ArsenaLOL

[Royal With Cheese]

I'd be very surprised if Benteke isn't on the radar of anyone looking at being top 6 next season.

Benteke to Spurs as Bale's replacement?

[TBM]

I'd be very surprised if Benteke isn't on the radar of anyone looking at being top 6 next season.

Benteke to Spurs as Bale's replacement?

They are two different type of players

Anyway, i don't think Benteke is good enough for the top 4 clubs yet so i would stay at Villa for another season and prove himself as more than a 1 season wonder before moving on.

[Royal With Cheese]

Perhaps replacement was the wrong word. I was merely hypothesising.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Spurs without Bale would have finished 7th.

One more season Gareth?

How many goals did his replacement score in your scenario?

Are you seriously suggesting that Spurs have 2 Gareth Bales with the same abilities?

It's difficult to find a more effective player in the Prem that's scored as many last minute or decisive winners. Just off the top of my head - wins again Southampton , West Ham, Sunderland and Norwich (to draw) all scored from the 86th minute onwards. And they weren't tap in's too.

I'm prepared to put my neck out and say they don't have anyone that could produce similar outcomes.

Isn't the argument that if Spurs had a decent striker or two who could put away the chances earlier in the game then they wouldn't need to be "Baled-out" with late wonder goals? (See what I did there....)

[TBM]

Perhaps replacement was the wrong word. I was merely hypothesising.

Got ya

I still feel if Bale goes then Spurs will struggle, even with a decent striker

[Royal With Cheese]

Isn't the argument that if Spurs had a decent striker or two who could put away the chances earlier in the game then they wouldn't need to be "Baled-out" with late wonder goals? (See what I did there....)

for the weak dad style joke.

[soggy biscuit]

Spurs without Bale would have finished 7th.

One more season Gareth?

How many goals did his replacement score in your scenario?

Are you seriously suggesting that Spurs have 2 Gareth Bales with the same abilities?.

Not in the least. I am trying to understand if your suggestion that spurs would have finished 7th without him is based on Spurs playing every game with 10 players or have you removed his goals and instead added in an average amount for someone in his position.

[Royal With Cheese]

Not in the least. I am trying to understand if your suggestion that spurs would have finished 7th without him is based on Spurs playing every game with 10 players or have you removed his goals and instead added in an average amount for someone in his position.

I think that's my entire point. As it stands Bale is one of the best players in the world. Without him I would suggest that perhaps an average midfielder would chip in with 5 or 6. That's 16 less than Bale got.

You talk of chances Spurs got earlier on in matches but how many came about because of Bale's work? Or the doubling up on Bale creating space for other players?

It's not an exact science, it's a gut feeling based on the above.

[soggy biscuit]

Quite sh*t but gave me a couple of small lolz, mainly because this sums up my Spurs supporting m8 perfectly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=leR-FoPRIKc#!

[gazzer, loyal royal]

all the other 91 league clubs have changed their manager since Arsenal last won a trophy

[URZZZZZ]

If arsenal pull the ozil deal off it has the be the best buy of the summer. Quality not quantity as spurs will see at he end of the season

[Royal Rother]

all the other 91 league clubs have changed their manager since Arsenal last won a trophy

And if you add up the Profit and Loss accounts for all 91 other league clubs in that time they would not come close to the amount of money made by Arsenal.

Balance sheet >>> Trophies

[LUX]

"sure you're not serious" gif

[Albert Spangler]

all the other 91 league clubs have changed their manager since Arsenal last won a trophy

And if you add up the Profit and Loss accounts for all 91 other league clubs in that time they would not come close to the amount of money made by Arsenal.

Balance sheet >>> Trophies

While I'm a fan of frugality, success at the right price is what it should be about, not success at any price. Unfortunately, success at any price usually means failure at any price.

[Royal Rother]

Whilst paying for the stadium, I guess they probably have viewed Champions League qualification as success. And at a price they have considered "right".

[Sanguine]

6 wins in a row. Arguably the form team in England. I see the vultures have stopped circling.

Suddenly 'what we had before + Ozil' looks a mighty fine stroke of business.

[URZZZZZ]

Always love watching arsenal play, never a dull game. Arsene does not get half the amount of credit he deserves

[Royal Rother]

I suppose it'll only need a couple of poor results for the phone ins to be clogged with disgruntled Arsenal supporters calling for Wenger's head again.

Meanwhile, what a great start to their season.

Anybody can see we need new defenders was the cry - ermm, 2nd fewest goals conceded last year.

We need a new centre forward - ermm, 3rd highest scorers last year.

Wouldn't it be great if Arsenal and Liverpool could keep it going and grab the top 2 spots this season?

I know, I know - the season's hardly started. Still...

Arsenal didn't have this Ramsey last year. They didn't have Ozil last year. And they didn't really have much of Wilshere last year. And still finished 4th....

And yes, Ramsey's is a heartwarming story really. I thought he was really poor most of last season which was such a shame after the immense promise he'd shown as a teenager. Now he is transformed into something pretty special. He looks a totally different person / player.

[jd82]

They also didn't have Flamini last year, who looks like he's slotted back in nicely

[winchester_royal]

Arsenal and Tottenham will give the top 3 a real run for their money this season. One of either MP or JM won't last the season imo.