Will we win the league this season?

[Marvin.]

I thought it was equally as encouraging that he was ready to come on after 20 minutes once Nico picked up the injury.

I know there weren't many other options on the bench, but there's not a prayer he would have started warming up unless he could have seen the game through.

Would still like to see someone mobile alongside him (Anderson?) as I dont think Nico is the answer, I see him more of a debutant for Rodri tbh.

I think Nico was just a knock so I imagine he will be fit for Chelsea and we will likely see Rodri get another 30 minutes depending on how the game is going.

If Semenyo and Doku are our wide forwards and Haaland plays down the middle, I am not sure whether we can get away with a midfield of Rodri behind Foden and Cherki. Cherki's defensive attributes are very poor. Perhaps he should play on the right, and Semenyo will play on the left. We are still a work in progress and players like Cherki, and Reijnders, are going to have to adapt to the Premier League.

I am relieved that Caicedo is not available for Chelsea. I think Rodri could start against Chelsea with the aim of playing 60 minutes. It might depend on how he feels in the aftermath of the Sunderland game.

 

[Dunne's own goal]

4 point gap at the turn of the year?

In the bag.

for the arse yes.

 

[Marvin.]

After all the second place finishes and finally winning the title, Arsenal are not likely to have the hunger next season. Liverpool have struggled both times after winning the league. We do have a decent chance this season, my concern is mostly the fixture pileup. We're already putting in the most effort of any team in the league, its just not sustainable competing in 4 competitions.

City do put in a lot of running.

Rodri is returning. Kovacic may also return. Ait-Nouri is a decent player, and Marmoush is a quality player. If we sign Semenyo, and he plays at the level he has played at Bournemouth, then we might think better of our squad. We will have to rotate through the Spring.

We are close imo. It is good to be challenged.

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

for the arse yes.

No. What are they famous for? Bottling it.

What are we famous for? Winning it.

These are 100% going to go on a streak of form that will result with them once again being labelled as bottle jobs, and it’s going to be beautiful.

 

[Marvin.]

After all the second place finishes and finally winning the title, Arsenal are not likely to have the hunger next season. Liverpool have struggled both times after winning the league. We do have a decent chance this season, my concern is mostly the fixture pileup. We're already putting in the most effort of any team in the league, its just not sustainable competing in 4 competitions.

Most title-winning sides do a Liverpool but some grow. It might be dependent on the coach. I like Arteta. He is hard. He deals with a lot of disappointment and carries it. I don't like the way Arsenal play football but perhaps it is just a phase.

 

[chris85mcfc]

If Semenyo and Doku are our wide forwards and Haaland plays down the middle, I am not sure whether we can get away with a midfield of Rodri behind Foden and Cherki. Cherki's defensive attributes are very poor. Perhaps he should play on the right, and Semenyo will play on the left. We are still a work in progress and players like Cherki, and Reijnders, are going to have to adapt to the Premier League.

I am relieved that Caicedo is not available for Chelsea. I think Rodri could start against Chelsea with the aim of playing 60 minutes. It might depend on how he feels in the aftermath of the Sunderland game.

We need options in my opinion, and no one player has to be considered to start every single game.

If Rodri and Nico are to take two of the midfield 3 (for arguments sake!) and assuming Haaland is nailed onto start, then there are 3 positions left to be filled by Cherki, Rjeinders, Foden, Semenyo, Doku, Savinho, Bernardo.

They can all be rotated depending on the opposition, but whilst Rodri is still building fitness, id like to see Rodri, Nico, Cherki, Foden, Doku, Haaland.

How they line up is up for grabs; its difficult to displace Doku on the left on current form, so id have Semenyo, Foden and Cherki rotating around for the other two spots.

There's plenty of football to go around and we need options and to be able to keep players fresh, which weve not had the luxury of this season.

 

[Marvin.]

No. What are they famous for? Bottling it.

What are we famous for? Winning it.

These are 100% going to go on a streak of form that will result with them once again being labelled as bottle jobs, and it’s going to be beautiful.

Perhaps. They might also win the league title. There is no natural law that says that Arsenal are necessarily bottle-jobs and City are winners. Teams change. We have seen that but teams are also the product of their manager, and we know Pep is a winner. I would not write-off Arsenal just because they failed in the past. Arteta hasn't folded, he's still in there fighting and at the moment he is winning.

 

[supercity88]

We're still in it, and injuries could play their part.

Rodri staying fit does transform us into a side that can beat anyone and win everything. We have struggled to put in dominant performances over 90 minutes but he really is the key cog in making that happen. His ability to pass through the lines, spread the play to use the width we have is just unmatched. Nico doesn't do it, it's the main difference. There were times last night we had Savinho or Bernardo/Cherki in plenty of space on the touchline. Nico's route is via the full back/CB which makes it easy for the defence to shift over. Rodri just pings it.

Arsenal's biggest issue will be whether their desperation to win something, anything, derails them from winning the main prize. They can rotate more than previous campaigns but they're still in all competitions and rather than sack the league cup off and concentrate on the league they're going for everything and often using Saka/Rice in those games even off the bench.

The fact we're in the race is positive - I didn't think we would be this year. Whether we win it or not we're definitely on our way to competing again and hopefully can win something - the CL is a real possibility still if we get a good draw.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

Not impossible but we'll probably need to beat Arsenal and win at our traditional Anfield graveyard

Talk of Arsenal 'bottling it" is irrelevant when we're equally capable of dropping a few points

 

[MCFC1993]

As I said last night, only halfway, so no need to worry too much yet, just got to stay within touching distance.

OPTA is actually predicting City 77, Arsenal 85 at the moment. Feels right at the moment, we're still working stuff out.

I think it's going to take 87 points to win the title. so 15 wins and a draw for us, which means we'll probably need to convert a couple of hard games in the next 19 games.

Hard Games
Spurs (A)
Liverpool (A)
Chelsea (A)
Arsenal (H)

Tricky games but we're favourites
Chelsea (H)
United (A)
Leeds (A)
Everton (A)
Bournemouth (A)
Villa (H)

Should Win
Brighton (H)
Wolves (H)
Fulham (H)
Newcastle (H)
Forest (H)
West Ham (A)
Palace (H)
Burnley (A)
Brentford (H)

Early February will decide whether there is a race this season. These 2 in particular:


If we're within 2 games of Arsenal after that, race on. Anymore than 6 points and it's too much to ask.

I think we'll have to beat Arsenal at our place though, which if you'd said pre-season beat Arsenal (H) to win the league otherwise they win it, I would have taken it.

 

[DJBusinesscake]

Of course we can still win it. We've lost 4 times and are still only 4 points behind. We aren't chasing prime Liverpool here. This is just a decent Arsenal team, that are known for bottling it. They'll drop more points, we'll drop more points. We just need to be there or there abouts come March time.

 

[MCFC1993]

Next 6 league games....
City:

Arsenal:


I've included all games to show how bloody tough the schedule is.

City - 15 points (losing at Liverpool)
Arsenal - 14 points (draws to Liverpool and Forest)

Tough run of games for both, we arguably have harder league games but more winnable games, Arsenal have 3 tricky away games and teams at home that could cause issues, although United and Sunderland are more winnable at home.

Big month ahead.

 

[eastmanc]

Of course we can still win it. We've lost 4 times and are still only 4 points behind. We aren't chasing prime Liverpool here. This is just a decent Arsenal team, that are known for bottling it. They'll drop more points, we'll drop more points. We just need to be there or there abouts come March time.

We are still unbeaten in seven is it, winning six, long way to go. City fans need to stop flapping if we draw a game. Arsenal aren't going to win every game just like we aren't going to win every game.

 

[eastmanc]

Not impossible but we'll probably need to beat Arsenal and win at our traditional Anfield graveyard

Talk of Arsenal 'bottling it" is irrelevant when we're equally capable of dropping a few points

A lot of twists and turns left in this title race.

 

[eastmanc]

We're still in it, and injuries could play their part.

Rodri staying fit does transform us into a side that can beat anyone and win everything. We have struggled to put in dominant performances over 90 minutes but he really is the key cog in making that happen. His ability to pass through the lines, spread the play to use the width we have is just unmatched. Nico doesn't do it, it's the main difference. There were times last night we had Savinho or Bernardo/Cherki in plenty of space on the touchline. Nico's route is via the full back/CB which makes it easy for the defence to shift over. Rodri just pings it.

Arsenal's biggest issue will be whether their desperation to win something, anything, derails them from winning the main prize. They can rotate more than previous campaigns but they're still in all competitions and rather than sack the league cup off and concentrate on the league they're going for everything and often using Saka/Rice in those games even off the bench.

The fact we're in the race is positive - I didn't think we would be this year. Whether we win it or not we're definitely on our way to competing again and hopefully can win something - the CL is a real possibility still if we get a good draw.

I'd rip your arm off for the Champions League.

 

[DJBusinesscake]

We are still unbeaten in seven is it, winning six, long way to go. City fans need to stop flapping if we draw a game. Arsenal aren't going to win every game just like we aren't going to win every game.

My point exactly friend.

 

[jimharri]

Updated the below. I always find it useful way to see who has who left to play.

Nice work, that. Thanks.

 

[bridgeno1]

Next 6 league games....
City:
View attachment 179025
Arsenal:
View attachment 179024

I've included all games to show how bloody tough the schedule is.

City - 15 points (losing at Liverpool)
Arsenal - 14 points (draws to Liverpool and Forest)

Tough run of games for both, we arguably have harder league games but more winnable games, Arsenal have 3 tricky away games and teams at home that could cause issues, although United and Sunderland are more winnable at home.

Big month ahead.

Arsenal aren't going to fail to beat the Dippers, no chance. Dippers will try to attack and their powderpuff midfield will be overrun.The banana skin game is the match vs the Rags - we have form for messing that fixture up.

Also Leeds away is no gimme.

I have Arsenal getting 14 from the next 6 games and City 12.

I've got;

Arsenal: Bmth(A) win. Lvpl (H) win. Forest (A) win. Rags (H) draw. Leeds (A) draw. Sunderland (H) win.

City: Chelsea (H) win. Brighton (H) win. Rags (A) draw. Wolves (H) win. Spuds (A) draw. Lvpl (A) draw.

The week 1st -8th Feb is a really tricky one for City with Newcastle sandwiched in between Spuds and Dippers.

 

[supercity88]

Next 6 league games....
City:
View attachment 179025
Arsenal:
View attachment 179024

I've included all games to show how bloody tough the schedule is.

City - 15 points (losing at Liverpool)
Arsenal - 14 points (draws to Liverpool and Forest)

Tough run of games for both, we arguably have harder league games but more winnable games, Arsenal have 3 tricky away games and teams at home that could cause issues, although United and Sunderland are more winnable at home.

Big month ahead.

I look at it more broadly and ultimately we have tough away games based on league positions and Arsenal have those at home. Our away form hasn't been very good for a while - Real being the standout victory in about two years.

Something has to significantly change for us to think we can win the league ahead of Arsenal when we still have to go to the swamp, Chelsea and Anfield and Arsenal play their toughest games at home.

 

[jrb]

I do get a little bit frustrated and irritated with this constant Arsenal are going to bottle it again claim. People are convincing themselves that Arsenal will bottle the title again this season because they have done in previous seasons.

Arsenal have a much better team and squad than last season. They have bought some good new players. The Christmas period has shown even with their injuries and the team not playing well, they are still winning games, and remain top of the table, 4 points clear of City. Once Arsenal get all their players back fit and playing, there isn’t a better squad or team in the PL at the moment in my opinion.

If people genuinely think Arsenal will bottle it this season like they have done in the past, fair, enough, but looking at their new signings, the squad, and the team, I can’t see it myself.

I think City will push Arsenal as far as they can, maybe all the way for the title, but I think Arsenal will win the title this season. And yes, I could be wrong about that.