This just questions me. I like to write positive articles as much as I can and I usually do post very positively on the Arsenal board when I'm around, so I will again. But why are pundits doing this?
If this was any of the other Top 4, would they be questioning this if they were in you're position? No. I understand, you could argue that you haven't won a trophy in 8 years or whatever the figure is, you've bottled it in positions before etc. But then people like Shearer and pundits moan why have Arsenal never won a trophy? Because you always keep putting them down the thick idiots.
Being a Sports Journalist myself, I can assure you, it isn't me otherwise I wouldn't be posting so strongly against what other pundits have said. But you've got a 4 point gap, got a great chance of increasing it tonight if Chelsea mess up away at Sunderland which we have seen big teams do (Man City) so it could be 6/7 points between you and Chelsea.
I believe this title is yours, if you really want it. Which obviously, you do. People will also argue that you haven't played the big teams yet. Well, everyone is currently a smaller team than Arsenal really so I don't know what classes as a big team to them at the moment. But, if you look at the last top teams. You've played: Spurs, United and Liverpool and taken 6 points from a possible 9. Now that's good. Spurs at home is still tough as it's a local derby against a team EXPECTED to finish above you this season, Liverpool were going strong and still are and look a force to beat and United? A defeat needs to come in somewhere and they are still 9 points behind you so that result wasn't really a title decider in it's hands.
But obviously, tough fixtures of the festive period now. If you can collect at least 12+ points over this period, then I'd consider that to be a very good return, even if there is a possible 18 points to play for. 2 defeats isn't so bad, although, 1 defeat or potentially 0 defeats could be considered more realistic. Just as long as you take points off City and Chelsea which you can do. Maybe not even City actually, even defeat against them but win against Chelsea and win the rest would still leave you in a commanding position at the top I'd bet. But if I'm honest, 12 points would be my target to hit as I can see most teams that are challenging the title/Champions League/Europa League will lose at some point over this period I'd predict. I can just see it. Then there is plenty of winnable game into the first 2 months of the new year after that I feel.
But, everything needs to be taken 1 step at a time from now until the end of the season. You've had you're good start, pushed on with it, now you need to sustain it. I'd in the pundits and doubters face if you do win the league. But you've got to strive towards it and not hide away and protect yourselves from the other teams and try to protect you're lead. You've got to keep attacking it to strengthen it. That's just my attacking philosophy or mentality anyway.
Thoughts?
Pundits doubt title challenge
posted on 4/12/13
we probably let in one of the fewest shots on our goal this season. I think de gea has saved the fewest shots this season in the league.
posted on 4/12/13
How is Arsenal's squad too weak? I for one have seen plenty of Arsenal fans saying they've had more injuries on the table than most of the other top teams in this division. In fact, Arsenal currently have the joint most in the division with 6 (along with Swansea and Norwich) and although not all are first team players, they are on the fringes and Arsenal do like to play a rotation game.
Arsenal have one very good striker on very good form, shows that he is a good player. In fact, regarding you're post above, the only thing Arsenal need is another top striker to play back-up to Giroud or maybe someone to start up top instead.
Yeah but every striker misses chances. Although, it just depends who finds the net really. Rooney has been playing in different positions and has done well to adapt to them as it could have been a lot worse for him.
It's all about applying what you did under SAF into Moyes, but obviously, they have different systems and different coaching staff which isn't even Europa League standard, so, there are plenty of factors to United's failure so far this season.
But I don't agree with you saying that Arsenal's squad doesn't have enough depth.
posted on 4/12/13
Looking at our team tonight, I can see why many in the media doubt us.
We simply don't have the squad depth to match the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, this is where they will come strong. As the mid-week games come flying in, we'll begin to get a bigger picture about our title hopes and the teams directly below us.
If Wenger can rotate appropriately and get the results while resting key players then we'll be in a great position to win the title. Imo, our second choice full-backs and CF let the squad strength down... - Yet Fergie managed to win titles with the likes of O'Shea, Wes Brown and Phil Neville to name a few, so I am very confident we can prove the pundits wrong.
posted on 4/12/13
I do actually think it is. Quality isn't much difference between yours and Chelsea's actually. Man City, maybe not. But you have enough in the tank to win the league.
Wenger does like to rotate in tough situations where maybe some players don't perform well enough which makes you're side consistent, but what doesn't then is the fact that it's unbalancing the side for the one's like Koscielny that consistently play and play well, so when new players come in every week, it's tough going for them. So it then does balance itself out to inconsistency unfortunately for Arsenal. That balance is like flipping a coin, it's a 50-50 chance, unfortunately, you hit the wrong side and teams like City, Chelsea and United get the correct side of the coin. This season, it's you on the right side of the coin.
posted on 4/12/13
We were very lucky to draw against Spurs and Cardiff?!?
Spurs one was close but we were the better team.
Cardiff game wasnt even close they were very lucky to get the point.
posted on 4/12/13
chelsea go behind.
posted on 5/12/13
You can only drop 12 points now Hafi. Good luck with that one!
posted on 5/12/13
Man utd dropped 13 points after 30 games last season.
http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/league-table.html?season=2012-2013&month=APRIL&timelineView=date&toDate=1364770800000&tableView=CURRENT_STANDINGS
Record breaking for first 30 games of the season.
posted on 5/12/13
Last season. Unless Fergie comes out of retirement that ain't happening again.
posted on 5/12/13
The funny thing was savage was trolling us in media he was on the radio commentating I think our game, yesterday he was amazed by how well we played and probably realised our strikers are shocking. Its so annoying that we really should have beaten cardiff and everton yet get only 1 point from those games. A point against tottenham was fair enough. 5 more points and man utd would be in touch. Now the season looks over. I wonder if this is by a long way man utd worst start to the season.