Have said all season that winning the Europa is our most realistic chance of getting into the CL yet with almost three quarters of the season played, we are sitting 4th, with our closest rivals still to come to the Emirates. Like Wenger’s last season at Arsenal, our home form is extremely good. But you feel we will have to better the points return if we realistically want to finish 4th or higher this season. To do this we will have to win the remaining 5 games, including a key game against what is hopefully an injury ravaged United.
But if you look at our 6 away games to come, Spurs, Everton, Watford, Wolves, Leicester, Burnley, there isn’t a single game here that you would expect us to win. We’ll probably need to win at least 3 of them. 12 points would probably be enough. I don’t think there is a chance in hell we get the required amount of points in away fixtures but credit to Emery, barring a spectacular collapse, we should be there or thereabouts come May when the fight for CL football comes to a close, which is more than you can say about Arsenal last season.
Top 4
posted on 25/2/19
The arsenal Man U game could be key. If we can beat Bournemouth, not lose to spurs and beat Man U we’ll be in a strong position for top 4 with our remaining games. Knowing arsenal we’ll probably play great and beat Man U, then play abysmal and get pumped by wolves away!
But after the Man U game we should have a clearer idea of who’s going to get 4th
posted on 25/2/19
Honestly expect Man Utd to batter Arsenal if we get every key player fit for that game.
posted on 25/2/19
Arsenal are like Spurs grinding out results without playing well consistently. It surely will catch up on them.
posted on 25/2/19
comment by Posh Mufc Great Hafi Not Arrogant Just Better (U6578)
posted 1 hour, 15 minutes ago
Arsenal are like Spurs grinding out results without playing well consistently. It surely will catch up on them.
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Why will it? It's called being consistent - something Utd this season wouldn't know about.
posted on 25/2/19
comment by Posh Mufc Great Hafi Not Arrogant Just Better (U6578)
posted 3 hours, 31 minutes ago
Arsenal are like Spurs grinding out results without playing well consistently. It surely will catch up on them.
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Mourinho made a career wining leagues this way.
posted on 25/2/19
If we can put in performances in like the first half yesterday then I would expect us finish 4th. The defence is a problem obviously but that can be offset somewhat if our attack is doing its job. Injuries are not an excuse at this stage of the season every team has them. I'd expect us to beat United as long as we are clinical we can't afford poor starts like last season against them.
posted on 25/2/19
comment by Tu Meke Mesut (U3732)
posted 7 hours, 43 minutes ago
I think United will be pretty comfortable in 4th by the end of the season, maybe spurs could get dragged into it.
Our away form doesn't convince me. Maybe with a stable Sokratis-Koscielny partnership at the back things could improve, but even then they would have to stay fit, which is no guarantee for either of them.
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I pretty much agree with this. I think our best chance of top 4 hinges on Spurs imploding. United have all the momentum at the moment, but if the players on their injury list are out for a long time then you never know. Chelsea could also sack Sarri and finish the season strongly so you can’t rule the out either. All things considered I think we will miss out but not by much
posted on 25/2/19
comment by The Godfather (U10154)
posted 16 hours, 14 minutes ago
This is a weak, cautious article put in place with the caveat that we shouldn't expect top four so it looks like Emery hasnt failed.
Even in my staunchest support of Wenger, I never excused lack of top four and fully agreed he should leave if not achieved. I hold the same criteria for Emery also
We have players to get top four. We have genuine class in Laca Auba Ozil and Lucas there is no excuse despite your best attempts to make out it would take a miracle.
You wrote an article about having arsenal back, then say you're content with 5th or 6th I guess you did actually mean the arsenal in the few years before Wenger took over
When did you go from being upset with finishing 2nd and 3rd with giroud and welbexk leading the line to being happy with world class aubameyang and lacazette and being happy with 6th? All those years questioning my backing of Wenger and now you are celebrating finishing in worse positionsyou're better than this
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Stop making lies up. I was saying for years I’d happily go backwards under the next manager if I could see signs that we would improve in the future.
It’s ironic really because there are obvious improvements this season compared to last. The results show it as Tu Meke showed on this thread. But long term I’m not sure if Emery is the right man. I wouldn’t be disgusted if we sacked him in the Summer because the performances have been awful for the most part despite some good results. I still think it would be harsh to sack him and as things stand we should definitely be giving him another season at least. The one good thing I will say is he has stopped the rot in the sense we have stopped going backwards and have closed the gap on those around us when we were miles behind them last season.
posted on 26/2/19
To change managers every two season makes absolute no sense. Allthough I am not always happy with Emery's decisions I back him to continue and built a new Arsenal.
I dont care about our performances as long we got results especially away from home. Good performances will come with good results anyway.
Dont see we have progressed yet allthough the table says otherwise but this has more to do with clubs around us also struggle.
posted on 26/2/19
https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/clubs/ontarget_scoring_att
Amazing how good Arsenal finishing has been to score a goal with just over 2 shots on target average.