Next 8 games will go a long way to determining our season - it's come a bit earler this year as we are not challenging for the title. AC Milan vs Arsenal - draw is a good result Sunderland vs Arsenal (FA Cup) - must win Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur - must win Liverpool vs Arsenal - draw is ok Arsenal vs AC Milan - must win Arsenal vs Newcastle United - must win Arsenal vs Aston Villa - must win Arsenal vs Manchester City - draw is ok Good news is lots of home games, but the bad news is that we have historically fallen apart through 'crunch time'. My view is that we need to win most of these games and avoid defeat in a couple (on agg vs Milan) to put us in a strong position for 4th and set us up with a good chance to win a cup.
I'm not sure we've had a period this season that hasn't been 'crunch time'. The poor start meant every game since has been almost been a 'must win' game. I think 4th is vital for us, I don't think making the CL quarters is so I'll disagree that winning through Milan is crucial, only thing that serves (apart from added revenue) is the 'feel good' factor around the club a CL run might create but for me personally I'd take 3-0 dicking from both Milan games if it meant winning all five league games....
Agree with this - but there is a always a chance (however small) of winning the CL and getting in next year through that route. It may come to that. I think the big difference in the next 8 games is that we have so many big matches against teams around us in the league. Lots of 'six pointers' in the race for 4th.
I don't think we should get ahead of ourselves, I think we should it take 1 game at a time. It looks daunting looking at the fixtures and trying to predict the results beyond the next game.....
Yep my bad - i missed the Everton away game (which could also be an FA Cup quarter final day if we make it). Also QPR. Makes the run bit better - or worse if you consider Everton away to be tougher than City at home!
I think too much is made of history. Chelsea always come good at this point, Arsenal always falter at this point and Spurs have history of both. However I see no reason why these trends need to continue, as the dynamics at any club are different year on year. Arsenal are usually in a better position now and maybe complacency sets in, whereas this year that would be very unlikely and a great run may ensue. I hope not, but it's not out of the question.
I think the cup games against Milan and Sunderland can decide the kind of confidence we take forward in the league to get 4th place. Apart from Wilshere, we have a full first 11 fit for the first time in a long while. With players like Sanga, Gibbs, OXO and Coqs coming in late from injury/off the bench, we have some fresh players to help us. With good bench players of Ramsey/Rosicky, Miguel, Arshavin (got to get better), Benny etc. will also make a difference. The key person now we have to keep fit is RVP. If he stays fit then 4th is a certainty for me. If he doesn't, then it will be VERY difficult!!!
We have better on field leaders this season (Vermaelen is fit, Arteta bosses midfield, even Ramsey likes to give an order or two) so we shouldn't see the slump from last season repeat itself.
It's a shame we can't mess up your season like we normally do. Thankfully you've made a damn good job of doing it yourselves this season.
AC Milan vs Arsenal - draw is a good result ----------- I'm guessing you weren't one of the people that were saying our result against Milan last year was to be expected, they aren't what they were, they are all old etc etc etc....
well, this time last year when it was us in that position, many of your fans were quick to rubbish our result against them (0-1) away from home, in our first forray into the competition, after losing 4-3 to inter on the same ground, as nothing to be too excited about. Now it apears a draw for you is a good result? that is all.
Strange - you should have probably let that go by now. Its a different year, different teams (Milan have got rid of some of the geriatrics that played against Spurs) and a draw for us would be a good result, especially if we get an away goal.
Strange - you should have probably let that go by now. Its a different year, different teams (Milan have got rid of some of the geriatrics that played against Spurs) and a draw for us would be a good result, especially if we get an away goal. ------- Let it go? wasn't annoyed at the time was I, I was over the moon. It's only now I can see the change in the Arsenal fans' mindset. A bit like the CC. We were happy to have a trophy, we were sneered at. Then suddenly you get to a final and it's worth caring about.
Stop crying and get lost. You'd think you would be happy at the moment with your league form, instead of posting drivel about last year.
So far you've got 43 points from 25 games. which is about 1.75 points per game. If you get the 11 points that these 'must win' and 'draw is ok' imply you will be well above your average for these five games, which might be unrealistic given the quality of the opposition. Losing to Spurs would sort this in a most acceptable way!
