It's easier to chase then it is to lead though. History proves this. Go and ask City fans. We've been outside the top 4 for a while now as have Newcastle. There is absolutely no pressure on Newcastle, they don't expect to get top 4 and have secured top 6, if Liverpool beat Everton they are in Europe. There is no pressure on them at all. As for Chelsea we know it will be tough now, but we can qualify via other means so until we are knocked out of the CL, qualification is still possible. History shows that both Spurs and Arsenal are proven chokers when the going gets tough. Spurs surrendered a 13 point Lead to Arsenal in a period of around a month. Arsenal have choked at this point every season for the last 3/4 years running. The idea that the pressure is on us and Newcastle is laughable. Nobody expects us to get top 4 and we don't currently occupy those positions so we have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If Spurs were to not get top 4 having been in the top 4 positions for almost an entire season it would be a disaster, same for Arsenal as they need top 4 to rebuild their squad.
It's the same in reverse though. If Spurs and Arsenal got two bad results whilst we got good results, then we'd suddenly be right on top of you and possibly even ahead by a point. That's how close it is. The pressure is on you guys to maintain the gap just as much as it is on us to try and close it.
Exactly, as I said we have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If Newcastle win on Good Friday then all of a sudden the pressure is on Spurs to get a result in the Early Kick off at Sunderland. The same with Chelsea, if we beat Wigan at home all of a sudden the pressure is on Arsenal and if they don't win, top 4 is mathematically back in our hands. A lot rests on what happens over this crucial Easter period. I can definitely see Newcastle winning both of their next 2 games and Chelsea should as well, meanwhile Arsenal and Spurs have very tricky fixtures over the Easter Weekend. Over the last 12 games or something like only United are in better form than Newcastle. They've only dropped something like 7 points from 30
So both Chelsea and Newcastle won, Spurs dropped points as expected, so it's now all up to us to deliver 2morow to maintain the gap over Chelsea and Castle, and to move away from Spurs, big big big game for us. Having said that, though Chelsea won, you can see the big amount of games they are having to play is having an affect on them, I think they will struggle more when they face Barca 2wice, and Spurs in the semi's of the cup.
If you guys lose, Chelsea lose to Fulham and we win against Bolton, we'll leapfrog both of you to 4th...
Thankyou! The darkhorse will keep on galloping. To be honest I don't think we will finish anything better than 6th, however to do this article as if we are not in it is ridiculous. Is this Paul Merson because he's been doing that all season. We do actually have some world class players these days! just a few short in terms of cover.
all it takes is for you to lose 2 games after a champions league to be out of the top 4 race, , even just 1.
That's nice... we still did though. Swings and roundabouts, you can't complain when stuff like that happens to everyone. The amount of times I've seen Arsenal grab lucky wins is unreal, nobody wins with style every game. Bottom line is the pressure is on you to get a win tomorrow to sustain a gap over ourselves and Spuds, it's not likely but it's still possible. Oh and enigma? Bit rich...
There is pressure, but there is more pressure on you, even if we lose, we maintain a 2 point gap over you while you still have to come to the Emirates and play us, as well as going to Anfield, and hosting Newcastle, the onus is on you to maintain a top top form in the last few games, which I doubt is going to happen.
I'm talking about pressure right now, there is pressure right now for Arsenal to beat Man City tomorrow. There's pressure on all four of us to get 3rd and 4th in general. I think it will all come down to our game in a couple of weeks at the Emirates, if we lose we won't finish in the top four unless something very dramatical happens.
I agree with you, except when we're given a bigger side to play we usually step up to the mark, the exception this season being you lot at home. I'm a realist and don't think we'll get past Barca but I definitely don't think they'll tear us apart aswell. With regards to our performance today, I kind of understand why it was woeful. We've had a lot of tough games recently, in March we played 9 fixtures including extra time vs Napoli. This month we've got another 6 on top of the 2 we've already played against Benfica and Wigan, we're bound to get some tired legs and poor performances not to mention the fact that we probably underestimated the 2nd leg on Wednesday and definitely underestimated Wigan today.
See I respect that view, other people let the rivalry get in the way of common sense. We've been brilliant at home in Europe this season, conceding just 2 goals. I know Barca are different class but that stat will give our players confidence. Yep, it is a problem. Good job we have a very difficult fixture list then isn't it Yeah, we have your game sandwiched between our FA Cup semi final and both Barca games but Barca also have an El Classico so they're in a similar boat! I honestly don't have a clue what the result will be at the Emirates but I'll go for a bore draw as we've both seemed to tighten our defences significantly since the last time we played I've got us for (league games); Fulham away - draw Arsenal away - draw QPR home - win Newcastle home - win Liverpool away - loss Blackburn home - win = 11 points I have you lot for; City home - loss Wolves away - win Wigan home - win Chelsea home - draw Stoke away - loss Norwich home - win West Brom away - draw = 11 points I have Spuds for; Norwich home - win QPR away - loss Blackburn home - win Bolton away - draw Villa away - draw (Villa won't let themselves be relegated!) Fulham home - win = 11 points I have Newcastle for; Bolton home - win Stoke home - win Wigan away - draw Chelsea away - loss City home - loss Everton away - loss = 7 points Which means we all finish as we are.
I think it'll be Arsenal 3rd Spurs 4th Chavski 5th N'Castle 6th I think Chelsea will barely lose out to Spurs and Castle will be 3 points off Chavski
