Transfer Talk

 So far, Arsenal has added a backup goalkeeper (Matt Turner, USA) for $7M, a young winger with potential (Marquinos, BRA) for $4M, and a top class attacking midfielder (Fabio Vieira) for $38.5M.  We're also on the cusp of securing the services of Gabriel Jesus for I'm guessing around $55M.  It's said that Raphina is also a target, but I think it would be a mistake to load up on attackers when we desperately need some defensive cover.  For those keeping count, and not counting Raphina, that makes four Brazilians (three named Gabriel) and two Portuguese on the senior squad.  Edu (our Technical Director) definitely has connections an influence on who we rate and who we acquire.  I like it, after he got Willian and David Luiz out of his system anyway.  We still need a top quality left back for when Tierney rips his next tendon, and a backup for Partey, who has had injuries too.  Arsenal is keen on Lisandro Martinez, who can do both of those, but the price will be high.  If we do improve in defense and midfield, we may try to sell Tavares and Lokonga, who are both good young players who may thrive under another system.

We've generated just $15M in player sales, $12M of that for Marseille to finalize their promised purchase of Guendouzi, a player I liked but who would not do what Arteta told him to do in training or on the field.  He's quite good, but he won't play for Arsenal.  Mavropanos was let go to Stuttgart for just $3.5M I like him, but he would never play for us on a regular basis), and Lacazette went to Lyon on a free,  We have a lot of guys in the departure lounge who ought to be in demand, like Bernd Leno, Cedric, Pepe, and a host of loanees like Torreira, Bellerin, Nelson, Maitland-Niles, etc. who have to be moved on and will bring in some money.  (Some of those deals are being done.)  One loanee who is definitely coming back is Saliba, as things stand.  He's that top quality center back we'll need to spell White and Gabriel in tough games without having to use Holding, who I love but who has a more limited skill set.

All of which is to say that it looks as though the Kroenkes, having won the Super Bowl and Stanley Cup this year, have decided they like this winning thing and are willing to spend some money to make that happen.  I love that Arteta is insisting on players under 26, who are just reaching their prime or are a couple years away from it, and integrating them into a tightly knit system.  There's a lot of overlap between the skill sets.  There is no Olivier Giroud type to post up and wear out big defenders, win long balls from the back, and bang in headers off crosses.  He's loaded up on defensively sound, speedy players who have an eye for a pass and who can finish at least adequately.  Arteta wants the Gunners to play through the opposition, move the ball around smartly, and make incisive passes to speedy wingers or attacking midfielders who burst into the box unexpectedly.  He wants a suffocating press that will keep the ball in the other side's half and win it in good positions.  There will be five subs next year.  Imagine a fresh Saka in the second half, having come in for (say) Vieira, or throwing on Martinelli or Smith-Rowe late after Odegaard or Jesus put in 65 hard minutes running at the opponent's defenders.  Not many clubs could match that pace and energy.

Arsenal - Crystal Palace, August 5

 Opens the 2022-2023 season.  

ARS 5 - 1 EVE, Thoughts on the Season

 I don't think Gunners fans are really upset about not making Champions' League; it's mostly disappointment we lost the last spot to that lot and so late.  I was hoping for 5th or 6th before the season started, and that's what I got, so color me satisfied.  With just a +13 goal difference, we are not ECL material anyway.  The near-collapse of Manchester United was a surprise; I did not think we'd finish above them.  Spurs finally hired a guy who could do what Pochettino did for them, and they can convince themselves they'll make another long run in the ECL--but I doubt it.

Arteta and Edu were playing with fire when they slashed the squad so ruthlessly in January, and we were fortunate to only get singed, as West Ham, Wolves, and Man U all faded late on.  Even keeping Maitland-Niles on would, I think, have seen us get 4th.  But as injuries piled up, we had to rely on backups, and they were backups for a reason.  Arteta made some naive tactical decisions in crucial games, too.  But all's well that ends well, and I'm happy with where we ended.

The decks are cleared and we can take on several transfers to complement the core of the team.  The major questions are about injuries, and about our loanees.  Will Saliba play for us next year?  Can Tierney spend more time on the pitch?  Can Partey stay fit?  Tomiyasu?  White?  We're looking for the same high quality players everyone else is, and they won't come cheap.  I'm content to wait and see.  With European football, we will have more game time to keep youth and fringe players sharp.

Crystal Palace ends with a win and a loss

But not the win and the loss I expected.  

Everton very much needed the win, Manchester United had little to play for. I hope that no punitive actions will be taken against Viera for his loss of patience with Everton fans gone to excess harassing him.  

Arsenal disposed of Everton 5-1, but lost to Newcastle, having had reasonable hopes of winning both. and this season is done.  The Europa League lies ahead for Arsenal. 

What a Game! EVE 3 - 2 CRY

 Fan belief, and some tactical brilliance from Frank Lampard, pulled Everton to an unlikely turnaround against a Palace team that dominated them in the first half.  It was a great spectacle for the neutrals.  I will confess to a fondness for the Toffees, plus I wanted them to have nothing to play for against Arsenal Sunday (though Newcastle had nothing to play for and killed us).  Everton showed enough life in the first half to make watching the second half seem worth it, so I did, and I was glad.  It was end to end in a very open game.  There was some question as to whether both teams, and especially Palace, would have eleven men on the field to the end, the action was that intense.  Even the scrappy goals were watchable.  And the jubilation of the home fans was an amazing sight.  Well, they'll be in the top flight for a 69th successive year.  Well done blues.

Palace was very dangerous too.  They had a few gilt-edged chances in the second half but hit straight to Pickford, who did not look very sure of himself.

NEW 2 - 0 ARS : Bonesaw United Dominates Shorthanded Gunners

 It's not looking good at halftime.  Newcastle is on top and I don't see us turning it around.

And so it proved.  If not for Ramsdale, it could have been 4-0 or 5-0.  We had just a couple of decent chances; Newcastle had dozens.  Fair result, and the end of our Champions' League dreams.  Norwich is not going to beat Spuds at Carrow Road.

When you look at our goal difference this year (+9), it's clear that we are not at the level of the other Premier League squads in the top four.  Europa League is a competition we might go some ways in.  We'll see.

I won't bother to rate the players.  The whole team just plain got embarrassed today.  The Magpies came to play, and they crushed us.  Everton must be encouraged by what they saw and think they have a safety valve to avoid relegation.

TOT 3 - 0 ARS: A Game Not as Close as the Score Indicates

 A lack on Arsenal's part of composure, and attention deficit syndrome, assisted a sharp Spurs side in demolishing the Gunners and making it as tough as possible for us to win both our remaining games.  In this loss, Holding was red carded, Gabriel had a hamstring injury, and Ben White was not fit enough to replace either of them from the bench.  So next game, we'll be without any senior CBs.  Tomiyasu can play there, and then we have an outside back problem and are still short a center back.

The game was a bit more affected by refereeing than it ought to have been, but Arsenal can't claim it was an unjust result.  It could have been worse and not overstated the dominance of Conte and his men over Arteta and his. We did not take care of possession when the game was competitive.  I disagree with Arteta's decision to make the game open early.  It exposed Holding to being turned or sprinted behind by Son.  It is not Holding's natural inclination to get that tight so far out.  He must have been instructed to try.  It's not his game.  He'll shine when we're on the defensive and repelling cross after cross.  But in transition, he's not fast or quick enough to be pulled so far out to mark one that closely.  He knew it, and Arteta should have known it.  The second yellow was just nasty from Holding and could have been a red.  He made those fouls, but playing in a way that did not suit him at all.  Dreadful performance.  Cedric wasn't so hot either.  Gabriel was OK before his injury, and Tomi was fine.  Our mids coughed up the ball a few times under little pressure.  There were only a few moments of real danger to Lloris's goal.  This strangulation of an inferior opponent was what Arsenal was incapable of against Leeds, down two goals and a man and still got to 2-1 at our place.  While the boys up front played some good football, we never looked like scoring.

I'm not worried about the psychology of this loss.  They're pros and will focus on Newcastle.  I'm worried about our entire defensive first choice team being unable to play at St James's Park.  Lose there, and Spuds lift that fourth trophy, and I'll remind myself in consolation that I'd have been delighted with 5th place if offered it last August.  It looks grim.

Tottenham did what they had to do, and then some.  Credit to them.