Arsenals chances of a top 4 finish this season

[EdWeatherall]

Don't you think that's a bit of a blinkered way of looking at the situation ?

Arsenal's defensive frailties have been years in the making. This is reflected in the goals conceded column from the past 4 years:

2008 - 31

2009 - 37

2010 - 41

2011 - 43

It's difficult not to see that trend continuing this season. It's also difficult to see how a side could concede over 43 goals, & still make a CL spot - I feel Arsenal's chances this season will rely on events elsewhere (Spurs & Liverpool)

I read somewhere that it took them until the middle of November last season to concede as many as they have done this season

 

[Rood]

what odds are the bookies offering on a Top4 finish for Arse?

can now get 2/1 on Arsenal finishing Top4 - i might even have a punt on that

 

[elmo]

The team would be something like this in my opinion:

Reina
Sagna Jagielka Cahill Baines
Lennon Gerrard Modric Bale
RVP Suarez


I think Wilshere might edge into midfield by the end of the season, but not quite yet. Vermaelen has barely played 40 games in the Premier League, difficult to say he's better than Cahill/Jagielka or even Shawcross (although again, he could well be after another season).

Wes Brown and O'Shea are easily better than Cahill. Arsenal would have been much better off if they had went for them.

 

[gooDevil]

There was a thread on this recently. I went with something like:

O'Shea Samba Wes Baines
-----------Parker
------Wilshere Modric
--Suarez-----------Bale
---------Van Persie

 

[Enigma_87]

If you ignore last season because of injuries he was awesome 07-09, don't let his Scouse roots cloud that.

Injuries or not Gerrard has not been on top level since 08 and Wilshere is in better form at the moment.

 

[gooDevil]

Tbh I would go for something like this

Reina
Sagna-Jagielka-Vermealen-Baines
Wilshere-Modric
Gerrard-Suarez-Bale
RVP

Gerrard on the left, is that you Fabio?

 

[Enigma_87]

Gerrard on the left, is that you Fabio?

It's on the right. Should read it from top to botom.

I read somewhere that it took them until the middle of November last season to concede as many as they have done this season

to be fair they have injury/suspension problems against us and the dippers and that's like 10 out of the 14 conceded...

 

[gooDevil]

Well, and Fabio mostly played Gerrard on the left, not the right anyway...right?

Sven as well.

Never worked.

 

[MrMarcello]

Ramsey really must regret choosing Arsenal over us now.

How often would he have played for United though? He'd be sitting much like Gibson has been, with the odd run out.

 

[gooDevil]

So, Liverpool will be keeping Arsenal out of 4th, will they?

 

[peterstorey]

The muppets are now saying it'll be Spurs.

 

[Sarni]

There is no one out there capable of finishing 4th comfortably right now. I thought Tottenham didn't stand a chance but they were good in those last two games and might build on that, Liverpool looked solid yet fecked up the last two games. Arsenal have been dire in all five games but they are bound to improve although their squad doesn't really look that strong to be honest.

 

[Name Changed]

How often would he have played for United though? He'd be sitting much like Gibson has been, with the odd run out.

He is a very good footballer and would play a lot more than Darron Gibson.

 

[Name Changed]

I cannot see any way in which Arsenal will finish fourth, not the way things are going anyway. City, United and Chelsea will almost certainly be the top three, and I can see Liverpool and Spurs comfortably finishing ahead of Arsenal.

 

[adexkola]

I cannot see any way in which Arsenal will finish fourth, not the way things are going anyway. City, United and Chelsea will almost certainly be the top three, and I can see Liverpool and Spurs comfortably finishing ahead of Arsenal.

Care to put money where your mouth is?

 

[alastair]

I cannot see any way in which Arsenal will finish fourth, not the way things are going anyway. City, United and Chelsea will almost certainly be the top three, and I can see Liverpool and Spurs comfortably finishing ahead of Arsenal.

At the moment, you are obviously right. But football can turn. The one thing in our favour is that we do have £60m to spend in January if need be. I can't see either Spurs or Liverpool sanctioning that kind of expenditure. If we stay in touch, we could turn this around.

 

[peterstorey]

Care to put money where your mouth is?

You can get 5/2 on betfair right now.

 

[Wandering Red]

At the moment, you are obviously right. But football can turn. The one thing in our favour is that we do have £60m to spend in January if need be. I can't see either Spurs or Liverpool sanctioning that kind of expenditure. If we stay in touch, we could turn this around.

It's more of a surprise when Spurs don't spend that kind of money in a transfer window. Not always intelligently, mind.

I still see it as a tossup between Arsenal, Spurs, and Pool. Spurs look a much improved side over the one that faced us and Citeh, and even though Pool will be poor for most of the season, they'll go on their standard run in March to get close to the CL spots.

If Arsenal can sign players the likes of Cahill and Samba in January, they'd have to be the favorites. If not, still a tossup.

 

[gooDevil]

Man Utd... 5 5 0 0 17 15
Man City... 5 4 1 0 12 13
Chelsea..... 5 3 1 1 2 10
Newcastle.. 5 2 3 0 2 9
Stoke........ 5 2 2 1 -2 8
Aston Villa.. 5 1 4 0 2 7
Everton...... 4 2 1 1 2 7
Liverpool... 5 2 1 2 -1 7

Tottenham 4 2 0 2 -1 6

Arsenal...... 5 1 1 3 -8 4


With 13% of the season underway for everyone but Everton and Spurs, it looks wide open and even kids in Stoke can dream of CL football next year.

 

[gooDevil]

The final question was to Wenger. Does he expect to finish in the top four? "I expect to do well in the next game," he replied, and walked away. Maybe he felt it was too early for rallying calls. Or maybe he was still coming to terms with the evidence of the game and was just being realistic.

guardian

 

[Plechazunga]

The team would be something like this in my opinion:

Reina
Sagna Jagielka Cahill Baines
Lennon Gerrard Modric Bale
RVP Suarez


I think Wilshere might edge into midfield by the end of the season, but not quite yet. Vermaelen has barely played 40 games in the Premier League, difficult to say he's better than Cahill/Jagielka or even Shawcross (although again, he could well be after another season).

Wilshire's already better than Modric

 

[mu77]

At the moment, you are obviously right. But football can turn. The one thing in our favour is that we do have £60m to spend in January if need be. I can't see either Spurs or Liverpool sanctioning that kind of expenditure. If we stay in touch, we could turn this around.

because that worked for the dippers didn't it - you should get 4th. but not because you go out and spend in Jan.

 

[Sarni]

At the moment, you are obviously right. But football can turn. The one thing in our favour is that we do have £60m to spend in January if need be. I can't see either Spurs or Liverpool sanctioning that kind of expenditure. If we stay in touch, we could turn this around.

You won't spend anything close to that in January and if you are talking about Fabregas and Nasri money then you have already spent about £25m of it on Arteta, Mertesacker and Santos.

 

[Jopub]

The one thing in our favour is that we do have £60m to spend in January if need be.

Yes that's correct I am a bit concerned meself about the quality of the tea being served in the boxes recently, we really should get a classier couple of new tea lady's in and maybe some new Dalton to serve it on as well

Fk me if I thought we'd actually go out and buy some footballers I'd really have to question what's going on

 

[GlastonSpur]

It's more of a surprise when Spurs don't spend that kind of money in a transfer window. ....

60m?

The average net spend of Spurs per window to date since Jol became manager is fractionally over 7m .... barely more than 10% of the ludicrous 60m figure you've suggested.

And under Harry the average net spend per window has fallen below the above average.

 

[finneh]

Wilshire's already better than Modric

He will be... Definitely, but to say he already is after < 50 top level games is a little bit premature I feel. It'll be interesting how Arsenal perform when he's back.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Well with Liverpool's form faltering it's opened the door for Spurs and Arsenal to make it a really tight race.

 

[Name Changed]

Care to put money where your mouth is?

You want me to bet that Arsenal won't finish fourth?

 

[Name Changed]

At the moment, you are obviously right. But football can turn. The one thing in our favour is that we do have £60m to spend in January if need be. I can't see either Spurs or Liverpool sanctioning that kind of expenditure. If we stay in touch, we could turn this around.

It's all well and good having that money if the manager will actually spend it. I doubt panic spending on the last day of the transfer window had altered Wenger's inability to sign players.

 

[towcester_red]

Still got to think Arsenal, with the quality they still have at thier disposal should take 4th. Think its between them and Spurs for me, Liverpool then Stoke not too far behind if they can juggle Europe and playing in the league.

 

[B20]

At the moment, you are obviously right. But football can turn. The one thing in our favour is that we do have £60m to spend in January if need be. I can't see either Spurs or Liverpool sanctioning that kind of expenditure. If we stay in touch, we could turn this around.

How many years have you had a lot of money to spend?

 

[alastair]

How many years have you had a lot of money to spend?

I don't know. No-one does. I'll go for 2 years. Never before have we been so desperate though. Something might give.

 

[Bryan_Munich]

Another Wenger trolley dash in January won't see them finish 4th.

Arsenal's problems are much deeper seated than that.

 

[alastair]

Another Wenger trolley dash in January won't see them finish 4th.

Arsenal's problems are much deeper seated than that.

A defensive coach might help, you don't need a window for that.

Good signings in January will help us, not average stuff like Santos and Mertesacker.

 

[Aint gota Kalou]

-----------Reina
Sagna--Vermalaen--Agger--Baines
-------Modric--Wilshere
Suarez----Gerrard----Bale
---------Van Persie

Possibly.

Arsenal still probably have just about enough to finish fourth, if RVP gets an injury like he does every year they'll get sixth.

 

[Bryan_Munich]

A defensive coach might help, you don't need a window for that.

Good signings in January will help us, not average stuff like Santos and Mertesacker.

Did Wenger have a defensive coach when he was winning things?

 

[Name Changed]

A defensive coach might help, you don't need a window for that.
.

What's he waiting on? There are plenty of defensive coaches out there. He could have appointed Steve Staunton last month had he been on the ball.

 

[alastair]

What's he waiting on? There are plenty of defensive coaches out there. He could have appointed Steve Staunton last month had he been on the ball.

I'd promote Steve Bould from youth coach to assistant manager. Keown could do a job for us too. As could Adams.

 

[mjs020294]

You can't make chicken salad with chicken shit. Arsenal don't need a new coach they need new ingredients.

 

[Eyepopper]

Wilshire out til Xmas now