glorygloryeze
Tom Huddlestone
Where do we stand right now compared to Arsenal?
I have my reservations about Harry long-term, but I cannot deny that he has played a big part in us closing the gap on the filth.
We won our first league game against them in 10 and a half years under Harry and also won at their place for the first time in 17 years.
On top of that he has more league wins against Wenger as it stands now - was Gerry Francis the last manager who could boast such a record??
Also, in terms of the league table we have slowly closed the gap (though we really should have OVERTAKEN them this season; but that's for another thread...) so now they are only one point ahead at the end this season.
Where do people think we are now in relation to Arsenal?
I personally believe that their lack of ability/willingness to replace quality players with equal quality had caught up with them last year and I honestly thought we and Chelsea would punish them.
I think, despite their revenues, we would have stolen a march on them if we'd got 3rd for several reasons:
- transfer targets would have been more attracted by our guarenteed CL spot; perhaps even thinking they would have a better chance of progressing in the CL with us!
- they know they need to spend relatively big to keep up now as their is solid competition for the next 6 places after 2nd; their spendthrith ways are assest-stripping themselves to oblivion imo (i.e. the less they spend now, the more they will get desperate later and the higher the fees demanded will become)
- I honestly wonder if their mentality would have been able to take finishing behind us AND not being guarenteed a CL; they might have impoded and Wnger resigned.
- I TRULY believe that we have a much better SQUAD (though yhey have better ingrained playing styles/systems) and I think the gap in squads wuld have grown (unless they threw about A LOT of cash to convince suitors otherwise)
If we make statement signings despite no CL (i.e. Vertonghen, Remy, Leandro etc) AND have a good start next season you can imagine that if they have lost RVP they will be looking at us and still feeling nervous about us and that might put pressure on Wenger, who I believe is losing it a bit: that 3rd place has REALLY papered over some big cracks.
Thoughts?
I have my reservations about Harry long-term, but I cannot deny that he has played a big part in us closing the gap on the filth.
We won our first league game against them in 10 and a half years under Harry and also won at their place for the first time in 17 years.
On top of that he has more league wins against Wenger as it stands now - was Gerry Francis the last manager who could boast such a record??
Also, in terms of the league table we have slowly closed the gap (though we really should have OVERTAKEN them this season; but that's for another thread...) so now they are only one point ahead at the end this season.
Where do people think we are now in relation to Arsenal?
I personally believe that their lack of ability/willingness to replace quality players with equal quality had caught up with them last year and I honestly thought we and Chelsea would punish them.
I think, despite their revenues, we would have stolen a march on them if we'd got 3rd for several reasons:
- transfer targets would have been more attracted by our guarenteed CL spot; perhaps even thinking they would have a better chance of progressing in the CL with us!
- they know they need to spend relatively big to keep up now as their is solid competition for the next 6 places after 2nd; their spendthrith ways are assest-stripping themselves to oblivion imo (i.e. the less they spend now, the more they will get desperate later and the higher the fees demanded will become)
- I honestly wonder if their mentality would have been able to take finishing behind us AND not being guarenteed a CL; they might have impoded and Wnger resigned.
- I TRULY believe that we have a much better SQUAD (though yhey have better ingrained playing styles/systems) and I think the gap in squads wuld have grown (unless they threw about A LOT of cash to convince suitors otherwise)
If we make statement signings despite no CL (i.e. Vertonghen, Remy, Leandro etc) AND have a good start next season you can imagine that if they have lost RVP they will be looking at us and still feeling nervous about us and that might put pressure on Wenger, who I believe is losing it a bit: that 3rd place has REALLY papered over some big cracks.
Thoughts?
