Whilst I understand the trepidation, as I keep saying, Arsenal are still a very unpredictable team. We lost 3 games we were expected to win and won 3 games we probably would have expected to lose. Our run-in is also harder than it may seem. Leeds United at home will be tough, as they are fighting for their lives and tbf, I don’t think they played too badly against Man City. The NLD will be hard and we will probably lose, as our record at your place is not good. We haven’t beaten you away in the league since 2014. Newcastle away won’t be a walk in the park, as they are one of the form teams of 2022 and have started to play well. If Everton are still battling relegation on the final day, again, it will be high-pressure/high-stakes match which we wouldn’t want to be doing on the final day. I still maintain, on the whole, your fixtures are probably more favourable than ours, obviously besides the Liverpool game. We are slight favourites, but it’s closer than you think.
This time next week the gap could be 5 points with 3 games to go. I can’t see that being closed regardless of the NLD result
Assuming Spurs win the NLD, them lot can take 72 pts max. If Spurs win all their games that is 73 pts max. 73 > 72. If Spurs win three + draw with the Poool, that is 71 pts max. 71 < 72. Going full Audere est facere against a quadruple-chasing Poool who themselves need to win, and losing with nominal GD, would be "echoes of glory" . Sadly, the Brighton/Brentford games have shown that the squad does not remotely have the spine/calm for this one, so we will be relying on them lot slipping up somehow.
They key words being ‘could be’. We are not guaranteed to beat Leeds and you are not guaranteed to lose against Liverpool (although I think it’s highly, highly unlikely you get something from that game). Football isn’t played in theory or on paper; these teams need to compete and earn the right to win over 90 minutes. Even if what you say comes to fruition, a 5 point gap with 2 games left (when you lot have the superior GD) is not beyond the realms of possibility to overturn. We play Newcastle (A) and Everton (H), and you play Burnley (H) and Norwich (A) in our final two games each. I’m telling you, I am almost certain this will go right to the wire.
I know that he scored his inevitable goal against Leicester, but Kane was poor. Had an extremely **** first half, barring the free header and a mediocre second. His passing was awful, judging by the very high standards he's set himself. Needs to be far, far better at Anfield for us to have any chance and even then I can't see it.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/top-scorers/assists Very impressive performance to date.
MOTD2: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0017153/match-of-the-day-2-202122-01052022 "Mark Chapman introduces highlights of Sunday’s two Premier League games, with Everton hosting Chelsea and West Ham taking on Arsenal." Erm....
Agreed. He looked sluggish and as you say his passing was woeful. I do wonder though how much of that was due to Lucas playing. I don't want to make him a scapegoat but as bad as Kane was, Lucas was ten times worse. His running was non existent and his link up as we know has never been there. His go-to option for progressing possession seems to be receiving the ball with his back to goal, trying to turn to create half a yard then running at or through the opposition until something happens. It's a tactical dead-end. Multiple times Kane had the ball and looked up for the pass and only Son was available or thinking of making himself available. Lucas wasn't an option and you could see the hesitation and perhaps confusion in Kane as he tried to make the best of a limited situation. I think this contributed to his poor passing tbh as things opened up immediately as soon as a player with confidence and intelligence came on. I think Bergwijn is a stronger option than Lucas in this regard as he at least regularly makes the run either off the last shoulder or on the overlap out wide. They aren't the most creative choices of runs but at least he makes them. Lucas just, well, drifts around hoping something good develops. It is surprising that he was/is selected over Bergwijn although the latter's rather public desire to leave is probably the simple explanation. I'm afraid to say, that night in Amsterdam was a very, very long time ago now.
Kane's passing was off against Brighton and Brentford too, so pinning it on Lucas doesn't really stack up However, it does have to be said there was less interplay between our front three with Lucas on the pitch compared to Deki, and that’s something which Lucas can be blamed for
Lucas seemed to be playing under some rather odd instructions. He switched wings repeatedly and I couldn't work out why. Possibly following set-pieces? I doubt he chose to do that on his own. I don't think that his game contributed to Kane being poor, though. That continued after he went off. Won a few important headers, but his passing and control were awful throughout.
