Even without those players, I can honestly say that you've still been performing a lot better than we have and we shouldn't be anywhere near you in terms of points. You are comfortably a better side than Arsenal. We did well going forward tonight and had a blistering 5-minute spell against Liverpool which was unexpected, but apart from that, we have been very average.
You are conceding too many goals and not scoring enough to compensate (the final PL top 4 rarely finish with a GA in the 40s and/or a GD in the 20s) . "How we are somehow level on points with you is baffling." Spurs did not deal with the Wembley busparquet in the first third of the season well enough. That is where all the points have been dropped, and both the CL group stage and long injuries to Wanyama and Toby have not been as big a hit as expected (though we badly need both back for the remainder of the season) .
Playing your B side in the Europa League is a massive advantage. Effectively, you're not playing in Europe and in the same position as Leicester and Chelsea from 2015/16 and 2016/17. Chuck in playing at Wembley at our end and losing the Wanyama/Dembele partnership and we're level on points right now. Your home form has boosted you. Our 'home' form is dragging us back. I can see at least one of Ozil and Sanchez announcing a move abroad come January. Both would be nice for us and is probably what Wenger, Kroenke and Co. deserve for letting it get to this. Amateur hour from professionals.
I'd say that it's actually better for a squad like Arsenal's to be playing in the Europa than not having European football at all. It allows them to keep players that aren't starting regularly fit and sharp, while bringing back those with injuries like Wilshere. They've definitely benefited from having a number of competitive games for their non-starters this season, as I thought they might. Hopefully they'll have another chance to continue this beneficial run next season.
Yeah, I guess the Europa / Wembley factors have definitely been reasons to explain why we're neck and neck at the moment. It's worth mentioning that, in the same time you've had injuries to the spine of your first team, we've not had as many serious injuries to key players compared to previous seasons, perhaps barring Giroud. But even with players like Ramsey and Giroud out, we have enough depth for players to fill in e.g. Wilshere, Maitland-Niles, Welbeck etc. I'm not saying those players are top quality, because not all of them are, but they are capable of doing a decent job with our bigger players being out and that's something we've not had in recent years. I completely agree that we have benefitted from the Europa League because it's given us a chance to blood some youngsters, whilst simultaneously give an opportunity to fringe players who may want to fight for a first-team slot. Players like Debuchy, Reiss Nelson, Chambers, Willock etc have all more than held their own. But if we get through to the L16, it will be interesting to see what Wenger does at that point. Will he take it seriously or will he continue playing second-string/academy players in order to focus on getting into the top four? We've made it to the semi-finals of the Carabao cup, too, which we traditionally never get far in. Although I won't lose too much sleep if we get knocked out, we are against London rivals and it is a chance to progress and win silverware, even if it's the least of our priorities. Again, will be interesting to see what type of team he fields. We have a very congested fixture list in January, so we can't afford any more injuries. I'd like us to sign a few players as well, but January isn't an easy time to get the players you want. Inevitable transfer speculation regarding the futures of Alexis & Ozil won't do us much favours, either. So to conclude, it's very uncertain times! . Genuinely not sure what to expect of us this season. We have the potential to have quite a successful season, but also to languish in midtable and bottle the cup competitions. Who knows ey?
Quite unavoidable at the best of times, but this situation's made it utterly inevitable. They could literally sign for someone abroad on Monday and there's nothing that the club could do about it. I suspect that they've already lined up moves, to be honest. Wouldn't be surprised to see them both playing in Manchester next season.
It's a situation of our own making for sure, especially as David Ornstein reported in the Summer that we opened negotiations for Ozil extending his contract and never seemed to conclude those talks. Sanchez apparently was willing to stay on at Arsenal, but after the 10-2 drubbing against Bayern, that was the turning point where he realised he was not at a club that matched his own personal ambitions and natural self-drive. I'm not sure how true that is, particularly as his spell at Arsenal is actually the longest he's spent at one club in his career thus far (technically, he was contracted to Udinese for 5 years in total, but he spent 2 of those years on loan), but it wouldn't elicit any reaction out of me because he's been a cut above any other player we've had since van Persie. If he doesn't think the club are evolving, he's understandably going to want to go to a club/manager that is. I also wouldn't be surprised if both of them end up in Manchester, but if that happens, heads simply have to roll. Gross negligence to that degree is absolutely unacceptable. Telling the entire world that we can compete with the best clubs in the world only to lose our most prized assets to said clubs...it would make us look weak and gutless.
It was out of your hands as soon as you let their contracts get below two years. I really don't understand how any club allows it to happen any more, as the Bosman ruling's been around for ages now. A player telling you that he's going to sign a new contract means nothing. Name on the dotted line or get the **** out in the transfer window.
I think it is down to the players to try their best for their club and fans. If they don't care why should we? They don't want to play in empty stadiums.....do they? My Lord,they are earning enough dollar lolly to put the right boots on the right feet!
Have to agree. As has been said, it’s gross negligence. Players and their agent’s promises cannot be trusted. As PNP says, ‘Sign here, or out you go’. And you can go anywhere in Europe you like, but you’re not joining a direct PL rival.
What idiot decided that the last Friday night of the year was a good time to have Millwall v QPR? The same twat that tried to make our game against West Ham a New Years Eve fixture, presumably. It'll be particularly spicy tonight, as Ian Holloway returns to The Den. Very stupid. Millwall are already facing charges for racist chants in their game against Wolves on Boxing Day.
Must say I didn't see Millwall v QPR as a potential trouble game. MIllwall v Wolves, or Cardiff or Leeds then definitely, but v QPR ?
Millwall v Anyone really, but a London Derby of sorts at this time of year for them is just going to go badly. The ex-manager thing is what's really tipped it over the edge, though. Holloway made a few comments that didn't go down well. Something to do with them sacking him, Harris taking them down and them slagging him off for it. Not clever. They really hate him now, by all accounts.
Thank goodness Harry Cripps retired a long time ago.He used to give the right winger a VERY HARD time when they played Millwall......memories!
Memories:- Arsenal 70/71...dirtiest team. Leeds same period....nastiest team. Liverpool same period....took no prisoners.......watching them was like watching the "Charge of the Light Brigade" coming at you!
Harry Cripps was a complete thug. A more recent Millwall thug was Terry Hurlock, like Cripps before him, he committed ABH every time he stepped onto a football pitch.
