freak day IMO

When Tottenham have the best defensive record in the league you know the quality has dropped

Agree marko. Those are the only 2 and a half games I've seen today and it's been absolutely appalling at times. People keep saying this league is getting stronger and that anyone can beat anyone. Just not true, unless you use us (United) as the benchmark. Look at Arsenal, they aren't a great side by any stretch imo but they have a great chance. Because they keep beating the rubbish that is placed before them, something United, Chelsea and City aren't doing right now.

City have qualified in CL.

= stronger

Getting past cska Moscow and plzen was a seemingly effortless task so maybe you have a point

Arsenal top and comfortably so. Weaker?

Settled team / management

Good point and I think it makes a big difference. However, they had that settled team in management by and large in recent years and didn't come close to challenging. They haven't exactly played outstanding football this year, in fact they've been pretty hard to watch at times. But they keep winning. They remind me a lot of ourselves last year actually (weakest league ever apparently). Nothing has changed apart from the team in red at the front

They were easy prey for Utd and Chelsea

Very true

How many shots on target did they muster in those 2 matches?

About the same Chelsea did at Old Trafford

comment by merrysupersteve (U1132)
posted 19 minutes ago
Agree marko. Those are the only 2 and a half games I've seen today and it's been absolutely appalling at times. People keep saying this league is getting stronger and that anyone can beat anyone. Just not true, unless you use us (United) as the benchmark. Look at Arsenal, they aren't a great side by any stretch imo but they have a great chance. Because they keep beating the rubbish that is placed before them, something United, Chelsea and City aren't doing right now.
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But you beat Arsenal

Wait....how do you wum again?

We beat Arsenal by doing very very little and being very very unimpressive. They are top of the league whilst being very very unimpressive (unless you care to tell me when they've shone this year). Arsenal were very good against Liverpool. That was the exception to the rule of the mediocrity that has dominated this league thus far this year.

I am not understating arsenals achievements so far, but I am putting them into perspective and am slightly perplexed at how the league has gone from being absolutely awful to extremely competitive, whilst the only thing that has really changed is the leading horse.

I do agree that the league is poor - much like it was last season. Arsenal are not even playing well, and we're winning the majority of our games. I think that we've played well once this season, against Fulham.

The fact that a United team that isn't that great managed to win the title at such a canter last season, was worrying to say the least.

Chelsea won in Europe again though

Agree completely AFL.

When comparing Arsenal to United last year, I should also give credit where credit is due. Going back to the back end of last season, Arsenal are showing a togetherness, a solidity and an ability to grind out results that will give them a chance to be right in the thick of things right til the end of the season. That's what won United the league last year.

I still think City will go on and win it though, should they find consistency. The one team who when they've clicked into gear have actually looked frighteningly good at times this season. Hasn't happened often enough as yet, tomorrow is a big game for them.

Just wait until Cardiff give the game of their loves tomorrow against us.

when the city players can be bothered to turn up it can get scary for opposition

I do worry kaisers. I've seen what they can do against us and as average as we have been, they were mightily impressive. Can't explain their away from but know it won't last.

City could well win the vast majority of their 'big' games this season (v Utd, Arsenal etc) but this season has shown how much less significant the big games are becoming due to silly dropped points elsewhere.

A win is a win.

AFL about does anyone know?

I dont think people understand just how much this arsenal team have changed since the turn of the year.

We dont try and play tiki taka anymore, well we do, but we pick the right moments to do so. Some of the one touch stuff weve played this season has been great.

The difference has been we purposefully allow teams to attack so that we can counter. And we do so very effectively. Its measured and calculated.

No, we will not win the league but every arsenal fan should be encouraged by the developments made.

I do understand how much you've changed. But everything you do well now, is something United got accused of being boring and hanging onto past glories last year for. Your style of play is pretty much a replica of what we won the league with last year.

But while the league was weak last year, it's competitive this year. Southampton, a team who press brilliantly but create very very little, being up there shows a strong league this year. Last year it would have shown how weak the league was.

I am just pointing out how blatantly the team at the top is skewing the strength of the league, because it really isn't better this year.

Your style of play is pretty much a replica of what we won the league with last year. 

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I understand your general point, but that is just complete and utter bollo.cks. I actually feel violently insulted and demand an apology.

United played seriously dull football last year. Its proof that you havent seen us play, or have deluded yourself about some of Uniteds football last year. Even your own fans have admitted it.

Like I said, we mix it up a bit. Yes maybe the league is weak. But in all honesty i feel arsenal are taking advantage of changes to the top teams. Mourinho is finding it difficult to implement a good footballing philosophy at chelsea, united are adjusting under moyes, pellegrini is getting his tactics wrong away from home. I expect all problems to be resolved soon and we will see these teams come to the fore. Thats when we will see the real strength of this league.

For all you've said, have arsenal really played good football this year? I have watched you play quite a bit. You have been methodical, you've built from the back, you've got results (sound familiar?) but if you've enjoyed watching Arsenal play, if you've found it enterprising, if it's been anyway different to what we did last year, then feel free to explain how. Learning how to strangle results out isn't a new thing, we've been doing it for 5 years. Tell me what you're doing differently.

Because from where I am standing, you are doing exactly what we got pilloried for. Don't concede, score a goal. You aren't good to watch, you aren't enterprising, don't kid yourself. It took me a while to realise how boring we are to be fair. And there's nothing boring about winning.

Jesus christ youre coming across as severely bitter, which is a shame as i thought you had contained it quite well up till now. I can now see your real feelings behind the article.

All you have to do is look at some of the goals weve scored mate, its not hard. Wilshere recently won goal of the month for some brilliant one touch play with giroud. Ramsey in the same game scored a skilful goal and there was another that was one touch from ozil.

We scored 2 great goals against swansea, again one touch stuff, and lethal finishing. In the champions league against napoli, ozil scored with a nrilliant finish, after a good team move.
Against the likes of fulham and sunderland we scored good counter attacking goals.

I repeat we havent been playing this total football style wengers been obsessef with the last few seasons.