Race for the Top 4 - 2018/19

[Kiedis]

We've been picking up 2.3 points per game thus far. That would mean 87 points during the course of the season.

8/13 games away so far.

Faced Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City home. Man United away. Arsenal away left this weekend means we've played all top 6 sides once.
Leaves us with three hard away games vs. rivals, whereas Arsenal and United at home are games I really fancy us getting something from.

The main factor will be performances. If the Chelsea match was the point where we started actually playing well, then I'd say we'll be fine. If we keep up like we did up until that game, then keeping Arsenal behind us could be a struggle. As for United, I really don't see them going on some kind of winning run that sees them make up 9 points (effectively 10 with goal difference) on us between now and the rest of the season.

 

[coys200]

Looks like the scum have taken about 10 kids bit of a bitch but to be expected.

 

[mstill13]

Match might not even happen...

https://arseblog.news/2018/11/vorskla-say-they-cant-guarantee-participation-tomorrow-night/

 

[coys200]

Well they’ve flown out. At least it disrupts their week a bit and emery isn’t there to work with whole squad.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Arsenal’s Europa League tie switched to Kiev due to security concerns, and apparently Emery is taking a weaker squad.

 

[coys200]

Good nice bit of chaos for them to endure. Hopefully Russians invade tonight. Although that may lead to Ww3 be worth it if we win NLD ?

 

[coys200]

Are you not aware of the escalation in hostilities between Ukraine and Russia?

That’s why I said it, I’d imagine if Russians invaded Kiev would be top of their list not some provincial outback in middle of nowhere.

 

[Colonel Dax]

Arsenal sent (with a couple of exceptions) the B squad - confirmed.

 

[coys200]

They just announced squad on twitter. Can pick their team for Sunday by who hasnt
traveled.

Leno
Bellerin mustaf Sokratis kolasi
Torreira xhaka
Iwobi ozil Auba
Lacaztte

We can get right to that back 4.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

Get fucked Utd. That said, one of the great mysteries of the modern age is how Mark Hughes continues to draw a wage as a football manager

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

2-0 Saints. Laters Mourinho

 

[chinaman]

Last week Maureen was saying they could be up in 4th by the new year.

 

[Giovanni]

Hope saints hold out but i doubt it!

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Last week Maureen was saying they could be up in 4th by the new year.

I think it was lost in translation - what he actually said was: "We'll be in for Foyth by the new year."

 

[Marty]

I think it was lost in translation - what he actually said was: "We'll be in for Foyth by the new year."

They won't get that either.

 

[coys200]

Still pretty confident We do have a realtively easy 12 game PL run now with 8 at home that should hopefully cement us in top 4. Plus Europa will kick in for Arsenal next year when they can’t rest players make it more even. However the back to back 9 game run to New year has us as the only top 6 with 9 competitive games. City Chelsea Arsenal United all have European week off and Liverpool carabo. We might have to take a chance against Burnley and play a virtual B team. Personally I’d rather risk it all in one game than dropping key players here and there like Toby today.

 

[shelfboy68]

Still pretty confident We do have a realtively easy 12 game PL run now with 8 at home that should hopefully cement us in top 4. Plus Europa will kick in for Arsenal next year when they can’t rest players make it more even. However the back to back 9 game run to New year has us as the only top 6 with 9 competitive games. City Chelsea Arsenal United all have European week off and Liverpool carabo. We might have to take a chance against Burnley and play a virtual B team. Personally I’d rather risk it all in one game than dropping key players here and there like Toby today.

Looking at the table currently we are the weakest of the top four contenders with 4 defeats and the most goals conceded, add into the mix we still have all the top four to play again we could be looking at 8/9 Maybe 10 defeats by the time the season ends that's probably too many to get top four.

 

[Doctor Dinkey]

Looking at the table currently we are the weakest of the top four contenders with 4 defeats and the most goals conceded, add into the mix we still have all the top four to play again we could be looking at 8/9 Maybe 10 defeats by the time the season ends that's probably too many to get top four.

We're probably gonna have to get a win at city, Chelsea or Liverpool. Big ask. Having seen arsenal's quality yesterday I feel we are outsiders for top 4 despite the complacency on here.

 

[shelfboy68]

We're probably gonna have to get a win at city, Chelsea or Liverpool. Big ask. Having seen arsenal's quality yesterday I feel we are outsiders for top 4 despite the complacency on here.

I agree don't get me wrong the team is doing great on the limitations it has placed upon it so from that POV we can't do much better.
However as you say trying to get wins at those places is a huge ask the win at Chelsea last year was the first in 30 year's so hardly inspiring is it, the other side's around us just have more quality than us as we can see with Liverpool who's defence last year is similar to ours this year but with their investment have now only conceded 5/6 goals compared to the 15/16 We have let in.

 

[Colonel Dax]

Concur with the above. No reason to panic and of course we finished in the top 4 last season despite losing to the scum at the Emirates. However Arsenal are a different proposition this season. They were listless under Wenger last season but Emery has instilled a new mentality and they are playing far better. IMO too many of us assumed we'd roll them over yesterday. They're actually a decent team despite their weaknesses in defence.

From our perspective, the encouraging thing was that prior to yesterday we were grinding out wins without playing spectacularly well (bar Chelsea). The problem as I see it comes down to our squad depth going into this ridiculously busy (and potentially make or break) December- January period. With Dembele out until the new year and Wanyama's questionable fitness the likes of Winks, Dier and Sissoko are going to be put through the mill. I'd like to think we'll get through it but I have my doubts.