I'm concerned that we're going to go into the season with no DM to support Coquelin. If he gets injured or loses form then we're back to relying on Flamini and Arteta. Signing Cech was a master stroke and I think he'll make a big difference to our defence, but I just think we still need a strong shielding line to protect the back four. If we do sign a top quality DM, then I think we can challenge for the title. But at a minimum we should be winning at least one trophy and improving on our points total.
You've just touched on the elephant in the room, Wenger. Has he still got it is the big question. On paper we have a squad to challenge for the entire season. City and Chelsea might have stronger areas like CF or DM, but it's not all about that and you could still win the league by being consistent and not beating either. It will come down to tactical nous and know when to change things to maintain results. The management screwed things in the first part of the season going in unprepared, but the second part we looked like a force. We should go into next season with our full squad and still have plenty of time to get extra players in this transfer window. We are better prepared coming into this season. But ultimately it comes down to Wenger, he is in charge and it is exactly his squad of players. As he says, he will only get a player that will improve things, if he doesn't buy anyone new he sees that the team is good enough. There are players available, and in my opinon, can improve our squad, but its his choice at the end of the day. The buck ends with Wenger.
I think we're on the up and am baffled that some don't share that opinion. Now, I'm well aware Arsenal have been a "next year will be our year" team for the last 10 years or so but I think there is genuine cause for optimism at the moment. We're no longer relying on talented young players and in the last few transfer windows have added quality and experience. Towards the end of last season we even overcame our hoodoo with some of the top teams. For me, I simply want us to be competetive in all competitions next season. I don't really care if we win any of them but I want to see a proper fight put up by us. This season we gave up on the CL and League with a wimper and it wasn't pretty. If we can play consistently to our potential then I will be happy enough. I'm still unsure if we'll add anyone tbh. Arsene strikes me as someone who is pretty happy with the squad but if another Özil situation crops up then he'll take advantage. I can't see us chasing any top players but if the chance is there then we'll benefit.
I'm far too long in the tooth to have expectations when it comes to Arsenal.We were expected to beat 3rd division Swindon Town in the 1969 League Cup final but we lost.We were expected to beat 2nd division West Ham United in the 1980 FA Cup final but we lost and the list goes on.At the start of every season I hope we'll win the league,the FA Cup,the League Cup and more recently the Champions League.Experience has taught me that the chances are we'll win **** all.In over 40 years of being a fan I've seen us be champions 6 times,win the FA Cup 9 times,2 league cups and 2 European Trophies.This shows I've seen far more unsuccessful seasons than successful ones so obviously my expectations are somewhat tempered.I can't wait for the start of the new season where as per usual I'll be full of hope but I know deep down the chances are my hopes will be cruelly dashed
I agree PeterRick, we are definitely on an upwards curve and that's why it annoys me that people write us and our players off even before a ball has been kicked. And like GoonerCymraeg I remember (not as much as him!) but the time of Graham and Rioch when we didn't challenge and were mostly a cup team playing rubbish football. Things are quite good now and are getting better. True we were amazing during the Invincibles period, but things have changed a lot since then, and now there are 6 teams with huge spending power and not just Man U. Fair enough it's not amazing and we are definitely not where we want to be - getting to finals/winning the CL and cups every year and winning the Prem, but they are much better than they were even 4 years ago.
I don't understand this comment. Who is writing the team off before a ball has even been kicked? First of all, whether we are on an upwards curve is subjective. Some would argue we are, and there is valid reason to suggest so. Others would argue we aren't, and there is also valid reason to suggest this too. Nevertheless, this is a thread about our predictions for the upcoming season. It is what we expect to happen, it doesn't mean what will happen or what we want to happen as circumstances can change throughout the season. Obviously we'd all like the team to do as well as we can, but history would show us that being a little more concerned/uncertain isn't exactly an unreasonable opinion to have.
Apologies if I've made you or anyone think that I'm writing off their comments, or if they don't agree with me then they are wrong. Not my intention. It just seems that you compare us to how we were 4 years ago and there is clear improvement. If you compare us with 2 years ago then there is improvement in that we've won 2 trophies, signed 3 WC players, look a lot better defensively and better against the top teams. My hope is that with a bigger squad and an improving fitness/physio team that our injuries will start to improve and allow our players to reach their potential - though that is just a hope not an expectation as there's not much fact to base it on.
I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn't think we've improved compared to four years ago. We didn't have the likes of Cazorla, Ozil or Sanchez playing for us and if you told us that 4 years ago, we'd have spent £42.4m on one player, and would win two successive trophies, you'd have been mocked. However, our improvement needs to be looked at relatively to other clubs as well. We may have improved, but so have other teams. Have we significantly improved is the real question? Furthermore, some would argue that our manager may be seen as something holding us back, some may say the lack of a physically imposing DM to partner/rival Coquelin would hold us back and some may the lack of a mobile, pacy striker would hold us back. If our expectations are to compete for the league and go as far as we can in Europe going toe-to-toe against a huge side, then we need to address some of the remaining issues we still have.
Although seemingly teneous, considering we pay for the highest priced tickets in the PL (and possibly Europe) it's a cop out to use the "we never used to win much" when we are competing on a different level now. We are apparently spoiled for demanding success (or getting closer to it) and yet we pay the most out of anyone? Success should be relative. We should be realistically competing with the big dogs. I can accept we've had to sell our best players whilst paying off a stadium and for Wenger to still keep us in the top 4 is nothing short of remarkable. But now is the time we are supposed to reap the benefits of our stability and frugalness. There can be no excuses if we continue to fall short of the mark. I have no issues with us not winning but I do have some when we stop competing half way through the season.
Challenge for the League (Whether we win it or not is up for debate but a legitimate challange) Win a Cup, preferably FA Cup though I wouldn't mind a cup double Quarter-Final of Champions League or beyond
You do realise our season tickets cover 26 games whilst nearly every other club's only cover the 19 league games ? On a game by game basis our cheapest season ticket was cheaper than Liverpool's and on a game by game basis our most expensive was cheaper than Tottenham's
Agreed. And just to bring the facts up-to-date for the current season, just comparing Arsenal to Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool: Red Indicates highest price of all clubs and blue indicates lowest. I could do this for all clubs, but haven't got time at the moment. Note these are for general sale, adult members tickets. Arsenal Top A £95.5 Top B £55.5 Top C £38.5 Low A £64 Low B £36.5 Low C £26 * Of which pretty much all the lower tier is the low price. Liverpool Top A £59 Top B £53 Top C £49 Low A £46 * Low B £41 * Low C £37 * *Of which there are only 5 small corner blocks Spuds Top A £81 Top B £58 Top C £47 Low A £48 * Low B £37 * Low C £32 * *Of which there is 1 stand Chelsea Top A £82 Top B £70 Top C £65 Low A £56 * Low B £52 * Low C £47 * *Of which there is 1 stand So, yes, we do have the highest priced seats for Cat A games, but we also have the lowest (out of these clubs for all the other games). In fact given the capacity of the lower tier (anyone know this figure), I'd suggest more people can watch the Arsenal cheaper than they can at Spurs, Liverpool or Chelsea. And for season tickets, both Spurs and Man City have higher top priced season tickets if you calculate it on a per game basis.
Interesting although I think Germany is overtaking Spain. Its hard to see because Bayern have remained dominant (thanks to Pep) but the mid table sides are looking much improved and the youth Academies are still churning out talent. I think the mid table Spainish sides are no better than ours. I will say I think our league will be stronger this year. United have made some quality additions. Chelsea will be at least as strong again - and I do think that's a side capable of challenging anyone is Europe. Arsenal have a squad full of creative talent. I think If we add a genuine quality CF we can be a genuine force. City - Well they have pretty much unlimited resources. Spain well its Barca or Real. Simeone has done a fanatic job with Athletico but I can't see that happening again.
The only fair way to compare is to take the price for each category and multiply by seats available at that price, then add all of them together and divide by total seats. Thus calculating the true average price per game which then can be compared across teams. orherwise you have the situation (as stated wrongly in the gutter press) that we have the dearest tickets (because some are highly priced) when in fact the average price is comparable.
