestly, Chelsea were better on the night.  No Aaron, big problem.  I'd have started Iwobi, but would that have made a difference?  I doubt it.  Lacazette did earn a penalty he wasn't awarded, but it was a close call and we didn't get it, even with VAR, it having been waved off.  If you're looking for a goat, I nominate Ozil, who did almost nothing of note the entire time he was in.  Aubameyang must have been marked out, because he didn't see much of the ball.  And when our strikers had a chance to do something good, they didn't manage to do it.

Last season:  6th place and a EL semifinal.  This season:  5th place and a EL final.  It does not really seem like progress.