When do we start to believe ?

[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.

[Penguin]

In a 'normal' season I'd say the league was just a step too far. But this is anything but an ordinary season with most of our rivals changing managers and struggling to settle in. Anything can happen this season and it would be stupid to say we can't win it. It's our best chance since 07/08 and this squad is better equipped with more maturity, steel and experience.

I would still have us down as third favourites behind City and Chelsea but with a bit of luck with injuries and a shrewd signing or two in January I don't see why we couldn't.

[Power n Glory]

I agree. This isn't a normal season and I'd write us off otherwise. There has been a complete turn around in attitude and belief at the club and in the squad. They sense the opportunity at hand and are playing accordingly. It's not as if we're playing our most beautiful football or we're at our free flowing best, I still feel we have a few more gears to go through. It's just the change in attitude that's turned things around. Our rivals have been inconsistent but we haven't. It's like the belief is there for once. The instability at other clubs has shaken things up. Top that off with the Ozil signing and the club saying we have money to spend....it's given the players confidence.

[Globalgunner]

Its obvious who will win the league.......Tottenham, cos Michael Dawson says so.

We have a chance but to do so we will need to play well in the derbies against City Chelsea and United. I know people think its simply a game of numbers and the most points will win it regardless of whom you get them against, but mentally it is so soul destroying...to the players even, to keep losing against the other main contenders, it is easy to pick yourself up after a fluke loss against Hull or Villa, but to continually get brushed aside by your so called equals means so much more. More over we need more goals from all over the park. Gibbs Sagna, even Chezzer. Yoonited get so many points from that turd Evra, when it counts, but we dismiss it as not being essential to us. Every player needs to know how to score. Especially those who do it on the pitch....If you get my meaning

[IBK]

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.

This. Even now I'd be surprised if any Gooner in their heart of hearts is confident that we'll win the league - as opposed to being a challenger this season.

[Fist of Lehmann]

I agree. This isn't a normal season and I'd write us off otherwise.

A bit of context perhaps?

Season : Leader After 12 games : Final Position
13-14 : Arsenal 28pts : ???
12-13 : City 28pts : 2nd 78pts
11-12 : City 34pts : 1st 89pts
10-11 : Chelsea 28pts : 2nd 71pts
09-10 : Chelsea 30pts : 1st 86pts
08-09 : Chelsea 29pts : 3rd 83pts
07-08 : Arsenal 30pts : 3rd 83pts

[Power n Glory]

Its obvious who will win the league.......Tottenham, cos Michael Dawson says so.

We have a chance but to do so we will need to play well in the derbies against City Chelsea and United. I know people think its simply a game of numbers and the most points will win it regardless of whom you get them against, but mentally it is so soul destroying...to the players even, to keep losing against the other main contenders, it is easy to pick yourself up after a fluke loss against Hull or Villa, but to continually get brushed aside by your so called equals means so much more. More over we need more goals from all over the park. Gibbs Sagna, even Chezzer. Yoonited get so many points from that turd Evra, when it counts, but we dismiss it as not being essential to us. Every player needs to know how to score. Especially those who do it on the pitch....If you get my meaning

But it’s not as if we’ve never beaten Chelsea and City in recent years. We’ve had seasons where we’ve beaten massive teams including Barca and AC Milan….our season usually falls apart when we lose to lower league teams. The teams that sit deep, soak up the pressure and then hit us on the counter or with a set piece. I think that messed the team up more than anything else psychologically. We had no answer for it and throws serious doubt upon our philosophy.

[Power n Glory]

A bit of context perhaps?

Season : Leader After 12 games : Final Position
13-14 : Arsenal 28pts : ???
12-13 : City 28pts : 2nd 78pts
11-12 : City 34pts : 1st 89pts
10-11 : Chelsea 28pts : 2nd 71pts
09-10 : Chelsea 30pts : 1st 86pts
08-09 : Chelsea 29pts : 3rd 83pts
07-08 : Arsenal 30pts : 3rd 83pts

I’m not sure what you’re getting at. When I say this isn’t a normal season, I mean in regards to the managerial changes we’ve seen at Chelsea, City and Man Utd.

[Fist of Lehmann]

I’m not sure what you’re getting at. When I say this isn’t a normal season, I mean in regards to the managerial changes we’ve seen at Chelsea, City and Man Utd.

I'm getting at a few things really.

Those include but are not limited to:
a) the fact that irrespective of other other teams, our form to date is consistent with 12 game league leaders in previous years, albeit at the lower end of the scale
b) that if this isn't a normal season, how many points we are likely to need
c) where 12 game leaders tend to end up

[Özim]

I don't believe yet, yes we're top and 4 points clear but we've got a lot of hard fixtures to come and for me how we do against City and Chelsea will be very important.

I think as we get into the 2nd half of the season we'll tire as well with our lack of depth (due to the usual suspects being injured), I think City and Chelsea will have too much for us and may well beat us in our fixtures against them (might get a draw at home against City).