Apologies for the long article.I have always maintained that this season we haven't played anywhere near aswell as we did in the 2nd half of last season.We have ambled along with our team spirit and great defensive performances carrying us through.
However we should be top of the league by the end of tomorrow which will be the halfway stage and thats all that matters. We have been here before and how we approach the 2nd half of the season is what will determine if we will win the league title.
I believe there are 3 title challengers which is City, Leicester and ourselves.A lot of people are quick to rule out Leicester on the basis of their squad strength forgetting that liverpool almost won the league with a bench of Moses and Aspas. Spurs have been impressive but dont have enough goals to win a domestic league which is what has curtailed united's title challenge.
Ideally we have to open up a 7 point gap on City so that we can be comfortable during squeaky bum time. Not ignoring Leicester but here is a comparison of the remaining fixtures for Arsenal and Manchester City.
28/12/15 Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth / Leicester City vs Manchester City
02/01/16 Arsenal vs Newcastle United / Watford vs Manchester City
13/01/16 Liverpool vs Arsenal / Manchester City vs Everton
17/01/16 Stoke City vs Arsenal / Manchester City vs Crystal Palace
24/01/16 Arsenal vs Chelsea / West Ham United vs Manchester City
02/02/16 Arsenal vs Southampton / Sunderland vs Manchester City
07/02/16 AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal / Manchester City vs Leicester City
13/02/16 Arsenal vs Leicester City / Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur
28/02/16 Manchester United vs Arsenal / Newcastle United vs Manchester City
02/03/16 Arsenal vs Swansea City / Liverpool vs Manchester City
05/03/16 Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal / Manchester City vs Aston Villa
12/03/16 Arsenal vs West Bromwich / Norwich City vs Manchester City
19/03/16 Everton vs Arsenal / Manchester City vs Manchester United
02/04/16 Arsenal vs Watford / AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester City
09/04/16 West Ham United vs Arsenal / Manchester City vs West Bromwich
16/04/16 Arsenal vs Crystal Palace / Chelsea vs Manchester City
23/04/16 Sunderland vs Arsenal / Manchester City vs Stoke City
30/04/16 Arsenal vs Norwich City / Southampton vs Manchester City
07/05/16 Manchester City vs Arsenal /
15/05/16 Arsenal vs Aston Villa / Swansea City vs Manchester City
City have some tough fixtures coming up as i believe they will do well to beat Leicester or Watford. The gap needs to start opening up now as we will have a 2 tough games coming up at Anfield and Stoke.I actually think we have a better chance of picking up points at Anfield than the Brittania but we will need Sanchez back for both games.
After these 2 games we should go on a run of which we should beat chelsea for the first time in the league in ages.But around the corner there is an away game to united, Spurs and Everton.
Our April looks generous and if we go into April still on top then I will certainly dare to believe.
Kompanys injury albeit unfortunate is kinda good news for us. Im not convinced him alone can cue their defensive woes but he would certainly make them win more away games. He is more important at this stage of the season than Aguero in my opinion.
The games away to united and Spurs will be in February and hopefully Messrs Wilshere, Welbeck and Coq will be back.
Tough Tough run in but with some luck I think we could do it.
We need to shift through the gears NOW!
posted on 27/12/15
The way this league is going. I wouldn't be surprised to see Spurs join as late tittle contenders. Especially if they have luck with injuries and Arsenal and man city remain some what inconsistent. Don't think they'll win it. But they've got a good settled team. Can't rule out that they won't be up there. Think they'll finish 3rd within a respectable distance from the top
posted on 27/12/15
comment by b10 (U18580)
posted 2 minutes ago
Wasn't it just 2 weeks ago when the Spurs fans were booing their team after Newcastle saw them of? Short memories these clowns.
You can hardly conduct a top 4 race but now you want to claim you are a better team than Arsenal?
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And it wasn't so long ago Arsenal fans were fighting each other in the stands after a bad result!
At no point have I claimed Spurs are better than Arsenal or the other way round I am simply pointing out that to suggest the title is a 2 horse race is very short sighted in Dec
posted on 27/12/15
comment by The Year of the Ox (U7080)
posted 3 minutes ago
The way this league is going. I wouldn't be surprised to see Spurs join as late tittle contenders. Especially if they have luck with injuries and Arsenal and man city remain some what inconsistent. Don't think they'll win it. But they've got a good settled team. Can't rule out that they won't be up there. Think they'll finish 3rd within a respectable distance from the top
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Exactly my point! No one knows what will happen this season
posted on 27/12/15
Spurs have a great chance of getting in to the top 2/3 in my opinion. Going further in the Europa could hamper them.
Ultimately either Arsenal or City should win it, but unless somebody goes on a huge winning streak then there won't be much in it. January could be very decisive if anybody manages to land a player that can hit the ground running.
posted on 27/12/15
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posted on 27/12/15
The realistic target for spurs is Champion's League football. I have no issue with saying they won't be winning it The GD everyone is on about has only just cropped up due to yesterdays results. Up until yesterday we had the best GD in the league.
Sorry ace but over the course of a season, Arsenal are way better than Spurs and have been for the last twenty-odd years. If the two sides were anywhere near as close as you suggest, then Spurs would have finished above us at some point recently.
Haven't though have they? Every year, year after year, they fall short. Will again this year too. I actually think it's time for Levy to start behaving like a Chairman whom wants to win something. The amount of time you've spent knocking at the door of the top four yet you've still not bought any real Marquee players. Bale was the one and was sold. Until Levy stumps up the cash for Sanchez/Ozil quality players, Spurs will continue to fall short. Quite simply, all the other contenders just have too much firepower for Spurs too compete.
People are always saying that Arsenal are one/two player/s short of a title winning side. I think that applies to Spurs also. Some real quality upfront along with that defence and it could be a whole different ball game.
posted on 27/12/15
comment by RonAlvinho (U6117)
posted 40 minutes ago
Spurs have a great chance of getting in to the top 2/3 in my opinion. Going further in the Europa could hamper them.
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Europa is something that a few fans seem to have forgotten about. For me it is essentially what rules out United, Liverpool and Spurs from the title race.
I would even go as far as saying Everton are dark horses for a top 4 place.
I'm convinced Arsenal, Leicester and City will make the top 3.
posted on 27/12/15
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posted on 27/12/15
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posted on 27/12/15
Agreed