Arsenal Thread 2014/15

[JoeMercer'sWay]

i'm actually surprised you didn't just go the whole hog and also whip out the 'arsenal have no leaders/have no defence/too easy to break down/weak mentality/rubbish in big games/havent won a trophy in years/happy with 4th place/always sell their best players' cliches.

no, but the difference between Chelsea and Arsenal, and over the years any of the title winners and Arsenal, is that when a sticky patch is hit, Arsenal don't have the leadership/mentality/steel and defensive solidity to cope when their attacking flair is off-form.

Yes, Coquelin and Bellerin have been great, but you can't rely on them for an entire season to keep doing that and for you not to have too many bad days, like you did at Stoke etc.

You've been brilliant in 2015, apart from Monaco where again, off-day and your defence wilted, but that's co-incided largely with your flair players being in great nick.

You're going to end up with a very similar points tally to last season, no progress in the CL, an embarrassing exit to boot, and fair enough you should win the FA Cup again, no guarantee though.

It's nice to repeat success but there hasn't really been progress, because of what I mentioned above, you need to fix that if you want the consistency over a season to do anything more than your current spiel.

 

[afc16]

i will reply to this as yours was actually a decent post without resorting to trash talk like the previous post before urs.

I am measuring overall success over a period of years, not just this season over last. we were restricted for 8 years, most sensible people will begrudgingly appreciate the job wenger done in those years keeping us in the top 4. mentioning no trophies during this spell whilst omitting the fact we built a £500m stadium in this time is a bit of an oversight. we were not in a position to win trophies during that time and i don't think we can be critised for not doing so either.

the last 2 years since the restrictions have been lifted, we haven't had to sell any of our best players and on the contrary have actually brought top players ourselves. we should end up winning another trophy which would be 2 years on the trot. we should finished second, which regardless of points is still progress over last season and the ones before it.

we had an off day against monaco, no worse then chelsea not beating a psg team with 10 men.

if i am measuring progress, the fact we could have 2 trophies in 2 years as well as our highest league finish is pretty good progress, the next step is to kick on and continue it over a whole season which largely due to injuries we haven't been able to do so far.

 

[mcfcphil]

we were restricted for 8 years, most sensible people will begrudgingly appreciate the job wenger done in those years keeping us in the top 4. mentioning no trophies during this spell whilst omitting the fact we built a £500m stadium in this time is a bit of an oversight.

Throughout those eight years the fans paid through the nose for tickets to finance the stadium while your major shareholders continued to earn millions and millions of pounds.

 

[FanchesterCity]

Arsenal weren't restricted in the sense of an outside body placing those restrictions. They were restricted in as much as they set their own restrictions in place.

The fans paid a heavy price for the restrictions too.

Arsenal have done a great job at taking a good club with a slight air of 'posh' about them, and branded themselves as 'classy' and 'upmarket'. That's not criticising them, it's simply one way to market themselves. It's backed up by a fantastic stadium, and some great football (when it clicks). The downside is that fans have to pay more to be part of the 'upmarket' experience.

A club like West Ham on the other hand will have to go in the other direction and make themselves a 'people's club' - which again is really just over egging the image they already have.

Liverpool on the other hand are still trying to sell the European Giant image, but it's not backed up by modern day experience. They are former European Giants, and not current ones.

Arsenal were fantastic last night, but Arsenal have been fantastic on many nights (just like City have). Their problem, much like City this season is that they have too many peaks and troughs in their performances. They've been better than us this season, but not by much, as the table currently shows.

Now the supposed restrictions (for Arsenal) are behind them, we'll see how high their aspirations are. I think they'll spend handsomely, but still short of City and United, and probably Chelsea too.

I like them. If City had to be 'like' another club, I'd rather it be Arsenal than any of United,modern Liverpool or Chelsea.
Fortunately we don't have to be 'like' them. We just happen to try and play football in a similar(ish) style.

 

[Ronuja]

Arsenal weren't restricted in the sense of an outside body placing those restrictions. They were restricted in as much as they set their own restrictions in place.

The fans paid a heavy price for the restrictions too.

Arsenal have done a great job at taking a good club with a slight air of 'posh' about them, and branded themselves as 'classy' and 'upmarket'. That's not criticising them, it's simply one way to market themselves. It's backed up by a fantastic stadium, and some great football (when it clicks). The downside is that fans have to pay more to be part of the 'upmarket' experience.

A club like West Ham on the other hand will have to go in the other direction and make themselves a 'people's club' - which again is really just over egging the image they already have.

Liverpool on the other hand are still trying to sell the European Giant image, but it's not backed up by modern day experience. They are former European Giants, and not current ones.

Arsenal were fantastic last night, but Arsenal have been fantastic on many nights (just like City have). Their problem, much like City this season is that they have too many peaks and troughs in their performances. They've been better than us this season, but not by much, as the table currently shows.

Now the supposed restrictions (for Arsenal) are behind them, we'll see how high their aspirations are. I think they'll spend handsomely, but still short of City and United, and probably Chelsea too.

I like them. If City had to be 'like' another club, I'd rather it be Arsenal than any of United,modern Liverpool or Chelsea.
Fortunately we don't have to be 'like' them. We just happen to try and play football in a similar(ish) style.

I like City. If Arsenal had to be ‘like’ any other club, I would want it to be City, rather than any or United, Chelsea, or Liverpool. City isn’t even in my top 5 most hated clubs.

 

[Marvin]

I watched the Hull v Arsenal game and Arsenal were very impressive

Right now, I'd say they are the best team in the Premiership. They have to do it over the course of the season, but this is the best Arsenal team I have seen since the Vieira days. Love watching Sanchez play. Hazard will get the POTY from the football writers, but I think I'd give it to Sanchez.

Arsenal are ahead of City at the moment. They totally dominate games in the way we used to. Hopefully the old City will return.

Will be interesting to see what Wenger does in the Summer with transfers. I thought he was on the way out, but I think he will be sensing a team coming together.

 

[afc16]

Arsenal weren't restricted in the sense of an outside body placing those restrictions. They were restricted in as much as they set their own restrictions in place.

The fans paid a heavy price for the restrictions too.

Arsenal have done a great job at taking a good club with a slight air of 'posh' about them, and branded themselves as 'classy' and 'upmarket'. That's not criticising them, it's simply one way to market themselves. It's backed up by a fantastic stadium, and some great football (when it clicks). The downside is that fans have to pay more to be part of the 'upmarket' experience.

A club like West Ham on the other hand will have to go in the other direction and make themselves a 'people's club' - which again is really just over egging the image they already have.

Liverpool on the other hand are still trying to sell the European Giant image, but it's not backed up by modern day experience. They are former European Giants, and not current ones.

Arsenal were fantastic last night, but Arsenal have been fantastic on many nights (just like City have). Their problem, much like City this season is that they have too many peaks and troughs in their performances. They've been better than us this season, but not by much, as the table currently shows.

Now the supposed restrictions (for Arsenal) are behind them, we'll see how high their aspirations are. I think they'll spend handsomely, but still short of City and United, and probably Chelsea too.

I like them. If City had to be 'like' another club, I'd rather it be Arsenal than any of United,modern Liverpool or Chelsea.
Fortunately we don't have to be 'like' them. We just happen to try and play football in a similar(ish) style.

Excellent post and points made. Regarding what the previous poster said, of course arsenal still charged us loads of money for tickets but theres not much we can really do about that as fans. Regarding the prices and also watching us having to sell our best players and not be able to replace them, then yes we did pay a heavy price as well, it wasn't the fans fault the club chose to go in that direction even though it was ultimately the right decision and thing to do for the long term as it has now enabled us to compete with almost any club for players. Although we will probably not pay the kind of wages that chelsea utd city play to their top players, i think this is more down to our model then not being able to afford it as we clearly can if we wanted to. I think this also has to be applauded because once you start paying that kind of money, where does it stop. You have players like rooney who will take the piss.

We've set a marker ourselves the last 2 years, i honestly and genuinely think it will continue. I truly believe the club will knock back any offers for our players such as wilshere for example whereas in the past they wouldn't have. We can basically sell only if want to sell.

 

[afc16]

I watched the Hull v Arsenal game and Arsenal were very impressive

Right now, I'd say they are the best team in the Premiership. They have to do it over the course of the season, but this is the best Arsenal team I have seen since the Vieira days. Love watching Sanchez play. Hazard will get the POTY from the football writers, but I think I'd give it to Sanchez.

Arsenal are ahead of City at the moment. They totally dominate games in the way we used to. Hopefully the old City will return.

Will be interesting to see what Wenger does in the Summer with transfers. I thought he was on the way out, but I think he will be sensing a team coming together.

Hopefully they won't lol! In recent years city is the only team i have begrudgingly seen that is able to play football the way we do which is my favourite style of football. fans are branded bitter and congrats to chelsea but the enjoyment i get from watching our style of football beats any trophies, although of course a trophy at the end of it would be even better. for me footy is entertainment. Chelsea don't entertain me, and i wouldn't swap their style of football with ours even if it meant trophies.

We have wenger for 2 more years at least. He deserves it, after having to go through the restricted period it would be very unfair to now get rid of him. He deserves a few years with money to see what he can do and so far he's on the right track but id say next 2 seasons he either needs to win title or at the very least properly challenge for it from start to finish. I would be happy with that.

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

I watched the Hull v Arsenal game and Arsenal were very impressive

Right now, I'd say they are the best team in the Premiership. They have to do it over the course of the season, but this is the best Arsenal team I have seen since the Vieira days. Love watching Sanchez play. Hazard will get the POTY from the football writers, but I think I'd give it to Sanchez.

Arsenal are ahead of City at the moment. They totally dominate games in the way we used to. Hopefully the old City will return.

Will be interesting to see what Wenger does in the Summer with transfers. I thought he was on the way out, but I think he will be sensing a team coming together.

Hopefully they won't lol! In recent years city is the only team i have begrudgingly seen that is able to play football the way we do which is my favourite style of football. fans are branded bitter and congrats to chelsea but the enjoyment i get from watching our style of football beats any trophies, although of course a trophy at the end of it would be even better. for me footy is entertainment. Chelsea don't entertain me, and i wouldn't swap their style of football with ours even if it meant trophies.

We have wenger for 2 more years at least. He deserves it, after having to go through the restricted period it would be very unfair to now get rid of him. He deserves a few years with money to see what he can do and so far he's on the right track but id say next 2 seasons he either needs to win title or at the very least properly challenge for it from start to finish. I would be happy with that.

It would be madness to get rid of Wenger now, just as it seems to be clicking.
Be interesting to see how you start, next season.

 

[Marvin]

I watched the Hull v Arsenal game and Arsenal were very impressive

Right now, I'd say they are the best team in the Premiership. They have to do it over the course of the season, but this is the best Arsenal team I have seen since the Vieira days. Love watching Sanchez play. Hazard will get the POTY from the football writers, but I think I'd give it to Sanchez.

Arsenal are ahead of City at the moment. They totally dominate games in the way we used to. Hopefully the old City will return.

Will be interesting to see what Wenger does in the Summer with transfers. I thought he was on the way out, but I think he will be sensing a team coming together.

Hopefully they won't lol! In recent years city is the only team i have begrudgingly seen that is able to play football the way we do which is my favourite style of football. fans are branded bitter and congrats to chelsea but the enjoyment i get from watching our style of football beats any trophies, although of course a trophy at the end of it would be even better. for me footy is entertainment. Chelsea don't entertain me, and i wouldn't swap their style of football with ours even if it meant trophies.

We have wenger for 2 more years at least. He deserves it, after having to go through the restricted period it would be very unfair to now get rid of him. He deserves a few years with money to see what he can do and so far he's on the right track but id say next 2 seasons he either needs to win title or at the very least properly challenge for it from start to finish. I would be happy with that.

Arsenal used to be my ideal of how to play football when you had Henry Bergkamp etc, but then my opinion of Wenger went downhill as he struggled to reproduce another winning team.

Never been too sure whether Arsenal's restricted spending was down to Wenger or the board because the board always said the money was there.