Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the Top-4

[squallkid]

New season is about a month away.

As we bid goodbye to Blackburn,Wolves and Bolton, we welcome Reading Southampton and West Ham.

Difficult start in terms of our fixtures, new players have come in and we might even see a few of our poorer players leave.

Fixture list - http://www.arsenal.com/fixtures/fixtures-reports

Premier league website- http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb.html

I know I'm sticking my neck out with the title and leaving myself open to a lot of laughter if we start the season badly or end up finishing 5th but if we don't have hope then we haven't got much.

I might edit the title throughout the season to reflect how we're doing but for now we are top of the league :wink:

 

[leo_ense]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

Always go into the season hoping to win, otherwise sports is just boring. Still I think it's too early to be making predictions as we aren't even close to seeing how final squads for teams will look.

 

[Revolution]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

Should that be race for third and fourth?

 

[Bossa]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

I guess that the title needs to be changed in october.

 

[US_Gooner]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

Excited to see the new guys.

18 Aug seems a long way off right now.

 

[AnthonyG]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

Wasn't the title intentionally left blank last season, squall?

Can't remember if we did poll for this or not. Not saying we'll win (not saying we won't :wink: ), but I think we'll still be in it after Christmas anyway.

 

[squallkid]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

It was left blank last season because I made it in October and by then it was too late for even my blind optimism to put it as race for the title and I also wanted people to draw their own optimistic or pessimistic views on what we were fighting for in the league.

At that time no one could have really predicted the race for 3rd. The last one didn't have a poll but a poll for this one with the lowest option being 5th would be nice .

I made the thread title the race for the title in light of all the recent van persie and usmanov news.

Figured it might give some fans a glimmer of optimism before the season or something to smile at.

 

[future heroes]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

I think that the poll should wait until August. We will have a better picture of the team (players, transfers, injuries etc) after the pre season.

A lot can change between now and our first PL game.

 

[dka1]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

Well before Van Persie decided to bend of over and screw us I actually hoped we'd be in the mix for the title (similar to 07 08).

But now it will depend on what Wenger does and how we progress. We still have a decent base, both Poldi and Giroud are good strikers, a few more additions and I think we can trouble the top.

 

[redanddread]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

RVP or not, I still think we will be in the mix but we shall have a much better idea after our first 6 fixtures which throw up some real tasty clashes against some of the big boys. I would say that by the middle of October we should have a decent idea whether this team can mount a challenge or not.

 

[kopzilla]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

I expect us to struggle early on like last season. Probably our pre season will give us an idea of how good we are.

I guess it'll be another 2 horse race between City and Utd for the title.

 

[Rain Dance]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

As always if it's involve Arsenal, being pessimist actually makes feeling happy easier than being optimist.

 

[Wrighty4eva]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

Really feel we are missing one or twos pieces to the puzzle before we can become a real threat to the title holders ..

 

[iced22]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

Eh, hard to judge each teams fortunes in early/mid July. Still lots that could happen.

 

[Original_AAA]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

Better to aim high and fail, then to aim low and succeed eh? ;-)

 

[Kroket]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

I expect Chelsea and the Manchester teams to make it a three-horse race. It's early days yet and plenty can happen until August 31st but I think we'll comfortably grab fourth place behind those three teams.

 

[Hunta]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

I can't wait, don't care about Robin now, looking forward to seeing players that want to play for the club.

 

[ModelGooner]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

If we get a quality replacement for Robin, i think we could be a wildcard.

 

[fabo]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

4th most likely.

Unsure about Chelsea as it is though, don't think they'll be a level ahead of us with the current squad. See if they add any more.

United/City certainly top 2.

 

[bingobob]

Re: Premier League 2012/2013: Race for the title

Well before Van Persie decided to bend of over and screw us I actually hoped we'd be in the mix for the title (similar to 07 08).

But now it will depend on what Wenger does and how we progress. We still have a decent base, both Poldi and Giroud are good strikers, a few more additions and I think we can trouble the top.

Agree with this. The thought of RVP, Podolski, Walcott, Giroud and Gervinho had me salivating. Now without RVP (if things go that way) it paints a picture of more doom as we need the two new strikers to really hit the ground running. Obviously, I hope, if RVP goes we will sign new players to strengthen the core team and this should make us stronger.

To answer the question
Favourites: Man City
Second favourite: Chelsea
NEXT: Us, Man Utd and Sp**s.

Hopefully AVB continues where he left off at Chelsea, though I cannot see it, Man Utd need to strengthen as I believe Fergie was the only reason they challenged and Chelsea once again have strengthened though the loss of Drogba needs to be factored in.

Its gonna be tight and whoever gets their nose in front at the start will have difficulty keeping it there.