“We are top of the league, say, we are top of the league!”
(What can possibly go wrong?)
We stand top of the League, two points clear with six games gone.
That’s six games people not thirty-six.
It is fantastic that we are where we are but I urge caution. I hope we win the league, I do, of course I do.
I want us to win it, but I don’t expect us to win it.
Can we win it? I think so.
However, if we start to believe we should win it at this early stage, then if we don’t, that will be seen as a failure. For me though, if we don’t quite win it yet end up a lot closer, then that should be seen as an achievement, not a failure. Things can go wrong. In fact things WILL go wrong. Just like they always have for every team, anywhere, ever.
In two years time we should see the nucleolus of this team hitting their peak.
Imagine if Jack, Wojciech, Carl and AOC improve in the way Aaron and Gibbs have (although I feel there is much more to come from them and Theo too) . Ozil, Santi, Per and Laurent will still be at the height of their powers. Add to all that a sprinkling of stars bought in and then I will be expecting us to win things. Only a few short weeks ago we could have backed Arsenal to win the league at odds of 20 to 1. So if we were to eventually manage to come out on top, then – given those odds – that would be an incredible achievement.
We do incredible achievement though, don’t we?
17 years of Champions League qualification; one unbeaten season; the move to the finest stadium in the country – all incredible.
So let’s be excited. Let’s be hopeful
But let’s not be calling it a failure if we have to wait a little longer.
The same stupid people who see the last 8 years as a failure will roll out the same tired arguments as to why we have shown a lack of ambition. From what I can see, the crux of this argument seems to be that we should have spent more, sooner.
Clearly the plan Arsene and the Board have been following is not the same as that which these Einsteins would have dreamed up. Of course that plan would have been formed with little or no knowledge of the club or its goals or the financial realities.
A plan that would have been crudely fueled by dangerous levels of optimism. Still, I am sure they would have been right.
Eh? Really?
What are the chances?
So let us not make the same mistake.
Positively Arsenal 
Good post, George.
As I passed a television this morning, I saw on Sky Breakfast News (or whatever it’s called, Daybreak, Wake Up, etc) they were discussing something like “Are we happier when we have a good moan?” Based on what I read elsewhere (not here), my view would be, “Evidently not.”
LikeLike
tonight is another chance for the aaa to man their keyboards once again. while Dortmund were seen as group favourites it could just as easily be Napoli, a win tonight would be a great result but we are a stronger more consistent team this year and the Italians wont be looking forward to playing us. as far as wining the league is concerned I think we all know after six games picking a winner is pure guess work however we have watched enough ARSENAL sides over the years to know this side can go close and with abit of luck remain at the summit come the end of may.
On one last point has anyone else noticed how serious Dave Allen has become since getting the mancity job I keep waiting for him to tell one of his funny stories only for him to put on an Italian accent and talk about football most disappointing.
LikeLike
@arse_or_brain at 1:24 pm
Does he have the top of his left index finger missing?
LikeLike
Is Tomas Rosicky in the squad tonight?
I don’t see him as a starter yet – even if fit.
but a good man after 70 minutes, if we need him.
Can we play Arteta and Flamini together?
Aaron is undroppable.
Ozil.
someone who can run.
Giroud.
The defence picks itself.
LikeLike
@ Georgaki-pyrovolitis October 1, 2013 at 12:57 pm
“@FunGunner at 12:44 pm
So you knew who I was referring to?”
I thought I had read a name! I see now you didn’t say who.
LikeLike
And Bendtner on his way back to a place in the Denmark squad after his performance in the COC.
LikeLike
GP
the biggest gobshite of them all
is Myles Palmer, closely followed by Peter on the Grove – see his AKB guide.
LikeLike
GP that’s strange as well he seems to have a finger transplant
LikeLike
Why do guys care about people who have published so much rubbish that they clearly have even less knowledge of the game then Piers Moron?
They’re idiots! I’d rather spend my time watching highlights of the pre-season game against Napoli…*coughs*…back to work *ahem*.
LikeLike
@DC at 2:45pm
Spot on!
@FunGunner at 2:34pm see DC at 2:45pm (banned smiley face)
LikeLike
Goonerkam @ 8:25am
I took you literally this morning and assumed Pardew was sacked last night.
It is long overdue, but I think Mike Ashley is caught with a £20m compensation package if he sacks him.
As of this afternoon, though – Pardew seems to be hanging on in there.
I do like what Robert Martinez does as a manager. (at all his clubs) He would be on my list as a candidate for the post-Wenger era. some time around 2030.
LikeLike
Martinez > Moyes
heh
LikeLike
DC
I also have great respect for Martinez. I also have entertained the thought that Arsenal would be in decent hands if he took over from Wenger. But I’m not dwelling on that as I hope we have a good few more years of Arsene yet….
LikeLike
I agree entirely George. I don’t expect to win, though I think we ought to challenge and be much closer than last season. In the meantime I am very much enjoying the improvement of the team and the position we are in. It is quite early in the season and we have some genuine tests in the CL and league coming up.
What I am most interested in right now is our Napoli game. They are a tough team, probably the best we have faced so far this season and since Bayern away. We’ve given away some goals to speedy counterattacks at home, so this will be a true test of our defensive awareness and organization. It is also a great chance for Ozil to show his quality in breaking down a defence with great passes since Napoli are likely to sit deeper waiting for chances to counter.
LikeLike
DC
it won’t be long now. Newcastle fans will run him and Ashley out of town soon.
Could be we get TR on the bench tonight and even fifteen to twenty minutes on the pitch. It be be nice to have him back and I really hope he retires from the national team. It can prolong his career with the ARSENAL.
LikeLike
We absolutely can win the league, but in no way should anyone expect us to do so. It would be a tremendous achievement.
It took Chelsea two years and over £200m (not including wages) to buy themselves a title, despite Arsenal and Man Utd not being at their best. For Man City it was four years and over £400m on transfers alone to top the table. For Arsenal to spend £40m and become genuine contenders for the league in this oil money era is scarcely believable. To actually win it would be one of the biggest shocks in English football in many years.
LikeLike
I can’t think of anything much to say today, so I’ll just agree with Limestone (always a safe bet).
Yes can win the league, but let’s concentrate on getting a result tonight.
Not long to go now. I’m as excited as a man, who’s, er, very excited about something that’s very exciting. Oh yes.
C’MON ARSENAL
LikeLike
It’s going to be a cracker tonight.
UTA!
LikeLike
Today is probably the first proper test we will have. It will be quite interesting to see what this squad is made of when faced with a real challenge. I am quietly optimistic that we can get a result. Koscielny probably to add Higuain to his Back Pocket Collection (to be exhibited at our stadium once Kos retires) and Giroud is going to show at the other end that he is every bit as good as Higuain.
LikeLike
I think to discount Spurs as not a proper test is a bit mean.
LikeLike
I am afraid a club you consistently stick five goals past is not the most reliable of measures G – it may be mean but arithmetic is arithmetic
And Higuain doubtful ?? Surely not (sad sad face)
LikeLike
PG
I’m a bit annoyed with some comments elsewhere hat Arsenal fans like us are now trying to imply that the team didn’t need Higuain (or his equivalent level) AND Ozil.
Far from it, I think we all agree another top class striker in the squad is probably needed for the UCL, but maybe not the EPL. Wenger & Ivan have said they will spend more, IF they can find the right player.
The problem is that these players are not that easy to find nevermind get, and other Clubs have even more money than Arsenal to throw around. I think that if we had gone public with our interest in Ozil sooner in the summer – he would have been bought up by some other club.
If Arsene is in the market for an extra striker, I’m sure it will be kept very quite until the last minute.
Pity we missed out on Lukaku, but let’s see Sanogo in action first before we rush to panic. I recall a lot of the same commentators berating Arsene for buying Giroud – as he was not proven top class.
LikeLike
DC,they have been wrong about so much,and we have been right about so much,that they are clutching at straws.
The best one is when some mental pigmy claims we are Arsene fans ,rather than Arsenal fans.Unable to understand that you can be both without one being conditional on the other.
LikeLike
PG
they have been wrong on soooo many fronts for sooo long, they have lost all credibility.
Not long now.
COYG
LikeLike
Higuain out,injured, not on the bench. Pandev in.
–
01 Szczesny
04 Mertesacker
03 Sagna
06 Koscielny
28 Gibbs
16 Ramsey
20 Flamini
08 Arteta
07 Rosicky
11 Özil
12 Giroud
25 Jenkinson
23 Bendtner
17 Monreal
10 Wilshere
05 Vermaelen
44 Gnabry
21 Fabianski
–
25 Reina
16 Mesto
05 Britos
33 Albiol
18 Zuñiga
24 Insigne
88 Inler
17 Hamsik
07 Callejón
85 Behrami
19 Pandev
14 Mertens
01 Barbosa
28 Cannavaro
27 Armero
91 Zapata
20 Dzemaili
21 Fernández
–
COME ON ARSENAL!
LikeLike
Are you sure, Finsbury? I was sure it was just mind games and he would be involved.
LikeLike
FG – copy and pasted from the Bleeb!
Pandev is not useless, hope that AFC keep their focus.
LikeLike
Ah, yes. Ta. I should try to be a bit less cynical, clearly!
LikeLike
Arteta back in is a huge bonus – experience is so important in these CL ties.
LikeLike
And Tommy’s baaaaaaaaaaaaack!
LikeLike
Brilliant to see Tomas back.
LikeLike
Controlled calm football.
LikeLike
Are we brilliant or what?
LikeLike
What a crazy midfield we have out there. I don’t think anyone would want to play against that midfield 5.
LikeLike
Oh my. What a goal. Skill patience accuracy and another amazing touch from Giroud.
LikeLike
early score. A good omen.
Come on you RED & WHITES
LikeLike
Yeah but no but yeah but no but surely Giroud should be scoring more?
#pre-assist assist.
LikeLike
Fucking hell
LikeLike
Absolutely stunning!
LikeLike
Oh well, there you go.
They can’t even get the Giroud moans right.
LikeLike
This is dream football.
LikeLike
So Arsene knows nothing about tactics, huh? But apparently he has come up with a tactic that frees us from our desperate need for pace on the wings. How is that possible?
LikeLike
Seriously. These 15 minutes are the best football I’ve seen us play in years. And against a top European side to boot!
LikeLike
Can’t blame Aaron for taking the ball on, the form he’s in right now.
LikeLike
Flamini does one of those every game. He will get red cards.
LikeLike
Yes you can Steww, sell him.
*not fit to wear the shirt*
LikeLike
Good game of football
Still wide open
LikeLike
What a piece of skill from Aron.
LikeLike
Not having to sell anyone we didn’t want to sell was the best business we did this summer. And that’s even allowing for Ozil. A settled side. Makes all the difference.
LikeLike
@steww
Spot effing on!
LikeLike