When do we start to believe ?

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

As soon as the season kicked off. All of our rivals are unstable and an opportunity like this might not come back around for a very long time.

Well that's a lie. We were aggrieved at our summer spending and pissed off at the beginning of the season. No-one thought we would be where we are.

[Marc Overmars]

I definitely believe we can win it, if we're talking about quality.

That's just one of the requirements though, you've got to have the mental strength as well. Make no mistake about it there will come a time in the season when the wheels come off, so that's the biggest hurdle we'll need to overcome.

We've crumbled in the past when we've had a sniff of success but in fairness I do feel more confident with this team given they are a lot more mature than the squads we had from 08-11.

[Fist of Lehmann]

I definitely believe we can win it, if we're talking about quality.

That's just one of the requirements though, you've got to have the mental strength as well. Make no mistake about it there will come a time in the season when the wheels come off, so that's the biggest hurdle we'll need to overcome.

We've crumbled in the past when we've had a sniff of success but in fairness I do feel more confident with this team given they are a lot more mature than the squads we had from 08-11.

The way we've taken two key losses in our stride (Manure and Dortmund) suggests we are stronger mentally than in previous years. Promising signs we have eliminated our streakiness, unless it's winning streakiness.

The kind of nervousness that kicks in when you get closer to the prize and are leading the pack is another issue, not one we've really had recently. We know we can chase, we've been doing that plenty, but can we lead from the front? That brings it's own pressures.

My main concern isn't mental though, it's in certain areas where if we lost our starter, our backup would cost us points. That is, Giroud, Sagan and Mertesacker, in order of impact. I think the risks to the two defenders can be largely mitigated with some clever transfer business.

But with Giroud - it's going to be very difficult to get someone in January who would be of the required quality and would slot seamlessly in if Bif were unavailable. Even a footballer as good as Ozil still needs time to adapt. Someone already playing in the Prem would have the best chance so the options are limited.

[Master Splinter]

I believe, yes.

[GP]

Ibuleve

[Ollie the Optimist]

one moment that said to me this team could be special was beating Bayern back in march. we were down and out of that tie, and the race for fourth, and both cups, yet we went to the best team in europe, at their home ground and beat them. I don't buy this argument either that they had already won the tie so didn't care, that was pretty much the only game they lost all year.

that gave the team the belief they needed that they were good enough to beat the big boys but needed that run of form, and thats what happened. 7 points behind spurs, but they fought back and we beat spurs to 4th (spurs ) and i remember thinking at that time, that next season, we would be champions. we just looked like something had clicked, the defence refused to concede, we ground out some tough wins in that time and although it wasn't pretty, the basics looked to be there. a solid defence, a good midfield and Giroud seemed to be coming good.

Then the summer happened, we watched as other clubs spent money, looked to have good squads and we added a postman. we got to villa and the hope that some of us had of a title challenge after newcastle, had all but gone. it was the same team minus the deadwood but we hadn't grabbed our chance, it looked like the other clubs had made their move and we would be fighting for fourth again, and then we lost to villa. what a horrific moment that was, despair everywhere and we all felt that was it. another season of fighting for fourth except unlike previous years, we didn't think we would make it.

Then the champions league qualifiers came, and we won. a tough game in turkey, yet we comfortably won. Ramsey suddenly turned into messi out of nowhere but this is what we failed to see but AW didn't. We only see what happens on the pitch during the games, and while Ramsey worked hard, it just looked like he wouldn't make it, but AW saw him everyday on that training pitch and believed in him by giving him a five year deal, knowing that if he could do what he did in training during the games, we would have some player. he was right, we were wrong. Other players came on too, Gibbs, Szcesney, Giroud for example, players we had written off but came back stronger, belief among the players started to come back. We had injury crisis after injury crisis, no wingers, a right back having to play centre back but yet we still kept on winning.

The moment that i think belief really came back to the fans and the players was beating spurs. all summer we had to listen to how they were spending so much and therefore they were better then us. all this mind the gap shit, pundits writing us off and calling spurs potential champions, and they came to play us. the crowd were fully behind the players on that day, (it was the best atmosphere at the emirates ever IMO) but it wasn't the result that caused the belief to come back to us as fans and players, it was the attitude of the players. they simply refused to lose, the crowd never stopped singing, we were united together for the first time in a long time as a club who simply refused to lose to spurs. thats when IMO as a club we started to believe but after the game, we signed Mesut Ozil. That signing said to the rest of the league, we're back. we want this title, we've just spent the money too. after beating spurs, there are not many things that can make Arsenal fans happier, that was one though. the rest of the league suddenly took notice again, and were slightly fearful. That was the moment, that we all started to believe again.


since then, we've had some tough games, swansea, united, liverpool etc and we've only lost twice this season in the league. Ok we went out the carling cup, but if we win the league i couldn't give a shit about that. we lost, we lost to dortmund but we came back. in 2013 we've beaten munich and dortmund away. no other english club has done that in one year before. those two clubs put 11 goals past madrid and barcalona in the champions league yet we beat them at their home grounds. not bad eh? in 2013, we have been the best side. we've won the most points. if you took the last 38 games, we would be champions by 5 points. suddenly this side looks like it could win the title. everyone says we haven't been tested yet, yet we just seem to keep wining. we will be top of the league at the start of decemeber. its time to believe. this team can be special. we've been told all season that we would fail when we play a top side, we've beaten dortmund, napoli, spurs, liverpool and only lost to united. we've been told we won't cope with injuries yet we've missed arteta, vermalen, BFG, Theo, Podolski, OX, Gnarby, Flamini for periods this season and still we keep wining. we've asked the club to spend on world class players, they did. we asked the players to fight and show pride while wearing the shirt, they've fought every minute of every game since villa to win. they've done what we have asked, lets get behind them now, believe in them until may because that title, could be our first trophy in 9 years and it would be Arsene's greatest achievement and its looking more and more likely every game.

[Syn]

FFS.

Nah, good post.

But FFS.

I'm going to answer this in Ramzee mode. We're playing ever so well at the moment. In the last couple of seasons we haven't started well but we know our form from March onwards has been second to none. We've had some tough games but the boys have pulled through ever so well. We're just feeling confident right now. We were always getting into the right positions but lacked composure. But this season we're feeling a lot more confident. We're really enjoying our football right now and we have Ramsey who is doing ever so well. The important thing now though is that we continue enjoying our football and playing with confidence because we have some tough games coming up but if we play ever so well we may finish the season second to none.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

one moment that said to me this team could be special was beating Bayern back in march. we were down and out of that tie, and the race for fourth, and both cups, yet we went to the best team in europe, at their home ground and beat them. I don't buy this argument either that they had already won the tie so didn't care, that was pretty much the only game they lost all year.

that gave the team the belief they needed that they were good enough to beat the big boys but needed that run of form, and thats what happened. 7 points behind spurs, but they fought back and we beat spurs to 4th (spurs ) and i remember thinking at that time, that next season, we would be champions. we just looked like something had clicked, the defence refused to concede, we ground out some tough wins in that time and although it wasn't pretty, the basics looked to be there. a solid defence, a good midfield and Giroud seemed to be coming good.

Then the summer happened, we watched as other clubs spent money, looked to have good squads and we added a postman. we got to villa and the hope that some of us had of a title challenge after newcastle, had all but gone. it was the same team minus the deadwood but we hadn't grabbed our chance, it looked like the other clubs had made their move and we would be fighting for fourth again, and then we lost to villa. what a horrific moment that was, despair everywhere and we all felt that was it. another season of fighting for fourth except unlike previous years, we didn't think we would make it.

Then the champions league qualifiers came, and we won. a tough game in turkey, yet we comfortably won. Ramsey suddenly turned into messi out of nowhere but this is what we failed to see but AW didn't. We only see what happens on the pitch during the games, and while Ramsey worked hard, it just looked like he wouldn't make it, but AW saw him everyday on that training pitch and believed in him by giving him a five year deal, knowing that if he could do what he did in training during the games, we would have some player. he was right, we were wrong. Other players came on too, Gibbs, Szcesney, Giroud for example, players we had written off but came back stronger, belief among the players started to come back. We had injury crisis after injury crisis, no wingers, a right back having to play centre back but yet we still kept on winning.

The moment that i think belief really came back to the fans and the players was beating spurs. all summer we had to listen to how they were spending so much and therefore they were better then us. all this mind the gap shit, pundits writing us off and calling spurs potential champions, and they came to play us. the crowd were fully behind the players on that day, (it was the best atmosphere at the emirates ever IMO) but it wasn't the result that caused the belief to come back to us as fans and players, it was the attitude of the players. they simply refused to lose, the crowd never stopped singing, we were united together for the first time in a long time as a club who simply refused to lose to spurs. thats when IMO as a club we started to believe but after the game, we signed Mesut Ozil. That signing said to the rest of the league, we're back. we want this title, we've just spent the money too. after beating spurs, there are not many things that can make Arsenal fans happier, that was one though. the rest of the league suddenly took notice again, and were slightly fearful. That was the moment, that we all started to believe again.


since then, we've had some tough games, swansea, united, liverpool etc and we've only lost twice this season in the league. Ok we went out the carling cup, but if we win the league i couldn't give a shit about that. we lost, we lost to dortmund but we came back. in 2013 we've beaten munich and dortmund away. no other english club has done that in one year before. those two clubs put 11 goals past madrid and barcalona in the champions league yet we beat them at their home grounds. not bad eh? in 2013, we have been the best side. we've won the most points. if you took the last 38 games, we would be champions by 5 points. suddenly this side looks like it could win the title. everyone says we haven't been tested yet, yet we just seem to keep wining. we will be top of the league at the start of decemeber. its time to believe. this team can be special. we've been told all season that we would fail when we play a top side, we've beaten dortmund, napoli, spurs, liverpool and only lost to united. we've been told we won't cope with injuries yet we've missed arteta, vermalen, BFG, Theo, Podolski, OX, Gnarby, Flamini for periods this season and still we keep wining. we've asked the club to spend on world class players, they did. we asked the players to fight and show pride while wearing the shirt, they've fought every minute of every game since villa to win. they've done what we have asked, lets get behind them now, believe in them until may because that title, could be our first trophy in 9 years and it would be Arsene's greatest achievement and its looking more and more likely every game.

GW's best poster

Cripps

[Munchies]

one moment that said to me this team could be special was beating Bayern back in march. we were down and out of that tie, and the race for fourth, and both cups, yet we went to the best team in europe, at their home ground and beat them. I don't buy this argument either that they had already won the tie so didn't care, that was pretty much the only game they lost all year.

..

Great read that. Agree with everything in it.

[GP]

one moment that said to me this team could be special was beating Bayern back in march. we were down and out of that tie, and the race for fourth, and both cups, yet we went to the best team in europe, at their home ground and beat them. I don't buy this argument either that they had already won the tie so didn't care, that was pretty much the only game they lost all year.

that gave the team the belief they needed that they were good enough to beat the big boys but needed that run of form, and thats what happened. 7 points behind spurs, but they fought back and we beat spurs to 4th (spurs ) and i remember thinking at that time, that next season, we would be champions. we just looked like something had clicked, the defence refused to concede, we ground out some tough wins in that time and although it wasn't pretty, the basics looked to be there. a solid defence, a good midfield and Giroud seemed to be coming good.

Then the summer happened, we watched as other clubs spent money, looked to have good squads and we added a postman. we got to villa and the hope that some of us had of a title challenge after newcastle, had all but gone. it was the same team minus the deadwood but we hadn't grabbed our chance, it looked like the other clubs had made their move and we would be fighting for fourth again, and then we lost to villa. what a horrific moment that was, despair everywhere and we all felt that was it. another season of fighting for fourth except unlike previous years, we didn't think we would make it.

Then the champions league qualifiers came, and we won. a tough game in turkey, yet we comfortably won. Ramsey suddenly turned into messi out of nowhere but this is what we failed to see but AW didn't. We only see what happens on the pitch during the games, and while Ramsey worked hard, it just looked like he wouldn't make it, but AW saw him everyday on that training pitch and believed in him by giving him a five year deal, knowing that if he could do what he did in training during the games, we would have some player. he was right, we were wrong. Other players came on too, Gibbs, Szcesney, Giroud for example, players we had written off but came back stronger, belief among the players started to come back. We had injury crisis after injury crisis, no wingers, a right back having to play centre back but yet we still kept on winning.

The moment that i think belief really came back to the fans and the players was beating spurs. all summer we had to listen to how they were spending so much and therefore they were better then us. all this mind the gap shit, pundits writing us off and calling spurs potential champions, and they came to play us. the crowd were fully behind the players on that day, (it was the best atmosphere at the emirates ever IMO) but it wasn't the result that caused the belief to come back to us as fans and players, it was the attitude of the players. they simply refused to lose, the crowd never stopped singing, we were united together for the first time in a long time as a club who simply refused to lose to spurs. thats when IMO as a club we started to believe but after the game, we signed Mesut Ozil. That signing said to the rest of the league, we're back. we want this title, we've just spent the money too. after beating spurs, there are not many things that can make Arsenal fans happier, that was one though. the rest of the league suddenly took notice again, and were slightly fearful. That was the moment, that we all started to believe again.


since then, we've had some tough games, swansea, united, liverpool etc and we've only lost twice this season in the league. Ok we went out the carling cup, but if we win the league i couldn't give a shit about that. we lost, we lost to dortmund but we came back. in 2013 we've beaten munich and dortmund away. no other english club has done that in one year before. those two clubs put 11 goals past madrid and barcalona in the champions league yet we beat them at their home grounds. not bad eh? in 2013, we have been the best side. we've won the most points. if you took the last 38 games, we would be champions by 5 points. suddenly this side looks like it could win the title. everyone says we haven't been tested yet, yet we just seem to keep wining. we will be top of the league at the start of decemeber. its time to believe. this team can be special. we've been told all season that we would fail when we play a top side, we've beaten dortmund, napoli, spurs, liverpool and only lost to united. we've been told we won't cope with injuries yet we've missed arteta, vermalen, BFG, Theo, Podolski, OX, Gnarby, Flamini for periods this season and still we keep wining. we've asked the club to spend on world class players, they did. we asked the players to fight and show pride while wearing the shirt, they've fought every minute of every game since villa to win. they've done what we have asked, lets get behind them now, believe in them until may because that title, could be our first trophy in 9 years and it would be Arsene's greatest achievement and its looking more and more likely every game.