Arsenal 2023/24

Looking back over the last 5 years the number of points needed for 4th are;
67, 66, 71, 75, 76.

If we had to get 76 again we’d need 10 wins and a draw to get there (leaving room for 3 losses) or 9 wins 4 draws to get there (leaving room for 1 loss).

Looking at our fixture list the only team I think we look locked for a loss is Liverpool. I’d back us for at least a draw against United, Chelsea & Spuds.

clearly letting him go was the right decision for us and him, he was in a funk here and was not helping the team in any way. Needed a change to clear his head. Happy for him that he is now scoring - thankfully its not against us.

United dropping points at home to Watford, another positive result for us.

Pity Spurs won but didn't really expect much else against that amateur outfit.

brumbys

Looking back over the last 5 years the number of points needed for 4th are;
67, 66, 71, 75, 76.

If we had to get 76 again we’d need 10 wins and a draw to get there (leaving room for 3 losses) or 9 wins 4 draws to get there (leaving room for 1 loss).

Looking at our fixture list the only team I think we look locked for a loss is Liverpool. I’d back us for at least a draw against United, Chelsea & Spuds.

Havent run any numbers to back this up but my general feeling was the points needed for top 4 might be on the lower side this season? 

Hard to say really, but on a quick check on average points gained this season if we see that out for final 14 we’d finish on 71.

Having so many games in hand is starting to stress me ay. I’d much rather have the points in the bank. 

Fizzing for this one. Really hoping we can put the self inflicted mistakes that were almost costly at Wolves behind us and clear our way through a woeful Watford. Doubly important if City get the W afterwards too.

That was an amazing game. Absolute quality from us up front. Their first was outstanding, but their second was a bit sloppy. Another 3 points in the bag, 4th place ours pending Manchester Derby tonight.

Does anyone know the reason why we wore red shorts and socks?

not a bad win, we made it hared for ourselves, but all goals were decent from both sides. Love Laca's involvement for two of the three goals, the lay off to Saka was gold!

Our three goals were quality, especially in the build ups. Hard to pick between Saka's and Martinelli's as to whose was better.

Gooner 4 Life

Our three goals were quality, especially in the build ups. Hard to pick between Saka's and Martinelli's as to whose was better.

Saka's made me scream louder but technically I think Martinelli was superior as it was on the half volley.

Gooner 4 Life

Does anyone know the reason why we wore red shorts and socks?

Looked wrong imo.

I think Martinelli's goal was quite significant this morning, I feel he is maturing.
When he gets going the game tends to revolve around him a bit (a good thing), he will be everywhere, and a part of everything. When that isn't happening, he tends to disappear from the game, just not one of his days, common for a young player. 
All our attacking success came down the right this morning, with Saka carving up and Odegaard in brilliant form. Nothing seemed to be falling Martinelli's way. But then the opportunity arose, he made the right run, and absolutely buried it. He showed that he doesn't need to be in everything and be everywhere, and he can still make the difference when it counts. 
Overall we made hard work of it by conceding a second, but we generally dominated for the most part. And against a team that looked like they were playing well, were very committed and hungry, and the crowd was right behind them. It was good to see us step up in that atmosphere and meet it head-on the way we did. 
I mentioned earlier in the season that you could see we were a good side, but that we weren't quite ready for the difficult away days, or the difficult moments in big games. 
It feels like we've made real progress on that front. These few wins in a row have all had major challenges, and sometimes difficult atmospheres, and we've got it done. 
I'm getting very excited lads. 

It felt like a training game at times with the ease that we played through them, but also how shambolic at the back we looked - especially under the high ball.

RE red shorts the cynic in me says it’s all about the ££‘S but I wonder if they didn’t want us essentially in our home kit. 

Wish we’d earn blue and them in full yellow as a show of support for Ukraine but that’s a different chat all together.

We’ve a week off then an intense 7 days;
13th - Leicester home
16th - Liverpool home
19th - Villa away

Really could do with Tomi back and ESR available for rotation.

Minimum 6 points needed to keep the pressure up.

I feel at this point ManU and Tottenham are the only rivals we need to focus on. 
West Ham have got a very difficult remaining draw (Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City all to come), further complicated by Europa League fixtures, and Wolves etc are too far back. 
ManU and Tottenham play each other this weekend, so this Leicester game is absolutely critical. 
Win it and we have some proper breathing room. 
Ideally we want ManU and Spurs to draw I think? But a ManU win would be better than a Spurs win for us. 

Yes brumbys we really want those guys back. 
ESR was a covid test I think, so should be back next match? 
We're in a very good spot with him being so lethal off the bench, and now having Pepe back and in form. We should not lack for goals. 
I badly want Tomiyasu back fit, he is so good, but to be fair Cedric has had a good run at a time when we really needed him to. You just know he can't maintain it consistently though, unfortunately. I hope we get Tomiyasu back before he drops one of his stinkers. 

Cedric has done really well while Tomi has been away, like you say it's a question of how long not if he has a shocker.
I love that our top scorer is effectively a super sub (ESR). 
I'd like to think we can push for 3rd this season, 4th would be an achievement given the start we had, but 3rd would feel epic!

Given the start to the season the conversation we're having is quite refreshing.
I agree about Cedric, but let's not delay Tomi's return.

This next run is the big test. We've looked defensively disorganised at Watford but were so clinical in attack it didn't matter. We conceded a daft goal at Wolves but proved we can come from behind to win. We had a bizare red card but showed the resilience to hold on to a 1-0 lead with 10 men. We've shown the component pieces are there.

This next run demands we pull those pieces together into a cohesive defensive performance with ruthlessness up front.

COYG.

And if Chelsea get put into administration it's suddenly a race for 3rd!

this is a good piece
https://arseblog.com/2022/03/sanctions/

shark, MO was very good this morning. 

Partey's header from Martinelli's corner was a peach!
VAR finally making the right call for us with the handball call. Not that the contact deviated the ball away from the goal or anything, but under the law it's handball and a penalty. Schmeichal's protestations after Laca slotted it home were unnecessary.

Odegaard really good in the middle, controlled everything and causing problems with his movement.
Tierney was his usual self, making great runs down the left and opening up opportunities.

Shoulda been a little more ruthless on attack but overall an excellent performance, against a side who are far better than their spot in the table suggests. 
Best players for me were probably Odegaard, Partey and Xhaka. 
Saka and Martinelli were also good but should've both scored most probably, with the amount of ball they got in and around the box. 
In fact I can't pick a bad performance, the entire back 4 and Ramsdale were all excellent too. Laca was Laca, and nice to see him finally get a goal. 
This is really building lads. We look like a good, confident team out there, week after week now. 
We needed that win this morning, it takes the pressure off for the Liverpool match. We can go out there and have a real crack at them, with the home crowd behind us (how good has the crowd been lately, loving the atmosphere), and if we come away with nothing we'll still be fourth, and still with games in hand. 
The next 4 after Liverpool should see us get some decent points, if we play like we have been;
Aston Villa away
Crystal Palace away
Brighton at home
Southampton away
ManU after that, the amount of pressure on us for that game will be decided by how many points we pick up in the above list of fixtures. 

Getting dangerously close to firm favourites for 4th territory here.

Whatever happens against Liverpool I hope it doesn’t knock us off our stride.

That was the collective joined up performance I was hoping for. Play like that against Liverpool and we’re in with a chance.

I’m back in NZ for a month mid April - where am I signing up to watch the PL games?

spark sport carries them.

Fizzing for tonight. Hoping we’ll have a man city level performance.

I’m kinda the opposite. Last night I was keen as and was thinking of our chances, but this morning I’ve woken up hoping we don’t get a towelling! 

brumbys

Fizzing for tonight. Hoping we’ll have a man city level performance.

I'm probably in between both of you, excited and confident that we'll play well but not expecting anything but a tight battle. Liverpool are on form so we will need to be at our best to challenge them. All going well it will be a great game and a tight win for someone.

COYG

Really concerned that cederic is up against diaz, mane, and Jota. 

Ooh Martinelli has received a call up to the Brazilian national team, didn't know that, fantastic news, good on him

kwlap

Really concerned that cederic is up against diaz, mane, and Jota. 

at least its not Salah

Regardless of what happens from here, we're clearly footing it with them in the battles, this team has progressed so much.
Wonderful to see our whole left side beating their right side for pace in foot races. Tierney just out-sprinted Diaz, and a few minutes ago Martinelli out-sprinted Alexander-Arnold. Man these guys are fast. 

Ah fudge

Fudge a double sub from Liverpool. Taking off two incredible talents and bringing on even better players. I hope we get back to that level one day

Boo