Midweek games

[donaldo]

The Spuds had virtually their full team out tonight bar the LB.All their top players fit for the run in.When was the last time we had our full team fit.Are medical team are a bunch of

[MegaGooner]

After tonights horrible results, we gonna need a double dose of lasagne for the Scum and Newcastle

[mcdowell42]

At the end of the day if we win both our games we have left then other results dont matter but obviously its a bonus if our rivals drop pts.I expect us to beat norwich (but then again id thought we would beat wigan) the 1 im worried about is the last game against wba.We play 1st this weekend, win that then the pressure is back on the other 3 teams behind us to get a result.

[SteveO 35]

At the end of the day if we win both our games we have left then other results dont matter but obviously its a bonus if our rivals drop pts.I expect us to beat norwich (but then again id thought we would beat wigan) the 1 im worried about is the last game against wba.We play 1st this weekend, win that then the pressure is back on the other 3 teams behind us to get a result.

We have no momentum, a lack of belief (quote the managerial genius himself post Stoke), a bare bones squad of knackered players, our best 3 midfielders all out, and more importantly its poopy-pants time again i.e. when we need to win, we don't.

Draw with Norwich, defeat at the Hawthorns.

And before Highbury JD or anyone else digs at me for saying it....it gives me no fucking pleasure whatsoever watching the inevitable creep closer.

A miserable fucking night all round - roll on the Summer.

[frankbutcher]

At the end of the day if we win both our games we have left then other results dont matter but obviously its a bonus if our rivals drop pts.I expect us to beat norwich (but then again id thought we would beat wigan) the 1 im worried about is the last game against wba.We play 1st this weekend, win that then the pressure is back on the other 3 teams behind us to get a result.

We have no momentum, a lack of belief (quote the managerial genius himself post Stoke), a bare bones squad of knackered players, our best 3 midfielders all out, and more importantly its poopy-pants time again i.e. when we need to win, we don't.

Draw with Norwich, defeat at the Hawthorns.

And before Highbury JD or anyone else digs at me for saying it....it gives me no fucking pleasure whatsoever watching the inevitable creep closer.

A miserable fucking night all round - roll on the Summer.

I'm going to West Brom and I don't see us winning there. I really don't.

[g88ner]

I understand what you are saying and it is of course correct but my gripe was that we should have taken care of our own stuff and not have to depend on relegation fodder to get us top 4

which is fair enough.

Although, my take on it is that we've been average for a long time and went on a crazy run of consecutive league wins based on momentum, last minutes goals, coming from behind, and riding our luck over and over again - that sort of good fortune was always going to come to an end, as it wasn't our "natural level" and we were overachieving (results wise).

That luck and perseverance took us to 3rd when 3rd looked impossible, and I'm delighted for that good fortune!

Our form hasn't changed that much, I reckon - the main difference is that now RvP is not scoring the last minute goals and we're struggling a bit for goals.

So yeah, maybe we should have secured 3rd by now, but I don't think we've imploded or bottled it... we're just back to our normal level, and that level has allowed Sp*rs & Newcastle back in.

Lets just hope we can crawl over the line for 3rd with a very average Arsenal team (especially now Arteta is out and RvP looks knackered )

[Dan_85]

That second Cisse goal shouldn't really have counted, it didn't come as a result of 115 sideways passes along the D waiting for the opposition to stand aside & let you through. Thats the only way you can score goals right?

Shooting from outside the area? Whatever was he thinking?! Arsene would soon coach that out of him & turn him into a boring, tippy tappy, one dimensional robot

Worst possible set of results for us tonight.

[SteveO 35]

At the end of the day if we win both our games we have left then other results dont matter but obviously its a bonus if our rivals drop pts.I expect us to beat norwich (but then again id thought we would beat wigan) the 1 im worried about is the last game against wba.We play 1st this weekend, win that then the pressure is back on the other 3 teams behind us to get a result.

We have no momentum, a lack of belief (quote the managerial genius himself post Stoke), a bare bones squad of knackered players, our best 3 midfielders all out, and more importantly its poopy-pants time again i.e. when we need to win, we don't.

Draw with Norwich, defeat at the Hawthorns.

And before Highbury JD or anyone else digs at me for saying it....it gives me no fucking pleasure whatsoever watching the inevitable creep closer.

A miserable fucking night all round - roll on the Summer.

I'm going to West Brom and I don't see us winning there. I really don't.

Frank, I admire your resolve mate I really do, especially knowing how you feel about the whole set up at the club these days. Not being a proper fan myself (i.e. not singing for the entire 90 minutes, and not taking up a season ticket because I refuse to make a high wealth individual wealthier still whilst he pisses on my chips and lies to me every year), I can only tip my hat

Whoever makes the trip will be in for a miserable time as Woy's farewell turns into a party and we troop off to the prospect of the Channel 5 Cup

[frankbutcher]

SteveO - Don't talk to me. You're not worthy. I am a Gold Member for a reason.

[SteveO 35]

Where's Red Member to trash all my terrible predictions once more ??

Didn't someone once say "Why is everyone going on about Newcastle. Have you seen their run in ?"

Yes, I fucking have and for the past 4 seasons we've had a supposedly easy run-in haven't we?

How many teams with 3rd place in their own hands and with a final five fixtures of Wigan (h), Chelsea Reserves (h), Stoke (a), Norwich (h) and WBA (a), could fuck it up so spectacularly and gain a haul of three points from fifteen. OK, I'm speculating and setting myself up for a fall and god I hope I'm fucking wrong.....but if that happens just add it to the list of feeble end of season debacles.

[worthing_gooner]

I'm not too worried about Newcastle. Would be amazed if they finished top four seeing as they're 5th now and still have to play Citeh and then go away to Everton.

They beat a Chelski team with an eye on the FA Cup final - Citeh will prove too strong for them at St James - if they win that game the title is all but guaranteed, I don't think they'll let it slip.

For that reason, I think *top four* is assured. The trouble is we can't take the risk of the chavs winning the CL. We really need top 3.

If we beat Norwich, which I think we will, then we'll be four clear with about 3 better goal difference than the scum. If they draw or lose to Villa, I think third is all but assured. If they win at Villa, we'll need to win at WBA to get third because their last game is at home to Fulham.

So I'm confident still, but it's a lot more edgy than it should be due to a few sloppy results. The defeat at home to Wigan was poor and really should have been a win. The draw at home to the Chavs should have been a win too with the side they put out that day. And the draw away at Stoke, whilst not the worst result in the world, could be costly.

[mcdowell42]

Where's Red Member to trash all my terrible predictions once more ??

Didn't someone once say "Why is everyone going on about Newcastle. Have you seen their run in ?"

Yes, I fucking have and for the past 4 seasons we've had a supposedly easy run-in haven't we?

How many teams with 3rd place in their own hands and with a final five fixtures of Wigan (h), Chelsea Reserves (h), Stoke (a), Norwich (h) and WBA (a), could fuck it up so spectacularly and gain a haul of three points from fifteen. OK, I'm speculating and setting myself up for a fall and god I hope I'm fucking wrong.....but if that happens just add it to the list of feeble end of season debacles.

Dont worry about it stevo if we finish 5th i dont think you will be the target of ridicule or abuse

[g88ner]

Whoever makes the trip will be in for a miserable time as Woy's farewell turns into a party and we troop off to the prospect of the Channel 5 Cup

why are you so sure we'll not finish top 4?

Surely, there's some optimism in you somewhere?

I mean, there is no way in the world, back in January, you could have predicted we'd be sat in 3rd with 2 games to go... most would have dismissed our chances as pretty much zero, no? so with that in mind, hasn't the fact most people have been totally wrong put any doubt in your mind that they may surprise you again?

After all, it's not as if we're playing Citeh and ManUre... we're playing Norwich and West Brom. surely even the biggest doom and gloomers must confess there's a chance, surely?!

I genuinely don't understand the definitive negativity by some on here... it's bonkers if you step back, take your doomsday hat off, and just look at all the evidence.

Our fate is not certain. There's a chance. Definitely.

And when there's a chance... there's hope... and that's what football fans cling to isn't it?? that grain of hope?? - if not, why bother? what's the motivation?

I like you Steveo and think you're a damn good poster, but no offence mate, it seems to me like your passion for Arsenal has gone - I hope I never join you in that deep pit of resignation

[frankbutcher]

The thing that makes me lasugh about the tinters on this thread..........

Now we are threatened for 3rd, we are now told that "no-one would have believed we would be in the box seat for 3rd back in December. You would have been called mad." These tinters go round in circles to justify whatever position Wenger has steered us to. 3rd is still an under-achievement and yet we are now being told it is an over-achievement. Unbelievable!!

[flash gunner]

To be honest tonights games dont matter if we win both our games 3rd is ours if we dont and fall out the top4 we dont deserve any better the league table doesnt lie at the end of each season