Match Reaction Arsenal 1-1 Shadow Dwellers

[Özim]

We won't win the title and here's why, he's called Aguero and is about a million levels above anything we have, when he plays City are a different kettle of fish, Wenger has chosen to stick with forwards who have proved their not good enough to win you the title and he'll pay for that.

People might be hopeful, but we've been in far better positions before (5 points clear in the new year) and still found a way to lose it, I just don't see this team from what t it's shown this season being capable of winning any major trophy, recent results are showing that for every good result there's a poor one just round the corner, nothing we've done this season suggests we're championship material and the thrashing by Bayern and awful performance against Spurs cements that belief for me.

As Henry had said, we should have won that if we were the real deal, winning when you play badly is a sign of champions, not scraping a lucky win at home.

[Kano]

I said at the beginning of the season I didn't think we had what he takes to win the title. In most campaigns, this squad wouldn't be good enough. And then Chelsea went to shit, Utd are only grinding their way to slow increments of improvement and City have proved vulnerable despite their squad. So I started to doubt my early season assertion and think this is portably our best opportunity in a while, despite our squads failings.

I still have big doubts over Wenger's ability to manage the squad throughout the campaign and if pushed on an answer right now, I'd say no we won't win it. But I want to enjoy a season of football, especially given how much of my time I give to talking about and watching it. It would be completely shit to not have any hope at all every weekend, not able to enjoy beating Utd or beating Bayern Munich. Even if we fall flat on our face again at the end of the season I would look back on those games fondly.

All I want is for us to challenge every season, winning the title would be the icing on the cake of course but all any (well most) fans ask for is watching their team yet their hardest to win each game.

I think we've got that this season from the players, regardless of whatever level of antipathy many of us feel toward the manager. Of course, we've been here before and fallen away a few times and May is some distance away but I'm trying to judge the club on what I can see right now, rather than lean back on where I was three months ago, mostly because it's far less stressful and so far, they've proven me wrong, so I'm up for that continuing if it can.

[LDG]

Dunno where I am with it.

I desperately want to believe we can win it, but there have been so many opportunities wasted, I just can't see it.

We've seen some genuinely excellent performances this year, and arguably the most competent first eleven for a long time. The team spirit and work ethic are much better, and Wenger seems to be prepared to put tactics before fancy football on occassion.

That said, we've had some shockers too. Wenger also refused to go out and spend on reliable back up in the summer, chosing to play a game of chance.

That, to me, showed again that he isn't prepared do absolutely everything to win at all costs.

And that is why we will fall short, because Wenger won't pull out every stop to get us there.

I hope he proves me wrong.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

We have a realistic chance because we're most likely to be against Man City and even when they've won it, they've still been quite flakey.

If they can conspire on failing to score against Villa who let's face it, are absolute crap; it's hardly a great sign for them.

[Gooner23]

This is certainly our best chance for years as no team is particularly convincing. I refuse to get my hopes up though, just always have that nagging doubt we'll blow it.

Don't think yesterday's result will be season defining, I was OK with the point given the circumstances. Previous years we would definitely have lost that. It's what we do after Xmas when the pressure is really on which worries the hell out of me.

[Letters]

We won't win the title and here's why, he's called Aguero and is about a million levels above anything we have, when he plays City are a different kettle of fish, Wenger has chosen to stick with forwards who have proved their not good enough to win you the title and he'll pay for that.

As a striker he's a lot better than anything weve got up front but overall I don't agree he's better than anything we've got. Giroud may not win you the title (although he's done pretty well so far this season) but people like Ozil and Sanchez could. Even Cech - he was a big part of getting us a point on Sunday and he made a good late save against Everton which kept us the 3 points. Things like that add up over a season. You may ultimately be right about us longer term but so far we're challenging and right now that's all you can ask. We've been winning the sorts of games you need to be winning if you're going to compete. Utd at home was a good one - we'd have messed that up a few seasons back.

Right now we're doing a lot better than most on here predicted - certainly after the West Ham game when far too many were throwing in the towel. So long as we stay in touch I'll believe we have a chance.

[IBK]

We won't win the title and here's why, he's called Aguero and is about a million levels above anything we have, when he plays City are a different kettle of fish, Wenger has chosen to stick with forwards who have proved their not good enough to win you the title and he'll pay for that.

People might be hopeful, but we've been in far better positions before (5 points clear in the new year) and still found a way to lose it, I just don't see this team from what t it's shown this season being capable of winning any major trophy, recent results are showing that for every good result there's a poor one just round the corner, nothing we've done this season suggests we're championship material and the thrashing by Bayern and awful performance against Spurs cements that belief for me.

As Henry had said, we should have won that if we were the real deal, winning when you play badly is a sign of champions, not scraping a lucky win at home.

Hmmm. I'm not sure we should be looking at other teams for reasons why we won't win. City are flakey despite their talent. This weekend's result is a case in point - it was a mush worse point for them than us. The Chavs are out of it. Manure are living up to their name - and their good luck is unlikely to hold. Liverpool are a work in progress and Spurs....don't make me laugh. IMHO this season more than any other, its our lamentable injury record that'll do for us. Its a shame - because I think Wenger has evolved, and the team with all players available is a much better balanced and capable one than we have had in years. But they will never, ever be available on a consistent basis - and sooner or later Sanchez will die given his stupid workload.

[Niall_Quinn]

Wenger probably has evolved, dragged along kicking and screaming partly in response to the long standing realisation (for everyone bar himself) his Barca-lite dream was never going to deliver and partly by blind luck. But his evolution is still offset by stunning mistakes. He's the reason we are struggling in the CL again, for instance. He's also the reason we haven't fully taken advantage of the possibilities this season and are still relying on a second tier player in the most important position on the pitch. Will Giroud's misses cost us? Depends if other players can pick up the slack and compensate. But why should we be in that position anyway? We had the need, we had the money, we just didn't have the will.

[Globalgunner]

Wenger has evolved? A man who looks at his pot pourri of average semi crocked and perma crocked players and nods his head. Says " All I need now is a keeper to challenge Ospina". We will know ny end of January if he has eveolved or not. No buys no chance. Hey Wilshere coming back will just be like......
Sorry I cant bring myself to say it.

[IBK]

Wenger has evolved? A man who looks at his pot pourri of average semi crocked and perma crocked players and nods his head. Says " All I need now is a keeper to challenge Ospina". We will know ny end of January if he has eveolved or not. No buys no chance. Hey Wilshere coming back will just be like......
Sorry I cant bring myself to say it.

Whisper it quietly, but I think he has evolved to a degree. The Walcott/Giroud alternative was giving us a plan B, as was conceding possession and playing on the counter - and even Sunday's 'new' tactic of popping balls into the box for Giroud - something Bellerin has been good at as well - is something we haven't really seen before...