I'd be interested to see a plot for the last 15 years of how many points away from the Title Arsenal have finished, to see if there has been any sort of regression away from challenging. I'd say that would be a more important parameter than league position.
It's not. It's like having a very decent level of wealth (higher than most) for a long time, then becoming very wealthy through a series of smart decisions, then making a huge investment that has meant you have had to be more prudent with your money for a while. If you think Arsenal's league status is the equivalent of being poor now then try telling that to the 89 English league teams who have finished below Arsenal more often than not over the last 16 years..
96 - 7 97 - 0 98 - 1 99 - 18 00 - 10 01 - 0 02 - 5 03 - 0 04 - 12 05 - 25 06 - 21 07 - 4 08 - 18 09 - 11 10 - 12 11 - 19 Big thanks for doing that Trent I think it paints a much more interesting picture. 7 years of the last 8, Arsenal have been double digits off the Title - I'd class that as uncompetitive. Prior to that, it happened just twice in the previous 8 years.
I agree. The average amount of points won by top 4 teams has steadily increased also, especially after Abrahmovic came in.
The argument of oh another club would love to be in our position has no merit. Because for a club like Southampton, to be in Arsenal's position right now would represent HUGE PROGRESS for them compared to where they are now. The same for Spurs even, for Spurs to make top 4 season in and out would be a huge progress for them, I guarantee there's a massive difference in feeling when we get top 4, and when Spurs do, because we're coming from 2 different places. From where Arsenal where a decade ago, to where we are now has been a regression, it has been moving downwards. What else do you call going from unbeaten, to where we are now, 22 points behind the leaders?
No probs It does, but it still doesn't tell the whole story. In both the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons Arsenal only got 4 points from their final five games, which allowed their rivals to pull away. In the end it looks uncompetitive, but it wasn't the case until the end.
I wasn't being serious - I was having a go at your analogy. Relative wealth is a discussion for somewhere else, some other time maybe On the face of it yes, it is a regression. Again, nobody has ever denied this on here.
Well I think people have different levels of how they feel towards this regression, doubt some on here are as angry and frustrated about it as I am.
I don't think anyone is! While I agree with a decent amount of what you say, you need to not get so angry about it. It is, after all, only a game, and one over which none of us have any influence. So worry less, be less angry.
This is precisely why I maintain my optimism/indifference. The anger serves no purpose and we can't do anything about it. In fact, all the anger serves to do is be divisive and destructive. God, haven't we learned anything from Eastenders???
Here's the positions plotted very simply. I've added this seasons current discrepancy from the top to the end in Red as I appreciate the season isn't over, there's plenty of games left. It's clear that the first half of Wengers reign was far more successful, and since 03/04, there has been only 1 year in which Arsenal were under 10 points away from the Championship. It's 4 years now since Arsenal finished the season under 10 points from the Title, this year looks like being the 5th. I realise that times have changed - money has come in, the stadium has been built - but it's the changes that CAN be made - better coaching, better tactics etc. that simply aren't being made, the ones that are obvious for all to see, that are the reason I think Wengers tenure has run its course.
Good posts on here and since the 'tiresome' quote I think Treat, Magic man and Bonstar have outlined the situation and the surrounding factors that illustrate the scenarios as they've unfolded with our club. They have also explained the context that Arsenal found themselves within the league and the actions of other clubs around them; so there's no need for me to repeat what they have articulated very well, suffice to say that the reason I find Arsenal87 tirades so tiresome, is because of the constant incorrect accusations, wide of the mark assumptions and the disparaging remarks towards anybody who doesn't share his crisis model of our club. The cries of 'Blinker brigade' 'Delusionalists' and the general ranting wears thin very quickly. We all have a view about our club, and we should all able express our opinions without having to resort to making such remarks towards fellow fans. That said, I see from reading the rest of this thread that Arsenal87 can articulate himself when he tries, so my hope is that he can carry on in that vein and respect the fact that not everybody believes that our club is in meltdown.
Regarding the FA cup exits, will Spurs and Liverpool being knocked out of the FA Cup, help them to focus more in the league? I know Liverpool have an outside chance of getting 4th, but Spurs are in a good position. What about Chelsea, they haven't looked convincing so far. Will Arsenal be distracted by the FA cup and is our squad large enough to cover any key injuries we might get? This will be the closest that 3rd and 4th will be contested. I'm giving Arsenal a slight advantage over the rest, and that is strictly down to Wengers experience. But niether team - Arsenal, Chelsea or Spurs have looked convincing.
