Re: Rival Watch

by Sri Wed Aug 10, 2016 3:06 am

Not jealous of others' moves this summer, strangely enough.

Our squad is good. There are 2 holes which need to be filled. As long as we do that, we should have a really solid go at the title.

You can sign as many as you want - but it takes time to build cohesion and chemistry and implement a new manager's style/vision. Here, we have a vast intangible advantage. It is in our hand to *bleep* it up.

by boyzis Tue Aug 16, 2016 12:20 am

united seem slow and still need time to develop
Leicester look same like last season although they have champions league it will be important to see how they develop

man city.... my GOD.. Pep has them doing triangles amazing improvement... still a product under development... city is looking good...

by Sina Fri Sep 02, 2016 1:07 am

Will never get linked with Sissoko and Wanyama again
thank you spuds cheers

by Sina Fri Sep 02, 2016 1:16 am

Transfer window quiz: identify the record signings at all 20 Premier League clubs

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/sep/01/transfer-window-record-signings-quiz-premier-league-clubs

Rival Watch - Page 27 Screen10

by Sri Fri Sep 02, 2016 1:17 am

Sina wrote:Will never get linked with Sissoko and Wanyama again
thank you spuds

Arsenal top 4

Rival Watch - Page 27 Tumblr_nr9kzyqCQx1s5veczo1_250

by El Gunner Fri Sep 02, 2016 10:01 am

10/20 on that quiz Laughing

by McAgger Fri Sep 02, 2016 1:19 pm

13/20 on the quiz. I completely missed out on some of the relegation fodder signings this summer.

by Sina Sat Sep 03, 2016 5:35 am

by El Gunner Sat Sep 03, 2016 5:54 am

Palace

by Nishankly Sat Sep 03, 2016 6:17 am

Sina wrote:Transfer window quiz: identify the record signings at all 20 Premier League clubs

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/sep/01/transfer-window-record-signings-quiz-premier-league-clubs

17 not bad imo

got Watford, Middlesborough and Everton wrong lulz

by McAgger Sat Sep 03, 2016 6:49 am

I think everyone is missing Everton simply because the guardian's source is shitty.

by CBarca Sat Sep 03, 2016 8:05 am

I picked Lukaku and got it right hmm

Is Lukaku not the correct answer?

by Sina Sat Sep 03, 2016 8:26 am

only got watford wrong

Re Lukaku

Spoiler:

by Sina Sat Sep 10, 2016 5:05 am

XI de depart du #PSG vs #ASSE #psgASSE pic.twitter.com/AeA88dIYDn
— Romain Collet-Gaudin (@RomainCG75) September 9, 2016

by RealGunner Sat Sep 10, 2016 7:42 am

PSG will probably turn up against us but this might be the best time to play them.

by Jay29 Sat Sep 10, 2016 7:30 pm

Apparently they only have three fit defenders atm.

This might come back to bite me but I can't say their line-up scares me at all.

by Sri Sat Sep 10, 2016 10:23 pm

We've done worse against much worse line-ups, unfortunately

by Chumlum Mon Sep 19, 2016 8:31 am

Not sure if this comment should go in this thread or the lobby thread. But I wanted to note a couple things. I think we can all agree that this has not been the smoothest, most high-flying season start for Arsenal. There are a lot of things lacking the way the team's playing. So let me say I'm not trying to paper over cracks. But we could maybe use the state of the league right now to temper our gloomer pessimism at times.

A few weeks ago everyone was gnashing their teeth at the first three matches of the season--dropping points to Liverpool and Leicester, etc. But five rounds into the season, let's look at the table. We're in 4th now (lol), above Man Utd, above Leicester, above Liverpool, above Chelsea. We've ground out some wins and some points that didn't look too pretty or deserved. If we're judging Arsenal against the other half-dozen really strong teams in the league, then frankly most of those rivals for trophies & CL spots are already behind a SUB-PAR Arsenal beginning. How do we like dem apples?

Plus in the CL, we got a point in what is (definitely on paper) the most difficult match of the group stage.

There's a LOT of room for improvement, but if we do indeed improve ... look out.

(Edit: yes, btw, I'm aware that we're only "above" a couple of those clubs on goal difference. But if we were on the negative end of that a few voices would be talking about the importance of maintaining an edge there in case that's the deciding factor come May. So better to be above than below on that point, anyway.)

by RealGunner Mon Sep 19, 2016 8:46 am

Tbh it does look better than it did few weeks back. But it still feels like we are in a storm with a bit of time to steady the ship for another stronger storm.

We won against Hull, Watford and Southampton but we would have won against them last season too. The real positive was the PSG match and there is no denying that getting a point in Paris was very un-Arsenal.

As you said there is still a lot of room for improvement but we Arsenal fans know better than anyone how fragile we really can be. Chelsea at home next weekend will either tell us if we are on the way up or that we just were given a breathing space

by Sri Mon Sep 19, 2016 11:52 pm

Chumlum wrote:Not sure if this comment should go in this thread or the lobby thread. But I wanted to note a couple things. I think we can all agree that this has not been the smoothest, most high-flying season start for Arsenal. There are a lot of things lacking the way the team's playing. So let me say I'm not trying to paper over cracks. But we could maybe use the state of the league right now to temper our gloomer pessimism at times.

A few weeks ago everyone was gnashing their teeth at the first three matches of the season--dropping points to Liverpool and Leicester, etc. But five rounds into the season, let's look at the table. We're in 4th now (lol), above Man Utd, above Leicester, above Liverpool, above Chelsea. We've ground out some wins and some points that didn't look too pretty or deserved. If we're judging Arsenal against the other half-dozen really strong teams in the league, then frankly most of those rivals for trophies & CL spots are already behind a SUB-PAR Arsenal beginning. How do we like dem apples?

Plus in the CL, we got a point in what is (definitely on paper) the most difficult match of the group stage.

There's a LOT of room for improvement, but if we do indeed improve ... look out.

(Edit: yes, btw, I'm aware that we're only "above" a couple of those clubs on goal difference. But if we were on the negative end of that a few voices would be talking about the importance of maintaining an edge there in case that's the deciding factor come May. So better to be above than below on that point, anyway.)

Paper over the cracks.

* The manager has STILL NOT FIGURED OUT his midfield.
* We're still leaking goals as a consequence.
* We're continuing this Alexis-is-a-CF gaffe, while two actual strikers are sitting and watching. Only genuine case for one of them to be adapting to the league.
* We bought a 35m DM to warm our bench, saying he needs to adapt to the pace.

I am not letting a couple of wins and draws pull wool over me eyes. There are glaring problems and we are not fixing them, not soon enough.

We finished 10 points behind LEI last season. We're already sitting 5 behind a City juggernaut this season. I would much rather benchmark us against the league leader, instead of 'big teams below us'. In other words, I find the apples unripe and showing signs of wilting.

We got lucky at PSG because Cavani played the bastard child of Bendtner and Chamakh. Don't let the very lucky 1 point cover for that.

Theres a lot of room for improvement and I don't see us doing anything - not until it is too late and we're chasing fourth place for a significant part of the season again.

by Sri Mon Sep 19, 2016 11:52 pm

RealGunner wrote: Chelsea at home next weekend will either tell us if we are on the way up or that we just were given a breathing space

Would be lucky to get a point.

by Jay29 Tue Sep 20, 2016 12:05 am

City are flying, Spurs are above us, Liverpool have started very well (Burnley loss aside) and even Everton look powerful and exciting at the moment. That United and Chelsea are having some issues doesn't change the fact that there's still a good few sides who look a lot better than we do currently.

That's not to say we won't get better, of course, but a few wins against poor sides isn't brigning the optimism back for me just yet. We've only looked good in one game this season and I feel like the luck we've been getting will run its course.

We'll definitely lose to Chelsea next week because that's what we do.

by Sri Tue Sep 20, 2016 12:34 am

* Costa will manage to get 2 of our players sent off.
* Ref will mistake Alexis for Walcott and show him a straight red.
* Luiz will score a FK from 45 yards out.
* We'll have possession and be toothless, before Chelsea score 3 from 3 counters.

Normal service resumes :coffee:

by Jay29 Tue Sep 20, 2016 12:36 am

I was just thinking about it but our record against Chelsea since 2005 is horrid. We've only beaten them four times. rofl

by Sri Tue Sep 20, 2016 1:51 am

Thank AVB for that Proud

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