Who had a better season, Arsenal or Liverpool?

[taidgh]

This was brought up on the Football Weekly podcast. Amy Lawrence, who I think ruins the pod every time she's on, in no small part because all she talks about is Arsenal, brought up the question of who had the better season. I found myself agreeing with her, much to my distaste. As good a season as Liverpool had, coming close to winning the title, surely Arsenal, by virtue of winning the FA cup have had the better season. Thoughts?

 

[yankspurs]

Liverpool. Almost won the league, vastly outkicked their coverage. Arsenal was on top for most of the season then settled for 4th. Another disappointing season for them, really. The FA Cup doesnt change their prolonged PL collapse and the CL knockout. At least Liverpools collapse was quick (Steven Gerrard. So cold right now. Steven Gerrard)

 

[TheBlueRooster]

The Gooners, they won the FA cup and qualified for CL again. Bin Dippers won FA, nearly winning the league means they didn't no matter how you dress it up. Winning trophies and picking medals is what it's all about.

 

[ilikeost]

Arsenal won a trophy, Liverpool didn't and they both got CL. Arsenal obviously had a better season.

 

[TaoistMonkey]

Depends where you sit.

Liverpool fans had a great season and Arsenal fans had a great season.

At the end of the day they are both in Champions league except Arsenal are carrying a new trophy so I'd say Arsenal had the better season.

 

[Mullers]

Arsenal of course, how can Liverpool have had the better season when they won nothing?

 

[UncleBuck]

Arse won a trophy and barring a catastrophe will be in the same European competition as pool.
No brainer Shirley???

 

[absolute bobbins]

The bin dippers almost found a winning lottery ticket in their bin, L'Arse won a cup that the manager thinks is less important that coming fourth.

 

[chrissivad]

As already said, both in CL next season and Arsenal won a cup. Arsenal better season

What were each club expecting to achieve at the start of the season?
I would guess Arsenal have done what the club would expect from them (even if they have gone so long with out a cup), and Liverpool exceed them.

 

[Lufti]

I think Chris brings up the main point. Liverpool finished higher but Arsenal actually won something, so on that basis Arsenal did better. But before the season started, top 4 was Liverpool's target and they vastly exceeded that, whereas Arsenal should really have been looking to win a trophy anyway

 

[tommo84]

Echoing Lufti's post, few of you seem to factoring expectations into your answer. Liverpool, despite being the 2nd biggest club in the country, were never expected to finish higher than 4th. They massively surpassed their expectations for the season and their target.

Arsenal finally met their expectation of the past 9 years in winning a trophy to accompany CL qualification, which is no more an achievment for them than it was for a club like West Ham to avoid relegation, especially in a season where (a) last season's champions relinquished their place in the Top 4 by having an absolute nightmare campaign and (b) their start was so good that as late as January their expectation had raised to include a Premier League title.

There is absolutely an argument that Arsenal had a more 'successful' season as success in football is measured in trophies (or at least it should be - funny how Arsenal fans have only decided that this season after claiming otherwise throughout their 9 year drought). But 'better' season suggests a wider focus, whereby performance versus expectation has to be an equally important factor alongside tangible success. On this yardstick, Liverpool's season surpassed Arsenal's by some margin, in the same way that it could/should be argued that Southampton's campaign surpassed Chelsea's and our own.

 

[TheBlueRooster]

Echoing Lufti's post, few of you seem to factoring expectations into your answer. Liverpool, despite being the 2nd biggest club in the country, were never expected to finish higher than 4th. They massively surpassed their expectations for the season and their target.

Arsenal finally met their expectation of the past 9 years in winning a trophy to accompany CL qualification, which is no more an achievment for them than it was for a club like West Ham to avoid relegation, especially in a season where (a) last season's champions relinquished their place in the Top 4 by having an absolute nightmare campaign and (b) their start was so good that as late as January their expectation had raised to include a Premier League title.

There is absolutely an argument that Arsenal had a more 'successful' season as success in football is measured in trophies (or at least it should be - funny how Arsenal fans have only decided that this season after claiming otherwise throughout their 9 year drought). But 'better' season suggests a wider focus, whereby performance versus expectation has to be an equally important factor alongside tangible success. On this yardstick, Liverpool's season surpassed Arsenal's by some margin, in the same way that it could/should be argued that Southampton's campaign surpassed Chelsea's and our own.

So winning nothing and achieving CL position is the same as winning a cup and achieving CL position? Bonkers it has nothing to do with expectations it's to with who won what.

Gooners 1
Dippers 0

 

[KingNothing]

It's all about what was expected from them before the season. Arsenal bough Ozil and Wenger said that Arsenal are title contenders. Many "experts" predicted a 5th place finish for Liverpool. No one expected them to almost win the title and finish 2nd. Arsenal won their first trophy in 9 years, and thus the achievement of winning the FA Cup has been blown out of proportion. Liverpool had a better season.

 

[Lufti]

So winning nothing and achieving CL position is the same as winning a cup and achieving CL position? Bonkers it has nothing to do with expectations it's to with who won what.

Gooners 1
Dippers 0

So you're telling me if Chelsea got relegated, whilst winning the Capital One Cup, that they'd have had a better season than Norwich City who finished 3rd?

It's a lot to do with expectations

 

[tototoner]

obviously Arsenal, they won silverware and qualified for the CL playoff

Liverpool only qualified for the CL Group stage

Would you rather Tottenham finished 2nd or finished 4th and won the FA Cup ?

 

[chrissivad]

obviously Arsenal, they won silverware and qualified for the CL playoff

Liverpool only qualified for the CL Group stage

Would you rather Tottenham finished 2nd or finished 4th and won the FA Cup ?

I would rather finish 4th and win the FA cup, but thats not comparing two different teams.

 

[TheBlueRooster]

So you're telling me if Chelsea got relegated, whilst winning the Capital One Cup, that they'd have had a better season than Norwich City who finished 3rd?

It's a lot to do with expectations

No because that wasn't the question, read the title it doesn't mention Chelsea. If you'd asked last season who had a better season West Ham or Wigan I'd say West Ham as Wigan won the cup but got relegated, league status is more important to clubs these days.

Between the teams in question here the one who one the cup had a better season than the one who didn't.

 

[E17yid]

What if Arsenal don't make it to the CL?

 

[Lufti]

No because that wasn't the question, read the title it doesn't mention Chelsea. If you'd asked last season who had a better season West Ham or Wigan I'd say West Ham as Wigan won the cup but got relegated, league status is more important to clubs these days.

Between the teams in question here the one who one the cup had a better season than the one who didn't.

Read the posts above. The point is, Arsenal were expected to win a cup. Just because of their years of underachievement they still have a very strong squad, and so winning a trophy is the least that should have been expected, whereas I don't think anyone really thought Liverpool would even get top 4 let alone mount a title challenge. Liverpool completely exceeded their target whereas Arsenal only just matched theirs.

 

[TheBlueRooster]

What if Arsenal don't make it to the CL?

That would be brilliant....but it still doesn't take away the fact that this season they won more silverware than Liverpool.