Tottenham or Arsenal

Tweedle wrote:

ballack wrote:

You have the same money as Spurs, your nearest rival for the final CL spot. West Ham, Man U and Chelsea have more money than you. Everyone else is equal to or below.

Newcastle will have more to spend than us.

Just you watch, I bet we actually have a net spend in the minuses by the end of the summer

What about what happened this season? Got nowhere in the CL, nowhere in any domestic cup except the joke one, and finished 4th after a season being completely off the pace? Would that be 'just fine'?

Yes

Tweedle wrote:I think we have to lower our expectations a bit.

Over the course of two seasons we've lost the likes of Pires, Henry, Vieira, Campbell, Cole and Bergkamp - these players are virtually impossible to replace unless you have a blank cheque book -

we've brought in adequate replacements I feel and these adequate replacements could well make the step up, but thats just speculation at the moment. Of the players brough in, Rosicky, Cesc and RVP all look like they could go on to become top class players

but I don't see the likes of Diaby, Djourou and Adebayor as the next Vieiras, Campbells and Henrys

- so for me, 4th in the league, 16 th in the CL, a elague cup final and an earlyish exist in the FA cup would be 'fine' for this season aynway - especially when many are predicting that we're under serious pressure from Spurs.

Sheffield gunner wrote:Think that's a fair assessment Saints.

I still feel that Rosicky has enough ability to replace Pires. He won't replicate his goalscoring but he can and should score a reasonable number. Don't forget, Pires was hardly prolific when he arrived at Arsenal and he was older than Rosicky. He only scored 13 goals in 88 games at Marseille, and had a slow start at Arsenal as well. Some players just need to mature or find a new system to get the best out of them. As I said, I can't imagine Rosicky ever getting 15+ goals a season, but he can get 8-10, and if other players, like Fabregas, do the same then we can make up for the loss of Pires.

ballack wrote:

You have the same money as Spurs, your nearest rival for the final CL spot. West Ham, Man U and Chelsea have more money than you. Everyone else is equal to or below.

Darling wrote:who of the two is going to win the North-London EPL race in the league



who will come on top

Arsenal have lost their talisman, Henry; even if the replacement can score as many goals, the team's inspiration is gone; the dressing room will almost certainly feel somewhat dejected; Cesc admitted that EVERYBODY was looking up to Henry, his incredible workrate, even in training

Arsenal had problems replacing Vieira , despite some good games by the Spanish teenager; the same fate could await them post-Henry

Spurs meanwhile could hold on to Berbatov who will be even better next season; add a few clever reinforcements and they won't get weaker

I am Mum-Ra wrote:

Darling wrote:who of the two is going to win the North-London EPL race in the league



who will come on top

Arsenal have lost their talisman, Henry; even if the replacement can score as many goals, the team's inspiration is gone; the dressing room will almost certainly feel somewhat dejected; Cesc admitted that EVERYBODY was looking up to Henry, his incredible workrate, even in training

Arsenal had problems replacing Vieira , despite some good games by the Spanish teenager; the same fate could await them post-Henry

Spurs meanwhile could hold on to Berbatov who will be even better next season; add a few clever reinforcements and they won't get weaker

Spurs of course. Arsenal can now only dream of lining up a forward in Berbatov's league- RVP is the nearest thing they have to the great man, but he isnt a target man/high scoring striker in the Henry mould.

Meanwhile, SPurs also CLEARLY have the better midfield- Lennon, Zokora and Huddlestone EASILY a match for the misfiring Hleb, the goal shy Francesc Fabregas, the temperamental Gilberto and sicknote himself Freddy Calvin Llungberg.

Factor in the purchase of a top class left winger is high on the Spurs agenda, with the gifted but rough diamond that is Wayne Routledge likely to be an able deputy, and Spurs will have the personell to play a wide game with wingers. As United have shown this is the way to win football matches in the Premiership, alongside fielding English talent who appreciate the culture of the football here. Not like Arsenals' foreign legion.

Finally the managers- with Martin Troll sporting the Largest Head in football (tm) there is plenty of greay matter space for another season of learning and adapting to the game here. Tactically the man is clearly improving, whilst Wenger appears each season to be losing the plot more and more- irrational outbursts, moments of visual impairment, a penchance for young boys, inability to replace big names such as Viera and now Henry, laughable attempts at exerting physical violence despite his meek Mr Burns appearance, and generally coming across more and more bitter every year,

its clearly the Jolfather whose career is on the up whilst Wenger's is on the slide.

The same will occur on the pitch.

Mark. My. Words. Im never wrong. Hardly.

Sheffield gunner wrote:TS, that would require some seriously heavy spending, and beating some big clubs to players like Quaresma.

Akinfeev, Quaresma and Anelka would surely set you back 40-50m pds.

Parks lives wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

Darling wrote:which players are Spurs REALISTICALLY going for in the transfer market

They've already got Bale. They're going for Kaboul(pretty much done i think), Bent, and a left winger.

If they get a good left winger and this Kaboul is an adequote replacement for King when he is injured they will be strong in all areas.

Still going to be hard to get 4th though.

theflyingfrenchman wrote:TS, you do realise Anelka's exit clause is for CL playing clubs only, i.e. not you? I doubt Lee or the board would let Anelka go to your shabby lot, unless you could pay BIG money. There's no way we'd let him go to another club fighting for the same places. The Big 4 maybe but that'd be it.

Parks lives wrote:

theflyingfrenchman wrote:TS, you do realise Anelka's exit clause is for CL playing clubs only, i.e. not you? I doubt Lee or the board would let Anelka go to your shabby lot, unless you could pay BIG money. There's no way we'd let him go to another club fighting for the same places. The Big 4 maybe but that'd be it.

I don't understand this clause.

First it was rumoured to be £8 million for CL clubs, then yesterday Arsenal we're going to sign him for £10 million.

Parks lives wrote:

theflyingfrenchman wrote:TS, you do realise Anelka's exit clause is for CL playing clubs only, i.e. not you? I doubt Lee or the board would let Anelka go to your shabby lot, unless you could pay BIG money. There's no way we'd let him go to another club fighting for the same places. The Big 4 maybe but that'd be it.

I don't understand this clause.

First it was rumoured to be £8 million for CL clubs, then yesterday Arsenal we're going to sign him for £10 million.

A Tribe Called Quaresma wrote:If it were to gel together quickly, who knows? But right now, I have to concede that we're not ready for the top 4 in either talent or mentality.

A Tribe Called Quaresma™ wrote:I'm sure we can sell Defoe, & Robinson for a combined £10-12m.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

A Tribe Called Quaresma wrote:I'm sure we can sell Defoe, & Robinson for a combined £10-12m.

No way - I can't see anyone paying £11.75m for Defoe.

jonathan de guzman wrote:

jonathan de guzman wrote:Arsenal

St. Totteringham day will be April 19th this season.

ST. TOTTERINGHAM DAY is the day in the season when Tottenham can no longer finish above Arsenal in the league. It is of course a moveable feast, and usually marked by the exchange of banknotes around the country, as Spurs-supporting mates face up to the fact that once again their start-of-season optimism has cost them dear.

St Totteringham Day dates last decade (decisive match(es) mentioned below date):

1997 April 9th
Sheffield Wednesday - Spuds 2-1

1998 March 28th
Arsenal - Sheffield Wednesday 1-0
Crystal Palace - Spuds 1-3

1999 April 6th
Arsenal - Blackburn 1-0

2000 April 16th
Leeds United - Arsenal 0-4

2001 April 17th
Spuds - Chelsea 0-3

2002 March 18th
Spuds - Charlton 0-1

2003 March 24th
Bolton Wanderers - Spuds 1-0

2004 March 13th
Blackburn - Arsenal 0-3

2005 April 2nd
Arsenal - Norwich City 4-1

2006 May 7th

What an amazing day! What an amazing week. Arsenal started the week seven points behind Tottenham. Last week their fans sang “are you watching Arsenal? As they celebrated what they believed would be their entry into the Champions league. Now they are condemned to the obscure back routes of Channel 5. Apparently Jol intends to sue as he was not aware that 4th place was decided on who was best over 38 games.

Meanwhile Wenger told anyone who would listen, possibly a greater number than those who believed him, that Arsenal could still win fourth place. Indeed he had every confidence that the Hammers would beat Spurs, even though seven days later the Irons would play in the cup final.

Then at about noon before the final games were to be played news broke that Spurs were trying to get the game called off due to alleged food poisoning. Gunner’s fans hit the phones, and websites, convinced it was a plot by Spurs to get an advantage by playing the game later in the week.

They need not have worried; by 1: 20 pm Spurs were told they had to play. After all Jol firmly believes that no game should be held up for minor ailments, and a touch of the squits is not a head injury. After all “Play Play Play” was Jol’s dictum, perhaps like Blair’s “education, education, education” a triple emphasis on words evokes a curse. Instant karma perhaps?

Relieved to hear that Spurs would not be able to escape their fate I set off for Highbury.

Coming out of Arsenal station was chaos, as the Police made fans walk through a narrow corridor for hundreds of yards before being let out for a ticket check. No ticket and you were sent away. As soon as that ordeal was over it was a mad rush for programmes. A guy in front of me bought £60 worth, mind you that that was only twelve. But this was no rip off, the final programme is excellent.

For a moment I thought I was in Japan, everyone was photographing everyone and everything. As if the act of photographing could preserve the spirit of Highbury for ever.

Once in the ground I discovered every seat had an “I was there T shirt”. Even the away fans got them. Sheer class, and it turned the ground into a gargantuan living red and white banner.

The atmosphere was amazing, Arsenal fans were determined to give the ground a rousing send off, but more than that, they now believed fourth place was possible. Surely Tottenham always Cr@p it when the chips are down, or was it lasagne?

Even though expectations were high, the game itself, and events at Upton Park, far exceeded them. I can’t remember a more dramatic occasion, apart from the Anderlecht game in 1970. Even when we won leagues at Highbury it was usually down to us only, at least in my lifetime. Now we had to follow two games.

When Pires scored on seven minutes, and the news of an early West Ham goal came through (or at least fans thought so) the crowd gave out an almighty roar, which in the middle of Arsenal conceded the first of two sloppy goals. Arsenal had been ahead for no more than two minutes. Worse was yet to come on 33 minutes Arsenal conceded one of their worst goals of the season. Lehmann did not organise a wall, and stood at the far post as the ball curled and bobbled in at the near. It was utter incompetence. The crowd were stunned, it was not going to the script. Wigan were putting Arsenal under pressure. Could it get worse?

However Captain Henry was having none of it, and within two minutes had the equaliser in the net. Wigan battled on, but when the match resumed after half time they rarely got a look in. On 56 minutes Wigan made a defensive error that ended their chances of a result. A slack back pass was seized on by Henry, the keeper made an excellent attempt to win the ball, but Thierry evaded him and the pursuing defenders to send the ball home. Three – two and now Arsenal were in charge.

Meanwhile Spurs had equalised, and Sherringham had missed a penalty, what a surprise. Henry completed his hat trick with a penalty, and kissed the sacred turf. Hansen and co decided that meant Henry is leaving. I am not so sure, why was Thierry laughing and cheering. Why did he talk about we and us and how great it was that we had put one over Spurs? Why did he talk about we still need to get through the qualifiers next season? Whatever the reason it was a magic moment, the last hat trick at Highbury, scored by the greatest player ever to wear an Arsenal shirt.

Now news of West Ham’s second goal filtered through. “Are you watching Tottenham” but that was not the only chant, Bergkamp wonderland was sung at the loudest ever, Rocky was remembered, as was Paddy. Arsene was cheered to the rafters every time he stepped on to the technical area. One again the crowd loved Freddy, as the "scum down the lane won feck all again, as Campbell had won the double". "Que Sera Sera, what will be will be, for we are off to gay Paree, Que Sera Sera."

Clearly victory was safe at Highbury, but could West Ham hold on? The game finished, and the crowd and players waited for the news. Within seconds a thousand tranny men declared it was over. The crowd went mad, so did Arsene, Henry, and the team. It was amazing – it eclipsed the closing ceremony – nothing could be better.

This was as good as it gets. St Totteringham day had come late, some feared it would never arrive, but arrive it had, and it was the sweetest one of all.

(by Boris Meller Arsenal Times)

2007 April 21st

2008 April 19th