I was musing over possible challengers to Man City and us (in that order ) basically to see who could take maximum points off us.
Spurs possible but no, Chelsea no, Man Utd no, then got to Arsenal.
What has happened to them? They've basically swapped places with early 2000's Spurs!
Got me thinking, while manager of Tottenham Hotspur, Villas Boas identified that there was a negative spiral soon to affect Arsenal.
Many laughed at him, and then derided him as Arsenal went onto beat Hull in the FA cup, but it turns out AVB was right.
He saw that there was such an effect, it just needed a trigger, and that trigger wasnt him, it was Mauricio Pocchettino.
Arsenal fans infighting over Wenger effectively gave Spurs the one competitive advantage they needed. Spurs knew they were crap, while Arsenal were holding onto past glories and a past it Wenger.
Spurs replaced their manager with Pocchettino. His support of the board to manage the squad and help the funds flow in to help build the stadium is an even greater feat than what Wenger did with the Emirates. A smaller club ag the time he has turned into a top team, also matched Wengers best in Europe by being runners up in the CL final without spending anything.
There is no question that Spurs are now THE premier club in North London, perhaps even in the whole of London.
The negative spiral has embroiled all at Arsenal, the board, the players and the fans. Even when a lifeline is available to them like the Europa league final, the fans can't be bothered to turn up, nor the players.
Basically an open goal to seize the moment, win the game and get top 4.. all it needed was one cohesive effort from the whole club, top to bottom. They couldn't do it, as they're trapped in this negative spiral..
Uninspiring stadium, fans and average players.
AVB was right. He wasn't the right man, but he was right.
Gooners would be at PAINS* to admit it.
*Pocchettino = Arsenal In A Negative Spiral
Villas Boas.. right about Arsenal
posted on 24/6/19
Careful groovy, he'll get you banned
posted on 24/6/19
Facking hell, like a pack of rabid hounds.. sure I'll say.
Stadium, never mind just The Emirates, Spurs stadium is the best football stadium in the country.
Team, spurs are ahead of Arsenals team and will be further ahead after the summer. - note they didn't even strengthen last season.
Fans - actually the spurs fans are behind their team and club and are quite realistic, gooners have been fighting among themselves for years.
Manager - No contest, Poch wipes the floor with Emery. A midtable Arsenal wanted Emery, while Poch is coveted by the top clubs in the world.
Feel free to dispute and discuss.
posted on 24/6/19
Also, Spurs being in the top club competition (the CL) didnt need to be mentioned, however Spurs have definitely taken Arsenals place there.
Feeling the pain yet gooners?
posted on 24/6/19
Stadium, never mind just The Emirates, Spurs stadium is the best football stadium in the country.
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Meaning it is better than EVERYONES, not just the Emirates
Team, spurs are ahead of Arsenals team and will be further ahead after the summer. - note they didn't even strengthen last season.
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Leaving us in the dust by a whopping 2 points
Fans - actually the spurs fans are behind their team and club and are quite realistic, gooners have been fighting among themselves for years.
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Please talk facts, not just your invalid opinion.
Manager - No contest, Poch wipes the floor with Emery. A midtable Arsenal wanted Emery, while Poch is coveted by the top clubs in the world.
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Who's won what in their careers?
Feel free to dispute and discuss.
posted on 24/6/19
comment by AFCISMYTEAM (U14931)
posted 1 minute ago
Stadium, never mind just The Emirates, Spurs stadium is the best football stadium in the country.
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Meaning it is better than EVERYONES, not just the Emirates
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So you agree its better than the Emirates
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Team, spurs are ahead of Arsenals team and will be further ahead after the summer. - note they didn't even strengthen last season.
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Leaving us in the dust by a whopping 2 points
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They didn't spend any money and focused their last 6 weeks on the CL, as as you point out, still ahead of arsenal
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Fans - actually the spurs fans are behind their team and club and are quite realistic, gooners have been fighting among themselves for years.
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Please talk facts, not just your invalid opinion.
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Completely factual, unless you dispute Wenger in/out brigades don't exist
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Manager - No contest, Poch wipes the floor with Emery. A midtable Arsenal wanted Emery, while Poch is coveted by the top clubs in the world.
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Who's won what in their careers?
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Poch is a far better manager than Emery, if you truly dispute this then you are seriously deluded.
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Nothing in favour of Arsenal at all. No question that Arsenal have been poorly run, won't dispute that at all. All its led to is Spurs moving ahead of you.
Sustained CL positioning is indicative of that.
Feel free to dispute / discuss
posted on 24/6/19
This is all short termism.
Arsenal fans are a bit plasticky at this point. bit ranty on TV etc. The man they appointed and the technical directors need 3 years, not 1. Klopp got his 3 years. He lots in europa final and finished 8th in his first 6 months.
Give it time.
As for spurs: They've done well but things need to change there... or things WILL change by virtue of them being forced by players and manager leaving. I'm watching them with interest.
As for chelsea: Transfer ban... its a big deal. They are shy of a forward imo. That could really hurt them. Decent 11, very decent but that man up front could mean they miss out.
As for Utd: The pressure will be immense next year. Again it should not be if fans and management are rational. OGS has gotten 6 months. not much changed in that time in league position did it?
If he's sacked then they could spiral. They have the time now to bring on some young players in europa and have 2 or 3 that will benefit. they need to shed a lot of dead wood and bad mistakes.... and then we will see.
Right now any of the above can beat a city or liverpool... at home at least and on their day are very good teams.. but they are not 85 point plus teams. they've all work to do but it is only 24th june.
posted on 24/6/19
You'd class Man Utd as that Mito? A very good team?
posted on 24/6/19
Wouldn’t surprise me to see Arsenal finish in the top 4 next season. They are a lot closer to the other top sides than most people think. Had Auba not bottled his pen at Wembley they would have coasted top 4.
posted on 25/6/19
comment by Redinthehead - FreeGaza - فلسطين (U1860)
posted 20 hours, 39 minutes ago
You'd class Man Utd as that Mito? A very good team?
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TBH mate... if they had 11 men fully fit and we bothered (aka de gea, pogba, martial) they MIGHT sneak into that MIGHT.
As of now though they are not that cos of obvious reasons. I felt OGS lucked into a team at the outset and then seemed to forget about it and started playing lukaku and etc etc.
De Gea
Wan Bissaka ? Lindeloff Shaw
Mctominay Matic
Pogba
lingard Rashford Martial
they've lost herrera who did a job. they've retain mata who is real slow and won't press. they've 3 or 4 who can't be bothered...
so no they are not a very good side at the moment. But on their day last season they might have taken points off city, they did off us.
posted on 25/6/19
comment by Neo- European Champions (U9135)
posted 19 hours, 14 minutes ago
Wouldn’t surprise me to see Arsenal finish in the top 4 next season. They are a lot closer to the other top sides than most people think. Had Auba not bottled his pen at Wembley they would have coasted top 4.
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I dunno. I think theres a chance for all 4 teams and we are all assuming LFC and city will take 80-85 points again.
Arsenals first priority is defence and away games. Same as it was last year. they have the goals in them. Lots of work to do to improve.
Cheslea on the other hand seem hamstrung by transfer ban so will rely on giroud and a couple rejects to score goals. That's going to be absolutely key i feel. They have a big job on their hands imo.
Spurs should be consistent. They now have had a taste of real pain and how they react and how they improve their squad is key.
Utd see above IMO. again lots of work to do to improve.