Wednesday 4 January 2012

St Totteringham's Day Or Champions League?

When I look at the league table I get a shudder down my spine.

Of course S*urs sitting higher than us in the league table contributes to that shudder massively, but what really causes that horrible feeling is that we sit outside the Champions League places.

Now don't get me wrong, the thought of that lot finishing above us is indeed truly horrific. It hasn't happened since I started puberty in 1995 so I guess it is taken for granted.

But the most important thing, in my opinion, is that Arsenal qualify for next seasons Champions League. Even if that means finishing below S*urs.

I have no doubt that there will be Gooners aghast having read that and I fully understand why. I just feel the most important thing for the club is too be involved in the most elite European competition.

Maybe we have started to believe we have a divine and holy right to be in the Champions League as we have been involved in it for so many years. It becomes something we can take for granted.

But believe me, you have to earn your right to play alongside the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Apoel Nicosia season after season. 

For 14 years we have earned our place amongst the cream of Europe and I want to be there again next season regardless if St Totteringham's Day happens this campaign or not.

Some of my pals are Spuds and the banter can be quite amusing. One thing I love taking the piss out of them about is the fact they compare themselves to us all the time.
  
For me, there is no comparison. Check the history. They are in our shadow and the Rafa Benitez fact of the day is they would rather finish above Arsenal than win the league.

Over the the years they have become infatuated with us and truly believe finishing higher than Arsenal is the be-all and end-all. Lets not become like them

Our ambitions have always been higher so I am not going to start worrying about them. 

Years and years have gone by since they finished above us and one day it is bound to happen. 

They think it's wrapped up for them already and that's fine by me. Personally I believe that the Premiership is a marathon, not a sprint. There is a long time to go and football is a funny 'ol game.

So I am not panicking any time soon and the only time I will be is if our Champions League place is very much on the line.

Despite S*urs making massive strides and impressing, I actually think they will blow up sooner or later and we will catch them. 

But if we didn't, and if that was the case, I would sacrifice St Totteringhams all day long to make sure we were in the Champions League.

Or maybe we should get the Lasagne out again.

Follow me on Twitter @_Wrighty7

Keep It Goonerish.......

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Haha well said wrighty. I'm worried like the next guy, but the spuds don't matter more than campeones liga football

Oli Galvin-Jones said...

"They are in our shadow and the Rafa Benitez fact of the day is they would rather finish above Arsenal than win the league."- Thi makes no sense. If they win the league, they obviously finish above Arsenal.

Anonymous said...

Love the article but alas I think we have to accept, if the Spuds win their match in hand next week ago 9 points clear we are not going to catch them. Yes they may implode, just as Villa did 3 years ago come March time, but unlike back then, we are not good enough to go on a run of sustained results to overhaul them! Look back at the last 8 league matches and if we look at them objectively, we have only deserved to win 1 of them and that was at Wigan. Both home wins against Everton and QPR were a tad fortunate (especially the former). We have to accept that for this season (what second year in the last 25), the Spuds will probably finish above us and Chelsea, for all their failures, would be a better to finish above us in 4th place, if Wenger does not add to the squad and utilising his squad more.

Steve Bull said...

Finishing in the top four is paramount, no matter who is above us. Yeah, we'd get some gip from the spuds if they were above us but does that really matter, who actually gives a rats arse what they think or say anyway.

I also think their form will drop so, it will be interesting how we'll compete with them, chelski and the pool for 3rd/4th place. Our main plus is that we have half the defence to return, young jack hopefully in the next 6-8 weeks, TH14 obviously and whoever else Wenger may bring in over the next few weeks. I think we'll have a stronger run in than the other three because of that.

Up the Arse!

Anonymous said...

Check the history. They are in our shadow and the Rafa Benitez fact of the day is they would rather finish above Arsenal than win the league......LOL thats well written, slight obvious contridiction there :-)


Over the the years they have become infatuated with us and truly believe finishing higher than Arsenal is the be-all and end-all.....unlike the Arse support who instead of cheering their team on at The Cottage spent most of the game singing about Spurs! strangely stopped near the end of the though :-)

Our ambitions have always been higher so I am not going to start worrying about them......err I think you need to start worrying, we made the mistake mid 90's thinking 1 or 2 good players were enough to have a good season and couldn't really see how average we had become. Arse (exept RVP & Vermalen) are very average!!

Anonymous said...

1995??? The Spuds haven't finished above us in the Premiership! what are you talking about man?!

Anonymous said...

1995??? The Spuds haven't finished above us in the Premiership! what are you talking about man?!

@northbankjay said...

They won't finish above us, call it blind faith, but who have they played since beating us? and they only just did that and we were going through a bad spell at the time. They couldn't beat the Chavs at home and they still have to travel to Citeh, Old Trafford, Stamford bridge, Anfield and the Grove. Plus they have had no serious injuries yet, if they lose Bale, Modric or Van der Fart they will be fucked. We only have Liverpool away left and once we get our fullbacks back we will be flying + Super Jack will be back.

Let them have their moment in the sunshine and the press will still be wanking over Arry if they finish 5th.
They will bottle it again and blame it on some dodgy Lasagne again.

Anonymous said...

Don't sweat it #8.
We will be second they will hang on to 4th. They are limping around already and haven't got the balls to see it through.
Besides their Manager will be in the Scrubs by the end of the Season. I am old enough to remember all the episodes of Porridge and Fletch only got out once to see the Spuds and that was only on the Telly. Have some faith, pass the Bourbon.

Anonymous said...

dear oh dear reading these comments i think your shittin yourselves about being in the ropey league next season..and the comment about us blowin up please we went to fulham and pissed it gooners go and blow up and we wont mention blackburn away.COYS

@northbankjay said...

Don't you have spud sites to look at? Ah thats what happens when your the second club in a city, you constantly spy on North London Royalty.

Never happened, Never will

Anonymous said...

Don't be too sure the gunners can finish ahead of spuds.I believe the present bunch of players even with Henry will struggle when confronted by a well organised defence.Wenger is to be blamed.
His one style of tippy tappy style made a comeback in the Fulham game.
But to no avail.Well the latest is an Oman defender is coming for a trial. Well this a repeat of the Silvester signing.
If the gunners are finally dislodge fro the cl,he should pay the price. No more time and ifs and buts.

THFC - Kings of North London said...

Unfortunately for our inferiors, they will just have to accept that they have been replaced by a superior force - the mighty THFC. We are better than you in every way. We don't have a manager who is past his sell by date, we have a fantastic stadium not a souless bowl unlike Ar2ena1. We also have supporters who get behind our team and we have world class players unlike Ar2ena1. Not one of their players would get into our team. Lastly I can't wait for the Kings Of North London to teach you another footballing lesson in February as we brush you aside 4-1 at that thing you call a stadium. Enjoy Thursday nights and Channel Five.

@northbankjay said...

Another small club syndrome suffering fool. Your clubs ambition is to finish above us - pathetic. Stick to your own sites and always remember
WE WON THE LEAGUE AT THE SHIT HOLE, WE WON THE LEAGUE AT WHITE HART LANE

Now fuck off to Stratford you egg

Anonymous said...

U spuds now all about Thursday night football, oh yeah u couldn't qualify from that. As for none of our players getting into your team? Rvp would get into ANY team u mug

Anonymous said...

And ur best player is one of our has beens, and he's a mercenary, ade don't give a shit for u or anyone else

Steve Bull said...

World class players! FFS!!!! Gallas, Adebarndoor...now where have I heard those names before?

Twitchy will be off soon too, you all know that. He knows fuck all about loyalty, just like Adebarndoor.

And don't get me started on that shack of a stadium of yours. The club are so desperate to get out of it they were willing to move to the other side of the city!

Revel in this 'glory' patch for the spuds if you want. Bring out a pissing DVD about it even. But for all said and done, all you have on us are a few points which can all change within a couple of weeks. Nothing is done and dusted yet this season and no real gooners are worried about missing out on a top four spot.

THFC will prove that form is temporary, we will show that class is perminent.

THFC will always be in our shadow.

Up the Arse!!!

THFC - Kings Of North London said...

Re: Steve Bull

You say Ar2ena1 will show class is permaement.

How?

By blowing a 4-0 lead to Newcastle
By conceding a 2-0 lead at home to your superiors.
By losing the League Cup final thanks to a hilarious mistake by Kosflop.
By being outplayed yet again by the Kings Of North London at WHL a few months ago.

We're looking for signings to claim Premier League glory while you're bringing back Henry as a sign of desperation. You're finished as a Top Four club for the next decade at least.

Thursday nights,Channel Five!

Danish Gooner said...

If Walcott gets 85 grand a week i am seriously gonna consider quitting as a football fan.He came to Arsenal as a very promising 16 year old seven seasons on he is merely a one trick pony and the trick he is doing is not very convincing.On the top of my mind i cant remember one game were he have been great for 90 minutes let alone for 45.He is an english Glenn Helder.Not even against a truly limited left back like Armand Traore could he dominate,Traore had him in his pocket all day long.Stick to doing childrens books,mate.

TrueGooner said...

THFC KINGS OF NORTH LONDON.

By blowing a 4-0 lead to Newcastle
By conceding a 2-0 lead at home to your superiors.
By losing the League Cup final thanks to a hilarious mistake by Kosflop.
By being outplayed yet again by the Kings Of North London at WHL a few months ago.

Inspire of all that, we still finished above you and are in ther champions league whereas you couldn't get out of a Europa league group stage.

Rottenham shitespunk!

SpursFan! said...

Yes,

Spurs do focus on finishing above Arsenal. That would mean we had had a great season. There is no shame in that. Both side share banter and a healthy competition that keeps both on teams on their toes. Wrighty, yes you have been class since 1995 but every team has there day. History tells us that Spurs have had some amazing sides. Who knows what the future will bring. Hopefully more great games and Banter between our glorious sides