Match reaction v Fenerbahce

[Özim]

It's not going to matter if we only make the last 16, sooner or later we will drop out of Pot 1, like Real Madrid did on their last 16 run.

According to the BBC our seeding gives us an awful of protection ensuring it's very hard for us to drop out, it's 3 consecutive seasons knocked out in the last 16 now after all. This bit is particularly relevant:

Given a favourable draw - which for Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea probably means avoiding the likes of PSG, Dortmund or Napoli this time around - it is possible for pot one teams to maintain a coefficient high enough to keep them there solely through good results against lower-ranked teams in their group.

Arsenal are a prime example of this sort of 'flat-track bully'.

In the past five seasons, the average rankings of the other teams in the Gunners' group has been 55, and they have not even had any dark horses like Dortmund were last year to deal with - in fact, the furthest any of their group rivals has got in that time is the quarter-finals. That happened three times, and the teams involved (Marseille, Shakhtar Donetsk and Porto) lost by a 13-3 aggregate scoreline.

The Gunners, who have had an average ranking of five in the same period, still only topped their group twice, but qualified for the last 16 on each occasion, for which they received five bonus coefficient points to go with the ones they picked up for their results.

So they got an easier group because of their seeding, and consequently qualified from it to get bonus points that gave them an extremely good chance of the same thing happening again the following season. Which it did.

Effectively if we get good group results against weaker opposition it should keep us in pot 1.

[GP]

Why is this even a problem.

This is good for us, surely?

[Özim]

It's a problem because it allows AW to persist with this illusion that we are a top side, how often does he claim we make it to the last 16 or qualify for the CL x amount of times. This in his mind supports his argument that his team is something special when in reality it's not and get's an easy ride in the CL, wouldn't be a problem if not for the fact he doesn't feel compelled to spend any kind of money on new players because of it.

[Ollie the Optimist]

Why is this even a problem.

This is good for us, surely?

its not like there arent things to moan about right now, hes just picking a stupid thing to moan about instead of being happy we won a game.

[Niall_Quinn]

Why is this even a problem.

This is good for us, surely?

Well it's good for the money men at the club at very least. So I'm for it.

[Özim]

its not like there arent things to moan about right now, hes just picking a stupid thing to moan about instead of being happy we won a game.

People like you compound the problem at the club, you're constantly in denial and support the establishment whatever they say and do. No wonder f*ck all ever changes, why would it?

[Ollie the Optimist]

People like you compound the problem at the club, you're constantly in denial and support the establishment whatever they say and do. No wonder f*ck all ever changes, why would it?

people like me? you mean people like me who enjoy it when Arsenal win a fucking game? because thats what supporting a team is all about, its not about worrying wether we deserve to be in pot 1 or pot56, its about winning every game we play. and when we win, im happy, when we lose, I'm upset. but yes its people like me who ruin this club.

there is a lot to moan about right now, lack of signings, injuries, wether to change a manager or not, but worrying about which pot we get drawn in, is not something to worry about.

actually, supporting a club comes down to one thing. watching the game, and cheering on the team to the win. thats what football is about, winning. not about which seeds you are, which transfers, its winning. but of course, fans like me, who are happy when the club wins, are ruining this club,

[McNamara That Ghost...]

According to the BBC our seeding gives us an awful of protection ensuring it's very hard for us to drop out, it's 3 consecutive seasons knocked out in the last 16 now after all. This bit is particularly relevant:

Given a favourable draw - which for Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea probably means avoiding the likes of PSG, Dortmund or Napoli this time around - it is possible for pot one teams to maintain a coefficient high enough to keep them there solely through good results against lower-ranked teams in their group.

Arsenal are a prime example of this sort of 'flat-track bully'.

In the past five seasons, the average rankings of the other teams in the Gunners' group has been 55, and they have not even had any dark horses like Dortmund were last year to deal with - in fact, the furthest any of their group rivals has got in that time is the quarter-finals. That happened three times, and the teams involved (Marseille, Shakhtar Donetsk and Porto) lost by a 13-3 aggregate scoreline.

The Gunners, who have had an average ranking of five in the same period, still only topped their group twice, but qualified for the last 16 on each occasion, for which they received five bonus coefficient points to go with the ones they picked up for their results.

So they got an easier group because of their seeding, and consequently qualified from it to get bonus points that gave them an extremely good chance of the same thing happening again the following season. Which it did.

Effectively if we get good group results against weaker opposition it should keep us in pot 1.

It's a really bad article, though I should not be surprised from the BBC anymore. We'll lose the points we gained from making the semi-final for next season's competition and assuming last 16 is the best we manage then that will be 10 points less added to our total, making us very close to the 90 odd points that the top Pot 2 teams have. Plus it does not take in to account whilst we make the last 16 and go out with coefficient of somewhere of 16 points, teams can supercede that by up to 20 more points by going on to win or make the final of the Europa League!

[Marc Overmars]

There's a good chance we may even get some strong teams in the group this year.

[Özim]

people like me? you mean people like me who enjoy it when Arsenal win a fucking game? because thats what supporting a team is all about, its not about worrying wether we deserve to be in pot 1 or pot56, its about winning every game we play. and when we win, im happy, when we lose, I'm upset. but yes its people like me who ruin this club.

there is a lot to moan about right now, lack of signings, injuries, wether to change a manager or not, but worrying about which pot we get drawn in, is not something to worry about.

actually, supporting a club comes down to one thing. watching the game, and cheering on the team to the win. thats what football is about, winning. not about which seeds you are, which transfers, its winning. but of course, fans like me, who are happy when the club wins, are ruining this club,

Here we go childish insults again, that's what you're all about...clap clap I bet you feel clever now

Yeah that's right support the club and let them get away with whatever they want and line their pockets so they can buy their yachts, how intelligent, I apologise, clearly you're smarter than all the rest of us put together.

Every season it's the same with you, some BS about one more season and then the following summer it starts again, you're like Wenger you never change and who can blame him, profits rolling in, transfer spending at a minimum, salaries and bonuses at a record high it's all good really.

Football is not the same as it was 20 years ago, it's a business, you basically don't give a sh*t if nothing changes that's what you essentially mean even if your hollow words say different, so in a sense yes you're helping this club to become what it is today whether you like it or not.