Are Arsenal slipping?

[Kendall]

They've been slipping since 2006. They're certainly shaky this season, but I wouldn't bet against them finishing top four again.

Got a few players to come back from injury as well, they tend to go on a run after Christmas.

We can only really hope that we have genuinely begun to turn a corner and can go on a run ourselves while they continue to huff and puff.

 

[SpursManChris]

6ft 6 Mertesacker ducking under crosses, I love even more.

Very true, that big german is turning into the biggest little bitch in the Premier League. He did the same against Stoke.

 

[E17yid]

Arsenal are slipping, have been for a while IMO, but does anyone really think we'll finish above them this season, or any time soon for that matter?

 

[Kendall]

Arsenal are slipping, have been for a while IMO, but does anyone really think we'll finish above them this season, or any time soon for that matter?

Only with a huge slice of luck.

I think their home form will carry them through in the end though.

 

[prawnsandwich]

Arsenal are slipping, have been for a while IMO, but does anyone really think we'll finish above them this season, or any time soon for that matter?

Me!

 

[brasil_spur]

Arsenal are slipping, have been for a while IMO, but does anyone really think we'll finish above them this season, or any time soon for that matter?

It's a tough one to call. Without signing Sanchez in the summer they'd probably be further down the league that they are right now.

In the same way that Spurs seem to be regularly one signing away from a top 4 push, Arsenal seem to be one player away from not being able to push for the top 4.

Giroud will add a bit to them now he's back, but if Sanchez was to pick up a long term injury they would struggle to get 4th IMO.

 

[prawnsandwich]

The Arsenal of old would not have given up that last minute goal to Liverpool.

 

[prawnsandwich]

Can anyone think up a name for the day when Arsenal cannot go above us in the table this season?

 

[Dougal]

Can anyone think up a name for the day when Arsenal cannot go above us in the table this season?

Knowing our luck 'Armageddon'.

 

[beats1]

Can anyone think up a name for the day when Arsenal cannot go above us in the table this season?

Mind the gap

Oh wait, we clearly learnt our lesson haven't we

 

[faymantaray]

 

[noggen]

http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/a...uthampton-wont-play-again-this-season-tweets/

Szchenzy t*at out the rest of the season? Not sure if it´s a bad or good thing..

 

[spursfan77]

Just read that the massive bell end Chesney has had a big falling out with wenger. shame.

 

[KingKay]

This thread could have been written any time in the last 10 years and look how many times we've ultimately finished above them.

 

[IamCelestial]

I don't think they are slipping. I think they are stagnating. I hate to admit it, but year after year, I've been overly impressed by how they manage to always do very well and stay in the top four, with fairly little investment compared to the others.

If we were to ever come structurally on par with them, we would have to emulate their approach in terms of finances (which I think we've been trying to do) and - as they did - find a clever and success-hungry manager whom we give a long time to settle down and establish his football philosophy from the top to the bottom of the club.

And if we were to ever become better than them, we would have to do all of the above things + be a little bit smarter, a little bit faster than them and not repeat their mistakes - like refusing to reinvest in a new squad when the time has come.

IMO, as things stand now - we are a very, very long way from overcoming them.

 

[allatsea]

They seem to have fallen into our old ways of lots of players getting injured, then staying injured for longer than expected, then returning too quickly. Happy Days.

 

[jurgen]

http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/a...uthampton-wont-play-again-this-season-tweets/

Szchenzy t*at out the rest of the season? Not sure if it´s a bad or good thing..

Haha, the best goalkeeper poll on that site has Cech, Fraser Forster and Joe Hart on it but not Lloris...

 

[wishkah]

I don't think the slip/potential slip is the main point here in the short-term. If they do slip they have the potential to splash some cash and make the difference, something we cannot yet do and as such we cannot overtake.

What annoys me more is they are always one/two players away from being "top class". Add a decent DM/CB etc and they would be up there again. As above making any slip temporary (kinda like Utd).

What will be interesting is what they will look like when Wenger finally goes. Few years to rebuild? or would the new manager kick some butt.

 

[beats1]

I don't think the slip/potential slip is the main point here in the short-term. If they do slip they have the potential to splash some cash and make the difference, something we cannot yet do and as such we cannot overtake.

What annoys me more is they are always one/two players away from being "top class". Add a decent DM/CB etc and they would be up there again. As above making any slip temporary (kinda like Utd).

What will be interesting is what they will look like when Wenger finally goes. Few years to rebuild? or would the new manager kick some butt.

You say that, but the start of this season they didn't sell anyone big and they just strengthened and yet they still are 2 or 3 players away

They were in the title race last year but despite adding Sanchez and Welbeck as well as using Chambers, Debuchy and Ospina to replace Vermaelen, Sagna and Fabianski.

They look much worse with Mertesacker and Koscielny looking terrible despite being very good last season

Lets not forget they have alot of "top class" players that aren't playing as well like Ozil, Walcott and Ramsey. Though them playing wouldn't make difference to their team judging by their form this season

 

[Shadydan]

I don't think they are slipping. I think they are stagnating. I hate to admit it, but year after year, I've been overly impressed by how they manage to always do very well and stay in the top four, with fairly little investment compared to the others.

If we were to ever come structurally on par with them, we would have to emulate their approach in terms of finances (which I think we've been trying to do) and - as they did - find a clever and success-hungry manager whom we give a long time to settle down and establish his football philosophy from the top to the bottom of the club.

And if we were to ever become better than them, we would have to do all of the above things + be a little bit smarter, a little bit faster than them and not repeat their mistakes - like refusing to reinvest in a new squad when the time has come.

IMO, as things stand now - we are a very, very long way from overcoming them.

Fairly little investment?

Not sure if srs...