I agree with that. The point that I was trying to make was that there never used to be a 'top four'. It was quite unusual for any side to be in the top 5 for a few successive seasons whereas now its quite common. This is a bad development in my views
Its not THAT predictable though. For the last few years the press have predicted we would FALL out of the Top four but it has'nt happened. Despite spnding less on transfers than teams like Spurs, Liverpool and even Sunderland and Newcastle. Who would have predicted Chelsea to finish 6th last Season? IMO The EPL is less predictable than the Spanish,French or Italian leagues.
I honestly think the TOP4 is a misnomer, (I can understand why it is referred to as so) really should be referred to as the Top2. In the context of the league and the relevance to winning the league it is Top2, as it is always the top2 that has a realistic hope of winning the league, 3rd and 4th are battling for champions league (which imho is better than than winning any of the other domestic cups). So really 3rd, 4th would have had no significance because without champions league what is the relevance? I still don't believe we have it sown up, otherwise we will not be securing the spot on the last day of the season. Tottenham will always be ready to pounce if we slip up. I agree with Toledo, that history will judge Wenger favourably, because he has always secured champions league football. It is not an easy achievement, and we have secured it against all the odds, Liverpool dropped out of it and have found it is difficult to get back in. I certainly will not be taking our qualification for granted!
I was disappointed with all the jibes about celebrating our top 4 finish. I celebrate my birthday every year, doesn't require any skill to get a year older. But the Arsenal players managed to keep the master-plan on track, when it looked in danger of becoming de-railed. It was a strategic success an a tactical failure. I think you have to celebrate any kind of achievement. It helps breed a winning mentality. You have to start somewhere. You start off with small wins and build up to big wins.
Teams that have won more league titles than Spurs besides the obvious Preston North End Blackburn Rovers Huddersfield Town Wolverhampton Wanderers Leeds United Sheffield Wednesday Manchester City Newcastle United Sunderland Everton Aston Villa Spurs.. what is the point of them indeed, they are not a big club nor have had "big" success. 4th is now the pinnacle of success for the spuds. Wannabes is most apt for them
your lot only have 2 more than Spurs Chelsea 4 Spurs 2, Sheffield Wednesday have as many league titles as Chelsea and they didn't have someone come in and spend billions to get those titles either Without RA Chelsea would have 1 title from 1954, half that of Spurs mighty haul of league titles
There is a famous quote from Thierry Henry about finishing 4th. He talks about it not being a celebration at just being in the Champions League, but a celebration of being an Arsenal fan because we keep Spurs out of it. We are in it at their expense and that's where the pleasure at finishing 4th comes.
It was 1955 Sisu but we have a rich history spreading back 108 years and are still not hated abroad as you are.
We all have to have somebody to hate and the good Lord gave us the Spuds. The Lord moves in mysterious ways but revenge?
I don't hate the spuds. I love the entertainment they give us all. Year after year of falling at the final hurdle. Fans with delusions of grandeur. Arsenal rubbing their noses in it every season. They are the gift that keeps on giving
I find all this spurs bashing rather strange to be honest . No one can deny they they have certainly improved a lot in the last decade . They play with a directness that we could certainly use a little of ourselves. Albeit with less talented players than ours. I dont have a problem with their TEAM at all . The only problem is that some of their fans ( not all by any means) seem to have an acutely exaggerated view of their teams own strength and importance. I have mates that are spurs fans and they are smashing blokes . To tar them all with HIAGS brush is a bit juvenile but hey ..... if thats your bag , go for it .. There seems to be far too much focus on what spurs are doing and not enough on what we are doing. I dont look at who they are chasing or what they are hoping to achieve next season , i dont give a rats ass . my twopence worth .
Gunner.b.alright. I agree with you about it not being a player thing, but rather a 'fan' thing. I have never met a likeable spud, because as soon as they find out you are a Gooner that massive chip comes into play and they instantly take on the spud persona; 2nd rate trash. Their animosity towards us is borne of jealousy. 99.9% of N17 dwellers live in squallor and consider those from outside the area as landed gentry in comparison. They aspire to one day move to affluent Chingford ffs!!! Add this socio economic handicap to their club always being our poor relative, the chip isn't really a great surprise. Some will say we should pity the underclass, but I despise them for being the lazy, jobless, 40 *** a day, Tennents lager swilling scum that they are. They hold up their UB40's as a badge of pride and breed solely in order to demand more bedrooms from the DSS. Don't take my word for it. Pay a visit to Broadwater Farm, Park Lane, Bruce Grove, Tower Gardens etc and judge for yourself. Disgusting hole is Tottenham.
