Our chances for the Top 4 will all depend on how well we start the rest of our games. We need to come out with proper intent from the off, not when we're losing. We showed against City and Chelsea in the 2nd half that we can be more than match them, so the quality is there, but we'd already shot ourselves in the foot from our inexcusable first half performances. So from the first whistle of each game, we need to press from the front and force the opposition into playing at our tempo, giving the ball away and not allowing them time to settle and play their own game. When we have control of games, we're still one of the best footballing teams in the league. But we have to make sure that we force the issue and if we're not, then we need to work harder to make it happen. I think our top 4 chances depend on this, and not so much who we sign.
Our position looks bad just now, i hate looking at the league table but the teams above us will take points off each other, this was always going to be a tough month and we still have liverpool to play aswel but there is definitely the chance for us to go on a winning streak but there seems to be no believe in the team atm. We are almost defeated before the game even begins, especially against teams in and around our league position. We do need a couple of players in january and im still optimistic that we will get at least one in. Alot can be done especially in the last week of the transfer window and now that walcott's contract is sorted maybe we will finally bring someone in.
We definitely need to start games with much more urgency than we have been. We have to take the game to the opposition, not the other way around. Apart from that, this season is still completely salvageable. As you correctly mention, Jan was always looking like a tough month for us, but we still have 6 points to try and get before the month is out. Also as you said, the teams above us will take points from each other. Spurs, Chelsea and Everton all have to play each other in the last eight games. We were eleven points behind the spuds when we played them last Feb. Amidst the cries of 'North London power shift', we went on to spank them 5-2 and eventually finish above them, so this season is not over yet by a long way. The players do need to start showing some fight, not just in the second half. I think the two games against city and chelsea will act as an incentive that they can play that way from the first minute. I'm expecting to us to come firing out of the blocks against West Ham tomorrow night.
I personally dont think we will attain 4th spot this season based on our current form.. we will have to go on a winning streak for us to have a chance of claiming 4th.
Win our game tomorrow and we're 4 pts behind the Spuds and 1pt behind Everton. In Feb last season we were 11 pts behind the spuds and we went on to spank them 5-2 and eventually leapfrog them into 3rd. We need to find some form and fast, and we need to get some consecutive wins behind us, but this season is still a long way from over. The assertions that we are going to finish outside the top 4 are premature.
maybe even 2nd. If we start playing fantastic , and manure lose all the rest of their games, and city lose all the rest of their games , and spurs lose all the rest of their games, and chels..................... ahh fuck it.
3 words are the difference this year. Can you guess what they are . ? 1 Leagues . 2 Top . 3 Goalscorer
Pundits have been saying Arsenal would drop out of the top 4 for the past four or five seasons. Every August the hacks asked to contribute to FourFourTwo place Arsenal at an average of 5th. They've been wrong each time.
This is exactly right . This is fact . And the thing is , We have been saying it every week. Nothing is changing . It wont change . The only thing that changes is that week by week , we have one less game to catch up. And we are NOT making any ground up. To be in January and already having to rely on OTHER teams to slip up is NOT acceptable. Our future should be in our hands , not spurs or chelseas. Every team above us got a point or 3 last weekend. The week before that EVERY team above us got a point or 3. You dont need a weatherman to see which way the wind is blowing . If we dont start to pick up NOW , we are scewed.
Even if we get 4th spot, it's still unacceptable and not good enough, because ZERO progress has been made in the league from last season, in fact we have done even worse so far compared to last season, and that's just not acceptable or good enough. Is this what Arsenal are going to turn into? A club that has to scrap tooth and nail in getting 4th place, while finishing well off the pace from the leaders (currently 22 ****ing points behind United). The gap between us and the top widens, while the gap with us and the likes of other middle table team narrows. 4th place or no 4th place, the season has still not been good enough, and well below standards. The fact that we're half way through the season and behind Everton, is not acceptable, with all due respect to Everton. And we sure as heck shouldn't be close to West Brom either, with all due respect to them. But that's how far this club has regressed. Elite teams talk about their title run in, for Arsenal Football Club, our run in is about ending 4th, talk about regression and the biggest proof that this club is no longer elite.
Chelsea were not a factor last season . Everton were not a a factor last season . Liverpool are one point behind us now , THATS how much ground we have lost . Theres only so many times you can recall on our miraculous escape LAST season to justify saying everything is going to work out THIS season . But hey , keep at it. You can fool some of the people , some of the time. You may notice I make no comments about who Arsene signs or doesnt sign because i believe it to be irrelevant . This club will not progress while he is in charge. His tactics are obsolete. He is incapable of devising new ones or adapting. Something earlier in the season struck me. After Manure went thru their period of always having to come back from behind , Ferguson said it was annoying and frustrating and it would have to be sorted out. Contrast that with Mr Wenger , who says that coming back from behind shows spirit , belief , determination . One is a determined winner. The other is a soft soaping , load of old flannel ,paper over the chasms , spin doctor. Can you tell which is which .
So it does not? Yes its frustrating to go behind, but congratulating the team on coming back from behind is such a TERRIBLE thing now is it? Hate Wenger all you want but at the end of the day he's here until 2014 and he's the one who ultimately has to help us get 4th and maybe nick 3rd this season. PS Chelsea and Newcastle were factors last year.
