All the recent talk in the sports pages has been about Liverpool and their seemingly insurmountable lead, and City, being the only team capable of overturning it, sitting eight points down.
And one point beneath City, we lurk.
If City are still in the hunt, technically aren't we? Can we finally make this a season worth watching, right to the bitter end? It would be nice to say yes, but there are a few points worth addressing:
Goal difference. Even with a lack of points, City have a double figure goal difference. They have the potential to score their way to the top. By comparison, we haemorrage goals, and stupid ones. Even Auba's best efforts are in vain sometimes.
Form. City are going through the unsteadiest run of form they've had in years. One upturn, and suddenly they're lethal again. We, on the other hand, are playing about as well as we have in the last season or so. We don't have another gear to go up to.
Personnel. Pretty much all of our main players, bar Lacazette, are back and fighting fit. How Emery chooses to use them is a different matter, but we don't have many more absent heroes to call on. City are waiting on the return of Stones, Laporte, and others who will shore things up and make them that bit nastier to face.
I think it would be optimistic to say that we're in the mix, but it is good to be up in third again. City can still do the job, if they find form and fix the problems they have right now. As for Liverpool - forget a few moments of luck and you have to admit they're playing stunningly well. However, they had a decent lead at the turn of the year last season (was it six or seven points? Something in that area?) and they ended up laughing all the way to the bottle bank. It will be a big ask for them to keep up this intensity, and in January when they might start to feel the ache, City will start seeing the return of some needed reinforcements.
We're only eight games in. It's still up for grabs.
Is it all over?
posted on 9/10/19
We are 1 point ahead of Leicester and Palace. A lot of fans getting carried away as well as thinking emery is apparently doing a job based on us being 3rs after 8 games
posted on 9/10/19
Arsenal lead the race for third, and that is really the best we could have hoped for at start of season.
The reason City are in the hunt still is they could win 15 - 20 games in a row. We are happy if we get back to back wins
posted on 9/10/19
comment by Castor Troy (U8700)
posted 29 minutes ago
We are 1 point ahead of Leicester and Palace. A lot of fans getting carried away as well as thinking emery is apparently doing a job based on us being 3rs after 8 games
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What you call "Getting carried away," I call "Not BIYATCHING until it's absolutely necessary. Biyatching about being 3rd in the league with ya team halfway out of total disarray off the pitch...?? That's the football equivalent of FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS!
Seriously, at least shut up whining until we've lost. Just seem like a cry baby otherwise.
Pool got 8 points more
posted on 9/10/19
**Not saying we're in the title race. Just that CERTAIN PEOPLE need to stop cryin' as if we're in a relegation battle.
posted on 9/10/19
comment by Diamondlights (U20501)
posted 5 hours, 13 minutes ago
What exactly is up for grabs for Arsenal ?? Other than pointing out that Liverpool had a decent lead last year and that city & liverpool are great while Arsenal have no defense I'm not sure what your point is after 8 games
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The bitterness is strong in this one
we don't have a chance of winning the title but if City can beat Liverpool in a few weeks then it's down to 5 points so far from over, if Liverpool win however and make it 11 points then it's hard to to see them losing it from there. City will drop more points than last two seasons with their leaky defence.
posted on 9/10/19
Consistency is the only hope for Arsenal.
posted on 9/10/19
I look at the top three and could see Liverpool and City winning 15 games on the spin. I couldn't say that for Arsenal. Which is the difference I think.
It's been a good start results wise, but performances need to improve if that level of consistency is to be shown.
posted on 9/10/19
comment by Dan Arsenal (U21084)
posted 5 hours, 23 minutes ago
comment by Diamondlights (U20501)
posted 52 minutes ago
What exactly is up for grabs for Arsenal ?? Other than pointing out that Liverpool had a decent lead last year and that city & liverpool are great while Arsenal have no defense I'm not sure what your point is after 8 games
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Err?.... that we are 1 point behind last season's champs so on that basis are in the hunt
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On one hand it's just 8 games.
On the other, Arsenal are in a title race?
Doesn't really add up.
posted on 10/10/19
Another difference is we through away a 2 goal lead v Watford and let them have 31 shots against us.
Man City beat them 8-0 the following week
posted on 10/10/19
comment by Always Angry (U22014)
posted 1 hour, 57 minutes ago
Another difference is we through away a 2 goal lead v Watford and let them have 31 shots against us.
Man City beat them 8-0 the following week
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Man City lost to Norwich reserves who in turn lost to Villa 5-1 at home.