Seasons' comparisons

[Letters]

I don't even think we did go ultra-defensive. There may have been a touch of easing off, not doing anything silly and conceding a goal to put ourselves under pressure but we hardly parked any buses. We're the only side to have put 4 past Liverpool all season

[GP]

Line up was fine, subs were fine.

Result was acceptable I suppose.

[Power n Glory]

I don't even think we did go ultra-defensive. There may have been a touch of easing off, not doing anything silly and conceding a goal to put ourselves under pressure but we hardly parked any buses. We're the only side to have put 4 past Liverpool all season

Relax. I'm not attacking the tactics. There's just a notable visual shift in approach where we're comfortable letting our opponents have the ball. Usually, we'd try to dominate possession from the first to final whistle. That's where mistakes can happen, we lose a moments concentration and then concede.

If you played Fifa you'd know there is a difference between 'ultra defensive' and 'parking the bus' mode.

[Toronto Gooner]

After this weekend's games, here are the comparisons:

Chelsea 73 pt (1)
13/14 4
12/13 15
11/12 20
10/11 15
09/10 5
08/09 9
07/08 5
06/07 1

Arsenal 66 pt
13/14 2
12/13 7
11/12 5
10/11 3
09/10 -2
08/09 5
07/08 -4
06/07 10

Man U 65 pt
13/14 11
12/13 -15
11/12 -14
10/11 -4
09/10 -7
08/09 -9
07/08 -11
06/07 -13

Man City 61 pt
13/14 -9
12/13 -7
11/12 -10
10/11 5
09/10 2

Liverpool 57 pt
13/14 -14
12/13 8
11/12 14
10/11 9
09/10 3
08/09 -13
07/08 -5
06/07 -3

Spurs 54 pt
13/14 -2
12/13 -4
11/12 -5
10/11 0
09/10 -4
08/09 13
07/08 15
06/07 6

[Letters]

Progress

[Penguin]

Sometimes Wenger does invite unnecessary pressure with his subs when we're already on top of the game. I know It's better than the gung ho approach we've had in the past, but Wenger's teams have never been very proficient at playing defensively and absorbing attacks. Mourinho or Ferguson's teams have been, so you can understand them doing it. For us, sacrificing a fast, hardworking forward who will defend from the front (and scare them about the threat of a counter) for a CB isn't very assuring. Especially when that CB is the inexperienced (Chambers), doesn't speak English (Gabriél) or is a fullback as is often the case.

[Niall_Quinn]

Sometimes Wenger does invite unnecessary pressure with his subs when we're already on top of the game. I know It's better than the gung ho approach we've had in the past, but Wenger's teams have never been very proficient at playing defensively and absorbing attacks. Mourinho or Ferguson's teams have been, so you can understand them doing it. For us, sacrificing a fast, hardworking forward who will defend from the front (and scare them about the threat of a counter) for a CB isn't very assuring. Especially when that CB is the inexperienced (Chambers), doesn't speak English (Gabriél) or is a fullback as is often the case.

On average Wenger is proved right in these things, often because we have talented individuals who pull his arse out of the fire. But average doesn't win the top prizes. This is what's so frustrating about him. He gambles or goes conservative when we don't need to and then goes and passes up a sure thing. That game against Burnley was an unnecessary gamble right until the end. Yes we dominated, yes we were rarely threatened but we all know (too well) what can happen in football when that isolated fluke flies in or the ref inserts himself into the proceedings. On Saturday it was a big performance from Coquelin that kept the ship steady, not Wenger's tactics.

[Toronto Gooner]

I thought that I would put up the comparisons before the matches this weekend because of there are three things that can be decided/confirmed: St Totteringham's Day; Champions League participation; and the Premiership.

Chelsea 80 pt
13/14 5
12/13 15
11/12 22
10/11 13
09/10 3
08/09 9
07/08 5
06/07 1

Man City 67 pt
13/14 -7
12/13 -4
11/12 -10
10/11 5
09/10 5

Arsenal 67 pt (1)
13/14 3
12/13 7
11/12 3
10/11 3
09/10 -4
08/09 5
07/08 -4
06/07 8

Man U 65 pt
13/14 8
12/13 -19
11/12 -17
10/11 -8
09/10 -8
08/09 -15
07/08 -15
06/07 -17

Liverpool 58 pt
13/14 -19
12/13 7
11/12 12
10/11 6
09/10
08/09 -16
07/08 -8
06/07 -6

Spurs 58 pt
13/14 -2
12/13 -4
11/12 -1
10/11 4
09/10 -6
08/09 14
07/08 17
06/07 8

[Toronto Gooner]

Here are the final figures for the comparisons. Although Arsenal did not get as many points as last season, I still rate this as a better season.

Chelsea 87 pt
13/14 5
12/13 12
11/12 23
10/11 16
09/10 1
08/09 4
07/08 2
06/07 4

Man City 79 pt
13/14 -7
12/13 1
11/12 -10
10/11 8
09/10 12

Arsenal 75 pt
13/14 -4
12/13 2
11/12 5
10/11 7
09/10 0
08/09 3
07/08 -8
06/07 7

Man U 70 pt
13/14 6
12/13 -19
11/12 -19
10/11 -10
09/10 -15
08/09 -20
07/08 -17
06/07 -19

Spurs 64 pt
13/14 -5
12/13 -8
11/12 -5
10/11 2
09/10 -6
08/09 13
07/08 18
06/07 4

Liverpool 62 pt
13/14 -22
12/13 1
11/12 10
10/11 4
09/10 -1
08/09 -24
07/08 -14
06/07 -6

[Letters]

Liverpool 62 pt
13/14 -22