I just don't see it mate. Wenger is unwilling to change his tactics. The booing of RVP will only galvanise him and the side even more. Arsenal would not have beaten Spurs at home 11 v 11, they have not beaten any of Chelsea, Everton, City, Liverpool, Swansea (teams who press high up and break quickly rather than sit deep). United are just a far poorer version of Bayern Munich and I expect a similar outcome to that game. If RVP is in top form Arsenal have no chance. As for TMT and that ilk, I wouldn't expect any credit on a good day but after last season the bitterness seems to have increased. I would pay money to see his reaction if we pipped them to 4th on Goal Difference
I just don't see it mate. Wenger is unwilling to change his tactics. The booing of RVP will only galvanise him and the side even more. Arsenal would not have beaten Spurs at home 11 v 11, they have not beaten any of Chelsea, Everton, City, Liverpool, Swansea (teams who press high up and break quickly rather than sit deep). United are just a far poorer version of Bayern Munich and I expect a similar outcome to that game. If RVP is in top form Arsenal have no chance. As for TMT and that ilk, I wouldn't expect any credit on a good day but after last season the bitterness seems to have increased. I would pay money to see his reaction if we pipped them to 4th on Goal Difference
To be fair, it's hard to know what exactly that is these days. Cech, Cole, Mata, Hazard definitely. Luiz normally, but he did look a bit tired against Basel - for that reason, I'd be tempted to actually give him a rest and go with Ivanovic and Terry at the back. Azpi at right back, Ramirez, Lampard and Oscar completing the midfield. Toss up between Ba and Torres, but I'd start Ba to keep Torres fresher. Then there's Cahill.... As long as he doesn't pair Mikel with Lampard in the middle, and as long as Marin doesn't start, I'd be reasonably happy.
There were several comments about us being lucky to escape with a point today, including one from me and one in a conclusion that someone had reached solely from reading our match thread. Don't let that get in the way of a good strawman though, eh? Martinez seems to have the upper hand on Villas-Boas and our second half performance was appalling. They had chances to win it but didn't kill us off. They deserved to win that game, but their luck appears to be out this time, perhaps. They've outplayed a number of teams recently and not got out of the mire, nor picked up the points that they've deserved. Still time to turn it round, but they're really pushing it this time.
Given our far-superior goal difference, that point was as bad as a defeat for them. We just need to bag 3 pts against Swansea, and I'm strangely / quietly confident with the United game - we've done very well against them this year and they don't seem to cope well with us for whatever reason.
I was quick to say it was only TMT (from my experience). It all rests on how Villa do against Sunderland on Monday. They are fighting to be within 3 points of Villa come the last day. That 15-0 week (Chelsea, Spurs, Wigan) could come back to haunt them because it clearly shows they've been competitive in most games.
I agree with you there, a lot depends on the Swansea game. The chance is there for us to go 3rd and providing Arsenal don't win, we don't really HAVE to win at Old Trafford as would have been the case if Spurs had won today. If we play our strongest XI we can beat United at OT. The two times we have failed to beat them is because we've started slowly, both in the 2-3 and 2-2 as soon as we got into 4th gear they had no answer to us. Luiz's goal at Basel could be a defining moment in the season because it means we can probably afford to rest Mata or Hazard and have them fresh for Old Trafford. Basel have to score twice to stand any chance of going through, difficult to do without reply For the first time, I'll be confident of top 4 providing we beat Swansea. Benitez has to put personal issues with Fergie aside and realise Spurs is the bigger game for all sorts of reasons.
I agree with you there, a lot depends on the Swansea game. The chance is there for us to go 3rd and providing Arsenal don't win, we don't really HAVE to win at Old Trafford as would have been the case if Spurs had won today. If we play our strongest XI we can beat United at OT. The two times we have failed to beat them is because we've started slowly, both in the 2-3 and 2-2 as soon as we got into 4th gear they had no answer to us. Luiz's goal at Basel could be a defining moment in the season because it means we can probably afford to rest Mata or Hazard and have them fresh for Old Trafford. Basel have to score twice to stand any chance of going through, difficult to do without reply For the first time, I'll be confident of top 4 providing we beat Swansea. Benitez has to put personal issues with Fergie aside and realise Spurs is the bigger game for all sorts of reasons.
Not sure who you mean here but if you are referring to me I was watching the match, and I always do as I have a very good friend who is a Spurs supporter. Also if me again then straw woman would be more appropriate. Perhaps next time you can tell us who you mean to make it easier for us to reply .
Arguments aside Liverpool are 6-0 up in Newcastle Arsenal have Newcastle away on the last day so they may have to win to stay up. Their last 3 games are all against London sides. If they lose at West Ham the pressure is very much on.
Arguments aside Liverpool are 6-0 up in Newcastle Arsenal have Newcastle away on the last day so they may have to win to stay up. Their last 3 games are all against London sides. If they lose at West Ham the pressure is very much on.
Eh are you sure, just checked they have QPR, Wigan and Newcastle? Still that's probably tougher. Wigan are notorious battlers at this stage of the season, as Spurs will testify! EDIT: Of course, you meant Newcastle. Well then that's doubly good as dropped points will make it harder for Arsenal
I swear if I read this **** one more time. Because the first 10 minutes of a game always indicates how a game will finish, if you say yes then you haven't watched many Arsenal games. We beat Swansea and Pool Not to mention we also beat Munich away.