My apologies for being absent this past week, however, I am back and ready to conclude the season.
Obviously, the PSG semifinal was not what we had hoped. I think our flaws were exposed by a team that could win the Champions League trophy in a few days.
In my opinion, Arsenal came out strong but failed to continue that level of effort for the full 90 minutes in both games. The Gunners were so close to scoring on many occasions to score goals, but the brick wall created by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was so difficult to penetrate. The big Italian was definitely my MVP for the two games.
However, as good as Donnarumma was, Arsenal’s need for a strong center forward was again so obvious. Neither Mikel Merino or Leandro Trossard are bonafide strikers. PSG knew this, so they double teamed both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the wings knowing there was not a consistent threat waiting in the box.
So, here we are, another season without a trophy. That’s five in-a-row, however, this season was not a total loss. Hopefully, the lads can rebound and hold on to second place in the Premier League. Manchester City, Newcastle United and Chelsea are breathing down the Gunners neck for second place, so any Arsenal slip-ups could drop the club lower on the table by season’s end.
Next up, Premier League champions Liverpool in Anfield on Sunday.
With that said, here is my predicted starting XI line-up for Sunday…
Martinelli, Trossard, Saka
Partey, Odegaard, Rice
Lewis-Skelly, Kiwior, Saliba, Timber
Raya
Predicted final score: Liverpool 2 – ARSENAL 1
COYG!
Gunner1953
Arsenal’s Alessia Russo has been named the Football Writer’s Association Women’s Footballer of the Year. The Gunners Mariona Caldentey finished third in the voting. Congratulations!
According to Miguel Delaney, Arsenal are close to signing Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who would challenge David Raya for Arsenal’s #1. 
David Ornstein reports Arsenal have opened contract talks with William Saliba to hopefully extend the star defender’s stay in north London.
Ian Wright, “We literally couldn’t bring anyone off the bench to help that game in the semifinal of a Champions League. This is the only thing that I will point a finger at in respect of the recruitment, and this is why I’m hoping Andrea Berta has got his book out and he’s ready to go because we are three of four players away from winning the league and winning the Champions League.
