Match Reaction vs Cardiff (away).

[Letters]

Fantastic win yesterday. Cardiff haven't exactly been setting the PL alight but they have got some decent results at home beating City and drawing with ManYoo.

The importance of the save from Chesney at 1-0 cannot be overstated. It makes a real difference having a top 'keeper, last few years we haven't. Having a 'keeper who can pull out a save like that in a tight game can make the difference if we're serious about competing for the title. Brilliant by Ramsey, showed real class after his goals (were you watching, RvP?) and fair play to the Cardiff fans who not only applauded Ramsey but also applauded the Arsenal fans' Pat Rice chant. Outstanding pass from Özil for the 2nd goal, good to see him looking good again. Our midfield really is outstanding.

Tougher tests to come ™, obviously. We need to get through the Chelsea and City games before Christmas. If we get points in both of those then I'll start to believe we have a chance.

[Syn]

Tougher tests to come ™, obviously. We need to get through the Chelsea and City games before Christmas. If we get points in both of those then I'll start to believe we have a chance.

Then you'll believe we will win it. I find it very hard to believe there is a single Arsenal fan right now that doesn't already think we have a chance.

edit: sorry, twatty post.

Edit2: but true.

[Letters]

I certainly won't believe we will win it. Long way to go, Brian. Marathon not a sprint. We'll take one game at a time. Etc. But the pundit's claim that we can't be taken seriously until we've played - and beaten - last season's top 3 isn't that unreasonable. Every time I've seen Arsenal win the title we've done well in those 6 pointers and we've only played one so far and lost it. Not a disaster but IMO we need to get results in the City and Chelsea games to be taken more seriously.

Saturday I thought we looked like a team who could seriously challenge - I think that might be the first time I've thought that. Concerns about our squad depth remain though. If Giroud, Rambo or Ozil get injured then it will hurt us and we don't have cookie cutter £50m replacements in the bench like Chelsea and City have acquired with their dirty money. There's also the mentality issue. That pressure in the last 10 games of a title run-in is different, especially if fixtures start piling up.

But anyway, at the start of the season the debate was about whether we could stay in the top 4 so I'm just enjoying the football we're playing and the results. Anything else would be a bonus.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Even if we lost all the 6 pointers (I don't think we will) against the big boys, we'd still win the league based purely on our form against the rest of the teams in the league.

Also, Man Utd are fast becoming a team that won't be a 6 pointer.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

We have to remember, Ramsey and Giroud starting to score more goals doesnt mean that we'll be scoring 20+ more goals than last season, those goals are being taken from players like podolski, walcott and cazorla. We cant compare their stats with last year, if Cazorla drops deep means that Ramsey can get into the box and score, im perfectly fine with Cazorla not getting those same stats, i still think he's awesome and an important part of our possesion football. Who knows, maybe its Wenger telling our CAM's-played-on-the-wings to drop down (not at the same time tho'), so Özil can go wide and let Ramsey run through the middle.

My own observations were made in the light of Cazorla's performances alone and not the stats at all. It would be a little silly to make a whole hearted comparison with last season because Cazorla played every game last season and didn't even start this new season fit never mind play every game so far.

It's really in light of the fact that he is almost as finely balanced an attacking player as you will find. His ball retention skills, his passing range the fact I still don't know which foot he is better shooting with.... He just doesn't have an obvious footballing weakness imo. There is a stark lack of genuinely two footed players in the game at his level.

Maybe I'm going a little overboard (I have liked him long before he came to us and couldn't believe Wenger actually signed a player I wanted) but I don't see that Mata, Silva, Kagawa or anyone else of that ilk is more talented.

When he hits top form we will look back at this time and think.....Ohhhh, that's why we expected more.

[Marc Overmars]

Also, Man Utd are fast becoming a team that won't be a 6 pointer.

I was thinking this the other day.

They're just a banana skin more than anything now tbh.

City and Chelsea are the only credible challengers at the moment.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Even if we lost all the 6 pointers (I don't think we will) against the big boys, we'd still win the league based purely on our form against the rest of the teams in the league.

Also, Man Utd are fast becoming a team that won't be a 6 pointer.

But it wouldn't be as satisfying.

I mean I wouldn't complain if we won the league without beating them but the media would write it off as a nothing title.

Winning against the big boys is crucial going into the second half of the season.

[Syn]

When all is said and done, it's hard to imagine Man Utd not pubbing a title challenge together.

[Letters]

I don't think you can overestimate the Fergie effect. They won't finish in mid-table but they're not looking that great.

[Zerlathon]

I don't think you can overestimate the Fergie effect. They won't finish in mid-table but they're not looking that great.

It would be glorious if Man Utd had to try and get used to the Channel 5 Cup along with Spuds.