I think your big players this year will be Vermaelen, Van Persie and Wishere. Keep them fit and you'll be there abouts in April. I think Fabregas and Nasri not really commiting and going could gel the remaining players and help them get a run going. Wenger will also unearth a couple of good players too with Gervinho or perhaps even Walcott finally delivering on his promise.
Arsenals chances of a top 4 finish this season
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I think your big players this year will be Vermaelen, Van Persie and Wishere. Keep them fit and you'll be there abouts in April. I think Fabregas and Nasri not really commiting and going could gel the remaining players and help them get a run going. Wenger will also unearth a couple of good players too with Gervinho or perhaps even Walcott finally delivering on his promise.
Cannot yet see them dropping out of the top 4, even if those 2 bigshots leave.
I think they will not finish in the top 4. Mainly because Liverpool will not he playing in Europe (hehe) and that gives them a better chance.
2nd or 3rd for me and a cup win of some variety. I have a feeling that Cesc is the new Ballack.
They might have 60-65 mil to spend.
They could really get decent ,smart buys for that.
They could really get decent ,smart buys for that.
Will still finish 4th imo. We are crap upfront and Liverpool are crap in defence.
Everyone's going on about Liverpool's transfer dealings but Downing, Henderson, Adam and Doni don't scream guaranteed top 4 as many people seem to feel now and it certainly doesn't scream title challenger. Last season they had the new manager bounce and no pressure at all. Now they're being talked about not only as top 4 challengers but as potentially title challengers. Don't see it.
Enrique's a good signing though.
Modric will be sold next summer imo, really can't imagine Levy selling a key player in January.
Everyone's going on about Liverpool's transfer dealings but Downing, Henderson, Adam and Doni don't scream guaranteed top 4 as many people seem to feel now and it certainly doesn't scream title challenger. Last season they had the new manager bounce and no pressure at all. Now they're being talked about not only as top 4 challengers but as potentially title challengers. Don't see it.
Enrique's a good signing though.
Modric will be sold next summer imo, really can't imagine Levy selling a key player in January.
Thats the thing though, Wenger wont spend that sort of money.
Liverpool will pip them to 4th
The difference is Liverpool have improved their squad where as Arsenal's squad has decreased in quality.
Replacing 2 quality midfielders in the same summer is going to be a big ask for Arsenal.
The difference is Liverpool have improved their squad where as Arsenal's squad has decreased in quality.
Replacing 2 quality midfielders in the same summer is going to be a big ask for Arsenal.
At the moment I agree.
The big issue for me is that while Liverpool havent bought CL quality players they have bought well for the Premier League.
I fancy Suarez to have a big season and with Downing putting in the crosses I think Carroll may well thrive. Enrique will probably provide a few assists as well. Henderson is one for the future but at 20 has plenty of PL experience and should improve. All in all I think they've imporved their squad significantly.
Arsenal on the other hand havent, and still lack in the same areas they have for the last few seasons at least. Wenger needs to spend to get the right players in but whether or not he will (or can) given that it'd be such a change of pace remains to be seen.
The major factor for me though is that while Liverpool had no pressure on them last season they seem to be on the up, with players figting for the cause and keen to do well - especially those who have moved to a big club and want to take thier chance.
Arsenal sem to be in decline - with top players leaving and players openly criticising the manager or making thinly veiled references to the club needing to spalsh out on some established talent. It deosnt strike me as a happy place to be at the moment and it seems Wenger's crown is wobbling.
All remains to be seen but Wenger needs to get some money spent before the window closes to address issue in Defence especially.
I think that's the most irritating thing I continually read on here due to the complete codswallopness of it.
Second or third.
IMO they are better than City.
IMO they are better than City.
Which part of it?
Don't be too surprised if Arsenal aren't playing in Europe either - I really fear for them in that Udinese tie after all these distractions.
They'll get fourth though.
Oh, I don't know about that. Perhaps there'll be an uncharacteristic splurge of 20-25m on a marquee name.
The rest'll be used to pay the excessive wages of their overrated youth players whom they've spirited away from other teams with superior youth systems.
Arsenal will still finish top four.
I agree with that. 65 mil worth of players sold means Wenger will spend 25-30 only.
I expect a couple of value for money Gervinho type signings from Wenger which would mean they will finish 4th again.
Typical Arsenal always at the same place.
I wonder what the odds are on Arsenal not signing any new players.
If you believe the Spanish Media, Mata is a shoe-in to arrive when Fabregas leaves.
I wonder what the odds are of Wenger finding and buying players to replace what Fabregas & Nasri's brought to the side in terms of skill and experience and successfully negotiating their signature in 3 weeks.
Arsenal for me are still lightyears ahead of Liverpool, even without Fabregas and Nasri. They'll sign a centre-back and maybe Arsene will finally decide to re-invest some of the Fabregas/Nasri money... they'll be fine IMHO.
Can't see Liverpool getting anything better than 5th place; Their first XI is okay, but their squad depth, particularly at the back, is non-existant.
Can't see Liverpool getting anything better than 5th place; Their first XI is okay, but their squad depth, particularly at the back, is non-existant.
Given that their competition will be Liverpool and Spurs I'd say they're the favourites to get at least fourth.
Top 4. Still the better team and play better football than City or Liverpool.
Did well without Fabregas last season although he's the biggest chance creator, probably in the world if stats are anything to believe, but Nasri took over mean while so they'll need at least one very good playmaker. Ganso?
Did well without Fabregas last season although he's the biggest chance creator, probably in the world if stats are anything to believe, but Nasri took over mean while so they'll need at least one very good playmaker. Ganso?
That seemed to have fallen through. It's very much 50/50 for me. Don't trust the Spanish press either.
Lower than 5%.
I would still think that Arsenal are capable of finishing in the top 4..
It's impossible to get a replacement for Fabregas (as you've found out this window) but we've got good cover already in Ramsey/Wilshere. Nasri had a very good half-season last term but we can absorb the loss if players like Walcott and Arshavin step up.
Do you think Ramsey is the same player post-injury? Hard to compare sometimes as he seemed ahead of Wilshere before the injury and now seems a way behind in his physical development which is surprising. I'd absolutely love to see him step up this season and negate the loss of Fabregas...
Ramsey looked fine back end last season (except of course he lost a year). Fabregas only started about a dozen games fully fit last year.
I dont think Ramsey and Wilshire will replace what Fabregas gave you this season.
As for Walcott, well he's always been hit and miss for me and Arshavin had a nightmare last season.
I remember the Wales v England game - he looked desperate to assert himself on the game and really ran his guts out but still didn't quite look there physically. I suspect he'll be raring to go after a good pre-season though.
Ramsey is a far lesser player than Fabregas, so if Wilshere gets injured for any length of time you'll have big problems.
Then there's your 'IF' regarding Walcott and Arshavin ...
It remains to be seen who Wenger may sign before the window closes, but right now, and without Nasri and Fabregas, many teams will now see Arsenal as distinctly beatable: any lingering "fear factor" is fast evaporating.
He was trying to win the game on his own, a quite hopeless task.
Fear factor or Traveller lacquer, we'll finish ahead of you as we have every year this century.
The Ramsey I remember was a pretty special player. If he emerges as the player he looked on the verge of becoming pre-injury they'll have one hell of a player. One thing you have to say about Fabregas leaving is that it will be exactly what Ramsey needs - he needs games and to be given responsibility.
All of it.
Is correct. Pete might be a big wum but Spurs won't pip Arsenal to anything whilst I'm alive.
Funny how Glasto appears at the beginning of every season but soon dissapears as Spurs get found out during the season.
This reminds me of RVN leaving. All it takes is for Wilshere and Ramsey to take over, a new CB signing, perhaps some back up midfielders and you'll be good to go for a title challenge.
Now about that mentality...
Now about that mentality...
Do you think a defence of Johnson-Carragher-Skrtel-Enrique is a great defence? Though crap was an exaggeration admittedly.
What were Liverpool fans' expectations of Dagleish and the team when he took over from Hodgson last season? And what are the expectations of the fans and a large part of the media now?
Where's Agger? I stil think their defence is looking better than it has for a while - you shouldn't underestimate how positive it is for them to have kept Reina and have him motivated again.
Injured as usual?
No, Enrique improves their defence but Carragher is old now and I don't rate Johnson defensively. They have improved it without a doubt but its still not particularly formidable. Reina is a superb keeper.Arsenal are probably too far ahead in quality of Liverpool and Tottenham to lose out to them, though I imagine they will be in a fight with the former at least.
That is assuming that Arsenal don't invest their transfer windfall.
That is assuming that Arsenal don't invest their transfer windfall.