Arsenal Times - Arsenal Qualify for Europe in Relegation Form

Arsenal Qualify for Europe in Relegation Form

Cop it?

By Boris Mellor April 18 2008
What a paradox, Arsenal are now guaranteed a top four place, a place that, at the beginning of the season, many pundits gave to arch-rivals Spurs, now languishing some 30 points below the Gunners. So almost a month before the end of the season Arsenal have qualified to play in the CL qualifiers. Something they had to fight for right up to the end of the season during the last few years.

Wenger has now switched his target to winning second place, sadly I don't think that is possible, Chelsea still have a slight chance of winning the league, and that will mean they will have more impetus than the Gunners. Arsene's players will know there is little to play for; as do Liverpool's. It can only be hoped that the lack of pressure will release some blocked minds. Thus the battle for third place is on, it is still worth fighting for, and finishing third is a far better platform, than fourth, for contesting the league next year.
So will Arsenal Cop it?
Arsenal can ill afford to get sniffy about Reading, they will not be a walkover if the form book comes into play. In terms of form (i.e. the last 6 matches table) the Biscuit men are two places higher than Arsenal!!! Their defence is just as bad, and they scored two less goals. However they have won one more game than the Arsenal, who have only won one game out of the last six. However Reading have lost three compared to Arsenal's two. So whilst in the midst of relegation form the Gunners have achieved what the pundits said they would not - a top four place.
Reading have more to gain
Arsenal have little to gain, and nothing to lose whatever the result, whereas Reading are still in the relegation zone and only a win can lift them clear. Meanwhile if they lose it would not be a disgrace, in that sense it is a win win situation for them. Thus Coppell is making bloodcurdling threats about dropping all his players, no doubt not very subtle mind games.
It is a game Arsenal should win, but winning is something that Arsene's players have got out of the habit of doing. Having defended the Grove against Milan, Manchester Utd and Chelsea it would be ridiculous to surrender the home record to the Royals.
Sagna is still injured, as is Flamini; however Denilson is now fit, hopefully Wenger will start Walcott and try to give the attack some cutting edge.
Can Arsenal get out of the drawing rut? Well it has to end sometime, and the formbook does not tell the whole story. In the last few weeks Arsenal have played some brilliant football without reward. If Sagna and Flamini had been available maybe the results would have been different.

Bookmark or share this story with: