Arsenal

[dom]

Think they were already too far off the pace to be honest. Arsenal not reinforcing their forward line today has probably handed the title to Liverpool anyway. Was a tough ask even if they had ventured into the transfer market

[dom]

What is it about Newcastle? They must have some sort of hex over Arsenal. Played them 3 times and have beaten the Gunners each time. Barely laid a glove on them tonight. Unfortunately for Arsenal they still have one more match up this season.

[dom]

Can Arsenal play PSV every week!

[Slim]

Read an interesting analysis by an amateur pundit on another site, this morning. The gist of it is that Arteta is suffering from PTSD from being overtaken by City last season, and it's made him a control freak who's more concerned with not losing than winning. Consequently Arsenal have lost their maverick swashbuckling edge and have become predictable.

In any case their draw with United yesterday sees their title hopes, with life support switched off already, lowered gently into a coffin.

In unrelated news, RVN has now lost 12 of his last 13 games with Leicester in the league. They must surely be going down now. Roughly, they'd need to take an average of 2 points from each of their remaining games which is approximately equal to Arsenal's form over the season so far. Ditto Ipswich, level on points with Leicester.

Shame because I like a tense conclusion to a PL season but it looks like the title and the relegations are already done and dusted. Will be interesting to see who end up third and fourth. I feel sure City will manage that, but who else?

And will United finish in the bottom half of the table?

[dom]

Season had been limping to a disappointing end for Arsenal. The squad has not quite had the depth to cope with the injuries sustained over the season and the decision not to buy a centre forward in January is costing far more than a decent no 9 would have.

But then on Tuesday night  Declan Rice decided to show the World his ability with direct free-kicks; 2 stunning strikes plus an excellent first time finish from Merino, the make-shift no 9 has put Arsenal with one foot in the semis.

Not counting any chickens though as playing Champions League specialists Real Madrid is never easy.

[dom]

Good start to the season!

1 - 0 to Arsenal at Old Trafford
1 - 0 to Arsenal in the North London HR derby

[dom]

And it continues 5 - 0 at home to Leeds.

Some very tough fixtures coming up and last season the injuries to 2 such crucial attacking players as Odegaard and Saka would have been disastrous.

It will still be an issue with the likes of Liverpool and Man City looming but it feels that Arsenal have the squad to cope. This will hopefully be the difference to last season

[dom]

That felt momentous today. A last minute 2 -1 away win at St James' Park despite having a perfectly good pen overturned by VAR and facing a goalie in inspired form.

Completely dominating the first half an hour then going a goal behind. In the past Arsenal would have crumbled with that level of adversity especially in front of at a hostile, fervent crowd.

But the team has more strings to its bow than previously. A set piece goal is worth the same as a beautifully executed one from open play so I'm not having the criticism levelled at the team for working hard on that aspect of the game.

After a very tough opening 6 matches, Arsenal are looking well placed to perhaps go one better than last season

[dom]

Another momentous evening! To make that Bayern Munich team seem ordinary just shows how far this team has progressed. Rice was imperious tonight. What a performance!

[dom]

The draw in midweek against Wolves really knocked my belief that Arsenal were going to do it this year.

Even the convincing away win in N17 today hasn't reversed that.

I really feel the mentality or mindset has to change. Prime example today at 3 - 1 up. Instead of going for the jugular they sat back and Richarlison nearly made a contest of it as a result.

Happy for Gyokeres and Eze today. Eze really needs to be made to believe that we are playing Spurs every game between now and the end of the season. He's scored 6 goals, five of them against Tottenham!

[dom]

couple of tough matches against Chelsea and Brighton - hard fought and they were both won through dogged determination and persistance rather than flair or creativity.  Defensive solidity won the day, safe catchhes, tight marking, large headed clearances, not mazy runs or defence splitting passes.

Really not enjoyable to watch and with both games in the balance until the final whistle was blown, pretty stressful.

Still it's the points that matter and Arsenal have 7 more than City (although City have a game in hand)

No such thing really but Arsenal have 2 relatively easy games at home to come against Everton and Bournemoth while City have 2 tough away matches at West Ham & Chelsea, so it's quite possible that Arsenal will be 9 points clear with 6 games to go (City will have 7)

I've predicted City to beat Arsenal at the Ethiad in April but even with that I predict Arsenal to finish on 84 points and City on 80.

Will be fascinating but not much fun between now and May I imagine.  With European trophies and domestic cups to play for as well, its going to be a fascinating enthralling and blood pressure popping couple of months.

[dom]

Another little swing this evening. Thanks to West Ham getting a draw with City, Arsenal move 9 points clear. City have a game in hand still but that's no good thing with all the cup and European games left to play.

No Premier League games for a month now with FA and Carabao Cup and Champions League to take centre stage (as well as an international break).

And what about Max Dowman. Completely swung the game this evening. Keeps his feet on the ground and there's a massive future ahead for this lad!

[dom]

Now a month and a bit later and it's all square. Same points same goal difference - City top as they have scored 3 more goals. So with 5 games to go it's a shoot out.

City with tough matches at Everton and in form Bournemouth.

Arsenal have to travel to in form West Ham and tricky looking fixture at Palace.

City also have cup semi final to deal with and Arsenal the Champions League semi final clashes with Atletico Madrid.

City are the in form team and heart breakingly they're probably going to do it again. However in the loss to City, Arsenal played a lot better than they had recently and hopefully this improved form continues. All to play for!

[dom]

Slight advantage to Arsenal heading into the last 3 games (4 for City).

Fair play to Everton for the way they played; they looked capable of scoring every time they attacked in the 2nd half.

City were lucky to get the draw in fact as Everton should have had a pen from a corner and Doku's stunning equaliser was comfortably after the 6 minutes of added time

West Ham away looks the toughest challenge for Arsenal and Bournemouth away looks like the stiffest test for City. I imagine those 2 games will settle the league one way or another - exciting!!

[Slim]

Yes it was after the original 6 minutes but there was a certain amount of creative "game management" going on so the ref was right to extend the game a bit. I make Arsenal slight favourites at the moment, certainly.