Europa League ~ The New Home of Arsenal

[Angelito]

Most pundits are harping on about us missing out from 4th spot this season. While, it's not outrageous, I happen to believe that it would be something incredible if Arsenal finished out of the top-4. It's not happened under Wenger, and that's for two decades now.

This isn't about Wenger or the board. If you're going to predict that Arsenal fall out of the top-4, it should be a serious assertion rather than a knee-jerk/wishful reaction.

Let's ignore about Wenger and the board for now. Do you honestly believe that we will fall out of the top-4 this season?

Primarily, three teams are competing for the "coveted" 4th spot. The fixture list of each team:

Arsenal

Arsenal v Manchester City
Arsenal v West Ham United
Crystal Palace v Arsenal
Middlesbrough v Arsenal
Arsenal v Leicester City
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal
Arsenal v Manchester United
Stoke City v Arsenal
Arsenal v Everton
Arsenal v Sunderland - TBC
Southampton v Arsenal - TBC

Liverpool

Liverpool v Everton
Liverpool v Bournemouth
Stoke City v Liverpool
West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
Watford v Liverpool
Liverpool v Southampton
West Ham United v Liverpool
Liverpool v Middlesbrough

Man United

Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion
Manchester United v Everton
Sunderland v Manchester United
Manchester United v Chelsea
Burnley v Manchester United
Manchester City v Manchester United
Manchester United v Swansea City
Arsenal v Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United
Manchester United v Crystal Palace
Southampton v Manchester United - TBC

Bold = Top-6/7 games
Italic = Postponed games

Our toughest game is White Hart Lane away. Liverpool's toughest game is the Merseyside Derby at home. Man United's toughest game is arguably Manchester City away. Liverpool don't have many tough games remaining. Man U still have Chelsea and Everton at home, with travels to Arsenal, City, and Spurs all in close succession. ManU are still in the EL. I don't know whether it makes it easier for them, or difficult because they have two routes left to the CL next season. Liverpool don't have any "distractions" so to speak. We don't either. The Cup game against City is far from a distraction.

[ESR10]

I don't think so. We will finish 6th or even 7th.
With our record against big teams, the will probably get 1-2 points from the bold marked fixtures and this will be enough to eliminate our chances.
Liverpool have by far the easiest fixtures left and should be theoretically able to hold on to the 4th place, but i could imagine them screwing it up somehow.
I think it will be United.

[EliteKiller]

I think Chelski are nailed on so that's one place, Spuds have to many 'easy' games so that's two places taken .... and I just can't see City not getting enough points, so that's three places used up .... not saying one, two, three but three out of four ....

For arguments sake let's say it takes >77 points for fourth place ...... so who needs what for 78 points?

Chelski - 9 from 30
Spuds - 19 from 30
City - 21 from 30
Dippers - 22 from 27
United - 26 from 33
Arsenal - 28 from 33

So one from Liverpool, Arsenal, Utd need to go on a hell of a late season run ....

To reach 78 points Dippers can't afford more than two non-wins (draws are no help) - however if they win the derby tomorrow I can easily see them winning six of the last eight, even allowing for a couple of shock feck ups .....

Utd can't afford more than three non-wins - with City / Chelski / Arsenal / Spurs all to come that's a tough ask .... don't reckon they can do it ..... not with EL as well .....

But then you look at us? We can only afford to drop points in two games, and we've still got City, Spuds, Utd and feckin' Stoke away ...

Sure we've done it before but great as our season ending form has been ... in the final eleven games last season we picked up 20 points .... this time around that won't even get us close .... to hit 78 points we need 28 points, so we need 9W 1D 1L in the next eleven games .... and even that might not be good enough .....

If we don't win on Sunday I reckon we're toast .... and even if we do I just can't see Dippers giving fourth place away .... our only hope is for a Spuds or City collapse, and can anyone see that happening this time around?

I reckon us 5th with Utd 6th .... but what the feck do I know ..............

[Marsbar100]

We have no motivation as a team, no chance we make top 4

[Arsenal~Fanatic]

Without an united dressing room and a manager who is out of sorts, it is difficult to argue we will.

[Va-Va-Voom]

We will finish above United; I didn't realize their fixture list was so difficult - they have to play all the top teams except for Liverpool.

The only question is Liverpool. On paper they have a waltz, Stoke is their only difficult away game. However, Pool can balls it up with the best of them.

I think we'll miss out. Morale throughout the club is too low to go on a tear and string wins together.

[Cripps]

What's more important?

Finishing top 4 and Wenger staying?

Outside top 4 and Wenger leaving?

Latter for me.

So hopefully we dont

[Angelito]

Did a bit of calculation and:

2. Spurs - 78 pts.
3. City - 78 pts.
4. Liverpool - 76 pts.
5. Arsenal - 71 pts.
6. United - 71 pts.

[Nuggets]

We will finish 6-7th

[GoonerAlexandre]

We'll finish top 4 and above Spurs.

[arsenalpan]

At this point, this should be the last thing we need to think about.

[CrimsonGunner11]

Did a bit of calculation and:

2. Spurs - 78 pts.
3. City - 78 pts.
4. Liverpool - 76 pts.
5. Arsenal - 71 pts.
6. United - 71 pts.

Pretty much how I see the league finishing at this point. I would be shocked if we finished in the top 4 this season

[weaponx57]

Yay...Europa league....lol....where we actually belong if Wenger Stays at the helm.

[Manoban]

I genuinely don't give a fk

[Santi]

not a chance