Thoughts on the fixture list
By Mick Appleton
Arsenal need to be slightly more prepared than August, 2011
Well, the fixtures have been announced, and once again we've been given an extremely tough start. Three difficult away games in the first six fixtures - at Stoke, Liverpool and Man City - and a home game against a newly-resurgent Chelsea, so, as with last season, our title-challenge could be over by the end of September. I don't want to be negative, but this start will not allow time for any new players to bed in, and confidence could be destroyed as it was last season, making it difficult to recover.
M’Vila – Might be handy at the Britannia if signed
We can only hope that we start the season with RvP still an Arsenal player, Wilshere and Arteta both fit, and M'Vila & Giroud (and others please) added to the squad. If you assume we will beat Sunderland and Southampton at home, how many more points can we expect from the other four fixtures?
Stoke will be the usual mixture of brutality and aerial bombardment and will, as always, be a difficult place for any Wengeresque team to succeed. The introduction of a defensive midfielder (M'Vila?) and a solid performance could bring a result, but I have my doubts. I think we'll get a point. Liverpool away is always a very tough fixture, and we were very fortunate to win there last season when we could, and probably should, have been three or four goals down at half-time, so a point would be a good result as I expect them to improve this season.
Man City will still be on a high from last season, and I fully expect them to strengthen, so this is a very daunting fixture. We performed very well there last season and were unfortunate not to come away with a point. I'm not sure we can expect very much at the Etihad as they were the most successful home team in the Premier League last season. No points is my prediction.
Chelsea were the poorest they've been in the league since the Mourinho era started, and I cannot see them being so profligate again this season. I expect a string of new players to strengthen their squad before the season starts. The only good news is that our nemesis, Drogba, has gone but a point may be the best we can expect. So, if you were being optimistic, we would have nine points after six games which will almost certainly be five or six fewer than the two Manchester teams, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Chelsea and Liverpool in similar positions.
So I suspect we will be playing catch-up again, and we can only hope that new players and the influence of Steve Bould can make us a more resilient and cohesive team this term. We will definitely need a big improvement if this season is not to be over before it has really started.
19th June 2012
User Comment and Reaction
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Gary 7:37am 19th Jun 2012
Sadly i believe it will be a repeat of the start of last season.And we will be playing for 4th again after 6 games.And no RVP goals of course. - Post No. 25879
Melvyn 8:15am 19th Jun 2012
I think you are too downbeat.I really believe you are looking at the worst case.Even if one of your predictions are wrong we might only be 2/3 points off the leading pack.We were poor early last season....but in my opinion stronger now in most departments,with more to come hopefully and more to go.The league is not won before Xmas or even later..ask Spurs fans - Post No. 25881
patlow 71 8:21am 19th Jun 2012
You say in paragraph that you don't want to be negative, then go on to be completely negative throughout the article. Yes it is a tough start, but it is the premiership not a tiddlywinks competition. Let's see what happens in the transfer market before we make any real judgement. However, if we do sign a few quality additions, and get Wilshere and Arteta back we are looking in good shape. I expect, like you say, to get mx points from Sunderland and Southampton. Liverpool were much weaker than us last year and need rebuilding to some extent so no reason we can't be optimistic to get something from game. We need to be up for it against Stoke will be difficult game but good opportunity to make a statement. Chelsea at home I think we can win, maybe a draw, the only one I would bet on us losing is at City. I can really see us getting at least nine and possibly 11 points out of those games, which wouldn't be that bad at that point of the season with some huge games out of the way. - Post No. 25882
paulos 8:54am 19th Jun 2012
Great! You have cheered me right up with that article! nothink like looking on the brightside eh??? - Post No. 25883
Mike 9:01am 19th Jun 2012
Against Stoke, you don't want to bringing in new players from the French League - You need to keep the same team that ended last year that will be prepared for the battering. That is not to say we mustn't make the new signings, but rather they be introduced probably as subs - Post No. 25884
RJ 9:08am 19th Jun 2012
From the four "extremely tough" fixtures (and yes, they are tough) we took five points in our seasonus horribilis - with Sunderland at home as the other "first 5" game, I expect us to be well into double figures points wise by the end of September - and that will have us close to the top of the table. This squad, even without RVP can compete - and with RVP we will do well. If everyone gets begind us - Post No. 25885
Ronster 9:13am 19th Jun 2012
Is that Tevez in disguise!?............ - Post No. 25886
Unbeaten 03/04 9:24am 19th Jun 2012
Hahaha! People hate reality lol!! - Post No. 25887
timao 10:09am 19th Jun 2012
We really need Steve Bould to step up and organise the defence because, forget about the likes of Chelsea and Man City being tough games. We are already in a world where Sunderland, Wigan, Swansea are tough games. we gave away too many soft goals last season by being sloppy in possession and then just simply failing to defend. podolski, giroud, van persie, it doesn't matter who plays if we can't stop even the below average opposition from scoring. - Post No. 25888
Nick 10:40am 19th Jun 2012
Reality check we are talking about a club who has under-achieved for 7 season and still has the same manager no tactics and no bottle.Nothing is going to change. - Post No. 25889
Andy M 11:04am 19th Jun 2012
Be good to have Frimpong back for Stoke. He likes a scrap. - Post No. 25890
Gare Kekeke 11:10am 19th Jun 2012
I looked at the early fixtures myself and immediately noticed the first four away games are tough to say the least. Having said that, every game is tough. Remember Wigan at home last season? Home banker? Easy three points? Many here on this site (myself included) were wary of the threat Wigan would pose after their shock win against then champions Man Utd and sadly we were proved right. With the makeup and mentality of this Arsenal team, you just don’t know what to expect. Wenger won’t admit it, but it’s obvious he hates Stoke away so he’ll be glad to get that game out of the way so early. True, we have done well at Liverpool in recent seasons but Brendan Rodgers already knows how to beat Wenger with inferior players and will Wenger learn from the mistakes against Rodgers last season? We shall see. I agree that Man City would still be on a high from their title triumph but yes we didn’t disgrace ourselves at the Etihad last year..................or the season before as a matter of fact so that should be an inspiration to go there with confidence. Ditto Chelsea away. Having said that, our win at the Bridge last season was aided by their defence being even worse than ours that day and that some Chelsea players didn’t take too kindly to AVB. With the popular Di Matteo at the helm on a permanent basis, the likes of Terry & Lampard could begin to flourish again. But that sums up how unprofessional some of those Chelsea players are. Overall a combination of good experienced new arrivals, the return of Wilshire, an improvement of coaching especially on our dreadful defending which some Arsenal fans really don’t notice and a desire to compete for trophies and not think 3rd/4th is a trophy is what’s required for The Arsenal to truly shine again. If Wenger thinks (and I partly suspect he will) that it’s just mere tweaking here and there and not the radical overhaul that is badly required then 2012/13 would be 2006-12 reloaded. And what would be his excuse then? Up The Arsenal! - Post No. 25891
George Knew 11:18am 19th Jun 2012
Andy M If we sign M'Villa Frimpong's days are numbered.Maybe Wolves will take him - Post No. 25892
AugustusCaesar 12:04pm 19th Jun 2012
It's a bit pointless trying to second guess results really. We could end up drawing at home to Sunderland and beating Stoke. Not sure how important a defensive midfielder is against Stoke really. They tend to bypass midfield. We need to start teaching our full backs to block crosses to cut off the supply line to Crouch/Jones/Walters etc. Sometimes they appear as though they don't like being hit by the ball. - Post No. 25893
Jack The Gooner 12:26pm 19th Jun 2012
My god, we have not even started the new season and the same old warmongers are out already with their "im not being negative BUT I am only going to be negative attitude". These so called "fans" are sickening! We dont have to be happy about everything in the past, but considering we havnt even finished doing our transfwer business yet, its a bit early even by the haters to start moaning isnt it? Get out of our club!!! Go down the lane please, if you want to be miserable then their current plight should be right up your street!! - Post No. 25894
maguiresbridge gooner 12:39pm 19th Jun 2012
Yes the first three or four fixtures could have been kinder but i suppose they even themselves out in the end but we have to hit the ground running regardless and there can be no repeat of the inept displays of last season.Yes the other top teams will strengthen as far as we're concerned there's been no movement on the dead wood yet but if we sign the players we are reportedly going to and keep RVP theres no reason why we can't compete but it depends on the signings and where they are played.I think we all hope Bould can have an influence on the defence it can not be allowed to carry on from where it left off last season or we will be playing catch up after the first five or six games. - Post No. 25895
Colonel Mustard 12:49pm 19th Jun 2012
"If you assume we will beat Sunderland and Southampton at home" i had a good chuckle at that line... - Post No. 25896
Mick Appleton 14:24pm 19th Jun 2012
I see it didn't take long for someone to tell me that if I question the clubs chances I should end my 50 year association with the club & go down the lane. It appears I should be blindly thinking we are going to win the quadruple next season & that Bendtner, Ashavin, Diaby et al will all turn out to be world beaters or I'm not allowed to support the club. You my friend should support Chelsea, who's fans during that 50 years thought they would win every trophy every season but did nothing until they received a massive influx of money & players. To accept things without question is the action of a sheep not a human being. - Post No. 25898
Rickard Santesson 14:29pm 19th Jun 2012
Boring, the season has not even begun.Can't be all that negative. Didn't even mention Podolski. - Post No. 25899
CT Gooner 14:36pm 19th Jun 2012
Negative? yes Realistic? probably. For me though, the 12/13 season is not about points, or challenging for the league (both would be great), but a change in culture to the Arsenal of old. Honest straight forward football. If I see us get back to basics, move the ball quickly and intelligently, pick players based on form, and actually have a tactical plan, I'll be happy with that. Really surprised we haven't had an article on lack of transfer activity yet, and why do people think RvP will be convinced to stay by us signing more forwards, don't recall goal scoring being the problem last year!! - Post No. 25900
Jack The Gooner 16:56pm 19th Jun 2012
@ Mick Appleton - What are you on about mate? If any fans think we are going to win the quadruple then they are an idiot! The point is that we have a squad that can at least challenge! And I think we should wait for the 2012/13 squad to be assembled before so called "fans" like you decide to write them off! I’m not naive enough to be happy with the last 7 years! I love how "fans" like you have to quote how long you have "supported" the club, to hide your own insecurities about your support! Are you a complete ignoramus then? The players you mentioned (diaby, bendtner ,arshavin) are likely to be off this summer, so please get your facts straight before your tiring and repetitive broadside! And that dig about chelski doesn’t even make any sense?? their gaumless lot didn’t expect trophies until the money came and despite my hatred for them, at least they have won things including the biggest one of all which has evaded us! So way benign point are you trying to make? Just hope you don’t renew at the grove, wud hate to be near a negative fool like you! At least wait for the squad to come together, and see the first games before you write us off!!! - Post No. 25901
maguiresbridge gooner 17:20pm 19th Jun 2012
Mick is that picture really M'Vila or a young Chris Kamara. - Post No. 25902
AugustusCaesar 17:39pm 19th Jun 2012
'Lack of transfer activity'. We've signed Podolski and by all accounts Giroud is in the bag. This by mid-June in a tournament season and, of course, allied to the fact transfers can be drawn out processes. There's just no pleasing some people! - Post No. 25903
exiled&dangerous 18:37pm 19th Jun 2012
We all seem to be forgetting that everybody else also has to play each other twice, too...... - Post No. 25904
GoonerRon 23:11pm 19th Jun 2012
There's nothing like a nice positive article to get you going before the start of the season. I'd prefer to play Stoke early, their game is built on physicality and they are unlikely to be in full flow so early in the season. As for the other games, yes they are difficult, but I honestly believe with a settled pre-season under out belts we've got every chance to win all of them. As is usually the case, the reality is probably somewhere in the middle of most predictions, i.e. the home games won't be as easy as people make out and the away games will be very close. - Post No. 25906
Jack 23:38pm 19th Jun 2012
RVP will be gone by the first game - Post No. 25909
Peter Wain 18:46pm 20th Jun 2012
I dont agree Stoke were rubbish last season and I dont see why we cannot beat them. Chelski will still be tired from John Terry collecting the european trophy for whoever wins it. Plus why should Liverpool be better than last year.Man City have to lose at home and I think they will have a reaction to winning the title. - Post No. 25910
Themanonthetube 21:35pm 20th Jun 2012
I really fear for this season, as much as Podolski may have 100 caps, he isn't up there with RVP, the Bundesliga is massively different to the Premier League remember? If RVP does go, get ready to be satisfied with 4th again, the ONLY way we could cushion that blow is by winning a trophy, and no I don't regard the Carling Cup as being satisfactory enough. - Post No. 25911
Simon The Worthing Gooner 23:38pm 20th Jun 2012
Mate,could you be anymore miserable and negative about the upcoming season.Don't start looking on the bad side before a ball has even been kicked !! - Post No. 25913
Ron 10:22am 21st Jun 2012
Maybe no need to be quite so negative, but Arsenal arent winning any Prem title, be it next Season or for a while anyway. You re best to forget the very notion of it. - Post No. 25914
Alsace Lorraine De Totteridge 11:29am 21st Jun 2012
I think that a lot is made of the need to change. A football team can be like a pair of comfortable shoes. Yes they have holes in them and let the water in and one day they may fail, but why change when they feel nice. I well remember that our manager told Tony Adams upon his being appointed to the manager's job at Portsmouth. "Welcome to Hell", he said. We should have sympathy for those who, like those shoes, are set in their ways, are old and worn out and are living on past glories. We should grant them a £7 million salary for instance and no actual performance targets, and a nice comfortable chair to grumble from. - Post No. 25915
Chris 12:26pm 21st Jun 2012
Although i agree with the shambolic efforts of last summer, i would however say that you are being too negative. It does look as though there will not be a repeat of last summer. Signings of Giroud and M'Vila plus Podolski already will make us stronger. Hard start but no need for doom and gloom just yet. - Post No. 25916
El Bodgeo 12:56pm 21st Jun 2012
Are we really scared of Stoke away? Jeez! Man up. - Post No. 25917
johnnyh 16:37pm 21st Jun 2012
i dont understand how any arsenal fan can have any hope for next season.the fundemental problem with wenger is that he is TACTICALLY HOPELESS. he has been outcoached by everyone from brendan rodgers to alex ferguson .absolutely NOTHING will change next season and every season that he remains will be the exact same as the previous one,so expect plenty of kicking water bottles and complaining about referees and their assistants. - Post No. 25919
Bard 17:54pm 21st Jun 2012
The history of the last few seasons suggests that optimism is misplaced. Our forays into the transfer market so far ( Podolski + Giroud ? )Suggest Wenger is attempting to solve the teams problems Holland style. Play as many forwards as possible and try to outscore the opposition. I would be far more optimistic if he would buy a world class DM and a left back. It would make our trips to antifootball territory a lot less nervewracking. If Chelsea and England's approach is anything to go by ' parking the bus' is the new way forward.depressing - Post No. 25921
Wombledin 2:12am 22nd Jun 2012
Bit early to be predicting the results of our first matches ya numpty. - Post No. 25922
Mike 8:55am 22nd Jun 2012
Padolski, 100 international caps but still not good enough....listen to you lot ffs - Post No. 25923
Hamza Ali Baksh 10:52am 22nd Jun 2012
Has anyone seen M'Vila playing regularly? I looked through the wkipedia article for the 2011-12 Ligue1 season, and he never won any player-of-the-month awards, nor was he in the team of the year. Does he really live up to the hype that's been built? - Post No. 25924
DW Thomas 0:22am 23rd Jun 2012
Let's wait and see what happens this early season and who is in, but with 7 years of nothing, it's never too early to start complaining about this team or Wenger. I still have hope but we must start well despite the tough early fixtures. Only then can we say we might have learned lessons that are staring us in the face. M'Vila must come in, RVP must stay, Wilshire and Diaby must be fully fit, the dross must be out, and the defense has to be finally solid. Can't wait to see Kos start tomorrow's France game and hopefully have a good match. - Post No. 25926
Canterbury Gooner 22:31pm 23rd Jun 2012
Haven't watched M'vila much but saw him tonight against Spain: Malouda was at fault but he didn't track back either and was not in a good position (to put it mildly) for the first goal. His passing looks good though, he'd probably be good for turning defense into attack and starting new attacking spells- BUT I do think we have a massive number of central midfielders now and need to offload a few and use the funds to spread the depth- our reserve back line is Jenkinson, Djourou, Mertesacker, Santos. Can't see the trophies pouring in with those liabilities sadly. - Post No. 25927
Gooner S 10:58am 24th Jun 2012
Has somebody put the Samaritans on alert for this poor chap! Somebody please make sure he is not within reach of sharp objects and also remove belts and laces. The Gooner should be renamed The Gloomer. - Post No. 25928
Andrew Cohen 11:57am 24th Jun 2012
When we bought Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit, and they used to play in the middle of midfield, there was a feeling of invincibility and power about our play. If you accept the view that Vermalen and Koscielny are not classically able central defenders, might it not be an idea to buy some naturally gifted central defenders and move Vermalen and Koscielny into midfield. We might then have actual control of midfield, which would give cover for the defence and a springboard for the attack. The reason I suggest this is because both of these players are hard working defensively but have considerable attacking potential as well. It's also the case that OGL is never going to spend his time going out to buy two destructive midfielders, which is what we desperately need. - Post No. 25929
Red Member 10:56am 25th Jun 2012
why are people even considering the possibility of challenging for the title?? - Post No. 25936
sparksy 16:13pm 25th Jun 2012
Are you suffering from depression or are you just not a very happy person? I'm not a Wenger fan and have been pissed off over the past few seasons like most of us. However, this article is a waste of time. Its all ifs and more ifs. We'll if we get results at those 3 away games and pick up points from the home ones then we may well be in a decent position so how about that. - Post No. 25941
11th June 2013
Arsenal can become Bayern Munich
Online Ed: Just give us a couple of years, says Ivan Gazidis at annual q&a
No. 17
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