Are Arsenal Flat Track Bullies? Paul Merson thinks so… by Akinnubi
A second day defeat at Stanford Bridge makes it two defeats from our two opening matches, a feat last achieved in the 1992/1993 season with the Gunners finishing the season in 10th position.
The ‘ever positive’ Ian Wright though said he is impressed by the team’s performances thus far and unconvinced that the defeats places us at a disadvantage against the other Top 6 teams,with his word being “It’s early doors, It’s early doors” (He said it two times according to the Express).
Now let’s discuss the headline above. These are words from Paul Merson before the 3-2 defeat against Chelsea yesterday:
“It’s going to take time for Emery to do anything there and they have a tough start. But they’re going to have to be
very patient because it could take more than three transfer windows to get in the sort of players he needs. They are well behind the rest. Arsenal are flat-track bullies. They won’t trouble the big clubs but will put away the lesser ones, so once they get past this game [vs Chelsea] they should start winning.”
Looking at our record against the top 6 teams last season:
Arsenal 2 – Tottenham 0
Arsenal 2 – Chelsea 2
Arsenal 3 – Liverpool 3
Arsenal 1 – Man Utd 3
Arsenal 0 – Man City 3
That’s one win, two draws, two defeats, eight goals scored and eleven conceded at the Emirates.
Away though:
Chelsea 0 – Arsenal 0
tottenham 1 – Arsenal 0
Man City 3 – Arsenal 0
Liverpool 4 – Arsenal 0
Man Utd 2 – Arsenal 1
That’s one draw and four losses and an aggregate of 10-1.
Picking up 6 points and scoring 9 goals (8 at home) in ten games seems to justify Paul’s words and I hope Emery is listening and has what it takes to help us perform better against the top teams and give the fans performances to cheer about again!!
COYG!!
Akinnubi