A couple of observations

[Özim]

So what you are saying is that we were little bit shit last season and just as shit this?

It is true we were sh*t last season, we've been sh*t for quite while tbf.

[Toronto Gooner]

To follow up on my initial post: Arsenal remain 5 points and 1 goal off 3rd, but are now just 2 points with a better goal difference off 4th.

People may dismiss getting 4th but it is still a measure of consistency and success that cannot be ignored. The next 5 games could be very significant, with West Ham in the sequence.

Reading

Wigan Athletic

West Ham

Newcastle

Southampton

[GP]

13 points from that lot.

[Toronto Gooner]

Agreed. The problem is that 3 of them are away games. In fact Arsenal play away in 5 of their next 7 league games.

[Marc Overmars]

I prefer away games anyway, the Emirates is not the fortress it should be.

[Özil's Panoramic View]

13 points from that lot.

Lads put in an on par performance with yesterday's, coupled with better finishing, I see no reason why it can't be 15 points.

[Syn]

We couldn't adapt to some away pitches. When we looked to pass it about properly, with the cold, rainy conditions with bobbles and shit, it was more difficult. These days it's hoof to Giroud time from the 1st minute so shouldn't be too much of an issue.

That said, I doubt we'll get 13 points. We'll do well to get double figures. I think 8 points.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Luck.......is this what Wengerism is now distilled to?. We were not the 3rd best team last season. The 3rd best team (Chelsea) had a perfect storm that they brought about themselves with manager mismanagement by the owner. The 4th best team...(Tiny Totts) keelhauled themselves (as usual) and we. 5/6th best, stumbled in on the last day. Where we got lucky was having an opposition keeper on the final day who played as if Wenger had handed him a sackful of 50 pound notes the night before. Does any one remember the absolutely diabolical run we were on right after overtaking the spuds I think 5 defeats in 8, we did everything possible to throw it away.

I said it loud and clear before a ball was even kicked this season. When in the summer the usual sycophants were busy slapping themselves on the back and blowing kisses to AW posters-“ we were not and have not been the third best team in this Land for ages now and finishing third (particularly above Chelsea with 2 real trophies) meant nothing more than the CL spot it secured"; end of.

Then they rolled out tired clichés and developed theories that would make an American soccer fan blush- but when the season started they all went back into the woodwork.

If you can't call finishing above your betters luck (especially when you consider all the circumstances that came into play), I wonder what the f*ck it is

[Xhaka Can’t]

Be sure to give yourself a great big pat on the back.

[GP]

We were the 3rd best team in the league last season.

But not across all competitions.