I still haven't given up on the title despite our shocking form mainly because of the teams ahead of us.Man City still worry me and once they go past us we are unlikely to catch them in all likelihood. Until then I will focus on the 2 ahead of us and hope Liverpool do us a favour on wednesday.
A lot has been said about no team going on a winning run but both Leicester and Spurs have. Spurs have had to negotiate an easier fixture list while Leicester have cruised mainly due to the 2 shock wins away to Spurs and City.
Make no mistake, Leicester are the overwhelming favourites and at this point I also think they will win the league despite 3 very difficult games at the end of the season.If they maintain the 5 point gap or stretch it to say 7 until the last 3 games they will win the league. There are more than capable of winning the next 8 fixtures but they are short of goals and their bench will hurt them the same way Liverpool's bench hurt them in 2013.
That's their only Achilles heel.They simply have to keep their first 11 fit and fresh and get as many points from the next 8 fixtures.Despite Spurs great run i actually don't worry too much about them.They are a great team but they still have some tough games and the 2 leg ties of Europa will hurt them, make no mistake about it.
Coming back to us, something needs to change in the short term while we hope long term we may have Wilshere and carzola back. We are struggling in midfield especially teams that out number us. We could not cope with the harrying style of the united kids and we will suffer at Spurs again if we dont shore up the midfield.
I think maybe its time to put Ramsey back on the wing and try Elneny next to Coq. It will be a massive gamble but we are running out of options. We are struggling to win and keep ball and the logical thing to do is to add the numbers.
Upfront Giroud and danny could serve us while Sanchez and Theo stew on the bench.That way we can keep things tight and still have good players like Sanchez or Theo to come off the bench.
I have a feeling Leicester will drop points at Westbrom and Spurs like wise at the Boleyn Ground. That will make Sundays game all the more interesting which in all likelihood we could draw unless someone steps up.that will keep us 3 points behind with 9 to go and that's all we can ask for until we rediscover our form.
Shoring up the midfield,Our final gambit
posted on 29/2/16
comment by The Godfather (U10154)
posted 2 minutes ago
Elneny in the middle is not a massive gamble. Ramsey is so atrocious in that position it will take an awful lot to do worse. We just need an average premier league cm in that position who can retain the ball fairly well and pass well and safely and it will be 10 x better than what we have with Ramsey.
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I am even thinking Arteta next to Coq wouldnt be a terrible thing.we need to nullify Spurs and frustrate them.
posted on 29/2/16
The lineup needs a shake up, bring Elneny in for Ramsey (I don't care if he hasn't played, we need to take gambles), Campbell back in for Walcott, I'd drop Sanchez if we had more options and even be tempted to play Iwobi. A message needs to be sent to these players that you can't continue to be pi$$ poor and expect to start, a lot of our players seem like nancy boys that think they can prance about with minimal effort being made, a shake up is needed.
posted on 29/2/16
Whatever combo in Mf we use against Spurs won't work.
They will hunt us down like pool did at anfield.
posted on 29/2/16
Leicester and Spurs have got something that Arsenal lack- they are up for the fight. You cannot rely on other teams dropping points. Even if they do, our form is not good enough. We are perennial also rans. Leicester are in a good position to win. If not, Tottenham are well set up for winning the Premier League and a period of medium term success.
I understand that Levy wants to sell and if Tottenham win the Championship they are well set up to attract a wealthy owner who - unlike our parasitic American - will no doubt invest in the club. So...what have we got to look forward to in the coming years? My instinct tells me a Spurs team, which, after a 50 year wait, will put Arsenal in the shade.
But hey! 4th place is good enough for unambitious Arsenal. Coquelin and Eleny should get us there, so what's the beef? Who needs a top class midfield? Far too expensive for Arsenal.
posted on 29/2/16
iwobi is not ready.
We need to outnumber them and deny them the little triangles they like to make. We must obviously avoid bone head tackles or other stupid challenges.Just shadow them and deny them space.They arent that creative, we simply need to compete though.
Closing down Kane and Eriksson will go a long way although Lamela is useful when its his day.
posted on 29/2/16
comment by jebbush (U20649)
posted 1 minute ago
iwobi is not ready.
We need to outnumber them and deny them the little triangles they like to make. We must obviously avoid bone head tackles or other stupid challenges.Just shadow them and deny them space.They arent that creative, we simply need to compete though.
Closing down Kane and Eriksson will go a long way although Lamela is useful when its his day.
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Can't see Wenger having much of a game plan
posted on 29/2/16
When is Cazorla likely to be back?
posted on 29/2/16
comment by Castor Troy (U8700)
posted 24 seconds ago
When is Cazorla likely to be back?
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Probably April, just in time to save top 4 for another season.
posted on 29/2/16
I made a similar suggestion in another thread. We can't concede midfield to Spurs they will murder us. We need to sacrifice the wingers IMO and play a more compact midfield with 2 leading the line.
posted on 29/2/16
comment by (U8764)
posted 1 hour, 53 minutes ago
Leicester and Spurs have got something that Arsenal lack- they are up for the fight. You cannot rely on other teams dropping points. Even if they do, our form is not good enough. We are perennial also rans. Leicester are in a good position to win. If not, Tottenham are well set up for winning the Premier League and a period of medium term success.
I understand that Levy wants to sell and if Tottenham win the Championship they are well set up to attract a wealthy owner who - unlike our parasitic American - will no doubt invest in the club. So...what have we got to look forward to in the coming years? My instinct tells me a Spurs team, which, after a 50 year wait, will put Arsenal in the shade.
But hey! 4th place is good enough for unambitious Arsenal. Coquelin and Eleny should get us there, so what's the beef? Who needs a top class midfield? Far too expensive for Arsenal.
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Wow that's quite a leap. Spurs have sat above Arsenal in the table for a few weeks and suddenly a generous billionaire is taking them over, buying them titles and they're putting us in the shade for years to come!