City v Arsenal

[Arginald Valleywater]

Just watched the match as out over lunch. Superb entertainment. Throws the title race wide open again........

[cockneygeezer2009]

Wish Wenger would keep f*****g his gob shut. Mouthing off before the game is no good. All he does is put unnecessary pressure on his players. Mouth off after the game IF you have won it. Every time he's faced decent opposition he's lost. Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle Everton and Tottenham away have to be played.

I agree with Shearer. Arsenal won't win the league. My money would be on Man City or Chelsea.

[MrTickle]

I said at the start of the season that the title would be between City, United and Chelsea. Arsenal to finish fourth at best.
At lot has been made of Arsenal's start to the season and that they are proving all their doubters and the Wenger out! brigade wrong and that they should be taken seriously as title challengers.

I was called cynical in the pub a few weeks ago after Arsenal had beaten Norwich City because I mentioned the fact that if you compare Arsenal's results in their opening eight games to the same fixtures as last season, they actually won all eight, so in theory they are actually 5 points worse off than last season.

Now the reason I was called cynical is because I said that it wouldn't surprise me if they gave Arsenal easy fixtures at the beginning of the season in order to have them at or near the top, because then it means we have the most exciting title race for years ( which is what the tv companies want) until about March when Arsenal will fall away.

They (Sky etc) do not want a 2 horse race in October.

Also, I wish I knew what Wenger sees in Giroud. Does he honestly think he can win the league with him up front?

[Arginald Valleywater]

I am an Arsenal admirer but I think the same old weaknesses are showing. Simply not enough strength in depth, can't beat their top 6 rivals and I doubt any team who conceded 6 goals in a game have gone on to win a domestic title in my lifetime. Realistically they will scrape 3rd as long as they can beat the likes of Norwich but no better. Arsene needs to see the light and realise his time has come to walk away with a modicum of decency.

[MrTickle]

I don't think they will ever win another title under Wenger as he is not defensively minded. Most of his success was down to the fact he inherited the famous back six. It's no coincidence that they haven't won a title since the last (Keown) of them left.

[David Johnson]

"Arsene needs to see the light and realise his time has come to walk away with a modicum of decency."

Once again, a very good point Argie.

Wenger has only got Arsenal into the Champions League for the 15th season in succession, won a couple of league and cup doubles, been manager of the first team to go through an entire season in the league for 115 years without being defeated etc. etc. Although Arsenal haven't won any trophies for awhile, the vast majority of clubs would kill to have a Champions League qualification record like Arsenal.

And in the last 5 years for example, Arsenal have spent 60 million less than Man Utd, nearly 400 million less than Chelsea and 60 million less than Man Utd on transfers. Only Everton and Newcastle have spent less on net transfers than Arsenal in the League.

When is this Frog going to show some decency, accept his failure and resign!!!!

[David Johnson]

"I don't think they will ever win another title under Wenger as he is not defensively minded."

Not defensively minded?

Well, it's not far off halfway through the season and despite the drubbing on Saturday when they let in 6, Arsenal still have less goals against than their main rivals, Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City.

[Essex Lad]

My God, I knew this day would come one day but never realised it would be so soon.

I agree with every word David Johnson has written (only in this post, natch).

I must take to my bed forthwith.

[David Johnson]

"Arsenal have spent 60 million less than Man Utd, nearly 400 million less than Chelsea and 60 million less than Man Utd on transfers"

Bit of repetition. Anyway to link to some even more startling figures - net spend over the 10 years up to and including the 2011-12 season.



Chelsea and Man City have spent 10 times as much as Arsenal over the 10 years. Even the likes of Stoke, Aston Villa and Sunderland have spent more.

Amazing achievement for Wenger to keep Arsenal up in the top 4 and have so much success.

[Zorro]

David

You rightly point out that Arsenal have spent so much less than Chelsea, Man U and City, but as a result they are won nothing. I am sure their fans would rather they spent some more and won something.