Like I said, I think they had a better mentality, which has seen them through since 2006, which allowed them to get through despite being on the slide.
I also think other teams approached them differently, the media talked about them differently. The Myth was bigger than the reality, and their players, fans and manager believed it. It helped them alot, despite the team being a fraction of the the 2001-4 sides.
Thats why I think they continued to finish above us, not because they had a far superior squad.
Now that is all different, and they are left with the bare bones of an inadequate team, and failing manager, split "support", and a league of opponents who dont fear the word arsenal in the fixture list anymore.
You back up my point. We have made very few additions, but the rest of the squad was good enough to see us where we are. They lost very few players, but the rest of their squad isnt good enough.
You say the teams now are "completely different" to 2009?
Spurs
Heurelho Gomes
Gareth Bale
Younes Kaboul
David Bentley
Tom Huddlestone
Aaron Lennon
Jermaine Jenas
Roman Pavlyuchenko
Wilson Palacios
Jimmy Walker
Luka Modrić
Peter Crouch
Jermain Defoe
Eidur Gudjohnsen (on loan from Monaco)
S?®bastien Bassong
Michael Dawson (Captain)
Niko Kranjčar
Vedran Ćorluka
Carlo Cudicini
Danny Rose
Ledley King (Club-Captain)
Ben Alnwick
Kyle Walker
Dorian Dervite
Beno?«t Assou-Ekotto
Jonathan Woodgate
arse
Almunia
Sagna
Gallas
Vermaelen
Clichy
Song
F?ábregas
Diaby
Nasri
Arshavin
Bendtner
Ebou?®
Rosick?¢
Eduardo
Walcott
Ramsey
Den?¡lson
van Persie
Silvestre
Vela
Traor?®
Fabiański
Mannone
M?®rida
Gibbs
Wheelchair
Senderos
Szczęsny
Djourou
Bolded players have left (although Im not sur about some of their reserves)
When Keane made the statement, who the f#ck was Wheelchair? Or Ramsey? You cant say that Bale, and Kaboul were not quality players then, yet count Arshavin and Walcott as somehow streets ahead of us??
RVP was also out for five months that season injured. Unfair to compare his input to this season too, if he was injured for most of the season.
Gallas, RVP, Nasri and Fabregas.
Feel free to show me anymore players from that squad, which were way better than ours. And please show me a stronger bench they could field.