Ashburton is a fortress????????

[TheOne2Smooth]

How many people have claimed that?
The media have claimed we have settled in to our new home
also Fabregas and Wenger have both mentioned it!
even some of us on here have mumbled it! but reading a article on Arsenal-land suggest otherwise!

I will now copy and paste for all to read

The Ashburton affect – Another hugely subjective factor, our home form has not been that bad at all when you look at the record: P19, W12, D6, L1 which is actually 2 points better than the double year of 2001-02 but 5 behind (having played one game more) Manchester United’s record this season, it is to United’s record where the most relevant comparison lies. Possibly Arsenal will feel more at home next season but of course there is no guarantee. Our away record of P18 W7 D4 L7 is of greater concern which highlighted by the fact that of the 21 point gap 16 of those points is the difference in the respective away records.

The one issue yet to be addressed is the competition Arsenal will face next year, they don’t just have 1 serious rival as they did prior to 2002 but 3 now, all with bigger transfer budgets. The gap between the top and bottom has grown and grown, no longer will 78 points win a title as it did in 1998, it would have only secured third this year and that highlights exactly the problem Arsenal have. The team need more cohesion and experience and possibly one or two signings but there is every reason to be hopeful that the team can improve upon their 67+ total. A win at Portsmouth would mark a 3 point improvement which is no mean feet without Henry, Van Persie and having moving to a new ground. A title bid would not be out of the question next season, a good start, improved finishing and learnt lessons and improved cohesion can bring us close but ultimately I feel the shear competition will mean 2008 will be too soon.

[Chopper]

I actually think the winning total will reduce. Whilst the top teams have got better the lower teams are improving.

The likes of Villa, Pompey, ****, Man City, Newcastle, Blackburn will be far more difficult to beat particularly at their grounds this year whoever plays them. Can see all of mancs/scousers/chavs and ourselves struggling at those grounds, would never say we would lose (particularly at SHL) but bias aside they will all be stronger this year and will be much tougher than the likes of blades/fulham/everton last year and look how we did there!

[stats]

If we start winnig more & putting the ball in the back of the net insted of keeping it at our feet (Hleb) then it would be like Highbury & become a fortress that we need
Home at Highbury wasn't always the way we wanted it to turn like we wanted to (2002 season)
Away was our fortress for a long while but now we suck there, haveing been to 4/5 matches all turned out loses away from home when i went
It might be my luck (which i think it is ) but i'll stick by Arsenal (but not to go there)
If we didn't lose to West Ham & keeping drawing our WONDERFUL score of 1-1 then we prob would of come 2nd at least
We let in far too many goals last season & always the away team scoring first which even happened in the Bergkamp game which is sad in the Arsenal history books but the same scoreline like the first game at Highbury was funny (2-1)
The lose to West Ham i think will affect us in a way as for a while teams weren't brillant against us but a team fighting for a prem place next season done us in our backyard again making again Arsenal history by winnig the first match against Arsenal there & Highbury
The Emirates has to become important to us this season if we really want to challenge for the title which i thought we would of won if we didn't lose to the Hammers but the season hasn't even began yet & i'm saying we have no chance