4 games left for the Arsenal, 5 for Tottenham, Newcastle and Chelsea. 5 points gap, with 1 played extra. All to play for. Fixtures left for all clubs and my predicted (based on pessimistic and bias assumptions) points.
Arsenal
Chelsea (Home): 1 Point
Stoke (Away): 1 Point
Norwich (Home): 3 Points
West Brom (Away): 1 Point
Final Total: 70 Points
Tottenham
QPR (Away): 1 point
Blackburn (Home): 3 Points
Bolton (Away): 3 Points
Villa (Away): 1 Point
Fulham (Home): 1 Point
Final Total: 68 Points
Newcastle
Stoke (Home): 1 Point
Wigan (Away): 0 Points
Chelsea (Away): 0 Points
City (Home): 0 Points
Everton (Away): 1 Point
Final Total: 61 Points
Chelsea
Arsenal (Away): 1 Point
QPR (Home): 3 Points
Newcastle (Home): 3 Points
Liverpool (Away): 0 Points
Blackburn (Home): 3 Points
Final Total: 67 Points
So I make that Arsenal on 3rd with Tottenham making up the final CL spot. Chelsea close behind and Newcastle faltering at the final hurdle. A close run thing with only 3 points separating positions 3, 4 and 5.
For Arsenal, the situation would have been more comfortable with points against QPR and Wigan. But hey-ho, we played rubbish and both teams deserved to win. We could do ourselves a big favour by picking up maximum points against Chelsea. They’re in-between a Barcelona CL tie and we should surely go for the jugular. We owe Stoke a bashing after ruining Ramsey.
The Run-in
posted on 18/4/12
Wenger is tactically useless. Everyone apart from Wenger will admit this. But he's the best placed person at the club to make decisions about which players are suitable for which games.
Plus, he will know that with Arteta and Diaby out, Ramsey is the best person for the role. Wenger is a genius at giving players confidence and therefore he is right to play Ramsey in the next two matches.
posted on 18/4/12
I don't think he's tactically useless, he's just too idealistic. You can't play some of the football we've done over the years without a tactical brain, with the quick movement and passing. He just overlooks or can't be arséd with the basics
posted on 18/4/12
Yeah I have to agree with 8bit there.
It's Wenger's idealistic views of how the game should be played that more often than not is the cause of any slip ups he makes.
Which is of course a little naive. Especially from a manager with his experience.
posted on 18/4/12
I don't think he's tactically useless, he's just too idealistic.
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Is there really a difference? A brilliant tactian will know what his team is capable of but also spend a fair portion of his time analysing the opposition and exploiting their weak points. Trying every avenue to gain the upper hand. Wenger doesn't bother. He has this delusion concept that if we played to our strength, every minute of every match then we'll come through.
Naive
posted on 18/4/12
Today's the day we find out if Arteta's season is over apparently.
Gulp.
posted on 18/4/12
Yeah fair point. I just think he's too concerned with his principles than the ruthless desire for results, like SAF is. Not to do with tactics but he let Sanchez Watt play against us in the cup when he was on loan, no other manager would do that. He wants to win but he wants to do it the 'perfect' way.
posted on 18/4/12
Don't hold out any hopes Lex. Arteta is done for the season. Even if he wasn't, he'll miss the crux Chelsea and Stoke games, so no point in rushing him.
Ramsey will come good. Bookmark this.
posted on 18/4/12
Well Luiz is out this Saturday which is a big plus for us because he is their only defender with genuine pace and technique and Ivanovic is suspended, too which means that the Ox should FINALLY start (surely he will start?!) and give him hell. Walcott always gives Cashley a tough time so if we can control the wings then we will win. RVP is due to score eventually. We just can't play Ramsey in the middle because when he plays he doesn't release the ball quick enough and our wingers automatically go out of the game.
Perfect analysis. We must play with pace. Ramsey can't do that. So leave him out.
posted on 18/4/12
Thrugunner, Ramsey can play with pace, but match fitness means he needs game time. He will play at the middle, with arteta and diaby out.
Who else could take up the role? Coquelin? A bloke that hasn't played for months and has little match experience. Who's only big match starts have resulted in thumpings?
Ramsey just needs to support Alex Song better. This is his only flaw. Song is perfect with Arteta because the latter allows Song to express his attacking instincts. Ramsey is defensively naive and needs to think about the team rather then venture on attacking runs alone.
But Ramsey will do the job. Stand on me.
posted on 18/4/12
Lewandowski is class and one of Dortmund's main men, he won't be joining us any time soon.