Arsenal don't appear to be laughing at us anymore!

In my opinion, the only time to celebrate Arsenal not laughing at us, especially when they have beaten us 5-2 twice recently, is when we enter the Champions league at their expense. (If it happens.) Or knock them out of it. (If it happens.) Or finish the league above them, in 3rd place to their 4th for example.

It's all wishful thinking at the moment.

We all remember being so close last season and then failing, due to Harry's reluctance to go for broke against Aston Villa. Playing for a draw, and fourth place, when it was useless and only a win would have sealed third place for us. (Bringing of Parker instead of Defoe.)

(That decision alone would have infuriated me, if I were Levy, over and above any of the media / England job related niggles.)

Wenger has proven time and time again that he shouldn't be underestimated, and now there is talk of more money for Arsenal.

He can turn their blip around.

I personally am hoping simply that AVB and Levy can also be trusted to elevate our club. I'm less concerned whether Arsenal are laughing or not at this point.

 

This is a very sensible reply and I'd suspect one that most Spurs fans would agree with, but don't readily offer. It's the wild claims of totsfan and HIAG that exist in the more bizarre realms of hope than reality and don't really represent the considered approach of most Spurs fans.

But some fans can't help falling into the trap of proclaiming the extremes. I've lost count of the number of claims HIAG has made that have come back to bite him on the arsenal. We even had one of our own pouring his heart out to you all last season that the North London Power Shift was complete and Lord knows we have an endless stream of fans on our board who jump on any excuse to slate Wenger/the players/the board/physios/medical team/tea lady etc

We saw last season how even when Spurs were ten points ahead of us, that Wenger is still able to turn it around. Starting with one of our 5-2 thumpings of you, we then went on a great run and finished 3rd. I've said it time and again, that it's because of Wenger, not despite him that we've actually been overachieving with the resources we've had during the last 7 years. It's not been spectacular or pretty, but even in our lean years, we've still achieved more than a Spurs team, who everybody proclaims have improved ten-fold.

I truly believe that if we'd sacked Wenger when the doomers were calling for it, we'd already be out of the CL. It looks like our financial prudence, whilst frustrating, has been worthwhile because it looks like we're now in a position where we can spend some proper money on our squad and keep our best players.

 

From what i've seen and heard, you are in a minority

 

http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/184282-Should-Wenger-Leave

not much in it though is there ?

21 - 18

 

that's only your posters,if you asked in the ground i reckon you will find it's more,the people ringing the phone -ins,are not backing Wenger

 

I think the true test of where the teams are at this moment is to think of an honest joint eleven. To my mind, I truly believe that there would be a preponderance of Spurs players in that eleven.
The only Arsenal players I can think of, offhand, who I would definitely include are Cazorla, Wilshire, Walcott ( maybe) for me, a fully fit Spurs squad has better players in other positions.
For instance, I think Vertonghen & Kaboul are both preferable to Vermaelen, who, along with Sagna, are the only other Arsenal players I would even consider.

 

Indeed, Tots. What you're really saying is that the "true" Gooner is having a pop at Whinger. Am I right?

 

Exactly haig!

 

I agree with a lot of what you are saying, and these best eleven things are fun to think about and put together, but imho what actually matters more in reality is how well a team works 'as a team'. A working, system driving and gelling, team.

Wigan proved this by beating us, to our disappointment, but would we swap any of our players for Wigan's? I think probably not.

One of the great things that Harry did for the majority of his time with us, and it seems now at QPR too, is to get us working fluidly as a team.

I agree that Vertonghen and Kaboul represent our probable best CB pairing and that AVB had done so well without this duo in place there is a credit to him. Same with Ekotto at LB. A back five of those players Walker and Lloris should see us improve during the second half of the season.

If we can have a second half like the first half of last season, we'll do very well indeed. Depending on how the January window unfolds, we could change lanes and accelerate forward in our improvements.

I live in hope.

 

From what I've read/know and people I've spoken to Arsenal fans post-1997 generally speaking are split on Wenger, the majority seem to want him out whilst the rest still believe. I'd say its about 60/40. The only people fully behind Wenger are Wenger era Arsenal fans who know nothing else.

I've yet to talk to a Wenger era Arsenal fan that wants him out but I've yet to speak to a George Graham era or older that wants him to stay.

 

try Peskie!

 

I've said to Piskie before I do agree with him when he says there is no point in sacking Wenger. He's earnt the right to walk when he chooses but should have done so years ago in my opinion.

 

I'm happy for him to stay, as his team's are declining gradually

 

Same

 

One can understand the fear that Gooners have when contemplating an AFC without Whinger. They may not have won anything for nearly a decade, but at least Whinger has a philosophy that has keep them in strong contention during that time. Sure, the Gooners want their team to win things, but I'm sure that none of them relish the prospect of a new manager coming in, with a new philosophy, and upsetting the proverbial apple-cart, leading to dressing-room turmoil.

 

Getting any set of players to act as a team is always a difficult task. Firstly, in the case of top, world class players, you are dealing with several massive egos. Secondly, trying to fit square pegs into round holes, as Harry did several times towards the end of last season, will invariably not work. There are numerous reasons why the supposed eleven best players will not always succeed - including, of course, poor management.

So yes, the eleven best players will not always make the best team. However, you have to start somewhere. With a fully fit squad to choose from, we have more overall quality than The Goons. Therefore, all things being equal, we should outperform them.

 

Like always, these always turn out to be a quote goldmine.

LAS.

 

For amusements sake, here is my joint XI:

---------------------------------------Szszesny/Lloris (even)-------------------------------------

Sagna---------------------Mertesacker------------Vermaelen/Vertonghen (even)-----------Gibbs

--------------------------------Wilshere--------------------Dembele----------------------------

Lennon-------------------------------------Cazorla-----------------------------------------Bale

--------------------------------------------Walcott----------------------------------------------

Lot's of very close calls. The crux of it is that there aren't many Spurs players that would improve Arsenal (Bale is about the only one), but there aren't many Arsenal players that would improve Spurs either (Wilshere and Cazorla are about it)

 

You're right Cini, that's very amusing!

 

lol at Walcott CF. Even a lazy Adebayor is better than him. Defoe and Giroud would both be ahead of him as well.