Dec 27
We are at exactly the halfway point of the season, and a quick analysis of the Gunners’ results against the rest of the league reveals our problem– we aren’t sufficiently up for it against the bottom half of the league… Arsenal have 16 points from 9 games against the top half of the league (1.8 points/game) and 17 points from 10 games (1.7 points/game) against the bottom half of the league… With 3 upcoming games (starting today) against those very same bottom-half teams, it should be clear that getting 3 wins from 3 matches is imperative, if we are to move up at all in the standings over the long haul.
21 Responses to “No Surprise– Results Against Bottom Half Are Arsenal’s Problem”
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December 27th, 2006 at 7:06 am
Another way to look at it is - We get results against teams that play football and struggle against those who try to prevent us from playing football.
More often than not, the top half contains the former while the bottom half contains the latter.
Our problem has been the inability to break down defensively minded opponents.
December 27th, 2006 at 8:30 am
It’s actually the mid-table teams we struggle against - Arsenal beat Watford (twice), Charlton and Sheff Utd already this season.
December 27th, 2006 at 9:45 am
As far as I see it… ALL the teams play football.
Some play different styles. If you expect the Bolton’s of the world to come out and accomodate “our style” of play, thats insane.
Just because other teams play to THEIR strengths and might play a defensive or physical game… as opposed to Arsenal wanting to run up and down the pitch playing pretty… doesn’t mean they are “trying to prevent us from playing football”.
We play the same NEGATIVE / DOUR way against United and Chelsea, because we know they are stronger right now… so its hypocritical to say other teams don’t play football against us. This was pointed out by Mourinho, after we played them last time. He’s an arrogant ass, but it was 100% correct.
December 27th, 2006 at 10:36 am
If we can get some consistency going we can possibly be in title contention. We need Chelski and Manure to drop points. If they stay healthy, their form will more than likely continue. But if they suffer injuries in the second half of the season we may be able to catch them.
Already we’ve seen Chelsea conceed a lot of goals with Cech and Terry injured. Chelsea will continue to drop points as long as they’re out. I believe Liverpool and Arsenal will beat them as those are away games for Chelsea. Also, is it possible for Drogba to stay that hot? Sheva and Ballack haven’t lived up to expectations and I don’t think they will; especially Ballack.
Man United have been incredible professionals. But they are more likely to endure a slump than Chelsea. They too have to travel to Anfield, Stamford Bridge, and the Emirates to get a result. We may need an injury to catch United but we can finsih second as long as Terry and Cech are out. We’ll need to win though.
I remember the ‘01-’02 season when we beat Liverpool with ten men at Anfield right before Christmas and didn’t lose another game for the entire season. In fact we only drew one or 2 of those and won the rest. This team, with everyone fit again, can get it done. If the team is truly looking to get back into the race then I’m excited to see them do it. Soon, we’ll have a number of first choice players back and can be very strong. We’ve simply got to handle our business against the mid-table teams and we’ll be on the right track.
December 27th, 2006 at 10:40 am
Understand, what I wrote is best case scenario and not likely but a few results and Arsenal could make it an interesting race.
December 27th, 2006 at 10:54 am
Joshuad…
appreciate your unbridled optimism, but there is NO CHANCE of Arsenal winning the league…
first of all… we would need BOTH Chelsea AND United to lose drop points on a fairly regular basis…
second… ARSENAL would have to go virutally the entire 2nd half without dropping points at all.
We are no where near consistent enough to hold up our end of that equation, and while United or Chelsea might drop some points here and there, the liklihood of BOTH of them doing so… is neglible.
Its NOT gonna happen.
If we can manage to CEMENT ourselves in 3rd place, that will be great.
December 27th, 2006 at 11:14 am
I agree. There is no way Arsenal will finish top of the league. The gap is too great at this point. Second is still possible though with a little luck, but third is far more likely.
December 27th, 2006 at 11:42 am
and 3rd place would be a good finish… nothing wrong with that at all.
December 27th, 2006 at 12:03 pm
I would just worry about us staying healthy and getting points. If we do that and find ourselves within striking distance of Chelsea (2nd) in April, so be it.
I’m more concerned about our defensive fraility and the injury to Adebayor. Wenger has to decide today about extending the Bendtner loan. Bendtner claims he’s as good as all the Arsenal strikers except Henry. He’s playing at Birmingham and already he needs his f*****g attitude adjusted. As****e hasn’t even gotten off the boat and already he thinks he’s God’s gift. Adebayor’s injury could impact that decision. Going forward, I’m concerned that Rosicky and Hleb are on their German vacation break and need to suck it up for the EPL. I’m concerned that while we have quality, we are still vulnerable to injuries to our key players (Fabregas, Gilberto, Toure, Adebayor, van Persie). We are still on a wing and a prayer this season.
The only thing that does not concern me is the come and get me plea from Pires. In fact, Ljungberg needs to be working on his Spanish for next season.
December 27th, 2006 at 12:42 pm
What I’m really hoping for is second. Both of those teams might not drop points but one of them probably will. Chelsea without Cech and Terry look suspect. You’ve got to have something to shoot for. Just imagine if Saha or Drogba pick up an injury that has them out for as long as Henry’s been out.
Yes, it’s circumstantial but if the circumstances are right, we need to be in a position to pounce. Like I said, both teams are likely to maintain their form, but if one of them starts slipping we need to make them bitches play Champions League qualification matches next season, not us.
December 27th, 2006 at 1:52 pm
It is really fruitless to wish for ManUre and Chel$ki to drop points when Arsenal is the one more likely to drop points between now and end of the season. I really wish Wenger will stop talking about winning the EPL bcos he is dreaming and talking up a lost cause. His job shud be to make the team as consistent as possible and it all starts by winning the next game at Sheffield Utd. Nothing else matters. At the end of the season, 3rd place would be fantastic - if we make it.
December 27th, 2006 at 4:09 pm
Thats why United signed Larsson… a PROVEN scorer with all the pedigree.
Chelsea have a 2nd team that is full of stars, and if they need more, they’ll just buy more.
2nd is a noble goal, but its not very likely.
We STILL have to win almost EVERY SINGLE GAME left… and we show absolutely no signs of doing anything like that… the defense is shaky, and the scoring inconsistent… and if Cesc or Gilberto were to get injured, there isn’t ANYONE we have that we could confidently slot in there for a run of games.
(thats why I WOULD like to see us get Reo-Coker, because Flamini and Song aren’t gonna do it… and Diaby is coming off MAJOR injury)
3rd place… would be a very impressive season… I’d take it right now, no questions asked…
December 27th, 2006 at 4:12 pm
Do you think Bendtner should just sit at Birmingham and say… oh Arsene, thats OK… you do what you think is best for MY career…
F**K that… the kid can score and is lighting it up…
I’d be screaming bloody murder if I were him as well.
If you are not SUPREMELY confident as a footballer, you have no business on the pitch. If Bendtner just waits patiently, he’ll be waiting forever.
KEEP YELLING KID… maybe we’ll get you back in the team where you belong.
December 27th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
My sentiments exactly.
Agree 100% with these comments.
Thats just the facts.
December 27th, 2006 at 9:02 pm
i swear if bendtner makes any more noise in the next one month he should be sold ASAP. i understand him playing the media to force the clubs hand a bit….but u hear about him every two weeks now. jeez!
if he cant get it into his THICK skull that a youngster has the best chance under wenger right now, then he should just shut up and move on.
in the past 2,3 years wenger has brought through so many youngsters from the reserve setup: senderos, djorou, clichy, cesc amongst others.
compared to mourinho: ZERO
compared to ferguson: ZERO
compared to BENITEZ: ZERO
wenger is the ONLY major coach in the world who does not buy to replace a veteran. he just promotes the kids.
infact there coach i know who currently has wenger?s dedication to youth.
and for those who say wenger only plays youngsters when there is an injury to the established….GUESS WHAT?? so does every other club in the world!!
every major footballer in the world, from Raul to Baggio to Cashley and so many others pounce upon an opportunity in the form of injury!
so if bendner at just 18 years cant wait for at least one year then he should SHUT UP and QUIETLY move on. i dont want to be hearing his NONSENSE anymore. idiot!
if that other d-ckhead called bentley had waited for just SIX MONTHS, with the sale of pires and reyes he would probably have been a first team regular now - playing Champions league football….instead he is playing longballs and battling relegation down there at blackburn. the impatient fool!
December 27th, 2006 at 10:15 pm
I am not defending Arsenal. I was the first to criticize Wenger after the Chelsea game. I am merely pointing out where our problem is.
December 27th, 2006 at 11:50 pm
Yes, because YOU don’t like reading about Bendtner, you want us to sell him… that makes a lot of sense.
He is scoring his ass off… and deserves to being playing Premiership football. Do you see him playing over Henry? Adebayor? RVP?
NO NO and NO… so he is not going to get his chance at Arsenal… why WAIT.
Why should a talented young player WAIT…?? What if he gets injured while “waiting” at Birmingham … (like Alidiare got injured)…
Its NOT your career… so its quite easy for you to complain about Bendtner and what he should or shouldn’t do.
Take a look from the PLAYERS perspective for once.
December 27th, 2006 at 11:55 pm
THIS IS WHAT I JUST READ ABOUT BENDTNER… what he is saying:
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Birmingham City loanee Nicklas Bendtner believes he can break into the starting XI at his parent club Arsenal next season.
The 18-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at St Andrews, but after scoring eight league goals so far this term, he is confident he can make the step up when he returns to Emirates Stadium.
“The plan is that I will stay at Birmingham until my loan spell expires at the end of the season,” said the Denmark international.
“Afterwards, I will go back to Arsenal and break into the team there.
“I feel my chances at Arsenal are good.”
With Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor currently enjoying successful seasons in North London, first-team opportunities may be slim for Bendtner when he returns. However, he believes that he is just as good as his striking counterparts.
“I am just as good as all the others,” he stated, “and it’s only Thierry Henry who is certain to play.”
Bendtner had been linked with a permanent move to Birmingham should they achieve promotion, however the young striker has said that he would prefer to return to Arsenal.
“In case we get promoted, I might stay, but I would prefer to move on,” he continued.
“I have also heard that foreign clubs are interested in me, but I am just thinking about Arsenal.”
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What exactly is your problem with him??
Sounds to me like he has his head on straight and knows what he is doing and talking about.
December 28th, 2006 at 12:43 am
We should stop thinking about the title and even second place. We should just concentrate on the next game and try to win it. Anything else is unnecessary pressure on a team which is struggling to win two consecutive games.
December 28th, 2006 at 3:50 pm
stop talking out of you ASS as usual.
not once did i say sell him….i said he should just keep quiet and get on with it.
he is scoring loads??? he has scored EIGHT….in the championship…big deal!
he is 18 years old, if he cant wait till 19 or 20 then he should shut up and quietly move on.
what i have a problem with is him being constantly in the media talking!
arsene wenger is his BEST chance of playing at a TOP club…wenger is the ONLY top manager that “loves” kids (in a good way though!)….and if he cant be just a bit patient, then something must be wrong with him
December 28th, 2006 at 3:52 pm
i have no problem with him,….i only have a problem with him CONSTANTLY being in the papers talking about his “future”….is he the only 18 year old in the country???
he must understand that wenger is his BEST chance of playing in a top club. no other manager in the world puts such faith in kids.
he should get off playing the media and continue improving his game.