How far off are Arsenal

One of Fabregas or Nasri is likely to stay, most likely Nasri, personally I'd sell both NOW and replace them as soon as humanly possibly.

As always a lot of Arsenals problems will be decided by injuries, but that's not really what you (the OP asked).

Arsenal NEED a new; Leftback (unlikely to happen), 1 quality centreback (likely), another ballwinning midfielder (insanely neglected position). In an ideal world (what with Arsenals outrageous injury record) another proven striker would be great (again incredibly unlikely).... For what it's worth I predict the new guy, Gervinho will be a real quality signing.

It depends if united can improve their god awful away record.If they dont then we are pretty close if they do then you guys will blow us out of the water.

chelsea dont come into it yet, this is a transition season and AVB will be given time.I actually think City are your closest challengers.

You see the issue of getting points away from home is to have a fluent playing style where your best players consistently create chances and defend well.Unfortunately woith united the only thing they managed to do was defend decently otherwise they were awaful interms of creating chances hence the horrendous away record.

Thats why Liverpool arent even close to challenging for fourth place.Their playing style is still not yet fluent,they are winning games on passion,the Kop and the kenny factor.

chelsea arent fluent at the moment but that was becoz Carlo let the team stagnate so bad that they lost to pool at home and twice against united in the champions league.To be framnk he deserved the sack its just that everybody likes carlo so they pick on Roman the rich guy.

The only fluent teams in the the top 6 are Arsenal and spurs but they both cant defend so even though they will get loads of points away from home they will win F-all.

comment by Moistthighs (U3249)

Would you agree that it looks like Fimprong is the person being lined up for the 'ball winning mid' position?

Would you agree that it looks like Fimprong is the person being lined up for the 'ball winning mid' position?

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Looks likely. Song is the only natural "ball winner" in the squad (barring Frimpong) which is nothing short of negligent. Wenger tried Denilson there to devastating (negative) effect and Diaby "holding" is an embarrasment to behold!

So yeah, I just hope the young lad is up to the job. Be nice to see him do well given the opportunity. He's a "proper Gooner" which is always a nice touch, he's strong in the tackle, fairly mobile, although his distribution on recent evidence will need to improve considerably. By the looks of thing he just need to keep things "simple".

Any injury to Song will be a real baptism of fire for Frimpong, I'd like to see him do well, but either way, Wenger relying on the boy is a gamble...

Will Ramsey start the majority of games if Fab leaves? (wish he was English btw)

Will Ramsey start the majority of games if Fab leaves?

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Extremely likely.

comment by Moistthighs (U3249)

He did look good in pre-season (again). I suspect that if he stays fit and gets some good game time under his belt he could be a revelation.

Gamble, yes. But isn't everything when you don't have bottomless pockets?

Oscandwarf:

Agreed, he's looked impressive, not "out of this world", but good!

I presume Wenger rates him, which is good enough for me.

As for the gamble, well yeah, any "new" player is a gamble to a degree, even a big money signing can and sometimes does backfire.

I do think the holding role in midfield, especially at a team as cavalier as Arsenal is incredibly important.

Like I said, if Song (who for the record I think need to be more disciplined than he was last campaign) does get an injury, Frimpong will be tested to the max.

Baptisms of fire sometimes can be the making of a player.

I've seen enough of Frimpong over the last 3 years to be fairly impressed. Naturally, that isn't against PL opposition and it isn't week in, week out, but he's a player I have high hopes for.

From what I've seen so far he seems to bring a bit more dynamism into the defensive mid. Or maybe it's because I haven't seen a 6'5 beast in that role since Viera.

Either way, I hope the lad has an excellent season. Arsenal's season might just be made by such a performance.

ForeverManUnited. (U6766)
even if we keep Cesc and Nasri we are still way behind utd and the chavs even city have overtaken us,but it does look like Cesc is leaving maybe Nasri to so we will be lucky to finish in the top 4 this season