Arsenal Add More Woe to Doomed Huddersfield

When you're sitting on 11 Premiership points in mid-February, you're already drawing up your 2019-2010 budget for a Championship return.

Not sayin' Huddersfield's done like dinner, but being real, all they're gonna get is chip butties from here 'til May.

Arsenal's moneyline in this one closed at +333 on Bovada, and that was still a bargain.

The Gunners cruised from wire to wire at the old John Smith and even tossed the locals a sop by gifting them an own-goal at rhe end to register a 1-2 guaranteed win.

 

Decked out in a road kit that was probably their punishment for losing to Manchester City last week, Arsenal got down to business early.

After two good chances, they finally found the target. In the 16th minute, Sead Kolašinac scampered down the left wing and crossed to Alex Iwobi, who launched an amazing half-volley home. 'Keeper Ben Hamer managed to get his fingers on it, but there was no chance:

 

Surprisingly, the Terriers actually outshot their big-brand guests, 15-9, but then again ...

There are shots, and then there are shots.

 

Adding to that thought, Huddersfield had more than their share of time on the ball, but that and £3.20 will get you a pint at the counter.

Fans who headed there early might've missed a goal, but the way it came about would've just had them ordering doubles all around.

In the 44th minute, Jonathan Hogg's mistake helped the Gunners organize a quick-strike counter-attack. The ball ended up with Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who crossed to the left post, where Alexandre Lacazette did the honors:

 

That development probably caused lotsa long stares in Huddersfield's locker room, with players looking around to guess who'd be wearing the blue and white next season and who wouldn't.

Their shellshock was understadable, given the Chelsea beatdown they suffered last weekend.

 

Dudes did the honorable thing, though, and came out for the second half.

As a reward, Arsenal gifted them a consolation goal in the 93rd minute. Adama Diakhaby got up close and personal with Bernd Leno, who was able to get a hand on the ball, but in the end, Kolašinac sent it into his own net:

 

This result keeps Arsenal within a point of the coveted Top Four positions, while Huddersfield ...

It's nothing that a few more pints of John Smith's couldn't wash away.

Lotsa pints.