Is Arsenal’s lack of depth to blame for Premier League dip? PLUS: Bayern romp again

Is Arsenal's lack of depth to blame for Premier League dip? PLUS: Bayern romp again

What a weekend of European soccer! We have Liverpool top of the Premier League again as Arsenal lost at Newcastle and Manchester City were defeated at Bournemouth. We saw Barcelona turn on the style again and defeat their local rivals Espanyol to take a nine-point lead atop LaLiga. Also, Bayern Munich won a third-straight in the Bundesliga to build a three-point cushion between them and the chasing pack.

It’s Monday. Gab Marcotti reacts to the biggest moments in the world of soccer.

Editor’s Note: There will be more Marcotti Musings published after the Gab & Juls Podcast! Check back later for the remainder of his thoughts on a superb weekend of action across the continent…


Mikel Arteta takes it on the chin in Arsenal loss, but maybe this is where squad depth comes home to roost

Mikel Arteta didn’t hide after Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle. He didn’t bring up the fact this team outshot the opposition or had twice Newcastle’s expected goals. He didn’t cry about injuries or Declan Rice not connecting cleanly with his late chance.

“We deserved to lose today,” he said. “We got dragged into the game Newcastle wanted and not the one we wanted.”

What he meant, presumably, is that Newcastle out-hustled and out-muscled them and turned it into a game about intensity, rather than control and individual quality. And here, Arsenal were no match.