Crunch Time

Wengerball · Post by **Wengerball** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:23 pm

Todays result leaves us 3 points off the Chavs in 4th and 5 off the Scum (with them having a game in hand). So potentially 8 points off our most realistic target (The Chavs can throw money at their problems).

I would suggest that this next month has taken on great significance. Firstly because we need to bring on the right reinforcements. Secondly because after this period some of our injured players should be back and thirdly because any more slip ups in this time and the situation would be looking very dire indeed with Liverpool on our tail.

I have selected these next 5 games because they are the build up to our clash with ManYoo at the Emirates which is our next clash with a "big" team.

Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Aston Villa v Arsenal, 19:45

Monday, 26 December 2011
Arsenal v Wolverhampton, 15:00

Saturday, 31 December 2011
Arsenal v QPR, 15:00

Monday, 2 January 2012
Fulham v Arsenal, 17:30

Sunday, 15 January 2012
Swansea v Arsenal, 16:00

For me 15 points is a must from these 5 games. If we have any ambitions of making the top 4 we must strike in these next 5 games. Not forgetting that Spuds play the Chavs when we play Villa, every game could be of huge significance.

How many points will we need heading into the ManYoo game and where do you think we will be at that point?

augie · Post by **augie** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 7:57 am

Havent you heard.......the chavs beating man shitty last monday was a good result for us cos when we beat citeeh yesterday we were gonna be 3pts of top spot

Said it at the time that I cannot understand how some wanted a team that we are competing with to beat a team that are far beyond our level and I still stand by that and it will be interesting to see how those 3pts will impact on us down the line

SteveO 35 · Post by **SteveO 35** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:59 am

Even the Black Scarf twitter page was saying yesterday how "Spurs last 8 opponents were crap, no wonder they are where they are"

Yep, and two of them were Fulham and Blackburn; teams that had we also beaten owing to their general crapness, would see us level on points with the spuds

I put a thread up here a few weeks highlighting how we could easily have caught the Chavs with our run of games leading up to City away, but we fucked up against Fulham - that was crunch time too.

Frankly where we are now, every week is crunch time and it's more self harm again as the most neglectful Summer in history effectively saw us start off handicapped in August. I can only hope that Gazidis and Wenger pay for that hopeless Summer of mismanagement with their jobs. If we miss out on the top 4 by a couple of points then they need to look back at how we conducted our transfer business in the Summer and hang their heads in shame.

Since the window, we've mostly been OK (Blackburn defeat apart), but the whole sorry Nasri/Cesc episode, lack of top drawer replacements and farcical signings like Park will haunt the club for years to come I think

TeeCee · Post by **TeeCee** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:59 am

We probably won't even beat Villa because Wenger is likely to rest RVP ahead of the busy christmas schedule.
All those who got carried away with us beating a few of the 'lesser' teams may come back to reality soon as the top 4 open a gap on us and Liverpool. It really doesn't look great with our squad strength teetering on the edge. Have you noticed in the last couple of weeks how we've gone from being an injury to RVP away from disaster, to an injury to RVP or Chezza away from disaster to an injury to RVP, Chezza or any more defenders away from disaster!! It's getting worse people, wake up and smell the coffee!

Red Member · Post by **Red Member** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:10 am

augie wrote:Havent you heard.......the chavs beating man shitty last monday was a good result for us cos when we beat citeeh yesterday we were gonna be 3pts of top spot Said it at the time that I cannot understand how some wanted a team that we are competing with to beat a team that are far beyond our level and I still stand by that and it will be interesting to see how those 3pts will impact on us down the line

I also said this too. I wonder how many of those who supported Chelsea last week feel a bit stupid this morning?

goonersid · Post by **goonersid** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:16 am

I thought yesterday's performance was worth a point, in the end we lost a game which just about every team in the league will also lose.
The important thing now is that we beat Villa, they are shite as yesterday showed. Mc Cleish however has proved to be a thorn in Wenger's side and for this reason I don't expect us to get 3 points from this game.
For this reason I would prefer the Chavs to beat s***s, as I think Harry's pending court case will affect their form after Christmas, making them the most likely to slip up.

richpye · Post by **richpye** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:16 am

Still like the fact that money can't be you an unbeaten season

Red Member · Post by **Red Member** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:20 am

goonersid wrote:I thought yesterday's performance was worth a point, in the end we lost a game which just about every team in the league will also lose.
The important thing now is that we beat Villa, they are shite as yesterday showed. Mc Cleish however has proved to be a thorn in Wenger's side and for this reason I don't expect us to get 3 points from this game.
For this reason I would prefer the Chavs to beat s***s, as I think Harry's pending court case will affect their form after Christmas, making them the most likely to slip up.

the Villa game is actually the really important game of the week.
one in which Miquel will play probably...I can't believe that we are in this situation. Wenger really fucked up over playing Santos in Greece. The decision which could ultimately wreck our season.

BRAZILLIANT 19 · Post by **BRAZILLIANT 19** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:40 pm

goonersid wrote:I thought yesterday's performance was worth a point, in the end we lost a game which just about every team in the league will also lose.
The important thing now is that we beat Villa, they are shite as yesterday showed. Mc Cleish however has proved to be a thorn in Wenger's side and for this reason I don't expect us to get 3 points from this game.
For this reason I would prefer the Chavs to beat s***s, as I think Harry's pending court case will affect their form after Christmas, making them the most likely to slip up.

Yesterday they had both Bent and Agbonlahor out. Agbonlahor will def'ly be back and has caused us problems before,not sure if Bent will be fit but is always likely to nick a goal if he is playing.As well as no full backs we'll also be without Arteta and Song so i don't for one minute imagine it will be a straightforward victory but if we play as well as we did yesterday then we should be good enough to win it.Just hope we have AOC at least on the bench tomorrow.

SteveO 35 · Post by **SteveO 35** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:46 pm

BRAZILLIANT 19 wrote:
goonersid wrote:I thought yesterday's performance was worth a point, in the end we lost a game which just about every team in the league will also lose.
The important thing now is that we beat Villa, they are shite as yesterday showed. Mc Cleish however has proved to be a thorn in Wenger's side and for this reason I don't expect us to get 3 points from this game.
For this reason I would prefer the Chavs to beat s***s, as I think Harry's pending court case will affect their form after Christmas, making them the most likely to slip up.
Yesterday they had both Bent and Agbonlahor out. Agbonlahor will def'ly be back and has caused us problems before,not sure if Bent will be fit but is always likely to nick a goal if he is playing.As well as no full backs we'll also be without Arteta and Song so i don't for one minute imagine it will be a straightforward victory but if we play as well as we did yesterday then we should be good enough to win it.Just hope we have AOC at least on the bench tomorrow.

I have a sneaky feeling that RvP will be "in the red physically"

and that we'll be 'treated' to the Camel plodding around up top on his own. Then with 20 minutes to go, Super Quality will be flung into action bouncing off defenders and generally running around like a little boy lost

Then I also expect to hear "we dominated for large periods, but lacked a little bit of sharpness and efficiency in the final third"

I swear if I hear him utter those words in response to another Camel & SQ run-out, I can not be held responsible for my actions

worthing_gooner · Post by **worthing_gooner** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:46 pm

I think all this is a moot point because it's a fucking disgrace that a club with our resources, and wage bill, and transfer income, and ticket prices are struggling big time to reach the top four.

Everyone knew what needed to be done in the summer and it wasn't done until two weeks into the season. That start could cost us a champions league spot next season and has turned us into a laughing stock.

If we don't reach the top four this season, it will be down to the negligence of Wenger and Gazidis in the summer. We're barely scraping by as it is.

As others have mentioned, surely RVP will be out at some stage this season for his usual six-eight week spell. If that happens we'll be well and truly fucked.

In all honesty I just can't see us finishing top four this season which is simply unacceptable.

BRAZILLIANT 19 · Post by **BRAZILLIANT 19** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:47 pm

.. not forgetting " A great spirit and mental attitude"

goonersid · Post by **goonersid** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:49 pm

BRAZILLIANT 19 wrote:.. not forgetting " A great spirit and mental attitude"

And maybe a "handbrake on" comment.

SteveO 35 · Post by **SteveO 35** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:54 pm

and perhaps

"...you have to give credit to Villa. They defended very well"

Another comment that makes me want to pick up my keyboard and lob through it through the fucking monitor.

You could basically substitute the word "Villa" and replace it with Barnet, Salisbury City, American Samoa or fucking Eastbourne Borough. If I was a centre half marking Chamakh or Park then you could credit me for "defending very well" I guarantee it

I've actually got a nice little trip lined up to this game and if I hear RvP is missing and we've got either of those two useless fuckers in reserve I think I'll stay in the bar

rigsby · Post by **rigsby** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 2:15 pm

think all this is a moot point because it's a fucking disgrace that a club with our resources, and wage bill, and transfer income, and ticket prices are struggling big time to reach the top four

Everyone is bloody struggling for it bar the top 2. Its so changeable its ridiculous.

Its ONE game, which as someone said, most teams will get stuffed there. We put in a solid performance, worthy of at least a point. We're on practically THE SAME RUN as the scum. Next 5 games are all winnable.