My full EPL table Predictions for 2023/24 by Dan Smith
Man City – 1st.
So that time of the year where the rest of England tries to convince themselves that Man City have enough issues that make them vulnerable.
If they had any other manager, there might be hope that their players will be complacent after winning a Treble.
Yet they are coached by Pep Guardiola who likes to set himself a challenge every year.
Two years ago, he won a title without a striker, in the last campaign he lifted three trophies without full backs, this time he will want to prove he can keep a squad full of winners focused.
If he senses anyone not having the right hunger, he won’t be afraid to drop them.
Sir Alex Ferguson used to explain the importance of always freshening up a winning team, so while the Champions have lost a couple of senior midfielders, that simply means a Foden plays more while Kovavic is a multi-time Champions League winner.
The worry for the rest is Haaland is only going to get better while Stones will continue to master the hybrid defender role.
City’s formation sees them play 4 natural centre backs. In Diaz, Laporte, Ake, Stones and now Gvardiol, they might be unrivalled in terms of reliable defenders.
So, the best striker in the division and a collection of world class CB’s, that normally is a recipe to end in poll position.
Man United – 2nd.
Let me stress, outside of the Etihad, all of last season’s top 5 have the potential to either be contenders or have a crazy season.
I have gone for United as runners up as they just seem a bit more settled at the moment.
Erik Ten Hag has a clear identity of how he wants to play, and his squad seem to have brought into his ethos.
He reminds me of a coach, who the longer he has in training, the better his team becomes?
So, after a year settling in, in theory he should only get better.
Will mentally be tougher having tasted silverware.
Have paid over the odds for Hojlund but with few strikers on the market, a gamble they had to take.
1-11 a good team but not a great squad.
Arsenal 3rd
Calm down …. this will be a comfortable 3rd and remember most likely top 5 is enough to qualify for the Champions League
The Gunners will go two ways.
We either fly out of the blocks and our youngsters will be better for the experience of last May or there is a hangover?
While we got to 50 points by Xmas, we did that as underdogs.
Now though there is expectation on us, and we know this group don’t handle pressure well.
I would have felt better had we kept Xhaka as a squad player.
Grame Souness always says a team is only as good as your senior professionals and again that’s where our dressing room is lacking.
If things go wrong, how many leaders do we have?
With the Havertz purchase, the interest in another keeper, freezing out Tierney, too many players in the hybrid role, I fear Arteta might be over complicating things?
Let me stress though, Gooners shouldn’t panic.
That’s why I have predicted we finish as low as we do because I fear how some of my peers react if a title challenge doesn’t materialise.
In reality after 6 years away, another year at UEFA top table is not the end of world and we can continue to build.
A mistake would be for fans to overreact and undermine our progress.
We are building something at the Emirates – but not quite yet.
Liverpool -4th
Liverpool are the warning to us.
This time last year many called the Reds Man City’s closest challengers, but they couldn’t maintain the standards they had set previously.
In an era where the top sides are struggling to recruit top level strikers, it’s worth stressing that Liverpool have an attack that on their day can still destroy anyone.
Defensively though they are not good enough to sustain a title challenge.
Altering Arnold’s position gets the best out of him, but it doesn’t change Liverpool have become easy to make chances against.
Part of our predictions is foreshadowing how people respond to their seasons?
I’m already doubting if Klopp has the drive to do what it takes to compete with Pep, so what happens if he’s out of a title race by Xmas?
He’s already gone passive aggressive, and it wouldn’t shock me if this is his last year at Anfield.
Playing in the Europa League means they can rest their best players in midweek and focus on playing once a week.
Got over the odds for Henderson and Fabinho so why not do likewise in terms of buying Lavia?
Chelsea – 5th
So, to clarify if a club find themselves in 5th that’s suddenly a lucrative position.
From 2024-25, UEFA will use the Swiss Format giving an extra place in the Champions League to leagues with the highest coefficient ranking.
That’s most likely England and Spain.
From a competitive point of view, it takes away the drama that an Arsenal could have a bad season and still get rewarded.
The rule change comes at a convenient time in Chelsea’s history as sneaking into 5th seems their only chance of returning to Europe’s top table.
Given how some of their fans have been brought up, it will take some time for them to accept transitional years and their owners might have to accept that.
Even with the money they have made from their clear-out (thank goodness for Saudia Arabia) the criteria seems to be buying youngsters who need to learn the league.
It would be counterproductive to put pressure on Pochettino if there is zero title challenge at the Bridge, because Chelsea are simply not in the conversation.
With no Europe, they can focus on domestic football, preparing for one fixture a week.
Spurs – 6th
As I write this Harry Kane seems likely to see out his contract.
Daniel Levy obviously feels that 100 million isn’t enough compensation for losing the England captain’s goals.
That makes financial sense if those goals fire Spurs into the CL and he will be aware it should be easier with an extra spot up for grabs.
There is no reason to doubt Kane’s professionalism, so a world will exist where the striker becomes a free agent while giving his best every week.
Yet the concept rarely works.
Come January clubs will call Spur’s bluff and it becomes a drama.
I sense Spurs understand they have to give Postecoglou time and as long as he plays entertaining football they will.
Winning in Scotland doesn’t qualify you for a top job in England.
Spurs are in transition but strangely need to move on from Kane to go through that process.
Newcastle – 7th
Despite being one of the richest clubs in the world and qualifying for the Champions League in their first full season under new owners, the Toon Army might have expected more stardust this summer.
Yet Eddie Howe has always maintained that signings would be made for footballing reasons. Outside of Barnes they have acquisitions who might need time to settle.
I’m shocked Saint Maximin left, and at the moment I would say the squad is still too small to handle Champions League Football without it impacting them domestically.
That might be worth it for Geordies if it means European nights, and this is a fanbase who won’t forget where they have come from.
This is where we learn about the ownership though.
Are they ruthless and make changes at the first sign of struggle or do they choose stability?
Or have they now got what they wanted now that they sportswash every week on UEFA biggest stage?
Aston Villa – 8th
In terms of pure value, have any team done better in the summer market then Villa?
They got Tielemans for free, a bargain as long as they don’t get last season’s version.
Moussa Diaby could be one to watch.
Only reason I’m not ranking them higher is because a small squad have to juggle Europe.
Their fringe players can get them through the early rounds but like West Ham, as the season gets to the latter stages, they will make the UEFA Nations League a priority.
Given Emery ‘s record in Europe, they can win it.
Crystal Palace – 9th
It’s hard for Steve Parish because as long as your being managed by a 75-year-old on a rolling contract then any long-term plans are on pause.
At the same time, by employing Roy Hodgson, you’re ensuring you stay out of any relegation worries.
What was shocking when Roy returned to Selhurst Park was his desire to play attacking football, a style not associated with his managerial career.
No reason why the Eagles can’t take momentum from the end of last season into this one.
Everton – 10 th
It was interesting to witness some Everton fans booed an attempt at a pitch invasion when they stayed up last season, in contrast to the celebrations when Lampard did the same the year previous.
That shows there are Toffees who don’t want to let the owners think their current position is acceptable.
I’m giving them this position purely based on who their manger is.
Give Sean Dyche a preseason and he can make a team organised and hard to beat.
He will get enough clean sheets to keep you away from a relegation fight.
He can’t trust Calvert Lewin to stay fit, meaning he hasn’t got a reliable goal scorer.
Out of his 5 wins as Everton boss, 4 were 1-0 wins.
More of the same, but long term will Goodison accept that style of play?
Brighton – 11th
The Seagulls not being in the top half is actually a compliment simply because I think their small squad will understandably embrace their first ever European campaign.
Plus are we a top 6 club having a crisis away from De Zerbi being poached?
McAllister has left, Caicedo might if the price is right, but you trust the clubs scouting team to adapt and go again.
They might already be about to do that by getting Kudus!
There’s still Mitoma, Enciso, Ferguson, Estupinan who will only get better.
Burnley – 12th
It’s rarely as simple as all three promoted sides get relegated (all three stayed up last season) and there’s no reason why Burnley can’t carry their momentum over from last campaign, getting points on the board early.
Those who don’t watch the Championship might be surprised to hear that the Clarets will bring a brand of football that will be a breath of fresh air to the division, and it might take some of their peers by surprise.
This simply isn’t the Sean Dyche version of Burnley we last saw in the topflight.
They got promoted with 101 points, scoring 87 goals!
Vincent Kompany of course is the latest Pep Guardiola disciple trying to follow his teacher’s ethos.
Kompany likes his team to press, win back the ball quickly and be comfortable playing one-touch passing.
It’s what he experienced at the Etihad, but of course it’s uncertain if his young players can replicate that at the highest level?
The former defender hasn’t been able to turn all loan moves into permanent ones. That includes Telles who’s back at Southampton.
Some time this sport is about luck, being in the right place at the right time.
If the Belgian can keep the club in the division by playing with style, he’s in a good position to be the next Man City boss.
Brentford – 13th
It’s testament to Thomas Frank’s ability that Brentford will be without their best player for half the season, and yet few think that will lead to a relegation scrap.
It also highlights their positive PR that the Bees negotiated Toney’s ban to include preseason without much backlash. The Bees ethos won’t change, they will make chances due to their high press and continue to be creative at set pieces.
As I write this, they could be about to get a lot of money for Raya, so there’s still time they bring in another striker. Yet it would be very like Frank to get the best out of the resources he has and suddenly a Wissa or Muamba step out of Toney’s shadow.
It’s also Toney’s personality to return in 2024 and steer the club away from flirting with relegation.
Because of how well they have done, it’s forgotten this is Brentford’s third year in the topflight and eventually there will be a year where everything catches up with them.
So, if you lose your first-choice striker and GK, don’t underestimate a season of stabilisation.
Lose Tomas Frank and I would worry.
West Ham – 14th
I can understand why David Moyes is favourite with the bookies to be the first manager to be sacked.
I was going to write I’m surprised the Scot didn’t leave after the high of lifting a trophy but why should he walk away from a big pay off?
The 60-year-old has been in the sport long enough to read the room.
He knows majority of Hammers don’t like his style of football ,and that his employers feel they can’t sack the man who earnt only their third ever trophy.
David Sullivan might be simply waiting for one bad run to make the sacking.
You would be thinking that winning silverware in Europe would give the owner a chance to fix his relationships with his fanbase.
Yet the Irons are the only club in the Prem not to spend any money this summer.
That’s despite getting 105 million for Rice.
It’s been their strategy in the past to do business late, but it means they start the season with moral low.
They have also got to balance the Europa League which will be a priority.
Eventually they will have a new man in the dugout who will ensure they avoid any relegation fears.
Bournemouth – 15th
Was it ruthless to sack Gary O’Neil? Yes!
But it doesn’t mean long term it won’t prove to be the right decision.
O’Neil has every right in future job interviews to say he achieved his job specification, keeping the club in the division (may do that at Wolves).
Yet there’s a huge difference being a caretaker till the end of a season to being the permanent boss.
Replacing Parker, O’Neil could make the Cherries conservative as the ends justify the means, that was his best chance of survival.
Long term, it’s not how Bournemouth fans or owners want the club to play.
I admire Bill Foley for having his own plan and identifying clearly a long-term target in Iraola.
Like some of their exciting young recruitments from around Europe, it’s a gamble how the Spaniard settles into English Football.
Clearly his ethos and principles got him the job, but he needs time and patience to implement his ideas.
His employers need to stay strong during the bad moments and keep faith.
The spine of last year’s squad will be better a year on.
Notts Forest – 16th
I’m one of those who don’t give Forest as much credit that I would usually give to a newly promoted club for staying up.
They brought over 20 players seemingly with no long-term plan, leaving an imbalanced squad.
It’s been less chaotic this summer, but it had to be.
Their owner had the audacity on the final day of the season to boast he was one of the few owners to keep faith with his manager.
He considered sacking Steve Cooper a couple of times and resisted due to a fans backlash.
If he senses he’s in danger of missing out on the revenue of being in the Prem, he will consider the options again.
Forest will stay up due to home form.
Fulham – 17h
Did so well last season that in the end we almost took the job Marco Silva did for granted.
In reality this time last year many were calling Fulham one of the favourites for relegation.
It’s too easy to say second season syndrome but you do feel the Cottagers need to freshen things up a bit.
The club are so far denying Willian and Mitrovic big money offers from Saudia Arabia but what does a disgruntled Mitrovic look like?
Gooners know what happens if Willian isn’t settled.
There is talk that Paulinha /or Ward-Prows?) has been identified at West Ham as Rice’s replacement.
So, the majority of their spine has been linked with moves away.
Owners might panic the moment relegation becomes a possibility instead of staying calm.
Luton – 18th
There are underdogs and then there are Luton, not in the Football League 10 years ago.
Their first home fixture has been postponed as they struggle to make their ground suitable for topflight football.
That will be a sign of things to come as visitors will find travelling to Kenilworth Road an experience, you can generally see people’s back gardens from the stands.
On the pitch, it’s a manager and squad who might simply be out of their depth.
Yet it’s a uniqueness that gives them a fighting chance.
They know who they are, fans will stick by them, so in many ways the pressure is off, they have nothing to lose.
Think Wimbledon decades ago.
Like the crazy gang, they will be direct, lots of set pieces and long throws and on their day might bully opponents.
Wolves – 19th
Are there a duller side then Wolves?
They don’t concede many but don’t score many either.
They had a stat last season where a whole year had expired since a striker scored a League goal for them.
That’s almost impossible to do in professional football.
Their one ray of light is that Ruben Neves las left and the talk is they have to watch their finances.
Julen Lopetugui feels misled from what he was promised when he took the job last December.
He’s too good a manager to accept a club who seem to have stood still. That catches up with you.
Sheffield United – 20th
I know it’s easy to predict a promoted side to go straight back down but when you study Sheffield United’s situation closely, you realise what a task Paul Heckingbottom has to keep the club in the division. You sense the Blades know this themselves deep down.
It’s rare that a team starts in the Prem weaker than the one who left the Championship, having lost their top scorer and player with most assists.
Where a Forest chose to throw money at their return to the topflight, they haven’t really had that choice at Brammall Lane.
They are still trying to recover from financial issues based on their last time in the division and wherever they finish will be grateful for the revenue.
I give them a chance as there are benefits from the same group of players carrying over momentum and they can make their home ground a fortress.
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Tell me your top 5 and bottom 3 in the comments….
Dan
Take……………….
Let me give u d comments u Are looking for.
Yes when we write articles we welcome the comments ?
1st – city
2nd -Chelsea
3rd -Arsenal
4th -Liverpool
Lols, alright dawg.
1. Arsenal
2. Man City
3. Man Utd
4. Liverpool
5. Chelsea
18. Wolves
19. Sheffield Utd
20. Luton
City are favourites for the title but we will edge them out out as they will be stretched out defending both the Epl and CL. City have the experience in defending the league but defending both EPl/CL is a whole other thing.
Arsenal have strongly improve our squad depth while keeping the core that enabled us to challenge for the league last time out. City have improved the already strongest 11 in the league but their squad depth has slowly deteriorated the last few seasons. Their defensive depth is massive but their depth in midfield and attack is lacking. Last season they were very lucky with injuries especially compared to us as most injuries they had was on their defence where they already had strong depth. Right now there is no Mahrez, no gundogan to come off the bench if City are having a bad day, only Alvarez.
Also i do believe this arsenal team is more suited for a marathon style league challenge than a high pressure knockout competition challenge.
Now this is based on the squads at this moment, City end up splashing the cash on players like mitoma, de jong then beating them will be near impossible.
I swear this guy isn’t a true Arsenal fan. His predictions is very annoyed and irritated, I mean despite all the quality additions we have made and how close we came last season we’re still doubting us? even putting utd ahead of us? come on! do me a favor. even spurs and Chelsea’s fans are holding their head high
So in other words the only way you can be an Arsenal fans is if I write we finish first ?
That what I expected in a school playground
For 20 years we havnt won title so it’s not crazy to say we get a top three finish
As an Arsenal fan, I believe the heartbreak of losing the title in the latter stages of last season coupled with our acquisition of formidable players and our team gaining another year of premier league experience, the fact we have not lifted the EPL in two decades will drive us to winning the EPL trophy. Worst case scenario we finish as runners up again.
This is not negative enough, so he won’t reason what u mentioned above.
We are building something at the Emirates – but not quite yet.
That’s negative ?
1) Arsenal
2) Liverpool
3) Man City
4) Man United
5) Aston Villa
6) Newcastle
7) Chelsea
8) Brighton
9)Tottenham
10)Brentford
11)West Ham
12)Crystal Palace
13)Fulham
14)Burnley
15)Everton
16)Beaumont
17)Nottingham
18)Wolverhampton
19)Sheffield UTD
20)Luton
I expect Aston Villa to give a scare before dropping out of the top four.
Top 5 or 6 hard to call. I can easily see Dan be pretty close to being correct. I think between us and Man U, at this point it is a toss up for 2nd and 3rd.
For me, the difficulty comes with Chelsea and Spurs. I think Chelsea can push for a top 4 place and Spurs are an unknown without Kane. I would gamble and go:
1. City
2.Man U
3. Gunners
4. Chelsea
5. Liverpool
6. Newcastle
7. Spurs
8. Villa
My honest opinion;
Arsenal
City
Man. United
Liverpool
.
.
.
Wolves
Sheffield
Luton
Dan before I read the article I knew you didn’t predict Arsenal for 1st or 2nd.
1. Arsenal (with the title secured by the end of March)
2-4: will be contested by Liverpool, Man City, Man utd, Chelsea, Newcastle, Spurs and Aston Villa.
You are going to find City finding it hard to win games easily this season.
And it pains to see one of our own predicting an inferior squad and coach compared to ours for the 2nd place.
Just my opinion mate
I also knew when I saw your name you say we finished 1st lol
I had the same last season when I said In title race we would not have the mentality to cope
Just think united have more leaders then us
Didn’t u say we won’t qualify for champions league at d beginning of last season
Please where are the leaders in united squad that are better than what we have in our current squad, I want you to mention them alongside those you think are leaders in our squad too
Well that is the point we dont have many
Really
Who is the leaders at united
Casamero , Verane , Fernandes
United had so much leaders, yet they were bettered by arsenal full of kids without leaders, and with all their leadership and experience they couldn’t halt arm field embarrassment… To me odegaard, zinchenko and Jesus are better leaders thou with less experience
They don’t have so much they have more
How many leaders do we have ?
We have just watched us throw away a title race based on a weak mentality and you still argue it ?
Yes, the same team throw away top 4 but took it to another level, who gave us a chance of coming anything closer to city, you definately did not, you have to put things to perceptives arsenal was up against city with a relatively weaker squad, a thqt can win 14/15 matches on a row towards the end of the season where in Europe do you see that outside city? you can’t leap from 5th to 2nd with a weak bench, and say you have no leaders, we have second youngest squad heading into the season and the youngest team Southampton just finished bottom of the league, inconsistencies are associated with young players and they are maturing and growing together, what cost us was inexperience, thin squad and injuries to key players not leadership
Yes lol
Wasn’t that your theory why I was wrong to say we would mentally blow the title race
It wasn’t mentality that cost us otherwise we wouldnt have ensured we drew with West Ham Southampton and Liverpool when we could eaisly have lost those matches .
It was a small squad that lost 1-2% energy and that’s enough at this level.
Some of those squad issues have been addressed in both depth and quality.
Whether that’s enough considering everyone else has strengthened we will see. Would be nice if the other teams gave Man City a hard match once a while as they always seems to do against us !!
Best of luck Arsenal tomorrow !
“Just think united have more leaders than us”…..what the sod are you capping??? Odegaard,saka,partey,the three gabriels,zinchenko and trossard now we have rice and timber(who at least have proven to be leaders themselves) are junkies to you??? Your moniker been noted, roll in next season.
Cannot believe fans get butt hurt from another fans predictions 😂
I’m not butt hurt at all, I’m only challenging a post that reeks of trolling because it is more than obvious we have a lot to be positive about only rivalled by city whom we’ve shown last Sunday that we could go toe to toe with than a man united side who finished below us last season by far margin and all of a sudden all we have built will be outclassed by them?? No surprise he made such utterance as he has seen deemed what is going on at our club as utter BS and will never acknowledge it.
So your butt hurt then 😂
hilarious Dawg .
There are only two leaders in your list. Cap Ode and Rice.
I am not talking of skippers(arm band bearers) I am talking of players who could rise up to occasions and win you games regardless the circumstances and those guys fall into that category.
That is not the meaning of leading.
Go ahead and explain then?
Except you mean players that ensures team mates positioning,executing tactical instructions on the pitch and can go on to be a top manager……add jorginho and zinchenko to your list.
Saka not a leader , went missing in the run in
Partey ….deffo not a leader , was dropped for how bad he was
Gabriel not a leader , bullied by man city
Trossard not sure where he was a leader ?
Timber top early to say that
All good players but not leaders
To have over come a top four miss heart break to challenging for the tittle goes to show their mental strength and leadership skill which was only bettered by the experienced city team ONLY not city and united. Even if crumbling in the running is a criteria to consider them non leaders then the so called teams with more leaders could have finished above us as well rather than scrapping for top four with toon and pool despite at one point being in the tittle race themselves until we knocked them out ourselves and I haven’t even mention their 7nil obliteration in the hands of Liverpool and lots other embarrassing defeats for a club of their stature.
No how we lost the title shows we lack mental strength
That’s the point of my prediction
You have fans who think for example it’s nonsense to say we will finish third , that’s the expectation on them
In my opinion they will struggle with that
Whereas there’s less pressure on united
Ten Hag has that Ferguson effect on Man UTD
Remember how Ferguson would beat us with teenagers,
Win the league with what people term inferior squad
HELLO they just beat us in preseason while playing rugby football. His team knows how to win without playing well at all
I think Man City, Arsenal, Man UTD will all push for it
I don’t know the eventual order
I can see 1st being either Arsenal or Man City – I don’t think Man UTD can win it yet
But I can also see us going 3rd behind Man Utd
Exactly my point
I wrote we are capable and are on the right track but it’s arrrogant for anyone to say Man United can’t finish above us
Then it can’t be arrogant to say we can finish above the team ahead of us city going by your logic.
United will be up there, but I see them struggling for goals as I can’t see many goal scorers in their team, I can’t see Rashford replicating his last season form either, but then again something can happen just like us when odegaard and martineli unexpectedly scored many goals, I think united will be up there by they need another summer to mount a real assault on the title
Arsenal
Man United
Man City
Liverpool
Chelsea
Newcastle
Tottenham
Brighton
Aston Villa
Brentford
Burnley
West Ham
Fulham
Everton
Beaumont
Crystal Palace
Nottingham
Sheffield UTD
Wolverhampton
Luton
This is the start of the end of city’s dominance, they once had only Liverpool to contend with now everyone is coming and stabilizing, brace up for a united & arsenal Battle, we can have many potential league winners but at the end only 2 teams will fight for it, how people expect a squad as Young as ours who should be improving year after year to suddenly fade is mind blowing, we have added 7 players to our first team squad since January to have a Depth that can go all the way, the article talked about xhaka been retained for his experience forgetting the fact we replaced him with a more athletic winner in havertz and we brought winners in Rice and Timber that’s 3 people who started in the shield against city and gave a solid performance, when last can we throw as many new players in their first game against a team as good as city? You want to lower expectations so to avoid disappointments and pressure, if we are looking to reestablish ourselves as a dominant force in world football we shouldn’t be afraid of the pressure we should embrace it, all big clubs around the world have pressure to win year in year out, last time we missed top 4, and failed to cross the line in the closing stage, what we did was take it up to another level, last year we failed to win the league, so I expect us to take it to another level, what happened to running away with it?
Let’s calm down and enjoy the ride, everyone will not be good regardless of how many players they sign, there will definitely be some struggling giants as it usually is every season
Athletic winner Havertz? What has he won?
Champions league, a competition xhaka barley played in
May I ask what was his contribution for their run to win the CL?
Scored the only goal to beat city in the final
And that make him an athletic winnner? Well I hope other Arsenal players will give their sweat and blood to reach the final for the athletic winner to score.
I wonder after that final where did his winning athleticism disappear to?
It’s no easy feet bro, he is part of the sweat as he played the whole game, at the end he won it for them while playing the whole game, I don’t know your problem with him to be honest, he just replaced a player who gave us just 2 good seasons after all his years here, at least until he flops let’s give him a chance, he has been ever present for both clubs and country so he can’t be that bad. He can run with the ball, turn and can use his height qualities we can’t say of xhaka
My top 6 prediction:
1. Arsenal
2. City
3. Chelsea
4. Man U
5. Newcastle
6. Liverpool
Honestly, I just feel my top 3 can be in any order. Chelsea might be the surprise package this season.
The arrogance and delusion is UNBELIEVABLE.
Newcastle:
The joint best defence in the league.
FOUR players who scored 10 league goals last season.
Three very good signings made.
Liverpool have no DM
A whole new midfield to gel
VVD coming off his worst ever season
Robertson STRUGGLING.
Trent leaving the RHS open all game
Where does the confidence in Liverpool come from?
We have every reason to be optimistic this new season, we can finish as #1 on the log.
1. Arsenal
2. Man United
3. Man City
4. Liverpool
5. Aston Villa
6. Newcastle
7. Chelsea
8. Tottenham
9. Brighton
10. Brentford
11. Everton
12. Crystal Palace
13. Burnley
14. West Ham
15. Fulham
16. Bournemont
17. Nottingham
18. Wolverhampton
19. Sheffield Utd
20. Luton
One of the issues that take me aback is for some people to just give opinions without any justifiable ground. Why does the writer of this article think Man U will beat Arsenal to 2nd place? Saying that you feel can’t be a sensible explanation. I expect someone to jusify their view point based on known variables. For example somebody should give issues like squad depth, new players, morale of players, antecedents etc to justify why they make certain statements. I can understand the angry reactions of some commentators on here. It is incomprehensible that a self confessed Arsenal fan should talk negatively about the team without giving sound reasons. If one bases his assertions on feelings then another person would be jusified to impute wrong motives. Why should you feel negative instead of positive? It is a truism that one’s expressions are a reflection of his inner feelings unless he justifies such expressions. It is very rare that a positive mind will express negative sentiments without justifiable grounds.
A most mature and wise post DAVID.
MANY OF WE LONG TIME REGULARS KNOW Dan has consistent form for negativity and his natural inclination is always to dowNplay our strong points and stress our weaker points
Dan has never agreed that MA is a top manager and I HAVE LONG TOTALLY DISAGREED WITH HIS VIEW.
So that is IMO, an impoirtant positive factor in our favour that Dan cannot see or allow for, as he just does not believe its true. But I DO.
A more sensibly based and well thought through view without bias either way, would IMO, put us as firm favourites to be at least the closest team to City at the top of the table.
I certainly give us a REALISTIC shot at landing the title, even though I think it more likely we will just not quite beat City to land the title. But we MIGHT!
Jon you clearly didn’t read what I wrote and only read the position
I said we are on right track and shouldn’t panic if we finish third as we are building something
I said we could equally fly out of traps but simply feel we lack the leaders to cope with the pressure
How is that negative ?
Hi DAN good to again debate with you and I much respect your knowledge and enthusiasm to write, even though we mainly disagree on the posive or negative question.
I do not think THIS article was actually negative and you make a fair point in your reply to me. But we are all judged , me as much as anyone, on our regular long term regular views and what I said about your regular negative outlook was IMO, and in many others opinion too, fair comment.
I honestly believe what I wrote above, as I always do about whatever I write. I have many faults but not saying what I truly believe, is not one of them. We must agree to differ therefore DAN.
With respect Jon as I don’t want to be rude there are fans who are too deep
Why can’t their ever be middle ground ?
For example, you feel that I don’t think Arteta is a top manager just because I don’t say we are going to win the CL or don’t agree with this idea that he’s close to what Mr Wenger did
In reality , I have written that if we don’t win title fans shouldn’t panic because we are on right track
This idea that I wake up and say Arsenal will finish third just for a reaction ?
Maybe , I truly feel and am worried that while we have great youngsters, do we have the mentality to get over the line ?
Why isn’t that a fair question ?
Why should I be bullied into saying Arsenal will win title if I truly in my core don’t think that
Man city have a better manager , better defence and better striker !
Am I truly less of a fan just because I don’t write we will CL ?
Dan, individually, all your points in this reply make sense. But in the totality of your many articles, across much time, I have to stick by my contention that you have given scant respect to MA’s (to my mind) great qualities.
I feel you are somewhat trying to row back on that long standing picture which you have so often painted and are slowly beginning to see what a great and special manager we have.
But you only hint at him being far better than you have so long thought and so often stated.
Why not admit, IF- as I dont know for sure- you have changed your mind? And, if you have not, then stand by your view.
That would at least be either honest and consistent or be respected, if you have now changed your view . Either way you get respect.
We all appreciate honesty in thought and words and I have MANY TIMES, across the years, changed my former opinions and have said so, upfront and honestly.
XHAKA was a prime example.of that. I was also far too hard on Wenger and said so, often far too harshly. I regret having done so now. Even though I still think he should have left well before he did.
But I see , with the passing of time amnd ,more true perspective, far more clearly now than I did back then, the true greatness of what he achieved for our club, which far exceeded mere league position andhe gained countless millions who admired us (globally) for our style and class. I always underestimated that, or at least was mealy mouthed while he was still manager. I speak from around 2011 onwards when I BEGAN POSTING THAT I have wanted him out since around 2008( soon after he ;lost Dein, his massive support and stay, who achieved SO MUCH in tandem with AW. I NOW think he should at latest after our FA CUP win in 2014, as do many others, I believe.
We all make mistakes and I try to be self honest about my own. Equally, I stick to my view when I think I was right all along. Either way, that is being self HONEST, a vital trait to have, IMO.
By contrast, Ozil was a prime example where I stayed consistently true to my all along view of him as a loafer and mercenary, albeit with sublime talent, which I never denied he possessed.
But I often slaughtered him for laziness and not making that sublime talent count.
I only wish far more people would closely observe our shared human condition and recognise and honestly state, in public, that hypocrisy, far from being the “crime” so many think it to be and accuse others of being, is a perfectly normal , natural, part of humanitys condition at large.
I have always freely admitted my own hypocrisy, when it is there – as it often is- and will never shrink from admitting being a normal human.
Just glad to be among so many countless others who are similar,if only more would care to recognise it, both in themselves, as well as in others.
Sorry to have been wordy, as usual DAN; ITS JUST MY OWN PERSONAL CROSS TO BEAR IN LIFE!!
Jon I said many times he did a great job last season
He didn’t in his two seasons before that and that’s okay to say that
I just think fans overreact when they compare him to Wenger when it’s factually not true
We have fans who think to be a supporter you have to say everything is great
I’m sure you agree , if everyone writes positivity for the sake of it , they lack credibility
How easy would It be for me to write Arsenal are going to win everything and Eddie is better then Halland lol
I rather be honest and say , we have great youngsters but mentally can they handle the exspectation
This summer alone I read , ‘ can Arteta surpass what Wenger achieved ‘
Yesterday it’s can we win CL
I think because I argue with that it gets mixed up that I don’t like him
Can we win title ? Of course
Mentally though I have doubts
Hope that is fair
Dan, we all have doubts, however confident we seem to be. But even though I cannot quibble with the specifics of how you wrote this reply, it is your TOTALITY of constant doubts, with practically no positivity seriously mentioned and certainly not stressed, across a wide time scale, that forms my opoinion of how you are.
If only you would, once in a while, try to be more nuanced; more balanced and able to see and write about the many positives too(which so many others see clearly) and not always seek out the negatives and then explain why you need to say them. Just as you have once again done in this post.
You ask “is that fair”.. What I think is always fair, is balance and seeing both sides, or sometimes all sides and NOT always stressing just the negative side.
It seems to me Dan that you deliberately set out to combat the admittedly vast OVER positivity and sometimes way over foolish optimism, of others, MAINLY VERY YOUNG FANS, on JA.
I too, dont appreciate the many hype merchants on JA and those who seriously seem to think we will never lose a game, ever. Some of these hype merchants choose to big up merely decent or good players as being world class when that is plainly nonsensical That is , I agree, lacking in thought, in reality,in intelligence and is tedious and unthinking. But so too, is the opposite. I rest my case.
No
I can name you lots of positive articles
I think ( not from you ) some don’t like that I’m right
In the title race I said we wouldn’t have the mentality to cope
I was called names , bullied etc ….yet was right
Again theres lots that I’m positive about regarding this Arsenal team
I simply don’t think we will title
To me that’s not negative
Wait I just re read your comment,
You give me a hard time for saying we want win title and then say at end ….by the way
” even though I think it more likely we will just not quite beat City to land the title. But we MIGHT!’
Stupendous as usual Jon lol
Literally the moment I have decided to stop engaging with you
I often questioned a few things when it came to your comments and formed a picture but this confirms it lol
@David Rusa. Now that is sense
I can see you are only replying for the sake of saying the last word cos what you just said to back your claim that UTD got leaders than we do is not even clear and you’re really struggling to defend it, now go ahead and have your last word prize as i sieze going back and forth over texts with you on this issue.
Reply to Dan
Sure .. in my opinion they have more leaders then us
It’s my opinion
While it’s just a prediction, I’m worried that Arsenal might finish lower. Not because of ability. It’s because of the precedent set by teams at the end of last season and in the just concluded Community Shield. It’s the constant fouling by opponents and the ridiculously low threshold for Arsenal players to get cards. I’m really afraid that opponents will stop Arteta’s Arsenal the way they stopped Arsene’s Arsenal. Hardcore career ending tackles and the group of media behind it. How much can a human body take?
The article isn’t negative per say, but not positive either.
And believe it or not, I’m afraid too of the Manchester United as their record against us is very good. They just win most games against us playing absolute shit at times.
Not too bothered about Chelsea per say, as they lack cohesion still but they have a strong squad now.
And Liverpool have reached agreement with Brighton for Caicedo, so the no DM argument doesn’t hold well now. They might surprise us as well.
I think Arsenal have a great chance to lift the title this season. I wouldn’t be saying that if Arsenal didn’t chase the title last season and came 2nd, which nobody saw coming tbh. If Arsenal had just finished at the 4th last season, I would’t have said Arsenal have the title chase this season. But it was a surprise to see how well we could play. And with that in mind, I can see us chasing the title again and have a fair shot at it. But Chelsea, ManU, and Liverpool are not to understimated this season. They were at shambles last season but they will not be so this season.
The league is just about competition by all the teams. All Arsenal can ask is “bring it on.” Arsenal is now in a stronger position than last year to fight for the title. Therefore Arsenal should be prepared to crush all in its wake if it is to win the league. The team has strengthened from back to forward. There is competition for every position which allows for rotation and thus the players will not get burn out as was the case last year. The one benefit we derived from defeating Man city in the Community Shield is confidence that we are capable of beating anyone. Our players now have belief in themselves which is a very positive attribute and augurs well for our ambitions this season. Going by our squad depth and morale I expect us to perform well this season. This is what I would expect from any serious observer but not unsubstantiated statements from the likes of Dan and others. I am a great opponent of vodoo predictions. I challenge the writer to show us how he arrived at his conclusions if he hopes to convince me.
Correction: Voodoo
1. Arsenal
2. City
3. Man u
4. Liverpool
5. Newcastle
6. Chelsea
Some fans on this forum see a half empty glass rather than a half full glass. Inasmuch as it is necessary to balance optism with reality, we should focus on our team abilities and believe in our team to achieve greatness. All these pessimism won’t do the coach,players and fans any good.
1) Arsenal
2) Man City
3) Liverpool
4) Man United
5) Aston Villa
6) Newcastle
7) Chelsea
8) Brighton
9)Tottenham
10)Brentford
11)West Ham
12)Crystal Palace
13)Fulham
14)Burnley
15)Everton
16)Beaumont
17)Nottingham
18)Wolverhampton
19)Sheffield UTD
20)Luton