Football (Soccer)

[Oriphus]

Cygan is coming back into form i believe. He had a few bad games, well more than a few, but recently he has started performing. I think we'll take Stepanovs lol

Well, we're at the top of the table where we belong and hopefully will stay right to the end of the season. We played very well today in the match against Spurs and couldve scored more than 2 goals, especially when RVN was clearly onside twice with chances to run at the keaper on his own. Hernan scored the winner for Chelsea, but i hope Arsenal end up finishing higher than them in the table.

Its getting closer and closer to the transfer window. I hope we dont just sign that 16 year old for £200,000 and thats it. If we sign Mark Vaduka im going to shoot myself. I dont think that we can turn him around the same way we managed to turn Eric Cantona into what he became. Id father rather take Alan Smith if we had to take a Leeds player, but to be honest, i dont want either. Come on Robinho, Puyol, Raul or Nesta lol. Two out fo those four will make me happy

[admin]

We really sucked at Bolton. To be fair, Bolton should have won the game, and would have if this is the same Arsenal team as last season (which had already lost 4 times after 17 games).

Haven't watched the Spurs - United game yet, but I think everyone knew that Spurs were going to lie down - anything to prevent Arsenal from winning the league.

Arsenal, with a couple of exceptions, have played really poorly this season. We usually play better in the second half of the season (as was the case in 97/98 and 01/02, when we won the double), so here's hoping ...

[Oriphus]

everyone knew that Spurs were going to lie down - anything to prevent Arsenal from winning the league.

lol - Yeah, its one big conspiracy against Arsenal lol. Every Arsenal fan thinks that

Spurs put up a good resistance to United, and even pulled one back. They werent ever in danger of scoring another against us i believe, and if they had, i think United wouldve gone into overdrive to get one back. A good result in the end. The luck was with Chelsea who pulled out a 1-0 victory when it couldve gone anyway.

Bloody Real Betis lost again

[Oriphus]

double post!!

[admin]

If Arsenal had to lose to United to prevent Spurs from winning the league (), then it would probably happen. The fans would definitely want it. Spurs have nothing to play for (except to prevent relegation), so trying to draw with Arsenal (but still end up losing) and losing to United is all they look forward to

[Oriphus]

Im looking forward to the football tomorrow. I met up with family i hadnt seen since last christmas and the first thing they said was that i saw you on skysports news back after the Arsenal and United match at Old trafford. Cool. Someone actually saw me

[Oriphus]

Well, we got our two victories over Christmas, Chelsea managed one and Arsenal got theirs yesterday. It's nice to be at the top of the table heading in to the New Years knowing that on past years this is when we tend to start performing very well.

[admin]

Arsenal usually play better in the second half of the season (and to be frank, the first half of this season has been pretty poor by Arsenal standards). We also play much better when we are not leading the league, to avoid complacency setting in. Remember that when we won the league in 97/98, we were 12 points behind United at this stage of the season!!

We're also now unbeaten against every single team in the Premiership so far, so no team can do the double on us this season.

What must be worrying for United is all the loses you've had so far. I think you are in a similar situation to Arsenal last season, when we also got to this stage of the season top of the league, but having lost 4 games already. As Tony Adams said before last season's capitulation at Old Trafford, Arsenal will not win the league unless they can turn loses into draws when you're not playing well, and I think we've done extremely well in this area this season (also reflected in the number of times we've won games after conceding a goal first). This should also be much more important in the second half of the season, as the skills drop, and scrappy games will start to feature more.

And hopefully, Spurs will get relgated

[Oriphus]

lol on the spurs getting relegated.

I think that this season is the best start and also the highest points we have had in the period up to Christmas. Thats why i feel that although we have lost a few, we have had very little draws and have won the majority. Also, Arsenal may not cope to well with Champions League football, since its not often that they get through to this stage

[admin]

Actually, we always get to the second stage, but gets knocked out in the last group match

This year's changed knock-out format should be great, since we're so good at cup games, where every game is important (to make sure complacency don't set in).

Some have compared Arsenal this season to the United of old (circa 1999, but also last season as well), in the way we can scrap out wins/draws when we don't really deserve either (eg. Liverpool away, Everton at home, Charlton away, Bolton away ... pretty much most of the games we've played this season). You use to do it through Beckham (a nice cross for Ruud to finish, or a free kick to win the game), but you've lacked that a little bit this season. The United of old certainly would not have lost to Fulham at home.

And of course, Arsenal have the best defence in the league now, even though we were supposed to be weakest in this area (and the only reason we lost the league last season).

Can't wait for 2004

[Oriphus]

Does Arsenal have the best defense in the league in terms of matches lost or in terms of goals conceded. Since you have not lost any matches i presume its that one, but is it also goals conceded. United have only conceded 6 or 8 this season, i cant remember and cant be bothered looking it up

[admin]

My first post of 2004 (Australian time) ...

Arsenal have not lost any games, and also have conceded the least number of goals (12). United have conceded 13, which is the second best record. I am not sure, but I think we've had 7 clean sheets so far this season.

[Oriphus]

And where are u in the table again.....

Oh, Happy New Year by the way

[admin]

And we're second, which is where we want to be (since the team top of the league at this time have only won the league 4 times out of 11)

Hope you (but not necessarily Manchester United) have a great 2004

[Oriphus]

Cheers Boss

I am looking forward to some good banter over the coming months as the league and CL gets on the way again. Eagerly anticipating a new striker coming to the club. Would hate so see ark Viduka coming though, or even Southgate. Need a big name italian or Brazilian i reckon. Come on Robinho. It would be nice to get Rivaldo on a free transfer as well