Tonight’s 2-1 loss to Spurs effectively ends the Gunners title dreams as nobody will catch Chelsea now.
Arsene Wenger conceded as much after the game saying:
“We lost a game we couldn’t afford to lose in the title race. There’s too much to do now. We’re very unlikely now to win the championship.”
What is up for grabs is second place and the automatic qualifying into the Champions League group stages next season. In a World Cup year, when summer breaks will be short for all your stars, I don’t think that you can overstate the importance of that automatic qualifying and not having to play a big match against a top Spanish or Italian team in August.
Rob van Persie made his long awaited return from injury and if it was not for the heroics of Gomes, van Persie could easily have marked his return with two goals. Another bright spot for Arsenal was the play of substitute Theo Walcott. As he did against Barcelona in the Champions League, Walcott’s speed gave the tired Spurs defence fits. At the moment, Walcott’s best position seems to be as a substitute, where he can use his speed in the last 20 mins to run and weary defenders.
What did you think of tonight’s game? Is second in the league and quarter-finals of the Champions League a successful season?
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Just to clarify something, first, second, and THIRD get automatic qualifications to the champions league. Fourth is where you go through a qualification round, more likely Man Citeh. As for the season, considering all the injuries, we had a successful season, and I’m proud of my beloved Arsenal. We had some great moments this season, and although the season is not over yet, my favorite moment is when Captain Fab scored from the spot against Stoke after Ramsey’s injury. My worst was Ramsey’s injury and Birmingham’s equalizer. I hope we can get second, and the Spuds finish 6th or 7th.
We LOve you Arsenal. We will go undefeated next season.
You are correct Jack. My mistake. I read it wrong on the UEFA web site
We have said it before but many don’t want to listen- that the season will end with no trophy for us. The reason is simple-we did not plan to plan to compete for any trophy.
Let me say again-next season will be a continuation of the trophyless outings unless we change our approach and, may be, the coach himself if he is the one imposing it.
This is a big off-season for Arsenal as they are getting closer, but Wenger must bring in some experience this summer if Arsenal are to take the next step
Wenger needs to buy depth. Sylvester, Campbell, Denilson, are just not good enough. Diaby played poor.No consistency. Sylvester and Campbell are washed up rejects, and we swoop in cause they are a steal and experienced. they suck, Have no speed make poor decisions.
WORST OF ALL IS ALMUNIA SUCKS!!!! Why is he so shitty in net and in decision making??? Definitely not a TOP 10 goalie in the premiership.
If Wenger was smart and used his head instead of being a moron in the transfer window, he would never look the way he does. He is the MOST GROUCHY AND PISSED OFF LOOKING coach in all of europe. NEVER a smile on his face until the last minute goal we normally get.
If he did his job and bought players, he wouldn’t need to look grouchy and pissed off cause he team is poor and not performing well. You dont have the team to perform at that level. aside from our 5 stars (Fabregas, Vermaaelam, Van Persie, Song, Arshavin @ times) we are a mediocre, mid table team.
Need some changes now. Stop supporting under performing over rated players. Arsenal have been but to the bottom pits in stature with no trophies. Need some DEPTH NOW!!
I wonder why some fans still say we are in huge debt while the bord and even wenger said we have money to spend. We cant blame it on injury every club have there own injury list our broblem is that our first 11 are miles away from there backups let’s take the club toping the log for example they lost their first choice left and right full back a defencive mildfeder and 1 central defender if this is to happen to us we all know how worse our defence is going to be when we have traore and ebue defending fo us. Chelsea are not outstanding but is thier squad depth that kept them to this time despite our injury up front wev’e score more goal than them but look at goal difference all we need now is 1 keeper 2 defender and 1 or 2 mildfider chamark is certain so we dont need striker. We have so many mildfider but the real ones are jurt song ramsey and fabregas it’s not all about age cause this 3 are young its all about comitment and quality. One thin wenger has refuse to understand is that potential cant win trophy. His policy is not bad but we want young player with quality not potetial. Example of young player with quality are fabregas, song, ramsey, messi, jack rudwell vermelin, pato. To mention few i think is time we stop buy potential and watch out for quality. So because we have no depth we could not rotate and that leed to our injury this is the out come when players play trough pain so many of our player has play trough pain this season gallas, faaregas vamelin,song,nasri and arshavin so am not suprise we have so many injury.
i think 3rd automaticlly qualify now but dont quote me on that one, pretty sure the qualifying process changed
You are correct Emmanuel. My mistake. I read it wrong on the UEFA web site
i thought that second and third place both got automatic qualification for the champions league? so there is no difference between second or third…
You are correct Zac. My mistake. I read it wrong on the UEFA web site
I was under the impression the top 3 gain automatic qualification for the champions league. If we beat wigan and manCity, 3rd place would be secure. Heres to hoping Wenger spends big this summer.
You are correct. My mistake. I read it wrong on the UEFA web site
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