Yesterday I decided to sit in the garden instead of watching the game at Anfield. It was relatively meaningless, I didn’t want to see the crowing Liverpool fans, plus after the PSG exit, as I’ve already mentioned last week, I’m done with this season. So today’s musings will be based on vibes and how I feel rather than just replaying the action back to you in written form. In an case, you’ll have watched the game, seen the actions and will have formed your own opinion as it is, so me telling you what you already know is kind of a redundant exercise I’d wager.

So, here’s where my head is at this Monday morning:

Still meh.

Arsenal need to get to 69 points to pretty much guarantee Champions League football next season. Second, third, fourth or fifth – it doesn’t really matter. But what does matter is that we just about get over the line as our very patchy/stuttery form towards the end of this season plays out. We’re on one win in our last six, which was against Ipswich, with four draws and that defeat at home to Bournemouth the weekend before last. It’s very much ‘end of season’ stuff and the fact that we’ve had 14 draws this season really does tell the story of yesterday’s game and also our season. You can certainly argue that Arsenal showed character to come from two behind against the Champions Liverpool, but let’s be real about this – Liverpool have been on the beach for a while now. There’s no way they give up a two goal lead if they needed to win this game, much like there’s no way they lose to Chelsea away last weekend. But equally, our patchy form has clearly been as a result of the Champions League run and that has born out by the fact that we’re limping to qualify for the Champions League spots.

But, as I say, we need 69 points. Chelsea and Villa could both win their remaining respective games and get to 69 points as a maximum, but the goal difference is such that they’d have to win both games by a +7 goal difference if we managed to get to 69 points and we’re on 68 now. So the team who has made drawing their superpower this season, needs one more just to secure it. The challenge we’re going to have is that it’ll be an in form Newcastle side we’re up against and they’ll be fighting for points, so it won’t be an easy game.

We’ll also have to do it without Merino, who was sent off and maybe even Declan Rice, who was injured and Arteta admitted afterwards “does not look good” when asked about his availability for future matches. So that’ll possibly be the following players missing for that game next weekend:

  • Tomiyasu (yeah, I know)
  • Gabriel
  • Jorginho
  • Rice
  • Merino
  • Gabriel Jesus
  • Kai Havertz

The injury cursed season continues and once again I find myself just saying “please, can’t we just end it all now??” Arsenal’s injury list is miles bigger than any other side in the Premier League this season and once again we’ve been hit with the curse. Playing Newcastle will be challenging enough, but doing it without Rice gets all the harder too.

The silver lining is the response of the players yesterday, as clearly they haven’t given up like I have. I’ve seen the Arsenal goals and it’s a smart header from Martinelli and a really good strike from Odegaard for the second, with great follow up from Merino to head the ball in. Of course his sending off – totally the right call by the way – will have marred his own performance, but it does feel nice that we saw Odegaard actually letting rip for that second goal. One of the frustrating things about Martin this season is that his finishing has been woeful, but that one was hit with venom and was a fine shot and when you think about his effort against PSG that forced Donnarumma into a worldie of a save, perhaps we might be getting a bit more range being found by our skipper. Just needs to remember how to do that next season, because it’s not as much use to us at this point in the season.

It’s funny, having been frustrated with draws all season, I’d have taken one yesterday and I’ll take one next weekend too. Let’s just get over the line. I think we’re already close to, if not beaten, the most draws we’ve ever had in a season and certainly it will be the most by Arsenal in Premier League history. Draws…sometimes the most unsatisfactory of results and we’ve had them in spades. Draws are so ‘meh’ – so perhaps it feels very symbolic that we’ve had them time and time again.

Anyway, I’m going to clock off for today. You have a great day and I’ll catch you all tomorrow.