How close are we to challenging City & Liverpool ?

[spids]

In truth Arsenal have a massive advantage in the PL by not being in CL. They can rest players midweek and play their kids when none of the other top teams can.

We’ve all spent years saying the Europa league is designed to protect the big 4. Games on Thursday nights in far flung parts of Eastern Europe. Significantly less prize and TV money etc. Are we really now saying the opposite and that it is an advantage?

 

[thebenjamin]

We’ve all spent years saying the Europa league is designed to protect the big 4. Games on Thursday nights in far flung parts of Eastern Europe. Significantly less prize and TV money etc. Are we really now saying the opposite and that it is an advantage?

In this particular season with this preposterous schedule, I think it is. Because you can't rest players for CL but you can for EL. Normally the CL clubs have an advatange but this season there isn't one.

 

[SPURSLIFE]

I think I'll wait for at least another 6 or 7 games before I see where we are going. I'm sure City will pull away from the rest of us and I expect Liverpool will get back on track and probably finish 2nd. For the rest of us it's going to be tough as most sides have strengthen their squads. Teams like Newcastle are going to be hard to beat Arsenal have a better squad now than they have had for a few seasons, Chelsea are spending big and haven't stopped yet. Yes we have a better squad now than last season and a better manager but there are a couple more signings we need for us to make a big challenge for the top especially in a creative MF. I think we will finish 4th but it will be a fight.

 

[spids]

After the CL final defeat in 2019 Poch famously said we needed a painful rebuild.... and it has happened, albeit after a delay and then two false starts. 16 of the 23 man squad for the 2019 CL final have all left the club in the last 3 years

• Vorm
• Gazzaniga
• Trippier
• Walker-Peters
• Aurier
• Foyth
• Alderweireld
• Vertonghen
• Rose
• Sissoko
• Winks
• Wanyama
• Dele
• Eriksen
• Lamela
• Llorente

With only 3 of the starting XI from that night remaining at the club (arguably the 3 world class players we had):

• Lloris
• Son
• Kane

Liverpool meanwhile have only seen 2 of their starting XI in that game leave (Mane and Wijnaldum), with 9 of that team still first team regulars, and their back 4 and GK still intact:

• Alisson
• Alexander-Arnold
• Matip
• Van Dijk
• Robertson
• Henderson
• Fabinho
• Salay
• Firmino

However, given their start to this season, has Klopp allowed Liverpool to go stale?

 

[mr ashley]

In this particular season with this preposterous schedule, I think it is. Because you can't rest players for CL but you can for EL. Normally the CL clubs have an advatange but this season there isn't one.

There’s simply no way arteta will be allowed to bin off the Europa league this season.
Bear in mind their squad is paper thin, they’ll be playing people like holding and nketiah in the league before too long as it is.
he might just about get away with playing the kids in the carabao cup but that’s it

 

[mr ashley]

After the CL final defeat in 2019 Poch famously said we needed a painful rebuild.... and it has happened, albeit after a delay and then two false starts. 16 of the 23 man squad for the 2019 CL final have all left the club in the last 3 years

• Vorm
• Gazzaniga
• Trippier
• Walker-Peters
• Aurier
• Foyth
• Alderweireld
• Vertonghen
• Rose
• Sissoko
• Winks
• Wanyama
• Dele
• Eriksen
• Lamela
• Llorente

With only 3 of the starting XI from that night remaining at the club (arguably the 3 world class players we had):

• Lloris
• Son
• Kane

Liverpool meanwhile have only seen 2 of their starting XI in that game leave (Mane and Wijnaldum), with 9 of that team still first team regulars, and their back 4 and GK still intact:

• Alisson
• Alexander-Arnold
• Matip
• Van Dijk
• Robertson
• Henderson
• Fabinho
• Salay
• Firmino

However, given their start to this season, has Klopp allowed Liverpool to go stale?

There’s definitely something going on at Liverpool.
loads of injuries all of a sudden.
And of course the fabled 7th season syndrome that he suffers from.

good times

 

[ardiles&villa]

We are one creative mid, one cb and one world class RWB away

 

[Saoirse]

I really do think we're going to be in the Top 2, and genuinely could win the league. Liverpool have lost it a bit, and the rest just aren't all that. Conte's got this. Normally he either wins the league in his second season, or gets within a few points and brings it home the year after. That trophy is coming to White Hart Lane!

 

[Kingellesar]

There’s simply no way arteta will be allowed to bin off the Europa league this season.
Bear in mind their squad is paper thin, they’ll be playing people like holding and nketiah in the league before too long as it is.
he might just about get away with playing the kids in the carabao cup but that’s it

Agreed.

Also with the proposed changes coming in the next few years, Arsenal will need to start getting coefficient points again to stand a chance of getting the extra CL spot. They can’t afford to treat any European competition as a throwaway

 

[Saoirse]

Agreed.

Also with the proposed changes coming in the next few years, Arsenal will need to start getting coefficient points again to stand a chance of getting the extra CL spot. They can’t afford to treat any European competition as a throwaway

That got changed to a slightly different idea. Now, the top performing two leagues in the previous season gets one extra team in the UCL. For example, if the Premier League clubs did the best or second-best in Europe next season (pretty likely), then whoever finishes 5th will get the UCL spot, regardless of their own coefficient.

 

[Kingellesar]

That got changed to a slightly different idea. Now, the top performing two leagues in the previous season gets one extra team in the UCL. For example, if the Premier League clubs did the best or second-best in Europe next season (pretty likely), then whoever finishes 5th will get the UCL spot, regardless of their own coefficient.

Ah ok, I thought they were basing it off previous European history / success, to protect the bigger teams.

But still, it would be in their benefit to go deep into European tournaments to insure England gets a 5th spot? Assuming its based on all 3 competitions and how far the teams from that country go.

 

[EJWTartanSpur]

Not in any way to talk down about our chances but I keep seeing this ‘we are +7 points on last season’ chat everywhere.

There is SOME merit to looking at corresponding results, however, things do not work as linear as this. Our dropped points of last year are as much to do with injuries, form coming into the game, pressure of certain situations, and all of this as well for the opposition we are playing on any given game, as it is specifically for the actual opponent we have.

Sometimes you catch a good team at a good time ( Man City 1st game of season ), and sometimes you catch an average team at a bad time for you and a good time for them.

Every season is an organic being of its own, with ups and downs and isn’t simply about the opposition and how they correlate to the previous season when we played them.

 

[Saoirse]

Ah ok, I thought they were basing it off previous European history / success, to protect the bigger teams.

But still, it would be in their benefit to go deep into European tournaments to insure England gets a 5th spot? Assuming its based on all 3 competitions and how far the teams from that country go.

That was the idea, but it got changed in the fallout from the Super League incident.

And it doesn't matter this season, it'll matter from next season onwards. The best leagues in 23-24 will get a bonus spot in the new format CL for 24-25, the best leagues in 24-25 will get a bonus spot for 25-26, etc.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Curious what people think now...

 

[dontcallme]

Curious what people think now...

They might have come down to our level rather than us catching up.

 

[shelfboy68]

We are one creative mid, one cb and one world class RWB away

But those three missing players will have to wait until next summer

 

[dontcallme]

They might have come down to our level rather than us catching up.

Damn, spoke too early.

 

[Johnny J]

But those three missing players will have to wait until next summer

I strongly suspect we'll sign at least one of them this summer.

 

[shelfboy68]

I strongly suspect we'll sign at least one of them this summer.

Like who I can't see a CB or RWB in the mould he would like available with 3/4 days to go.

 

[Oscar22]

Simple as it sounds I think we are as close as anyone else, I don’t think there is any other team who is by far and away obviously closer to the top two than us.

However people are letting the fact that we’ve looked a bit laboured and haven’t hit form yet cloud the fact that we’ve played better teams and still picked up the points.