It sounds like a rhetorical question to ask, the answer being so obvious. Of course any fan would be concerned with missing out on Champions League football and all the glamour, glory, and, not to mention money, it brings to their club. However Arsenal fans now have to face up to the fact that, missing out on a top four finish may no longer be just a passing concern, but a very real possibility this season.
As every follow of the Premier League knows, since Roman Abramovich rolled into town, the historical big three of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, became ‘the big four’ as Chelsea were thrust into the limelight behind the Russian’s unprecedented spending power. The three traditional power-houses of English football, who were all but guaranteed to finish in the four available Champions League qualifying spots, were now joined by Chelsea. The race for a top four finish in the Premier League now had a ‘big four’ to go with it – a seeming perfect fit, especially for Sky Sports and UEFA, who have somehow managed to now deem a team successful if they finish second, third or even fourth – but that’s another story for another time.
With the fanfare of ‘the big four’ now established, many other foreign investors took note of the Abramovich approach to ‘buying’ glory and became even more interested in investing their wealth into Premier League clubs. This, along with the decline of Liverpool saw other teams eyeing that fourth and final place which was now deemed available for the first time in a long time. At one stage, Aston Villa and Everton looked most likely to break into the top four positions (Everton even managing it once, but failed to qualify for the Champions League proper), only to fade away. Today however, two more teams have become the more serious threat to the ‘big four’s’ monopoly. They come in the shape of Tottenham, who emulated (and indeed bettered by qualifying for the Champions League proper) Everton’s feat and finished in the top four a couple of seasons ago, and Manchester City.
Manchester City have appeared due in no small part to their owners from Dubai who have managed to eclipse the spending power of Chelsea and Abramovich. Nobody in Europe can match what City can spend and this paid off last season when they finally finished in the top four at the expense of Tottenham, even pushing down Arsenal to fourth place in the process. Liverpool have an almighty task to try and compete for a top four finish now, which they have missed out on for two years running.
However it is to Arsenal fans I return, who must now surely realise that they are seen as favourites to do a ‘Liverpool’, and fall out of the top four. They only need to look at the Anfield club, to see the dangers of what can happen, and the battle it will take to secure their place in the top four. The Gunners seem to be in the midst of a transitional stage – their fans at a cross-road, wondering which way they will go. They haven’t won a trophy in 6-years and their star players seem keen to move on. Also, at the time of writing, their new signings for the coming season have been less than inspiring with Wenger seemingly reluctant to spend the money required to purchase a marquee signing.
With Manchester United and Chelsea rarely faltering, Manchester City’s continued spending power, Liverpool’s new investment and Tottenham’s emergence as a serious contender, Arsenal now have five very real threats to contend with if they want to continue to being a fixture in the top four. As Liverpool have found, it is no longer a battle for the title, but a battle to just finish fourth. Are Arsenal fans concerned? They should be.
Click HERE to see the original article. This article was first published on FootballFanCast
Written by Jimmyareabi
Not at all to Wenger, the chief executive and the board but the fans.
What are we getting afraid off? Liverpool and Spurs ?
I’d say, as unbiased as i can be, arsenal are still better then those two teams.
Spurs have not strengthened and liverpool made their most important buys last january and they still didn’t get 5th
Last season we went without cesc for some parts, if he does go, this time around we have ramsey from the get go. Verma will be back from the start; mo more swapping keepers every other week as we have our number 1 sorted.
In some respects we are stronger – but people are just getting worried over the future of cesc and nasri and our lack of movement in the transfer market – but most business will be done later – apart from the mega rich who has actually made big moves yet?
Im worried we will not win a trophy, as i feel thats beyond us … but getting top four is not worrying, we are built for it.
We have no devine right cos where arsenal we need to spend its obvious
As we have 2 of our best players as want-a-ways and we are getting even younger (Gibbs, Traore, Frimpong, Chezzer, and possibly Ryo and Afobe, I think Bartley is getting loaned) added to already young Wilshere and Ramsey…
then I think, yes… we have legitimate reasons to worry.
My worries is that I don’t think arsenal we make the big 4 next season cos of lake of transfer policy. Fabregas is not d problem of this club is mr wenger and d board is d problem cos they refuse to buy a replacement 4 him if he doses want to play for arsenal, let him go, then look for another player to replace him. they are lot of player outside there.
I don’t think either Liverpool or Spurs can push Arsenal out of the top 4. in fact, i think Arsenal will finish in the top three positions next season, unless ofcourse if the referees decide that it be like that.
What a terrible mess we are in.I don’t mind people speaking in broken english but typing in broken english is just lazy.
Like Wenger says, let’s take one game at a time. If we come good after the United game, I think everything will change. it’s good not to start as favorite, cause everyone will want to beat you!