Fine Margins, and 5 More Games

I've had a hectic week - so apologies for this being so late. So here's a quick recap of the United game, and some thoughts on the run in. But there'll be another piece from me on Monday; without fail!

As I’ve said before; fine margins. And against Manchester United they went Arsenal’s way. The Ronaldo disallowed goal that possibly wasn’t offside. Cedric's handball incident. The Bruno Fernandes penalty (hysterically funny! - but why didn’t Ronaldo pull rank?). Dalot hitting the bar; and then later the post via Ramsdale’s fingertips. And Xhaka’s goal could easily have been cancelled out for offside on Nketiah. 

Fine margins. Moments. But, for a change, this time they went Arsenal’s way. I'll take that, and it's about time! And if United and their fans felt hard done by... go on; ask me if I care!

Arteta went back to a back 4 for this game, and it's clear that he is going to mix and match between now and the end of the season. Holding dropped out - but of course that meant that he could bring him on when necessary (I don't know about you, but I recall thinking to myself with about 20 minutes to go at Chelsea: 'When's he going to bring Holding on?' - when he'd started the game...). Elneny and Nketiah quite rightly kept their places. 

It looked to me that Rangnick had finally stumbled across his best XI for the game, but United are disjointed - they look a complete mess, in fact - and it doesn't really matter who he selects. But as long as he selects Ronaldo, who is still brilliant, and whose very presence on the pitch made us nervous throughout, they will always have a chance. He is simply 'carrying' this United side.

An early goal settled the nerves. Varane and Telles made a meal of a Xhaka cross field ball to Saka, and the latter's shot was palmed away by De Gea to Nketiah - no wait; is that Nuno Tavares? - who prodded home from two yards. What our left back was doing there I do not know - and nor do I care. Regrettably, as the game progressed Nuno channelled his inner Eboue and regressed as his confidence waned. Quite how he lasted the full game, I do not know.

The game ebbed and flowed, but then came the 27th minute VAR farce that led to the second goal. Odegaard's clever reverse pass found Saka, who was brought down by Telles. As we screamed for a penalty the ball broke to Nketiah, who finished tidily. And VAR then took three minutes to a) rule the goal out for offside (really tight), but then b) rightfully give the penalty. Which, despite a fair amount of United shithousery (a special award to MacTominay here), Saka despatched into the opposite corner to the one on Wednesday evening; sending De Gea the wrong way in the process. Further redemption for Starboy.

Yet in a repeat of Wednesday Arsenal conceded almost immediately; Ronaldo first to react to Matic's cross as he darted between Gabriel and Tavares to half volley the ball left-footed into the roof of the net for his 100th Premier League goal. Is he really 37 years old? The guy had a terrible week on a personal level, so I wasn't going to begrudge him a landmark goal - provided it didn't cost us the points, that was.

Early in the second half came the United missed penalty. Daft handball from Tavares, but then Bruno Fernandes capped a truly awful performance by outdoing himself with his stupid tippy tappy run up and jump, and hitting the outside of the post. Oh how we laughed!

In the 70th minute Granit Xhaka settled the game. Whilst we appealed for another possible penalty - this time for handball - Elneny recycled the ball to the Swiss, who thundered home from 25 yards. A bit of redemption for him too. And that was that, really, as the final 20 minutes were seen out in relative comfort.

We later watched That Lot fail to manage a shot on target for the second game in a row - something that maybe doesn't matter to them, seeing as Own Goal is their third highest goal scorer this season - but they were lucky to escape with even a point from Brentford. This leaves Arsenal two points ahead with 5 games to go, including the massive NLD on May 12th.

Like the rest of us, I've done some calculations. If we win our two home games and avoid defeat in the three away games, then on the assumption that That Lot lose at Anfield they cannot catch us. That'd do. It's between them and us now, for sure, and both our next games are against sides with more pressing European matters to worry about. I think that Arsenal can go to West Ham - who have just one half-fit, first choice, cat torturing centre-back available - and win. That Lot face Leicester, who have a deeper, fitter squad than West Ham and Jamie Vardy coming back to fitness. I mean, just matching their result would do, but if they can drop two or three that would take the sting out of the NLD. 

I've given up trying to predict results now - especially after the last 5 games... but let's have a go:

West Ham vs Arsenal - Away win

That Lot vs Leicester - grudging Home win

Liverpool vs That Lot - massive Home thrashing!

Arsenal vs Leeds - Home win

NLD - I have to say Draw, but of course I'm concerned

That Lot vs revitalised Burnley - grrrrr; Home win

Newcastle vs Arsenal - Draw

Norwich vs That Lot - it couldn't be much easier, could it? Away win

Arsenal vs Everton - Home win.

So let's hope for That Lot to drop some unexpected points. And as for the guy on Twitter who's predicted a set of results which could lead to a play-off for 4th place... I may have to kill you!!!

But I think we're just about favourites now. COYG!!!