That may have been true in Sept but we sit 5th in the table and we've been lower than 5th at this stage of the season on more occasions than I can remember. Or are you using any statement, however accurate or otherwise, to get more negativity across ?
At this stage last year we had 3 more points than we currently have. Worst start maybe, but hardly disastrous.
I think it's not unwarranted to be cautious about what we could achieve given our form and that of our closest challengers. I wish it were different but for a number of reasons up and down the field, right through to our management strategy and tactics we have not been as strong as we would like or ought to be. We give away goals and points too easily and do not convert the opportunities we have. That could possibly be levelled at other teams too but I am not concerned as much with their fortunes as I am with ours. We seem to miss out on opportunities to close the gap to our biggest rivals and open that to our closest competitors. Whether we get ahead of Spurs this season is one thing. However we shouldn't squander opportunities to get ahead of both Chelsea and Liverpool. We missed a great opportunity to do that over the Christmas/New Year break. We should try to seize all the breaks we get but it seems we don't, either because we can't or don't know how to and it has gone on too long. I recall waiting in line at a petrol station at the start of the 2001 year. We had just grabbed the lead in the EPL and I was thinking how wonderful this was and what we could make of this opportunity. Back then we went all the way as you know. This year though, can you see us getting ahead and staying there? I'm not talking about the lead. Heck, we're discussing 4th place!!. It would be such a disappointment if come April, we only have 5th spot to look forward to.
When we were going through our bad start of course the negativity was at it's highest point, Worst start in 58 years tells it's own story. It was true well past September too. We sit 5th, 12 points from the leaders. You are basing your argument on where we are NOW when the issue came about because of where we WERE. And we haven't fixed any problems either as recent results show. And 12 points from the leaders isn't anything to be happy about.
2001/2 we won the league by 7 points and guess how many points we had after 19 games? 36 the same as this year. We are blowing hot & cold, colder more than hot, but our not finishing top 4 is not a done deal as yet, no matter how many seem to relish the thought.
Hot - I'm not having an argument, I just see negative comment after negative comment about the club and I find much of it unwarranted. Of course we're unlikely to win anything this year but supporting Arsenal is not just about trophies, if all I wanted was a trophy to boast about I'd become a Utd or City fan. We have a real chance of qualifying for CL for the 16th (or is it 17 ?) consecutive season, we are better placed now than we have been in some of those seasons. There are issues that need addressing I accept that, but not everything in our garden is dead either....
I think the negativity stems from constantly seeing the same mistakes being made, and nothing being done to rectify it. Many fans called it 2 years ago that Denilson wasn't good enough. Fans knew Fabregas was going to leave eventually. There's still no Plan B, there's still tactical ineptness being displayed...years and years on from when it first became an issue. That's where the negativity stems from. Arsenal are the mighty that has fallen right now.
Where is it written that any of us relish the thought of not finishing within the Top 4 as you suggest? If anything, had you been reading the posts above or on other threads, none of us enjoy the predicament of not finishing at least in position number 4. Please don't make us any less stalwart in our support of our club even if you are willing to entertain and accept reduced levels of performance as is patently obvious.
I agree. A continuation of errors and no Plan B and that has been the case for years that I can recall proving that Arsene Wenger is no tactician in the absence of which, where is our future but mired in the scrap for crumbs.
Because I choose not to jump on the doom & gloom bandwagon, does not mean I am "willing to entertain and accept reduced levels of performance" by a long shot. I hurt just as much as anyone when we drop points or perform badly. However, I do believe at least one poster relishes our failures just so he can get off on posting as though the world is about to come to an end, usually in an attempt to start arguments. I wouldn't go as far as to assume it is a common problem. Nevertheless, just as I have the right to continue to be positive about my team, you and others are equally within your right to point out what you see as our failures. As you will see if you look, I do not jump on most of the negative points raised as many have merit in my opinion. I shall continue to keep the faith & love my club unconditionally. If that makes me a part of the problem, so be it.
I wouldn't be so quick to suggest that some of us do not love our club unconditionally either since Heaven forbid that we should not make the CL we would still be cheering the team on. What some of us find unacceptable though is how this team has been allowed to slide away from being in a position to challenge for honours all the way to the end instead of dropping from contention before the last muddy pitch of winter has dried out. I believe we're all on the same side.
You couldn't clone these great players but displaying some of their mettle would ensure an armful of points. More importantly getting the ones that matter!!! It makes all the difference.
