Arsene Wenger is never too far from an analogy, with Le Prof always willing to give an example regarding exactly what he means. This time around Wenger has been speaking about Arsenal’s title challenge and his claim that the Premier League is like a ‘jungle’, is actually a very good way of summing up this year’s competition.
In a SkySports report, Wenger is quoted as saying: “I believe humility is to understand that you start again from zero. We live in a jungle where everyone wants to eat you – you have to survive by keeping your vigilance. That’s what competition is about.”
Arsenal currently sit in second place in the league, level on points with the leaders Manchester City, but behind the Citizens on goal difference. Despite the poor start to Arsenal’s season, the following six league games on the trot have all resulted in wins for Arsenal and it’s seen us rise up the table. Even after eight games the league table is already taking shape to show the high level of competition between clubs and Wenger thinks that the competition in the Premier League is only getting stronger. With some many clubs now fighting for the title, besides the usual ‘top four’, it has meant that competition in the top half of the table has increased. Even the likes of West Ham and Southampton are pushing for a higher spot, whilst of course the likes of Spurs and Liverpool remain ever present as outsiders for a top four place.
Furthermore, with relegation battles down the bottom half of the table also growing in competition, as various clubs fight amongst themselves for safety from the drop, it means that Arsenal also face tougher games from teams in the lower half of the league. These clubs are battling for every point they can get and so where in previous years ago, a trip to Sunderland, Hull or West Brom may have been considered a sure three points, it is now much harder to come away with a hi-scoring win.
The Premier League is no longer a playground for the top four big clubs to battle it out, but rather it is now a competition capable of all sorts of surprises. Who knows who will win the title this year, with it sure to be another close season. If Arsenal want to become the king of the jungle as Arsene Wenger suggests, then they’ll need to fight with passion and desire against every opposition that comes their way. Based on our current run, I’m confident of a good season for the Gunners but this is a long distance marathon, not a sprint.
By AH
Hmmm……King of the Jungle!!! Let’s work towards that.
This goal difference stuff is really annoying me, why don’t we start banging 5,6,7 goals past those small clubs! We already showed that we are capable of that
I agree, we’ll need to show how much we want it, that will decide the winner. Whichever one just wants it that bit more than the others around them. Like a great man once said, It’s a hard days night.
Will we be King of the Jungle or will we just be a Jungle VIP?
Roy Keane has said Arsenal have a habit of blowing up in the latter stages. But this team looks stronger in his opinion, Roy is a notoriously difficult person to please. I’d take his compliment over anything M Owen or P Morgan ever had to say.
@Break-on-through
Like him or not. Roy has always been a “straight shootin” type of guy.
This Arsenal team is the real deal, at the moment.
To be able to whip a champions league team who had more possession than us 6 nil, speaks volumes.?
An injury crisis ‘free’ season will surely see us crowned champions ?
And consistency brother.. our (most) players have shown that they go in and out of form every season, let’s hope they don’t decide to do it all at once