Can't remember if I posted in this thread or if it was another one, but I had them as finishing 5th before a ball was kicked in the league. However, now I'm thinking they might even finish behind Spurs and come 6th. They'll still probably get over 60 points, but they need to find a few gems in January if they want a realistic chance of finishing 4th in my opinion.
Arsenals chances of a top 4 finish this season
- Thread starter Eyepopper
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
I feel sorry for arsenal, they have been dealing with the 8-2 wordplay jokes 4-3 weeks now.
They're only 5 points out of 4th right now, it's not some giant mountain to climb. The season is very long, there is usually a pretty good gap between the 'top' teams and the rest, I don't doubt Arsenal will be closer to Liverpool than they are to Stoke.
The fundamentals are fine for a top 4 finish. It's always a regret to not have a realistic punt at the title.
Arsenal's defence reminds me of United's 10 years ago conceding sloppy goals all the while.
Brings back the question should Wenger have pushed the boat out for Cahill or Jagielka rather than a decent German defender who will take time to adapt.
Brings back the question should Wenger have pushed the boat out for Cahill or Jagielka rather than a decent German defender who will take time to adapt.
They, Liverpool and us will still be the three teams competing for 4th place come the end of the season.
What's going on now is rock bottom. They will only get better. Until that happens however, whether its in 2 games or 10, I will be enjoying watching one of the worse Arsenal teams for a long time.
What's going on now is rock bottom. They will only get better. Until that happens however, whether its in 2 games or 10, I will be enjoying watching one of the worse Arsenal teams for a long time.
He should have bought Samba and Merdesacker, and probably Jagielka too.
I think Liverpool are favourites for 4th, followed by Arse
I still think Arsenal will get it. They have a good squad of players, though I think they're a bit reliant on RVP.
I have a sneaking suspicion that they'll buy Cahill in the January window when his value's much lower too.
I have a sneaking suspicion that they'll buy Cahill in the January window when his value's much lower too.
Spurs with Parker and Adebayor are a decent shout for top four.
Plus Woodgate, Upson, Dann and Johnson and lined them all up along the fecking goal line.
I'd say a defence would be pretty fundamental myself.
Out of interest: Chelsea/City/United players aside, what would be the Premier League's best team and how many Arsenal players would actually be in it?
Only RVP would make the cut for me
Sagna's a shoo-in at RB, Song is probably the best DM in the CL.
Song is horrendously over-rated. For a supposed defensive midfielder, he leaves too many gaps at the back with his forward runs. Agree about Sagna though.
What?
You've said plenty of ridiculous things, but this has to rank with the most absurd...
Yaya Toure would easily get in ahaed of him despite not being used alot of the time as an orthodox DM, he is still miles ahead of Song in that position.
Song is by far the most overrated Arsenal players of the last couple of years.He's impressive and all with all his powerful tackles and backheel goals but he doesn't know the fundamental of football.He doesn't know how to position himself on a football pitch and that is a disaster for a player who is supposed to cover gaps left by his teammates
And btw i don't think Djourou is good enough for a team like Crystal Palace......he's awful.
I genuinely don't think it matters which and how many CB's Wenger bought or should have bought, no matter who they are, they need the correct structure, coaching, and balance across the team to perform at their best and for Arsenal to get back to keeping clean sheets again. I could be wrong but I don't envision Wenger analysing and disecting the opponents attacking strengths and weaknesses on the floppy disc all week prior to a game and instructing his team accordingly, nor do I envision him out on the training pitch coaching defensive work on positioning, attitude towards defending, tackling and aerial techniques etc. We can argue about who they should or shouldn't buy but the defenders they've got now aren't bad players, at least not as bad as they are performing currently. Vermealen is class, Koscielny started last season with great promise and got called up to the French side, Djourou looked to be fulfilling his potential prior to CC disaster, and Mertesacker has been capped 70 odd times for Germany and been involved in two successive runs to the WC semis, the calibre of the defenders in question is of a good enough standard to be doing a lot, lot better than they have been and avoiding the basic errors both in marking and concentration that just keeps happening far too often for it to be coincidence.
First things first, they need a defensive coach who knows how to organise a defence and who can get them all singing from the same hymn sheet(they aren't playing as a unit, too many cases of one or two playing offside, the others not, lack of communication etc), it's clear as day that not enough is being done on the training ground to eliminate these basic errors we've been seeing for years, in fact it's getting worse from week to week.
Secondly, they need an enforcer in CM who'll just sit and sweep up in front of that back four, as badly organised as they are, no defence could withstand such a lack of protection they have to work with, Wenger sets the team up far too open and has no player in front of his defence with a defensive instinct in his body and a discipline to protect his own goal.
In short, if Arsenal want to get into CL next season and want to start competing again, Wenger needs to get a proper defensive coach on the books, someone who'll restore some confidence and organisation to the current defenders they have, and he also needs to be more tactically balanced with his team selections(the gameplan at OT was a joke considering the personnel he had available but again he failed to address the strengths of the opponents), then and only then will signing this centre-half and that centre-half make a difference.
First things first, they need a defensive coach who knows how to organise a defence and who can get them all singing from the same hymn sheet(they aren't playing as a unit, too many cases of one or two playing offside, the others not, lack of communication etc), it's clear as day that not enough is being done on the training ground to eliminate these basic errors we've been seeing for years, in fact it's getting worse from week to week.
Secondly, they need an enforcer in CM who'll just sit and sweep up in front of that back four, as badly organised as they are, no defence could withstand such a lack of protection they have to work with, Wenger sets the team up far too open and has no player in front of his defence with a defensive instinct in his body and a discipline to protect his own goal.
In short, if Arsenal want to get into CL next season and want to start competing again, Wenger needs to get a proper defensive coach on the books, someone who'll restore some confidence and organisation to the current defenders they have, and he also needs to be more tactically balanced with his team selections(the gameplan at OT was a joke considering the personnel he had available but again he failed to address the strengths of the opponents), then and only then will signing this centre-half and that centre-half make a difference.
Sagna is a good solid player. Nothing special though, he can't cross for shit and he has dodgy hair.
You don't know much about football .
Coming from you I'll take it as a compliment.Song best DM wtf
As someone said above, he leaves quite the space behind himself as a DM. He's good but when under pressure by good teams, he doesn't stand out. Certainly not enough to be called the best DM in the league.
Too cocky jocky. We'll easily finish 4th.
You're 5 points off it already, possibly 7 tomorrow.
I'm going to enjoy this long slow and painful process
Arsenal have two seasons left in the premier league.
winter and spring
winter and spring
Too gnomic for me - we'll finish 3/4 no bother.
Brother Pete, I really hope you don't end up in debt through this forum.
On your current form you'll be lucky to finish 13/14th.
I'd definitely have Sagna as well.
Song is decent at what he does but wouldn't get into my theoretical team. It's arguable as to whether he's better than Parker, Tiote or Lucas.
What's the bet? Are you predicting 5th exactly or below 4th?
They managed 68 points last year on form far beyond where they are now. We are still only a short way into the season but if it goes another five games and they are performing as they currently are then from Christmas they would require near title winning form to get into a champions league place.
Of course they have played Liverpool and Man United already but today they conceded four against a team who hasn't won this season, a team who recently struggled to score a goal against Everton even when they had two penalties. Arsenal had a stroke of luck in the fact that an international break allowed the squad to drift away and come back to play at home against a team who were promoted and were struggling to score a goal, but they tried their best to screw that one up as well.
At the rate they are going they will struggle to get much more than 25 points by Christmas.
Stay cool my man. I'm ahead on caf bets though the protocol was profit to the caf.