Who will replace Arsenal?
Comments (3)
Listening to the national call-ins tonight, everyone — including Gooners — seems to feel that the mighty Arsenal are a spent force.
Now being the ultimate optimist, I would like to think that the run we`re on will be the launchpad towards re-gaining that fourth spot. However, I am enough of a realist to know that we have given ourselves an awful lot to do. So who is it going to be ?
Are WE really good enough to make it?
Richard Dodd,
Freshfield Posted 01/11/2008 at 20:46:56
Return to the Mail Bag
Comments
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
Lyndon Lloyd
Editorial Team
Posted 02/11/2008 at 20:05:22
Report abuse
I still think Arsenal have enough depth and talent in their squad to finish in the top four but if there is going to be a team to crack the Sky Four domination this season I can’t see much further than Aston Villa who get incrementally better every year under Martin O’Neill and looked best placed to profit from the inconsistency of the clutch of clubs who were expected to challenge for the European places this time around.
Despite our poor start, I don’t think we’ve left ourselves too much to do if we can put together a really good series of results as we did last season (aren’t we just one point off last season’s tally after the same number of games played?).
The problem, however, is that I don’t think we’re good enough at the moment. We have to remind ourselves that we were lucky that we didn’t face the Bolton that soundly beat City this afternoon and even more fortunate not to lose to Fulham despite being the better side overall.
Maybe he isn’t ever going to be an inspirational midfield type but for me Fellaini still isn’t offering nearly enough in terms of creating chances from midfield. Arteta is blowing hot early in games before going very cold very quickly and neither Osman nor Pienaar can find any consistency from game to game.
That has left us with a predictable goal drought for the strikers and increasing pressure on Yakubu in particular to produce the goods from nothing.
One positive, though, is Neville finally becoming the kind of attacking full-back we need — and I say that being one of his biggest critics — and he was involved in each of our last three goals.
Richard, Arsenal ? lumbered with debt ? still have a better business than your mate Black Bill. Two words: NO CHANCE.
I do believe that Arsenal will struggle this year and I also agree with Lyndon that Aston Villa could well grab that 4th space - BUT - I?m not sure whether they have the squad to cope with the Premier League and the demands of the Uefa Cup. If they have around the FA Cup as well, I can't see them lasting the pace and ultimately will loose 4th definitely to Arsenal and maybe even 5th to us.
© ToffeeWeb
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
Editorial Team
1 Posted 02/11/2008 at 20:05:22
Report abuse
Despite our poor start, I don’t think we’ve left ourselves too much to do if we can put together a really good series of results as we did last season (aren’t we just one point off last season’s tally after the same number of games played?).
The problem, however, is that I don’t think we’re good enough at the moment. We have to remind ourselves that we were lucky that we didn’t face the Bolton that soundly beat City this afternoon and even more fortunate not to lose to Fulham despite being the better side overall.
Maybe he isn’t ever going to be an inspirational midfield type but for me Fellaini still isn’t offering nearly enough in terms of creating chances from midfield. Arteta is blowing hot early in games before going very cold very quickly and neither Osman nor Pienaar can find any consistency from game to game.
That has left us with a predictable goal drought for the strikers and increasing pressure on Yakubu in particular to produce the goods from nothing.
One positive, though, is Neville finally becoming the kind of attacking full-back we need — and I say that being one of his biggest critics — and he was involved in each of our last three goals.