Quote Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost of Xmas Past View Post
How would a 3-0 defeat have been viewed? We drew there 1-1 last season but were nowhere near the top. You say realistic to be where we are, well that is beating most of the other sides in the league - home and away and that's why we are where we are, we've been doing that better than other teams.

If we are in the same position as in the past 8 years and perhap we are, I don't really know, I can only hope that we are now in the situation where there is no need for us to sell our best players in the summer.

Newcastle 1-0 Southampton, Gouffran.
And this is the true evidence of a step change for us. BUT - and this is the crux of it - is where we are sufficient to make us title contenders? I reckon that most Gooners would accept the improvement that we have shown - given our stagnation over recent years - but is it enough to win anything against the resources of our competitors? Results like today's are pretty emphatic in their answer to that.