Arsenal's title credentials...

[Rooney in Paris]

With the way our fixtures look in March, the next month is crucial for us. I don't think being 1 point clear at the end of January will be enough for us to win the league. We're going to have to build a lead but it's so difficult to do.

I agree with this. I've seen you Arsenal fans talk about 'litmus tests' sarcastically and all, but I've said for a few weeks now that what would make or break your seasons would be the Feb/March period, and you don't need to be a genius to know that when you look at your list of fixtures. Now don't get me wrong, you're on top, deservedly so and you've done great with most challenges levelled at you this season. But that run of games at the end of the winter is dreadful, it'd be hard to deal with for any team, even an amazing one with a huge squad (and I don't think that's quite Arsenal, as of yet), so unless you build up a good lead very soon (which is difficult as you're relying on yourselves not slipping up, and other teams doing so) I don't think it'll be attainable for you guys.

My personal opinion is that you're going to crumble during that period, but my predicting skills are as shit as nahealai's jinxing powers are spooky, so you'll probably be fine.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

A friend of mines stands by Wilshere. Says he will have Ramsey on the bench in the next year.

He was looking very good against Cardiff. It's difficult to see where everyone will fit in, but I suspect oneday Ramsey and Wilshere will play CM together. Wilshere needs to mature defensively though.

 

[Grinner]

Wilshere just needs to mature, but I think he's always going to have the petulance.

 

[peterstorey]

He's a strophead like Rooney, that'll probably never change. As cesc's said he and Ramsey should end up as the CM pair before too long.

 

[Grinner]

He's a strophead like Rooney, that'll probably never change. As cesc's said he and Ramsey should end up as the CM pair before too long.

There's some deluded Mancs that still think they'll buy him.

 

[peterstorey]

I thought they didn't want the overrated little toe-rag anymore?

 

[Galactic]

Unfortunately, I can see Arsenal winning the league. They have learnt to grind out results when not playing fantastic football. Well, I would rather Arsenal winning it this year than Chelsea, City or, the worst, Liverpool. Wenger deserves winning it because of his and their board's patience.

 

[kouroux]

Out of the teams at the top, Arsenal winning the title would be ideal for me. They play generally good football and Wenger has changed a lot in recent years for the better.

 

[Barney]

Out of the teams at the top, Arsenal winning the title would be ideal for me. They play generally good football and Wenger has changed a lot in recent years for the better.

Short term it'd be nice, long term it'd be better for Chelsea or City to win it I think.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

Short term it'd be nice, long term it'd be better for Chelsea or City to win it I think.

Why is that out of interest?

Hopefully the Oilmen have had their fun and bugger off?

 

[Barney]

Why is that out of interest?

Hopefully the Oilmen have had their fun and bugger off?

No, I think you winning the league would cause more players to want to join you. Obviously Ozil did, but I think you'd become a much bigger attraction for great players, something I'd say City and Chelsea already are.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

Short term it'd be nice, long term it'd be better for Chelsea or City to win it I think.

What?

 

[coolredwine]

Short term it'd be nice, long term it'd be better for Chelsea or City to win it I think.

 

[kouroux]

No, I think you winning the league would cause more players to want to join you. Obviously Ozil did, but I think you'd become a much bigger attraction for great players, something I'd say City and Chelsea already are.

That makes little sense IMO because at the end it's mostly all about money, look at Utd and all the players we couldn't sign because they were expensive (transfer fees, wages and agent fees all taken into account) despite being the best team in England in the last few years. Arsenal could win the treble and still not attract top players if there is no financial will behind it. The best thing is to combine both (winning trophies and invest heavily in transfers) like Bayern are doing

 

[Barney]

That makes little sense IMO because at the end it's mostly all about money, look at Utd and all the players we couldn't sign because they were expensive (transfer fees, wages and agent fees all taken into account) despite being the best team in England in the last few years. Arsenal could win the treble and still not attract top players if there is no financial will behind it. The best thing is to combine both (winning trophies and invest heavily in transfers) like Bayern are doing

I think more money is going to be invested there (at Arsenal) in future seasons anyway. I think the difference will be whether they're buying very good players or great players. Winning things allows you to do the latter.

 

[kouroux]

We'll see how much money will be invested by them. For me that's the most important thing in attracting top players, trophies win are no longer the main lure. Chelsea or City winning the league will allow other clubs to sign top players if there is no money. There are a lot of quality players all over the world, enough for everyone.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

I agree with Barney here. I think the difference in perception for great players could be important, notwithstanding the financial aspect. Arsenal would go from being the club that hasn't won a single trophy in donkey years to one who is once again truly competitive and won the league. They'd become a very interesting proposition again for top players.

 

[Big Papi]

Well, I was was wrong before Christmas. I thought that Newcastle would halt their gallop....in a league so tight, that a draw could make you drop two places! Their late wins recently is something United were used to doing under Fergie and I think they may well drive on from here. It is a fascinating league and one whose story is still far from fully told.

I thought United would beat Spurs, which would have left us 8 points behind, in a very similar position to 2002/03, in terms of points earned and points behind. Anyway, it hasn't happened so the road back to the top will be even harder for United and all the sweeter......ahem

 

[Donaldo]

Yeah yeah it's a very sweet road.

 

[alastair]

Out of the teams at the top, Arsenal winning the title would be ideal for me. They play generally good football and Wenger has changed a lot in recent years for the better.

There has been some good football this year but for me, our improvement boils down to how we've massively improved our off the ball work. That's the best part of our football.

 

[Il Prete Rosso]

There has been some good football this year but for me, our improvement boils down to how we've massively improved our off the ball work. That's the best part of our football.

It's taken Wenger far too long to realize again that defending is a team sport. The pressing in midfield reminds me of your 2007/2008 season.

(Where is Diaby?)

 

[alastair]

It's taken Wenger far too long to realize again that defending is a team sport. The pressing in midfield reminds me of your 2007/2008 season.

(Where is Diaby?)

Diaby was initially out until March but there are whispers he won't even be back then. I don't understand why we don't just terminate his contract. It sounds harsh but it's £3.6m a season just straight down the drain.

Defending is a team sport, but there are just some general things we've done better - kicking the ball out when there is danger being one of them. Seems obvious but we often took unnecessary risks.

 

[Archie Leach]

It's taken Wenger far too long to realize again that defending is a team sport. The pressing in midfield reminds me of your 2007/2008 season.

(Where is Diaby?)

Something I've been mulling recently is, what if Flamini had stayed? I really think a lot of our defensive problems developed from a lack of steel in midfield, the Song factor if you will, post Flamster's departure. He really is a good player, and I think he wasted some good years at Milan.

 

[Donaldo]

Something I've been mulling recently is, what if Flamini had stayed? I really think a lot of our defensive problems developed from a lack of steel in midfield, the Song factor if you will, post Flamster's departure. He really is a good player, and I think he wasted some good years at Milan.

I think we felt Gilberto's absence a lot more than Flamini's over the long term.

 

[Grinner]

Something I've been mulling recently is, what if Flamini had stayed? I really think a lot of our defensive problems developed from a lack of steel in midfield, the Song factor if you will, post Flamster's departure. He really is a good player, and I think he wasted some good years at Milan.

He didn't waste them, he counted his money which was why he moved.

 

[JazzG]

Something I've been mulling recently is, what if Flamini had stayed? I really think a lot of our defensive problems developed from a lack of steel in midfield, the Song factor if you will, post Flamster's departure. He really is a good player, and I think he wasted some good years at Milan.

We've looked defensively shit with Flamini in the side as well so I wouldn't put it down to him. End of last season we were as defensively sound as we are now and didn't have Flamini. Our problem has been the structure of the team off the ball, no discipline to our team defending and generally all at sea. Once we got that sorted we have looked a lot stronger. Too much space between the lines, no organisation, no off the ball pressing and too many players being caught up field were just some of the issues with us defending

When we went 1-0 up at Newcastle we looked strong and didn't look like we'd concede, in the past there hasn't been enough organisation and conviction to our defending, our defence and keeper fight for clean sheets now and proud of our defensive record. We've essentially played with players who haven't been responsible enough and tactically switched on enough while maintaining our attacking game. I remember players like Song & Denilson wondering off without a care in the world of what happened behind them. Last time we looked defensively this organised was 03/04 but we had a more settled team then and devastating striker.

 

[kouroux]

There has been some good football this year but for me, our improvement boils down to how we've massively improved our off the ball work. That's the best part of our football.

That's what I also meant by good football, everyone work as a unit. Defensively your team has improved a lot.

 

[Archie Leach]

I think we felt Gilberto's absence a lot more than Flamini's over the long term.

But Gilberto was done when he left us.

He didn't waste them, he counted his money which was why he moved.

Well ok, I don't know what the relative salaries were. I assumed Milan were a more attractive team at the time, not taking into account their decline in the ensuing years.

We've looked defensively shit with Flamini in the side as well

His early season performances were a revelation, he gave us a bite that Arteta never has, and certainly Song never did. Also in regards to my original post, I'm wondering if we'd had his best years what would've been the effect. I think in the years we were defensively shaky our midfield got let off easy, with our various CBs taking the brunt of the fans ire.

 

[Grinner]

As I recall he ran his contract down and got a huge signing on bonus. Playing in Milan was obviously a nice prospect too.

 

[peterstorey]

As I recall he ran his contract down and got a huge signing on bonus. Playing in Milan was obviously a nice prospect too.

He got a 5-year 100K euro/week deal - about a 50% uplift on what we could sensibly offer

 

[MikeUpNorth]

What are the chances of Arsenal getting another striker in this window? You never know, they could win it, unlikely as it seems.

 

[Donaldo]

What are the chances of Arsenal getting another striker in this window? You never know, they could win it, unlikely as it seems.

Still a long, long way to go. The tightness of this year's league means that a couple of weeks could see us in 3rd/4th as well.

I do hope we add some quality in the striking department but don't think it will happen.

 

[peterstorey]

What are the chances of Arsenal getting another striker in this window? You never know, they could win it, unlikely as it seems.

Slim. It's a pity since a Benzema would see us win it.

 

[Grinner]

Sanogo will be like a new signing...or something.

 

[Barney]

Slim. It's a pity since a Benzema would see us win it.

Another Giroud would see you win it I think (that could obviously change depending on who others sign).

 

[peterstorey]

Giroud's finishing has cost us 5-6 points already.

 

[Grinner]

Giroud's finishing has cost us 5-6 points already.

Suarez would have wrapped it up for us by now. Hindsight is a bastard.

 

[alastair]

Giroud's build up play and all round game has probably won us around 10 points, in fairness to him.

 

[crappycraperson]

Giroud's build up play and all round game has probably won us around 10 points, in fairness to him.

Build up play and finishing do not have to be mutually exclusive.

 

[Archie Leach]

What happened to those Pato rumours?