Hopefully Arsenal will set the tone for their year with a loss today. Happy with the win, it might not have been a great defence that we were up against but their constant niggly fouls made things a bit awkward for us, a good 3 points
I've always thought we've been short of a regular goal scorer (sorry Jermaine!). But if the goals are to be spread out among all of our players and we keep winning,were all going to be happy! I bet we all suspected Reading to score from that free kick,didn't we?
Indeed. I generally expect them to start bottling it a bit later in the season, but without RVP it was always on the cards that they'd start early. Saints aren't exactly a tough side, but (as usual) Arsenal seemed to have beaten themselves, this evening. More misery to come in the weeks ahead for the Gooners, I fear. Oh, and our win today puts to bed, yet again, the "Bale is a one-man team" theory.
Nobody should underestimate the significance of that Arsenal draw today. Given their January fixtures it was essential they got a win today to keep in touch. They are now going to have to play City and Chelsea sides coming into form as well as a West Ham side with players coming back from injury (players they wouldn't had to have faced had they not cowered out of the Boxing Day game). If Chelsea beat Stoke and Spurs beat Man Utd, if I was an Arsenal fan I'd be worried. I can't see Spurs surrendering a 10 point lead again, especially given the fact the league is weaker this year.
Indeed, DL. I don't see AVB suddenly being taken away by the fairies, as Redknapp was (what with his dreams of lifting the World Cup for England). This current Spurs side seems focussed on the task in hand, as does the management team. A couple of decent signings in the January window should see us finish comfortably above Arsenal. I know I said it last season, but a few of us did, even non-Spurs fans, and including many Gooners. Redknapp let us all down; plus no one could have predicted the kind of form that RVP would suddenly hit, he was awesome and made all the difference to Arsenal's fortunes. They don't have him any more, they have Walnut, and his demands for £100,000 per week for playing up front so that the can hog all of the lime-light. Don't get me wrong, Arsenal will still be a force to be reckoned with, but ultimately they will fall short, this season. I can even see Everton, and possibly West Ham finishing above them.
arsenals up and coming fixtures: Premier League Arsenal v Man City Sun 13 Jan 16:00 Chelsea v Arsenal Sun 20 Jan 13:30 Arsenal v West Ham Wed 23 Jan 19:45 Arsenal v Liverpool Wed 30 Jan 19:45 February 2013 Arsenal v Stoke Sat 2 Feb 15:00 The only thing on their side is the fact that 4 of the games are at home. - not a nice set of fixtures, at all.
In all fairness they should be able to win all of those with the exception of Man City. The Chelsea game is 50:50 it all depends how either of them is prepared and motivated. Arsenal could beat Chelsea I would say AFC V Man City Away Win Chelsea V Arsenal Draw AFC V Spammers Home Win AFC V Scallys Home Win AFC V Stoke Home Win If I am right thats 4 points drop. Considering we have Man Utd, AFC and Chelsea still to play (not in same time frame) those points are still up for grabs I do believe we appear more mentally tough than we did under Redknapp though, so if we build a lead we may be better equipped to keep the lead this time.
They could quite easily lose all them (except Stoke which is a possible 0-0). They'd be favourite to beat West Ham, but Liverpool on their day could give them a game.
Can't see them beating a resurgent Chav side - they could, but unlikely, especially away from home. Depends which Citeh turns up, as they have hardly been consistent through matches. Draw would be a good bet. As for the rest - they should pick up points, but not if they apply themselves like last night. My guess (and hope) is they will get 8/9 points max from those fixtures.
it also depends what arsenal turn up. They have played games this season where they've scored 5,6 and 7 goals. Then they've played others and been terrible. - Southampton yesterday for example. I don't see them getting anything from the City or Chelsea games to be honest. Maybe a draw in one of them perhaps. They should beat west ham and liverpool, although both could be banana skins with West Ham being a local derby and Liverpool still good enough to prove a point to the teams at the top. Stoke could be an annoying one for Arsenal. Pulis will have them set up to frustrate them and get at them. Arsnealwon't like that. we know all too well what that's like. It's amazing to think that we've played every team in the top 6 (other than chelsea) away from home. The fact that we will have home support on our side in 4/5 of those reverse fixtures could make a huge difference come the business end of the season. and to think we've got 39 points on the board, having played all those teams away, is very reassuring.
39 points? How many do we need for safety? I agree with what you say. I think it does all depend on which Arsenal turn up. I accept the Liverpool have the potential but again, you never know which Liverpool will turn up. I still think my guesses are pretty good and indicates we shouldn't take their next few games as a barometer to say we will be well ahead of them. After all, we have the potential to do the absurd against teams as well
I can't see this Arsenal team earning too many points from their January games. I think they have flattered to deceive in recent games, and that they will capitulate to the top sides.
You and me think along the same lines about this Arsenal team HAIG,they are not as good as a lot of people think,if you have a go at them like Saint's did,they can't take it,and it put's them on the back foot,and they can't defend
Agreed Plus, if Arsenal take 9 points or more out of these games, then they deserve to finish at least 3rd in the league, let alone 4th, and we certainly won't be finishing above them.
