third biggest

[phil_mitchell]

we've (as long as ive known) been considered the third biggest team in England behind pool and mancs, IF Chelsea win the champions league again and maybe the league this season, i feel we will be perceived as the 4th biggest. If not, what will it take to be regarded as 4th????

[topcat]

I was thinking this today.

Its hard to say what makes a big club though... Fans? Trophies? History?

One thing is for sure we are living in chelseas shadows atm, they always seem to win trophies and its pissing me off.

[A11M11]

i feel we will be perceived as the 4th biggest.

Another 4th place trophy thread ?

[Midz]

I was thinking this today.

Its hard to say what makes a big club though... Fans? Trophies? History?

One thing is for sure we are living in chelseas shadows atm, they always seem to win trophies and its pissing me off.

Fans? Trophies? History? - all of these.

[Supagoon]

we'll never admit to Chelsea being bigger than us (because they're not)

But there comes a time when as Liverpool found out in previous seasons, that history means little, that opponents don't care about you, you are no longer relevant and that hurts. I'm sure that's how we're viewed on the continent these days.

It's quite damming that utd and Chelsea fans in the past have said, Arsenal are not a threat and they've been proven right every time.

[northbank123]

I was thinking this today.

Its hard to say what makes a big club though... Fans? Trophies? History?

One thing is for sure we are living in chelseas shadows atm, they always seem to win trophies and its pissing me off.

Spot on. I have difficulty in my mind ranking big clubs against each other, seems almost a touch childish, so trying to reach a consensus must be incredibly difficult.

Gun to my head I'd say fans and then history in terms of importance, but you'd have to have your head well and truly buried in the sand to ignore on-field success.

[VAVAVOOM 14]

No.

Even if Chelsea were to fluke another CL, our 13 league titles and potentially 11 FA Cups would still trump their 2 CL medals.

We have a rich history and tradition that's been cultivated for over a century, our stature will remain bigger than Chelsea's regardless.

However, I must say, the prospect of Chelsea winning their 2nd before we've ever won it is extremely distressing.

[phil_mitchell]

stadium capacity counts for nowt IMO. i think its all about trophies, but i think a champions league win for us would eliminate any doubt about our 'size'

[SteveO 35]

The day those Chav *word censored* won the CL was the worst day in all my years as a football supporter. I was more gutted in their victory than I have ever been in defeat for us

[Gunner Rob]

NO

Nottingham Forest have won 2 European cups.
I don't think anyone sees them bigger than Arsenal.

[VAVAVOOM 14]

Aston Villa have also won a European Cup and the Supercup yet no one would say they're bigger than us.

Although, it's all to do with perspective really: maybe if Chelsea were to win another CL some would consider them bigger than Arsenal at present moment given the fact they've won everything multiple times and we've won f*ck all for nigh on a decade.

[phil_mitchell]

NO

Nottingham Forest have won 2 European cups.
I don't think anyone sees them bigger than Arsenal.

correct, but they got relegated 21 years ago and never really recovered, Chelsea however have never been relegated form the prem

[Robin_L]

Chelsea would need to replicate their success of the last decade for at least another decade if not two, before any sane person considers them a bigger club than Arsenal. IMO. But you'll always get new football fans that ignore history who probably already consider Chelsea bigger.

[Theoperator]

As winners of 3 doubles over 3 different decades, and ever presents in the top flight since 1919 we should be top.

[MK Gould]

Would Atletico be a bigger club than Real or Barca if they won the CL and La Liga this season...? No. What if they did it again next season? The answer is still no...

Trophies count, but not just those gained over the last few years. Arsenal are a bigger club than Chelsea despite them winning the CL, because of what we have done since as far back as the 1930's... We have a bigger trophy cabinet than them (albeit some of it a little dusty!), far more fans, a bigger/better stadium and are better known world wide. Likewise Man United over Man City, Real over Atletico etc.

Methinks that Arsenal are still the 3rd biggest club in England...and that doesn't change just because of 9 years without a trophy or a little bit of Russian/Arab money giving a short term boost to some of our lesser rivals.