Is it achieveable and will it be enough for top 4?
We currently have 39 points, with 16 games left. So getting to 70 would require 31 points, a smidge under 2 points a game on average.
Of the 16, the following 11 are "should win":
Wolves (h), Brentford (h), Watford (a), Leicester (h), Palace (a), Southampton (a), Leeds (h), Everton (h), Villa (a), Brighton (h), Newcastle (a). A perfect record here would put us on 72, but we all know there are games we will not win. Have to really get at least 25pts from these.
Then there are the big games against top 4 chasers:
Man Utd (h), Spurs (a), *Chelsea (a), West Ham (a).
"Six pointers", but 3 of them away. You would have to say a minimum of 6 points will be cruical here (although one school of thought would be 4 draws wouldn't be awful).
We also have Liverpool at home, which most people will see as an away win.
In terms of 70 being enough for top 4, 4th has achieved the following points in the last 5 years:
20/21 - 67
19/20 - 66
18/19 - 71
17/18 - 75
16/17 - 76
Average of 71 points, but the target has fallen over 5 years by 9 points. Many would argue that 70 would be more than enough this year, given the troubles of each side in the race.
Can we do it? Only time will tell.
*I have included Chelsea as their league form was poor and they need 23 points from 14 games still. I expect them to finish 3rd but you never know!
70 points...
posted on 14/2/22
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Blackpolespur (U9242)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 26 minutes ago
Have the mid table teams improved or have the top teams outside of the top 2 fallen?
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Bit of both I reckon
More money than ever in the premier league has enabled the mid table fodder to strengthen enough that although they are still mid table they are more of a threat to the better sides
Arsenal United and Tottenham though have regressed so much that the gap is even closer than it should be
Makes it a competitive league for the euro spots but Liverpool and city are streets ahead
Chelsea are in between ….they can look great but equally stale and are beatable (unless your Tottenham)
We are heading for a very boring few seasons of the same top 2 is my worry
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I just hope we manage to win it again before klopp leaves
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That’s another worry
If pep hangs about longer than Klopp then it becomes one horse race (if United and Chelsea remain as is )
Liverpool are a great team but Klopp is the engine
I think it could be a Fergie decline for you guys
posted on 14/2/22
Interesting that the 4th placed team's points tally has generally decreased over the years. Just goes to show how difficult the PL is for the CL chasing sides when you have a significant weakness. Something that our owners should take note of.
posted on 14/2/22
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 27 minutes ago
Probably should have put Wolves in the top 4 chasers, but as long as Cinci doesn't turn up I should get away with it.
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You rang?
posted on 14/2/22
You are right, we aren't top four chasers regardless of some getting carried away
posted on 14/2/22
comment by Cinciwolf---Wolves transfer strategy is brilliant, cautious, cautious, cautious, kid for 35 million, cautious, cautious, cautious. (U11551)
posted 1 hour, 27 minutes ago
You are right, we aren't top four chasers regardless of some getting carried away
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Wouldn’t write you off. You aren’t conceding many which always gives you a chance.
posted on 14/2/22
Arsenal should be favourites from here. While unspectacular you seem to be beating the teams you should be beating more often than not.
You still get battered whenever you play anyone decent but the way you are going should be good enough.
posted on 14/2/22
It’s quite sad in a way that 4th place has become a thing.
Arsenal are a giant of the English game, and they as a club shouldn’t be happy to get fourth.
Fourth place now is seen as a good thing.
It is, but only really as far as money is concerned.
posted on 14/2/22
Without money you can't challenge for titles consistently. Getting CL gives you a better chance of attracting the best players and keeping your best players.
It isnt the ultimate goal, but it is an important step towards that goal.
posted on 14/2/22
comment by RipleysCat (U1862)
posted 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
It’s quite sad in a way that 4th place has become a thing.
Arsenal are a giant of the English game, and they as a club shouldn’t be happy to get fourth.
Fourth place now is seen as a good thing.
It is, but only really as far as money is concerned.
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This is quite an ironic post , sort of
A Manchester City fan saying that 4th place isn’t really good enough these days for Arsenal
This is Manchester City who are only where they are and have theoretically taken Arsenals place at the top / near the top of the table due to heavy heavy investment
They needed to stay top 4 to keep competing but city took their place due to spending loads of money
It was United , Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool
City took Arsenals place
posted on 15/2/22
Top 4 fav spots keep looking different each weekend. Nobody has serious consistency to grab it. Arsenal have a good chance to really make strides here but lack of striker will be the undoing.