What are your expectations for the season 21/22: The race for any position between 1st and 20th

[djhotspur]

Really trying to be objective here but I think all Arsenal games are gonna be really tough. Obviously the NLD and Newcastle away. Leeds look much more solid now and need few more points, Everton might be do or die their game. West Ham has fallen very nice for them but they are very resilient under Moyes. Some might say can say same about us but I do think Leicester Burnley Norwich are much more favourable for us. I just think Leicester in same situation as West Ham but they are much more flaky and will probably give us space. And I just don’t think Burnley are very good, I’d rather be playing them than Everton at this point. Some might disagree on that, just the way I see it. I certainly wouldn’t swap fixtures.

But the key is we have Liverpool? It’s a loss and if we go into the nld coming off another loss when we might well be more than 3 more away from arsenal the players will likely bottle the NLD.

we look flat and tired even after a weeks rest, so to play arsenal after Liverpool will make us very poor.
I think arsenal will come at us which should help us counter them but I also think they will pick our defence apart with the pace and quality of their attacking 3. They will have too much space in the middle as all teams do against us and I can see smith Rowe and odegaard popping up between the lines constantly and causing havoc.

 

[dudu]

Doubt it. They sit back and defend and as we’ve seen countless times we cannot break those teams down.

How much further back do you need me to go?



18-Dec-16 Premier League 31,467 H W 2 – 1 Alli, Rose Barnes
01-Apr-17 Premier League 21,684 A W 2 – 0 Dier, Son
27-Aug-17 Premier League 67,862 H D 1 – 1 (at Wembley) Alli Wood
23-Dec-17 Premier League 21,650 A W 3 – 0 Kane (3, 1 pen)
15-Dec-18 Premier League 41,645 H W 1 – 0 (at Wembley) Eriksen
23-Feb-19 Premier League 21,339 A L 1 – 2 Kane Wood, Barnes
07-Dec-19 Premier League 58,401 H W 5 – 0 Kane (2), Moura, Son, Sissoko
07-Mar-20 Premier League 20,496 A D 1 – 1 Alli (pen) Wood
26-Oct-20 Premier League N/A A W 1 – 0 Son
28-Feb-21 Premier League N/A H W 4 – 0 Bale (2), Kane, Moura
27-Oct-21 League Cup 4 14,637 A W 1 – 0 Moura
23-Feb-22 Premier League 19,488 A L 0 – 1

 

[djhotspur]

How much further back do you need me to go?



18-Dec-16 Premier League 31,467 H W 2 – 1 Alli, Rose Barnes
01-Apr-17 Premier League 21,684 A W 2 – 0 Dier, Son
27-Aug-17 Premier League 67,862 H D 1 – 1 (at Wembley) Alli Wood
23-Dec-17 Premier League 21,650 A W 3 – 0 Kane (3, 1 pen)
15-Dec-18 Premier League 41,645 H W 1 – 0 (at Wembley) Eriksen
23-Feb-19 Premier League 21,339 A L 1 – 2 Kane Wood, Barnes
07-Dec-19 Premier League 58,401 H W 5 – 0 Kane (2), Moura, Son, Sissoko
07-Mar-20 Premier League 20,496 A D 1 – 1 Alli (pen) Wood
26-Oct-20 Premier League N/A A W 1 – 0 Son
28-Feb-21 Premier League N/A H W 4 – 0 Bale (2), Kane, Moura
27-Oct-21 League Cup 4 14,637 A W 1 – 0 Moura
23-Feb-22 Premier League 19,488 A L 0 – 1

When this year have we successfully broken down teams who have simply just sat back? We even lost at Burnley. No point bringing up games when we had Bale etc and games in the past. This season when teams have sat back we have struggled hugely.

 

[dudu]

When this year have we successfully broken down teams who have simply just sat back? We even lost at Burnley. No point bringing up games when we had Bale etc and games in the past. This season when teams have sat back we have struggled hugely.

Oh this season.... you didn't specify that

Yes, many many teams struggle against teams that 'sit back' as you suggest - it is the nature of why they do it, to make it difficult for teams like ours.

Considering we have beaten Brighton twice, Brentford once, Watford, Palace ......

Maybe you can specify which teams you fall into that category - cos if it is only Burnley, then sure, we lost a game against them.

And for the record, I'm not saying we don't struggle to break deep-lying teams down, just that I don't think your sample size is enough to warrant the negativity.

 

[spursfan77]

How much further back do you need me to go?



18-Dec-16 Premier League 31,467 H W 2 – 1 Alli, Rose Barnes
01-Apr-17 Premier League 21,684 A W 2 – 0 Dier, Son
27-Aug-17 Premier League 67,862 H D 1 – 1 (at Wembley) Alli Wood
23-Dec-17 Premier League 21,650 A W 3 – 0 Kane (3, 1 pen)
15-Dec-18 Premier League 41,645 H W 1 – 0 (at Wembley) Eriksen
23-Feb-19 Premier League 21,339 A L 1 – 2 Kane Wood, Barnes
07-Dec-19 Premier League 58,401 H W 5 – 0 Kane (2), Moura, Son, Sissoko
07-Mar-20 Premier League 20,496 A D 1 – 1 Alli (pen) Wood
26-Oct-20 Premier League N/A A W 1 – 0 Son
28-Feb-21 Premier League N/A H W 4 – 0 Bale (2), Kane, Moura
27-Oct-21 League Cup 4 14,637 A W 1 – 0 Moura
23-Feb-22 Premier League 19,488 A L 0 – 1

I was going to do that but couldn't be bothered, so thanks!

That 15 December 18 game was funny. They were time wasting from about the 5th minute, but when Eriksen scored near the end they couldn't do anything quick enough.

We've struggled to beat teams that sit deep for years. Mainly because we've been a side that just doesn't move around quick enough in the final third. The man in possession of the ball, the movement around him and the passing. It has happened for as long as I can remember.

 

[mil1lion]

Does beg the question why after such a good run the team get themselves in a good position only to fall off the cliff.
I suppose we should be used to it but still it's made worse by allowing of all teams in our bitterest rival.

We won 4 straight which is great form for us, even Chelsea struggle to do that now. We're currently level with Brentford in 3rd place for form in the last 6 games. So while we did great to win 4 games straight we were never likely to keep winning or even playing well. Only City and Liverpool can win many games in a row and perform consistently. Our form was strong for a good half a dozen games but we were always going to have a dip. It isn't a matter of letting anyone jump above us because it's the nature of how the table shapes over the season. Arsenal didn't let us jump above them either they just had a dip I'm form at a time we had a rise in form. It was always going to be like that for teams chasing 4th. Neither of these teams are winning 5 or 6 games in a row for example.

 

[shelfboy68]

We won 4 straight which is great form for us, even Chelsea struggle to do that now. We're currently level with Brentford in 3rd place for form in the last 6 games. So while we did great to win 4 games straight we were never likely to keep winning or even playing well. Only City and Liverpool can win many games in a row and perform consistently. Our form was strong for a good half a dozen games but we were always going to have a dip. It isn't a matter of letting anyone jump above us because it's the nature of how the table shapes over the season. Arsenal didn't let us jump above them either they just had a dip I'm form at a time we had a rise in form. It was always going to be like that for teams chasing 4th. Neither of these teams are winning 5 or 6 games in a row for example.

I think getting into the position we did after the season we had only to now fall short would be disappointing

 

[Delboy75]

I genuinely don’t consider Liverpool an automatic loss. We’ve beaten city twice and already drawn with them. The recent games at Anfield have been very close and we’ve been very unlucky not to get more. Their high line is perfect for us and we will definitely get chances but we have to be clinical.

 

[mil1lion]

I think getting into the position we did after the season we had only to now fall short would be disappointing

Sure but we're talking about winning multiple back to back games to achieve that. We won 4 in a row just to catch up with 4th so that shows how off the pace we have been. We can't for example say after 4 wins that we just need to win 2 more and we'll have a great advantage. That's still winning 6 in a row. We have to be realistic and accept that at least until we strengthen our form will be up and down. We were never going to show title winning form in the final 10 games but we may have needed to just to make up lost ground. We can't expect to go on a long run of good form and expect Arsenal to go on a long run of bad form. Both sides have been up and down all season. We can only hope we have enough time to turn a bit of good form and Arsenal to dip in time for us to get 4th. The trouble is that we did catch up so naturally your expectations are raised in that moment. However unless we fundamentally change and make that consistent winning the new norm we'll never push on from just catching up to pulling away. I just don't think we have the players for that type of run yet.

 

[hellava_tough]

I genuinely don’t consider Liverpool an automatic loss. We’ve beaten city twice and already drawn with them. The recent games at Anfield have been very close and we’ve been very unlucky not to get more. Their high line is perfect for us and we will definitely get chances but we have to be clinical.

I suppose stranger things have happened...

...

...actually, no, scratch that; if we win at Anfield that's probably the most bizarre thing I've ever seen in football.

 

[WiganSpur]

If Arsenal win at WH (I expect WH to roll over) then I think we need to get some sort of result at Anfield and win the rest

 

[SambaSpurs]

If Arsenal win at WH (I expect WH to roll over) then I think we need to get some sort of result at Anfield and win the rest

We could be 5 behind them before the NLD and if we manage to win it you would think there’s a decent chance they shit themselves away at Newcastle with a draw or loss for us to leapfrog.

Agree that WH is one of their trickier games left. Anything can happen though - I wouldn’t discount Leeds against them either on current form.

Firstly we just need to get past Leicester in front of a nervous home crowd this weekend.

 

[cjsimba]

If we take Liverpool as a loss, we need to win every other game. Not out of the realms of possibility.

Then there are basically 3 opportunities where we have to hope Arsenal slip up. West Ham away, Leeds home, Newcastle away. I expect the relegation battle to be sorted by last game of the season so don’t think Everton will turn up.

 

[WiganSpur]

We could be 5 behind them before the NLD and if we manage to win it you would think there’s a decent chance they shit themselves away at Newcastle with a draw or loss for us to leapfrog.

Agree that WH is one of their trickier games left. Anything can happen though - I wouldn’t discount Leeds against them either on current form.

Firstly we just need to get past Leicester in front of a nervous home crowd this weekend.

Oh absolutely FWIW I think we've blown it now, we'll lose at Anfield and will cock up in one of our easier games (Reckon the Burnley game myself). Only way it happens is if Arsenal collapse and then we beat them at WHL, still a small possibility I suppose.

 

[thebenjamin]

Really trying to be objective here but I think all Arsenal games are gonna be really tough. Obviously the NLD and Newcastle away. Leeds look much more solid now and need few more points, Everton might be do or die their game. West Ham has fallen very nice for them but they are very resilient under Moyes. Some might say can say same about us but I do think Leicester Burnley Norwich are much more favourable for us. I just think Leicester in same situation as West Ham but they are much more flaky and will probably give us space. And I just don’t think Burnley are very good, I’d rather be playing them than Everton at this point. Some might disagree on that, just the way I see it. I certainly wouldn’t swap fixtures.

Newcatle away is the one I'm banking on. If that was us going there on a Monday night for the Saudis' last game of the season I wouldn't fancy it. Atmosphere will be intense.

 

[WiganSpur]

Newcatle away is the one I'm banking on. If that was us going there on a Monday night for the Saudis' last game of the season I wouldn't fancy it. Atmosphere will be intense.

They're/they'll be on the beach won't they? Can't see it. I reckon we're in big trouble if Arsenal beat West Ham this weekend.

 

[SambaSpurs]

They're/they'll be on the beach won't they? Can't see it. I reckon we're in big trouble if Arsenal beat West Ham this weekend.

Newcastle are a clear 3rd in the the table over last 15 games. They have also won their last 4 which is not really on the beach behaviour despite being well clear of relegation. They have been absolutely flying. The whole squad are fighting for their places for next season which has seen them ride the crest of a wave since January really.

I think the Newcastle game is Arsenal’s hardest left after us. If we manage to beat arsenal to go within 2 points they will wobble on that Monday night as they did at Palace.

Can we do our job though, that’s what I’m most worried about.

 

[spursfan77]

If we take Liverpool as a loss, we need to win every other game. Not out of the realms of possibility.

Then there are basically 3 opportunities where we have to hope Arsenal slip up. West Ham away, Leeds home, Newcastle away. I expect the relegation battle to be sorted by last game of the season so don’t think Everton will turn up.

We really just need to win the next game at the moment. If we don’t beat Leicester then the rest won’t matter.

 

[mil1lion]

Exactly, win Sunday and then it's over to Arsenal shortly after

 

[alfiemacdaddy]

If we take Liverpool as a loss, we need to win every other game. Not out of the realms of possibility.

Then there are basically 3 opportunities where we have to hope Arsenal slip up. West Ham away, Leeds home, Newcastle away. I expect the relegation battle to be sorted by last game of the season so don’t think Everton will turn up.

If the last few game weeks have taught us anything it's to not assume which way results will go and not to get bogged down in working out how the remaining fixtures Will play out as form and consistency are out the window out the moment!

Anyone can beat anyone. One match a team can look invincible and the next utter shite.

Let's just concentrate on beating Leicester!