The Arsenal thread

Hans Moleman wrote: If they somehow managed to pull off top 4 it would be something else considering they look a broken team for a long time now. If they manage it Wenger might get a new 4 or 5 year contract

Arsenal need to score a heap tonight to cover all eventualities - there are GD and GS scenarios they ought to try and cover.

Their GD is 4 goals worse than Liverpool's. If they win, they'll be a point behind Liverpool. They want to at least have a chance of making it with a draw at the weekend, if they don't beat Everton but Liverpool somehow choke at home to Boro and lose. If Arsenal win by 4 tonight then even if they draw with Everton at the weekend, provided Liverpool lose by even 1, Arsenal would be in. If it came down to GS, it would be very close, possibly even identical and needing a playoff, so Arsenal would be advised to put the hammer down tonight. 4-0 is much better than 3-0 or 4-1.

Similarly, they could end up level with City, if City win one and lose one, and Arsenal win both. City's GD is 5 goals better at the minute; it also depends how City do tonight, admittedly, but Arsenal are in a strong position if they win by 4 tonight and City win by 1. That would mean a win over Everton and a City loss to Watford would almost certainly be sufficient, as Arsenal would almost certainly beat City on goals scored in such a scenario (City will not concede 5 over the next 2 games, so if they finish level on points and GD with Arsenal, Arsenal will win on GS). I think City are more likely to lose at the weekend (away to Watford) than home to West Brom tonight.

Anyway, a heap of goals tonight to cover all eventualities is good for Arsenal. Even the very fact of doing it would put pressure on City and Liverpool: that can't be underestimated either.


Edited by SuperDave84 - 16 May 2017 at 4:03pm

Haven't read the exact quotes, but Wenger is coming across very ungraceful with his comments on Chelsea having it easy as they had no European football to worry about, and then about Liverpool getting lucky as West Ham had nothing to play for on Sunday.

Edited by Roberto Baggio - 16 May 2017 at 4:21pm

Roberto Baggio wrote: Haven't read the exact quotes, but Wenger is coming across very ungraceful with his comments on Chelsea having it easy as they had no European football to worry about, and then about Liverpool getting lucky as West Ham had nothing to play for on Sunday.   Did Stoke have much to play for on Saturday? The reason Arsenal have sneaked into the top 4 in some of the last few seasons is exactly by playing teams who put in performances such as West Ham's on Sunday in the last few weeks of the season

He's 21 points behind Chelsea. Shouldn't really be commenting on them as if they were a rival of theirs for the title.

irishmufc wrote: Roberto Baggio wrote: Haven't read the exact quotes, but Wenger is coming across very ungraceful with his comments on Chelsea having it easy as they had no European football to worry about, and then about Liverpool getting lucky as West Ham had nothing to play for on Sunday.   Did Stoke have much to play for on Saturday? The reason Arsenal have sneaked into the top 4 in some of the last few seasons is exactly by playing teams who put in performances such as West Ham's on Sunday in the last few weeks of the season   Have to admit I would absolutely laugh if Liverpool bollocksed it up on Sunday and Arsenal got in

I wouldn't be surprised to see this happen but I think Liverpool will win comfortably against Boro.

Sturridge to score a brace.

Shaping up to be one of them nights for Arsenal. Very flat performance.

SuperDave84 wrote: Arsenal not going to do anything on GD now. Arsenal are not going to get a 5 goal swing relative to City; Liverpool aren't going to lose by two to Boro. That said, if Boro do beat Liverpool 2-0 and Arsenal draw 1-1, it'll be playoff time!

Amazed that head to head isn't used. It's the first tie breaker for teams level on points in plenty of big competitions. I'd say if it went to a play off this season, they wouldn't be long entering in the extra tie breaker criteria for next season!