Great point PnP - while I am fairly sure that our squad is better than Liverpool's and Arsenal's, it is perfectly possible that we will disintegrate somehow and one or both of King Kenny and Arsene Wenger will motivate their teams into a great season. So 4th is by no means nailed on. But then again we're not far behind Chelsea and their manager is unproved in the PL - so I think 3rd is also a possibility but unlikely: hence the title of the thread. But if we come lower than 6th, something has gone seriously wrong, and above 3rd would be close to a miracle.
Just to bump this, after that performance, my (final) prediction is now 6th, but we are well capable of 4th. COYS, well done today.
From what I've seen of both Liverpool and Arsenal so far this season, I've got to say that I will be extremely disappointed not to finish above either of them, whether we finish in the top 4 or not. Actually, and in all honesty, I think Arsenal are going to struggle to finish inside the top 10 this season. They struggled at home to Swansea, who will surely be favourites for relegation this season, and they won only because their goalie made a schoolboy error. God alone knows how they are going to avoid humiliation in the CL! And I say that without wishing to wind up our Gooner friends.
Arsenal aren't going to play like this for the whole season. They've had a disastrous start to the season, with an extremely disruptive, mismanaged transfer window, but Wenger's a very good coach and he'll turn it round. Give them some time to gel and they'll definitely be in contention for the 4th place spot.
You may well be right, PNP. I would tend to agree with you. However, there is also a very real possibility that Wenger's "youth to man" policy has finally run out of steam. If that is the case, he doesn't seem to be in too great a hurry to alter his approach, and this early crisis could turn quickly to tragedy. We still don't know what effect the departures of Nasri, Fab, Clichy, etc have had on the dressing room, but my feeling is that it can't have been good. I'd actually rather us finish above a full-strength Arsenal than a wounded Arsenal, because that would be a greater measure of how far we've come. I can't help thinking that there would be something hollow about finish above them this season, or even next. The real interesting issue surrounding Arsenal this season, for me, is going to be whether or not Wenger can hold onto his job. I wonder what the odds are on his leaving before the end of the season? It might be worth a flutter.
Honestly, I'm not on a wind-up! You've got to believe that. Believe it or not, I want you guys to stay strong, because I think it helps keep us strong.
Fabregas and Nasri leaving will be a blow to team morale in one sense, as they're both very good players. On the other hand though, they've got rid of one player that clearly didn't want to be there and another one that virtually everyone in football hates. Benayoun and Arteta should be able to bridge the gap between the two departures and Ramsey and Wilshere reaching maturity. The main problem for Arsenal may be that they appear to be going sideways, while others progress. How long will the fans pay top whack for that? Not sure about their defensive signings either, to be honest.
I think the signings of Arteta, Benayoun, Santos, Park and Mertesacker illustrate that Wenger is not purley about 'youth' Losing Cesc and Nasri is a blow to us, they were world class players, but as for dressing room morale, I would suggest that it's better not to have players in the dressing room who don't want to play for you. Wenger to hold onto his job this season? If you really fancy a flutter - PM me and I'll give you whatever odds you want
Just like us, 3 points was the important thing for Arsenal today. The great football can wait but the points and confidence that they breed won't.
I know what you are saying, but I can't help but think that these signings smack of desperation. Okay, so Arteta looked good today, but you were playing Swansea at home FFS! If he can't look good in that fixture, he isn't going to stand a cat-in-hell's chance up against the likes of City or Chelsea. You're not going to tell me that you are completely convinced about your chances this season? I know it's a long-shot, and I'm sure the bookies will be offering very good odds (ie. as proof of the fact that it is highly unlikely that Wenger will lose his job before the end of the season). I'm not a betting man, but a tenner down now might be worth a punt. After all, how many really thought at the start of LFC's decline that Benitez would end up getting the boot?
Your Tenner would be better spent on betting that Spurs will win the league. As for our chances this season, I think we would be very satisfied to finish 4th.
Now, you know that would be a complete waste of good money! I'm sure you would! But you struggled to finish fourth last season (with that dreadful collapse towards the end), and this season you are a far weaker team, whereas the likes of Stoke, Liverpool, and Sunderland have all improved. And whilst we've not improved as much as we would like to have done, nonetheless we have improved. I'm not saying that you won't finish 4th, but I would be lying if I said I believed you are favourites for it. Indeed, I think 4th spot is between us and LFC. If you finish in 4th this season, trust me, I will be the first one to come onto your board and eat humble-pie.
I don't think that Arsenal will catch either of the Manc sides either Lidls, but a good start doesn't always reflect the whole season. Remember Chelsea's equally impressive start last season? 6-0, 6-0, 2-0, 3-1, 4-1, 4-0. They looked absolutely unstoppable, but it didn't last. Sunderland, HIAG? Their season appears to be falling apart by the day. Asamoah Gyan to All In FC or whatever they're called, after the transfer window has shut? Ridiculous.
