Posted on Tuesday, 22nd January 2013 by The Goon
Former Sky Sports pundit Andy Gray believes Arsenal can no longer be considered a ‘top four’ side after losing their quality players.
The Gunners find themselves in fifth place in the Premier League, seven points behind fourth placed Tottenham, following their 2-1 loss to Chelsea over the weekend.
After the defeat at Stamford Bridge, Arsene Wenger admitted his side face a tough task of securing a Champions League place for next season.
And Gray claims Arsenal will have overachieved if they do manage to finish above the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham.
The ex-Scotland striker recently told talkSPORT:
‘In the 22 games Arsenal have played so far they’re not one of the top four sides in this country. Arsenal sit where their performances suggest they should be, which is around fifth or sixth.
‘Arsenal are not better than Tottenham, who are a more rounded side. They’re not better than Chelsea, who are playing well at times but look nervous at their own ground, and they’re certainly not as good as the two Manchester clubs.’
He finished off by saying:
‘Arsenal are competitive, they showed that against Chelsea, but they can’t take on teams like they did when they had Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Tony Adams and Steve Bould. They haven’t got an iron spine.’
At present, we don’t look like a top four side as Gray suggests – the table doesn’t lie, and unfortunately the likes of Spurs and Chelsea have been better than us this season and deserve to be above us.
Severe work needs to be done by Wenger, the players and the Arsenal board if the club want to keep their consecutive run of appearing in the Champions League going.
I’m glad to see Wenger expressing his concern over the matter. However, as the manager of the club, the Frenchman needs to do something about it, rather than just talk.
Nine days and counting, make the very most of it Wenger or face the consequences.
Visit and Join our Facebook page, click HERE to do so.
Gunnersphere is currently looking for new writers to join the squad. Contact via twitter or at Gunnersphere@snack-media.com for further details.
Related posts:
Tags: Andy Gray, Arsene Wenger, Emmanuel Petit, Patrick Vieira, Stamford Bridge, Steve Bould, Tony Adams
Posted in View From The Sphere | Comments (24)
Arsenal News 24/7
Loading ...
January 22nd, 2013 at 3:34 pm
The table doesn’t lie – yes, but it doesn’t always tell the whole truth either, every year they say the same thing, yet we finish in the top four – when will they ever learn.
Oh and by the way, according to the table – this Man U side must be the best ever MU side, because they have amassed the most points of any MU side previously at this stage of the season – really?
I don’t think Spurs are better than us at all – that’s rubbish, Chelsea, MU, City – not far away.
I’m not fooled by the rubbish the “Pundits” say, and not a gullible pessimistic fan either.
[Reply]
Lobster Reply:
January 22nd, 2013 at 4:17 pm
“Gullible pessimistic fan” – spot on. A lot of Arsenal fans are too easy nowadays.. They lack that iron spine of the old Gooners
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2013 at 3:44 pm
But it IS the worst Arsenal side for around 20 years.
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2013 at 3:46 pm
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^nut case^^^^^^^^^^^^^
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2013 at 3:46 pm
As a Spurs fan I think, as objectively as I can be, that there’s not much between the sides this year.
I think come May it will be very close, and I think Everton and Liverpool will be there or there abouts too.
The top three are likely to pull away though, in my opinion.
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2013 at 3:46 pm
It’s over,live with it!!!!!!!!
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2013 at 3:50 pm
as1442, you’re a fool! If you think arsenal are a better team than Spurs, you’re an idiot! Nothing else is needed to be said to you.
[Reply]
as1442 Reply:
January 22nd, 2013 at 5:14 pm
Factually – Arsenal ARE better than Spurs because:
1. Just as you would accept Man City are the CURRENT champions by virtue of finishing 1st, Arsenal are currently the 3rd best team – above Spurs.
2. They have finished above Spurs for over 15 years now.
3. Just in the Premier League era alone, Arsenal have won the title 3 times, Spurs 0 times.
4. Last season Spurs had their best season in years, Arsenal their worst in years – Yet finished above them – so if Arsenal are that bad, what does that say about Spurs?
Until Spurs actually do it and finish above Arsenal, you can leave the gloating alone, because you only make yourself look like a fool.
Fair play to spurs-fan Ron, I said I don’t think Spurs are better than us at all, I didn’t say they were shit, I think they have a better squad these days than their previous squads – but I don’t think overall it’s better than Arsenal’s – but that’s my opinion.
[Reply]
Mark Reply:
January 22nd, 2013 at 9:06 pm
Well factually they are not because they are 7 points behind
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2013 at 3:59 pm
Oh yeah, I’m enjoying watching Jan play for us, didn’t you all say how much better vermaelen was than Vertonghen and that Vert had to play left back for his country cos verm was better and forced him out of centre back? Funny really that on this website Thomas Vermaelen has only got 1% of the vote for player of the year! We at Spurs think a lot more of our Belgium centre back than you lot think of yours. Says it all, about how good you all are at judging a players.
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2013 at 3:59 pm
The quality has been slipping for years. Gone from Cole – Clichy – Gibbs etc. The owner is anonymous and has no passion. AW social wage structure is a disaster with stars leaving and overpaid journeymen staying. AW over dependence on French related talent is also a disaster especially when their Fifa ranking has gone from top to 18th in the past decade. I have supported the club for 40 years but has voted with my feet on occasions when I think the club is going in the wrong direction like now. Silent Stan has always tuned his clubs to mediocracy and I don’t like it.
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2013 at 5:18 pm
I find really funy that spurs fans only find arsenal sites to comment on. Have you any? NO, cause eventually u would be behind us like ever. And Arsenal r not doing great but still gonna be top 4 at the end of the season. Huh
[Reply]
Jay Reply:
January 22nd, 2013 at 6:28 pm
Its because it appears on a spurs newsnow site.
[Reply]
chrissycoys Reply:
January 22nd, 2013 at 8:24 pm
You Wot? You Wot? You Wot, You Wot, You Wot???lol
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2013 at 5:46 pm
You know whats funny….the prem lg table.your level with liverpool !!!!!!!!! Ha ha ha ha
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2013 at 6:23 pm
Honestly arsenal are looking like they wont make the top 4
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2013 at 6:31 pm
Spurs squad as a whole is now better than arsenals. Spurs have actually spent more time above arsenal than below over the last 3 years. They just haven’t finished above yet. But arsenal are no longer the force they once were and are clinging on to the past. They are a selling club rather than a club that challenges it would seem now.
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2013 at 6:32 pm
it’s very wrong to go gloating that we are better than arsenal at this stage, remember last season when we gloated a certain “mind the gap” to be as fair as i can be i would say there isn’t much to choose from between the 2 clubs, yes overall i would give us spurs the edge on squad as we do have a very talented squad and we did lose our best 2 players last summer without replacing them but we also have to show some humiliation rather than gloating, what happens if arsenal come to the lane and run off with a 1-0 win? if they get the 3 points with there game in hand the gap will be just 1 point, lets not start singing to loud just yet as we know that it could come back to bite us in the arsenal! i think we have a good chance this year but we have to buy in january and it has to be a striker of good quality, i’m enjoying the closeness off our 2 clubs and think it gives the rivalry a bit of an extra edge, lets see who will win the battle this season, may the best team win. COYS
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2013 at 6:33 pm
Oh and a message to the writer: Arsenal currentely lie 6th in the PL table NOT 5th.
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2013 at 7:53 pm
We should not write off the nomadic woolwichians with so many games to go I think 3rd and 4th are still there for the taking. Both teams are pretty even though dare I say it we have a stronger squad. They have finished above us consistently for years when and if we finish above them this year then we can start laughing but not yet. That day has to arrive sometime maybe it is this year but alas we usually find a creative way too fck it up so we shall see. March 3rd will see the arrival of the nomads and their caravans to the Lane that will be a defining game I think the great unwashed will be up for that one.
COYS
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2013 at 8:14 pm
I’m an Arsenal fan and I think we are pants and getting worse! We should have been thumped against Chelski and show no passion,commitment or skill. I think we are going nowhere until we sack Arsene Wenger and get someone in who can move us up to the next level. We are light years behind Spuds who are looking increasingly strong and playing beautiful free flowing football.They lose their two best players and it makes them stronger unlike us.They are quite simply a far superior team to us. I fancy them to be pushing on for the title in the very near future whilst we are on the slippery slope down. However, in true fickle fashion if we win our next two games I will change my opinion completely and get fully behind the boys and the manager!!
[Reply]
chrissycoys Reply:
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:52 pm
lol
[Reply]
January 22nd, 2013 at 8:31 pm
Bad and all as Arsenal have bfeen thus far there’s no reason for spurs fans to gloat just yet.The fact is thay neither side has been particularly consistent this season.Arsenal will probably finish third or fourth this year and spurs will be with them in the cl.If i was a chelsea fan id be worriwd they they have still to go to manchester city and utd as well as anfield and if it hadnot been for some lenient refereeing on sunday they would have dropped points at home to arsenal who are hardly brazil 1970 at the moment
next years cl.Chelsea seem to me to be most likely to slip out of the top fidence.Were it not for some Lenie
[Reply]
January 23rd, 2013 at 3:59 am
Well, Gary is definitely right. Arsenal can’t any of the big four again. U will see the team are going to game with the same approach. Look man city and chelsea match within 20mins both team have secure 3points. Well, wenger is the architect of this becos no one in the team again that they will be afraid of. They are all soft and no experience. wenger have lost is direction since the only thing is talking and knows ho to compose is word to protect himself and the player. U can never compare this man u team and arsenal team and u will be telling us this is the best team u have work it. Stop deceiving your self becos the blind can feel it that u are don’t know what u are saying. Stop teases the fans and playing with people passion. U get the fans behind u despite the ticket fees and you still making them sad each season. Get out the old man fool.
[Reply]