The battle for the top 4

As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
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SteveO 35
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Post by SteveO 35 »

Red Member wrote:so how is everyone feeling about getting in the top 4 now?
Err..the same as before. A position outside of the top six is virtually unthinkable as there are 14 dogshite teams in the "best league in the world".

4th would be possible if:

a) the self-harmer and CCG manage to persuade "Yeeha, folks its great to be here in London" to invest even a third of the accumulated cash pile currently earning interest at 2%

b) Luis Suarez gets a series of suspensions and injuries

c) Van der Vaart, Modric and Adebarndoor suffer their usual run of injuries at key moments

Nothing has changed mate. When we were in the bottom half most people with half a brain could work out that we were better than all but 5 teams. The attitude of the management team combined with a little bit of luck will determine whether we're better than at least 16 teams

Wengerball
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Post by Wengerball »

We still wont finish Top 4 in my opinion. I agree that Top 6 is on the cards but to be honest Top 4 is a bridge too far for the average team we are putting out on the park.
Any team that relies on the likes of Alex Song and Theo Walcott is going to struggle to make the CL places and so it has proved. I dont know if Liverpool are better than us, it is debatable, but as much as its painful to admit Spuds are also contenders and I cant see us finishing above both especially if RVP gets another injury then we are royally screwed.

The only reason we have had an "upturn" in fortune is that RVP has gotten us out of jail. Without RVP we would have drawn against Stoke and god knows what would have happened vs the Mackems.
We may have scrapped together some results but it doesnt take away from the fact that the same deficiencies are alive and kicking.

We normally start the season really well before messing up at the end. Well we are in a weak position at the moment and we still have the March bottlejob to look forward to.

rigsby
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Post by rigsby »

Nobody is any good. Liverpool look shit, Spurs aren't consistant. We've got a good chance because everyone else is terrible as well.

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bergkamp10
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Post by bergkamp10 »

SteveO 35 wrote:
Red Member wrote:so how is everyone feeling about getting in the top 4 now?
Err..the same as before. A position outside of the top six is virtually unthinkable as there are 14 dogshite teams in the "best league in the world".

4th would be possible if:

a) the self-harmer and CCG manage to persuade "Yeeha, folks its great to be here in London" to invest even a third of the accumulated cash pile currently earning interest at 2%

b) Luis Suarez gets a series of suspensions and injuries

c) Van der Vaart, Modric and Adebarndoor suffer their usual run of injuries at key moments

Nothing has changed mate. When we were in the bottom half most people with half a brain could work out that we were better than all but 5 teams. The attitude of the management team combined with a little bit of luck will determine whether we're better than at least 16 teams
All of the above are likely to happen at some stage, we'll be lucky and win something for sure!!

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biglunn
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Post by biglunn »

rigsby wrote:Nobody is any good. Liverpool look shit, Spurs aren't consistant. We've got a good chance because everyone else is terrible as well.
This is what I thought of when we were in a two-horse race for the title. Chelsea were struggling, ManUtd were plodding - what a great chance for us. We just about scraped fourth.

Now, without Nasri and Fabregas, scraping fourth is too big an ask, even with all the other teams below par.

Red Member
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Post by Red Member »

I am beginning to wonder if I was not optimistic enough

title chances anyone?

LDB
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Post by LDB »

Red Member wrote:I am beginning to wonder if I was not optimistic enough

title chances anyone?
:lol:

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Gunnersaurus
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Post by Gunnersaurus »

biglunn wrote:
rigsby wrote:Nobody is any good. Liverpool look shit, Spurs aren't consistant. We've got a good chance because everyone else is terrible as well.
This is what I thought of when we were in a two-horse race for the title. Chelsea were struggling, ManUtd were plodding - what a great chance for us. We just about scraped fourth.

Now, without Nasri and Fabregas, scraping fourth is too big an ask, even with all the other teams below par.
The loss of Fabregas will be noticeable but Nasri?

Great player on his day but Gervinho is showing signs of being just as effective with regards to scoring and setting up, Nasri was pretty without that much end product if were honest, Gervinho is the opposite.

We will still finish 4th, we will be above Liverpool in 3 weeks as they go to Chelsea and play City while our next 5 are all winnable, confidence is key, yesterday would have built that and the support will be behind the team after yesterday because the team showed balls, the next month is big.

Rosie_titters
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Post by Rosie_titters »

thank fuck Szchesny didn't get sent off - would of been a straight red - 3 match ban

Fabianski comes in and stays as number 1 :shock:

Rosie_titters
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Post by Rosie_titters »

Gunnersaurus wrote:
biglunn wrote:
rigsby wrote:Nobody is any good. Liverpool look shit, Spurs aren't consistant. We've got a good chance because everyone else is terrible as well.
This is what I thought of when we were in a two-horse race for the title. Chelsea were struggling, ManUtd were plodding - what a great chance for us. We just about scraped fourth.

Now, without Nasri and Fabregas, scraping fourth is too big an ask, even with all the other teams below par.
The loss of Fabregas will be noticeable but Nasri?

Great player on his day but Gervinho is showing signs of being just as effective with regards to scoring and setting up, Nasri was pretty without that much end product if were honest, Gervinho is the opposite.

We will still finish 4th, we will be above Liverpool in 3 weeks as they go to Chelsea and play City while our next 5 are all winnable, confidence is key, yesterday would have built that and the support will be behind the team after yesterday because the team showed balls, the next month is big.

Sorry mate, Nasri is a much better player than Gervinho - and shame he isn't still here

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Gunnersaurus
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Post by Gunnersaurus »

I agree, he is a better player but he didn't score enough or assist enough while here, that's the point, if Gervinho scores and assists well like he's starting to do then he's just as valuable if not more because he's providing legitimate end product.

Cesc can't be replaced, Nasri can.

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Revgoon89
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Post by Revgoon89 »

Gunnersaurus wrote: Cesc can't be replaced, Nasri can.
Agreed, I'd say the jury is still out on Gervinho, he needs to work on his finishing most of all, as missing easy chances is simply unacceptable. But his willingness to take on other players, the fact he is becoming less selfish, and most importantly he is developing a good partnership with Robin shows that if he can stay as consistant as the last few games then we won't be missing Nasri much. I'm starting to warm to him.

Hell, as long as he can maintan good form over more then half a season then thats already an improvement.

LDB
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Post by LDB »

I find Gervinho very easy to get behind as a player, always trying to be positive and involved in the game and seems to give it 100% effort.

Red Member
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Post by Red Member »

so we have now beaten Chelsea but I guess for many on here nothing much has changed because Chelsea are shit

as were
Shrewsbury
Bolton
Olympiakos
Sunderland
Marseille
Stoke
Bolton again

and I suppose nothing much will change either if we beat
Marseille again
WBA
Norwich
Borussia Dortmund
Fulham
Wigan etc etc

anyway I am happy with 8 wins out of 9 and the top 4 is the minimum aim for this season now

Red Member
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Post by Red Member »

SteveO 35 wrote:How anyone can even be discussing our prospects for the "top four" at the moment is beyond me.

How about "when will we win an away game". When will we keep a clean sheet in Europe.

.....
ouch

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