Another one bites the dust

[Sister of fu]

He has been their best player since he came back from injury scoring 5 goals. It's a defo loss for them as Bentdner is also out for 4 weeks.

[I Just Blue Myself]

Big set back for both Arsenal and England. Arse really need to get a striker in this January, since Walcott could have covered in that position if need be. Now they only have Giroud and Bendtner.

And Podolski. Feel bad for him as I wouldn't wish a torn ACL on any non-rag & he seems one of the less cuntish players around fwiw. Couldn't care less about Arsenal or England tbh.

[BobbyJ1956]

This fixtures thing is bollocks, every team plays every other team and every team gets a run of difficult fixtures. Every team misses key players, too - City have Aguero out, Liverpool didn't have Suarez at the start of the season, the rags have lost RVP and now Rooney. So the team that wins the title will be the one with fewest injuries/the strongest squad. Chelsea have done best with injuries, City are supposed to have the strongest squad, though recent games have shown that's not true. But don't rule out Everton for the league. They've certainly got the brightest manager.

[bigblue]

This fixtures thing is bollocks, every team plays every other team and every team gets a run of difficult fixtures. Every team misses key players, too - City have Aguero out, Liverpool didn't have Suarez at the start of the season, the rags have lost RVP and now Rooney. So the team that wins the title will be the one with fewest injuries/the strongest squad. Chelsea have done best with injuries, City are supposed to have the strongest squad, though recent games have shown that's not true. But don't rule out Everton for the league. They've certainly got the brightest manager.

So you're saying there is no difference between these fixtures????

Man City:

Feb 8 Norwich City A
Feb 12 Sunderland H
Feb 18 Barcelona H
Feb 22 Stoke H
Mar 12 Barcelona A
Mar 15 Hull City A
Mar 22 Fulham A
Mar 29 Arsenal A
Apr 5 Southampton H

Arsenal:

Feb 8 Liverpool A
Feb 13 scum H
Feb 19 Bayern H
Feb 22 Sunderland H
Mar 12 Bayern A
Mar 15 Totenham A
Mar 22 Chelsea A
Mar 29 Manchester City H
Apr 5 Everton A

If you see no difference because "everyone plays each other twice" you're either purposefully ignorant or mad. In the space of 10 days Arse have to play Bayerm, Spurs, and Chelsea (2 london derbies) all away! And to imply that Arse have similar squad depth to ourselves is being purposefully ignorant or mad as well.

They will drop significant points in the league (especially now with walcott out), we just need to stay focused and take advantage. And everton have been ruled out from winning the league since day one in most sane people's heads. nutter

[london blue 2]

I wouldn't describe the loss of theo as a massive dent.

He scored against us !

So did phil bardsly. What's your point

I wouldn't describe the loss of theo as a massive dent.

He was their top scorer last season, 3rd best scorer so far this season, and 4th most assists this season. Plus, look at their current injuries (admittedly some of them are due back very soon):

Nicklas Bendtner Ankle
Olivier Giroud Illness
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Knee
Aaron Ramsey Thigh
Yaya Sanogo Back
Abou Diaby Knee

Still only have giroud and bentner as their only strikers and ramsey has gone off the boil recently. I'd most definitely call it a massive dent.

And that says more about the rest of their players. Not a massive miss.

Decent player but nothing more. IMO anyway

[Hutch's Shoulder]

So did phil bardsly. What's your point And that says more about the rest of their players. Not a massive miss. Decent player but nothing more. IMO anyway

That Walcott is one if their best strikers and they will miss him.

[zabbadabbado]

Arse do have a tough few games coming up.

How ever,we generally drop points when none off us expect us to.Hopefully it is onwards and upwards in the same vein off form.But never forget we are City anything is possible.

[Ted Hughes]

Arsenal do pretty much the same thing every season. They win plenty of games, ut they fail to win most of the difficult ones.

[BobbyJ1956]

This fixtures thing is bollocks, every team plays every other team and every team gets a run of difficult fixtures. Every team misses key players, too - City have Aguero out, Liverpool didn't have Suarez at the start of the season, the rags have lost RVP and now Rooney. So the team that wins the title will be the one with fewest injuries/the strongest squad. Chelsea have done best with injuries, City are supposed to have the strongest squad, though recent games have shown that's not true. But don't rule out Everton for the league. They've certainly got the brightest manager.

So you're saying there is no difference between these fixtures????

Man City:

Feb 8 Norwich City A
Feb 12 Sunderland H
Feb 18 Barcelona H
Feb 22 Stoke H
Mar 12 Barcelona A
Mar 15 Hull City A
Mar 22 Fulham A
Mar 29 Arsenal A
Apr 5 Southampton H

Arsenal:

Feb 8 Liverpool A
Feb 13 scum H
Feb 19 Bayern H
Feb 22 Sunderland H
Mar 12 Bayern A
Mar 15 Totenham A
Mar 22 Chelsea A
Mar 29 Manchester City H
Apr 5 Everton A

If you see no difference because "everyone plays each other twice" you're either purposefully ignorant or mad. In the space of 10 days Arse have to play Bayerm, Spurs, and Chelsea (2 london derbies) all away! And to imply that Arse have similar squad depth to ourselves is being purposefully ignorant or mad as well.

They will drop significant points in the league (especially now with walcott out), we just need to stay focused and take advantage. And everton have been ruled out from winning the league since day one in most sane people's heads. nutter

Thanks for the kind words. Sure Arsenal's next run of games is ugly but City have a tough spell before the season's over and no team is looking like the Arsenal "invincibles." So it's going to be about consistency, which is why if i was a neutral I'd bet on the most improved team of the season, the one with the manager I wish City had appointed. Everton haven't got an Aguero or a Suarez but they're a heck of a good side now.

[Im_Spartacus]

So you're saying there is no difference between these fixtures????

Man City:

Feb 8 Norwich City A
Feb 12 Sunderland H
Feb 18 Barcelona H
Feb 22 Stoke H
Mar 12 Barcelona A
Mar 15 Hull City A
Mar 22 Fulham A
Mar 29 Arsenal A
Apr 5 Southampton H

Arsenal:

Feb 8 Liverpool A
Feb 13 scum H
Feb 19 Bayern H
Feb 22 Sunderland H
Mar 12 Bayern A
Mar 15 Totenham A
Mar 22 Chelsea A
Mar 29 Manchester City H
Apr 5 Everton A

If you see no difference because "everyone plays each other twice" you're either purposefully ignorant or mad. In the space of 10 days Arse have to play Bayerm, Spurs, and Chelsea (2 london derbies) all away! And to imply that Arse have similar squad depth to ourselves is being purposefully ignorant or mad as well.

They will drop significant points in the league (especially now with walcott out), we just need to stay focused and take advantage. And everton have been ruled out from winning the league since day one in most sane people's heads. nutter

I read from an arsenal fan at the beginning of the season that they were extremely happy with their squad depth, as most of their players are natural picks in two or even three positions. A large number of injuries cancels this out obviously, but it would for any squad.

[Beefymcfc]

Say, in a mini-league of the top 6 or 8, who's got the most home and who's got the most away fixtures, anybody know?

I seem to remember that Chelsea only have 1 away fixture against the top sides.

[Blue Since 76]

Say, in a mini-league of the top 6 or 8, who's got the most home and who's got the most away fixtures, anybody know?

I seem to remember that Chelsea only have 1 away fixture against the top sides.

It's Liverpool who have the rags away (3 easy points) and everyone else at home. With no European football either, they could stay in this race.

[gillie]

This fixtures thing is bollocks, every team plays every other team and every team gets a run of difficult fixtures. Every team misses key players, too - City have Aguero out, Liverpool didn't have Suarez at the start of the season, the rags have lost RVP and now Rooney. So the team that wins the title will be the one with fewest injuries/the strongest squad. Chelsea have done best with injuries, City are supposed to have the strongest squad, though recent games have shown that's not true. But don't rule out Everton for the league. They've certainly got the brightest manager.

So you're saying there is no difference between these fixtures????

Man City:

Feb 8 Norwich City A
Feb 12 Sunderland H
Feb 18 Barcelona H
Feb 22 Stoke H
Mar 12 Barcelona A
Mar 15 Hull City A
Mar 22 Fulham A
Mar 29 Arsenal A
Apr 5 Southampton H

Arsenal:

Feb 8 Liverpool A
Feb 13 scum H
Feb 19 Bayern H
Feb 22 Sunderland H
Mar 12 Bayern A
Mar 15 Totenham A
Mar 22 Chelsea A
Mar 29 Manchester City H
Apr 5 Everton A

If you see no difference because "everyone plays each other twice" you're either purposefully ignorant or mad. In the space of 10 days Arse have to play Bayerm, Spurs, and Chelsea (2 london derbies) all away! And to imply that Arse have similar squad depth to ourselves is being purposefully ignorant or mad as well.

They will drop significant points in the league (especially now with walcott out), we just need to stay focused and take advantage. And everton have been ruled out from winning the league since day one in most sane people's heads. nutter

The Fulham game in your list is at the Etihad mate not away.

[john@staustell]

Bobby can you let us know if you're ignorant or mad :-)

Seriously Walcott will be a big miss for them. He's a good striker these days, the only player who turned up against us (as usual) and they will definitely suffer without him

[Bridge'srightfoot]

I wouldn't describe the loss of theo as a massive dent.

I used to think Theo was one of the most overrated, one dimensional players and deservedly didn't go to the last World Cup.
However over the last couple of seasons his game has really come on leaps and bounds. He's far better with the ball at his feet and he can play very good football. I mean look at his second finish against us, a young Walcott would never have scored that. He's also become a much more potent goalscorer.

They will miss him and it's a great shame he won't be going to the World Cup this year.

[Wonderwall]

I wouldn't describe the loss of theo as a massive dent.

I used to think Theo was one of the most overrated, one dimensional players and deservedly didn't go to the last World Cup.
However over the last couple of seasons his game has really come on leaps and bounds. He's far better with the ball at his feet and he can play very good football. I mean look at his second finish against us, a young Walcott would never have scored that. He's also become a much more potent goalscorer.

They will miss him and it's a great shame he won't be going to the World Cup this year.

shame he didnt go as we were shocking, especially given the crap that went

1. David James
2. Glen Johnson
3. Ashley Cole
4. Steven Gerrard
5. Rio Ferdinand
6. John Terry
7. Aaron Lennon
8. Frank Lampard
9. Peter Crouch
10. Wayne Rooney
11. Joe Cole
12. Robert Green
13. Stephen Warnock
14. Gareth Barry
15. Matthew Upson
16. James Milner
17. Shaun Wright-Phillips
18. Jamie Carragher
19. Jermain Defoe
20. Ledley King
21. Emile Heskey
22. Michael Carrick
23. Joe Hart

[DoomMerchant]

Sadly this Walcott injury may aid the Arse...they will be forced to buy now I think and could actually be much stronger if they do the right thing.

Sad for Walcott obv...I don't like to see any player get a serious injury and esp. miss out on a WC.

[Breks]

Sadly this Walcott injury may aid the Arse...they will be forced to buy now I think and could actually be much stronger if they do the right thing.

Sad for Walcott obv...I don't like to see any player get a serious injury and esp. miss out on a WC.

Their not going to get a genuine world class striker in january because they all play for clubs still in the champions league. Unless they break the bank and get suarez but I seriously foibt that.

[sheblue]

It's alright, nick bender is there, totally shite player, he will do em fine.

[nottsblue]

Must be just me who thinks Walcott not going to World cup is a good thing. 37 England games & 5 goals. 3 in one game as well. For me, a sprinter who can play a bit of football, not a footballer who is quick