Morning! One thing I love when the games come at us thick and fast is just how little I need to plan what blogs go out and when.
It basically goes:
Match report (writing by the brilliant Steve)
My view on the last match
Pre-match blog
Match report
And so on….
I then schedule an opinion piece on something non-game related on those days when we have 3 days between games rather than two.
So Manchester City…
It was basically two heavyweight champions cautiously slugging it out, whilst being aware of the others knockout power.
We might have had just 28% of the possession, but we were playing rope-a-dope. We sat behind our solid defence, barely gave City a sniff, and then counter-punched when we got the chance.
Neither team really had a great chance.
David Raya made one top, top save whilst Arsenal played a few dangerous balls across the box that led to nothing.
Perhaps our best chance was one that never actually became a chance as Leandro Trossard found himself but failed to play in Gabriel Martinelli.
I have seen a bit of criticism for Trossard for not playing his teammate in, with some saying it would have led to a certain goal. But I do not think it was the easy pass and chance some are making out.
The only way the pass would have got to Martinelli would have been if it was played first time by Trossard, whilst he is striding forward at pace, on his weaker foot. He would have had to have instinctively played it in the hope / expectation that Martinelli had made up the ground on the other side of the pitch.
As soon as Trossard got his head up as he took a touch, the chance was gone.
Had he played the magic ball, I do not think Martinelli would have had the easy chance some think he would.
The Manchester City defender running back in the middle would have continued his running line towards the penalty spot rather than going towards Martinelli. by the time the ball had reached Gabi, the City defender would have made up the ground and reduced the angle, blocking off half of the goal.
It would have been a tough chance for Gabi, with a shot across the keeper likely to be blocked by the defender. His best chance would have been to then go hard at the near post and hope his power beats the keeper.
A draw probably suited everyone and no one at the same time. And I include Liverpool in that.
Mikel Arteta believes the magic number for this season will be 90 points. Before Sunday’s game, that would leave Arsenal needing to win 8, draw one and lose one to take us to 89. Liverpool the same. Manchester City would have needed to win 9 out of 10 to take them to 90.
The draw means that Manchester City now to win all 9 of their remaining games to reach that 90 figure (9 wins takes them to 91). Meanwhile, we need 8 wins and a draw to get to 90.
Liverpool are probably still in prime position, as 8 wins and a defeat takes them to 91.
I honestly can not see any team winning all 9 of their remaining games, and if they do they will probably secure a well deserved title.
Our longest winning run this season was 8 (ended up the draw on Saturday). Liverpool’s longest was 5 and Manchester City’s is 6. I expect every team to drop points in at least 1 game.
Liverpool dropping points in 1 game takes them to 91 at worst. For us it takes us to 89 and Manchester City to 88. And that is if the dropped point is a defeat.
It is going to be a tight old run in, with Liverpool still having to go to Manchester United, Everton, West Ham and Aston Villa.
Manchester City probably have the easiest run in, with a trip to Tottenham the only real danger. But after their failure to beat us, losing to Spurs and winning the rest will only leave them with 88, which will probably not be enough.
Meanwhile, we still need to go to both Tottenham and Manchester United, as well Wolves and Brighton. 2 tough aways and two tricky.
But we are getting too far ahead of ourselves. We need to focus on the next game. And tomorrow that is Luton.
All 3 teams are at home during this game week, with Liverpool facing Sheffield United and Manchester United against Aston Villa. I can not see any of the 3 teams dropping points…
Back tomorrow with a pre-match blog.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 