Remaining fixtures the one glimmer of hope
Posted by Chris Rivers on February 15th, 2010
It was a cheerful end to a bruising fortnight.
The scrappy and, I admit, fairly dull win over Liverpool confirmed our place just ahead of the Merseysiders. However, the two thumpings which preceded it showed how far behind Manchester United and Chelsea the Gunners really are.
Still, results elsewhere and our games to come mean I’m at least a little optimistic for the rest of the season. Perhaps it’s just the eternal optimist in me poking its head above the parapet, but I don’t think we’re out of things just yet.
In previous seasons matches between the Big Four were seen as decisive in the title race as it was a given they would pick up points elsewhere. That isn’t the case this season – we could lose the ‘title six-pointers’ and still finish top.
For starters Chelsea have looked distinctly average in recent slip ups against Hull and Everton, while United are relying on Rooney to drag them through matches. In a league that is more competitive than ever I can see both sides dropping points in unlikely places from now until May. The Premier League title race is far from over.
Arsenal’s fixtures between now and the end of the season see them play a glut of relegation strugglers, some mid-table sides and four of the current top eight.
The home games against Sunderland, Burnley, West Ham, Wolves and Fulham are all winnable, as is Hull away.
These teams are likely to park the bus, but we should have enough to break them down. Eighteen points from these games would do nicely.
Wigan, Stoke and Blackburn away might prove to be trickier prospects.
The media would have us believe that southern softies Arsenal come unstuck against “gritty” northern opposition. There is a school of thought that says if you get stuck in against Wenger’s men they will fold. It is not entirely untrue and Wenger’s stubborn refusal to play any other way leaves him open to such criticism. The side will have to show great spirit if they are to take the points from these games. Five points would be a decent haul.
Perhaps the biggest games in the run in will be Birmingham and Tottenham away and Man City and Fulham at home.
All these sides find themselves in the top eight and these matches could prove pivotal in the title race. We need to win our home games so revenge for Adebayor’s celebration and a win over Fulham would go down well, victory over Spurs would be nice as always and even a draw against Birmingham would be acceptable.
That would leave Arsenal on 85 points, a more than competitive total and one that has been enough to win the Premier League on seven occasions.
The football odds suggest a title win is unlikely, especially as I have already spoken about the competitiveness of the league, but it is at least something to hope for after a tricky few weeks for the Gooners.
February 15th, 2010 at 5:22 am
hi,
glad to see my arsenalist to have smile on his face and hope in is heart, that is the spirit my boys,
we should do ok and wait on other team to drop point… we r not the one with the preasure on our shoulder.. man U and cheslki are.. even if they r stronger than us , the title is not won by winning against the top 4 but by having the most consistent season so we can hope our boys keep there head up and focus and then will see…
lets all cheer our gunners until the end
Gunner for life
February 15th, 2010 at 6:15 am
Very decent comments arsenalist. I agree with you as usual. I am however wondering what your views on us beating Porto tomorrow are? and what you have heard about Alex Song’s and Arshavin’s includementin the travelling squad is? I have heard that Arshavin is going to miss the games which is a shame but that Eduardo will be there! I am constantly checking the official Arsenal site for injury news updates but as of yet, nothing? usually Wenger releases updates regularly? I wonder.
February 15th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Hi Arsenalist,
I do not know how much could I praise your efforts in putting the highlights on. I have recentley started readig your comments on website and I highly appreciate it. I know we are all down on Arsenal’s big defeats, but I am so much hopefull. Keep the good faith and keep doing what you are doing which is great!
Gunnarz 4 Life
February 16th, 2010 at 5:09 am
Kudos for a positive article.
Obviously ppl care about our club, but the constant b*tching from spoiled arsenal fans gets old.
Worth noting is how much better we play when the pressure’s off. We just lost to both the teams above us and are being dismissed from the title race, often in previous seasons, this was the point we managed to re-find some form. We definitely have the right fixtures to do so. Even the tough ones are winnable, Citeh and Fulham are poor away from home (3-5-4 and 1-5-7 respectively). Birmingham and Spurs are competitive, but Tottenham away has got a draw written all over it and we outplayed Birmingham at the Emirates.
I think both the leaders will drop points and we’ll sneak back into contention before the end of the season. Of course if we do, but don’t take the title and the Champs League then we’ll only face louder cries of ‘Sack the board’ etc. from the crazies…
February 16th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
we’ll be on top next few week.
go arsenal. beat porto tomorrow
February 16th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
IN ARSENE WE TRUST
Lets go gunners we will fight till the end let’s show everyone that it is time for the gunners to gun down the competition
Gooners 4 life!!!
February 16th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
love the positve outlook Alist. We gotta stay behind our Gunners no matter what. Great article, well written and with good insight. Never a let down here Alist, go Arseanl!!
February 16th, 2010 at 11:49 pm
I meant Arsenal, my bad
February 17th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Could someone please upload Cesc’s ITV interview or post a link that is viewable outside the UK as ITV.com is not.
February 27th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
and after the results of today, 28 games played each, and we’re only 3 behind chelsea now. well done arselist
February 27th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Мне кажется идея в этой статье раскрыта не до конца. Автор, может что-то добавишь к этому ?
February 28th, 2010 at 1:35 am
Благодарствую, полезная вещь.
February 28th, 2010 at 6:57 am
ух ты как крууууууууууутооооооо))
February 28th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Классно всё: и картинка ,и информация
February 28th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
PruBeT. Cpacubo 3a post
March 1st, 2010 at 1:25 am
Респект.
March 1st, 2010 at 6:22 am
Очень интересно.
March 1st, 2010 at 10:45 am
На нашем сайте Вы сможете создать свой нумерологический гороскоп как на определенный день, так и на длительный период времени. На нашем сайте можно получить прогноз на совместимость с Вашим любимым.
March 1st, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Невероятно красиво!
March 1st, 2010 at 10:41 pm
А не намекнете, где можно почитать подробнее, господа?
March 2nd, 2010 at 3:26 am
да, вот и у нас начались увольнения.. говорят, что после нового года еще круче будет
March 2nd, 2010 at 7:37 am
Спасибо автору блога за предоставленную информацию.
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Кстати как отметили Хеллоуин?
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Отличный портал, но стоит больше добавлять информации
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:06 am
Нужная инфа.
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:40 am
Читаешь это и думаешь….
March 5th, 2010 at 5:41 am
Мне понравился ваш блог, особенно дизайн
March 5th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
Автор, а вы из какого города ?
March 6th, 2010 at 4:46 am
имхо, автор не прав
March 6th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Вам спасибо – за тёплый приём )
March 7th, 2010 at 6:25 am
“Очень познавательно. Спасибо.”