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Norwich Put Arsenal In The Driving Seat

After the rather disappointing loss to QPR at Loftus Road last Saturday the feeling in the Gooner camp was that the race for 3rd place (and possibly 4th) was well and truly going down to the wire.

That still may be the case, but the events of Easter weekend have left us feeling a whole lot more comfortable, and it would have been more comfortable still had the linesmen at Stamford Bridge been anything approaching competent.

After a mundane 0-0 draw with Sunderland at the weekend, 'Arry`s Army followed it up with a sensational 2-1 reverse at home to Norwich earlier today (I saw via Twitter that Norwich had acquired more points in 2012 than Spurs and in fewer games) as their stunning collapse continues. At 2-0 up at our place in the recent North London Derby Tottenham sat a lofty 13 points above us. Fast forward a few weeks and we find ourselves in the rather agreeable position of being able to move 5 points clear of them should we beat Wolves on Wednesday.

Whilst Tottenham`s latest set back does put us in the driving seat and on course for one of the most hilarious St Totteringham`s days in recent history, now is not the time for complacency. Our intensity is critical

Indeed we only need to look to our neighbours to see where cockiness and premature celebration gets you. For the next six games we need complete and total focus. It`s imperative that we do not take our foot off the gas and keep this momentum going.

One criticism that could be fairly aimed at us in recent years would be our tendency to get ourselves in good positions and then take it for granted, and that thought process ultimately ends in humiliation.

After our hideous start to the season it`s taken a gargantuan effort to ensure we have Champions League football for another season, and to waste that effort now would be almost criminal.

So here`s hoping Wenger and the boys go for the jugular on Wednesday at Wolves, we need to be ruthless, unmerciful and deadly, and we need to play that way till the end of the season.

Automatic qualification could be vital in sorting out quick business in the summer and preparing ourselves for a genuine assault on the title next season.

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Writer: Rocky7

Date:Monday April 9 2012

Time: 6:18PM

Your Comments

3 points on Wednesday and we have daylight between us and the chasing pack. A win is an absalut must and we cannot afford any slip ups.

Armory

Absolutely no room for complacency

Sajit

Well said Rocky. Forget about the 8 wins in 9. Focus on the 1 loss at QPR. These end of season games against teams at the bottom (especially away) are ANYTHING BUT STRAIGHTFORWARD. Keep up the focus, intensity and will to win every ball. No matter Wolves's agonies and Terry Connor's plight- we have to be RUTHLESS on Wednesday. We MUST try to stretch away now. Lady Luck is back with Chelski and Newcastle's form frankly unbelievable. Keep working hard and forget about what's going on behind.

julieloveshenry4ever

I'm nervous as things could still change, the game against Chelsea is critical. Every game is crucial, and the QPR game has taught us that there are no easy 3 pts, even against WBA. Stoke is also going to be a tough game, so it is nowhere close to being over.

prits

Besides, we play Norwich too... Its up for grabs now..

Sajit

It is by no means over. But what we've got is momentum and lessons learnt (hopefully) from the QPR game. I don't see us dropping points against those we are expected to beat; certainly not Chelsea, whom we beat at SB, by the way. Now City has been beaten, I find our fans almost suggesting we beat a weak City side. Well, I am not sure who else this team needs to beat (Man U, perhaps; that will happen next season) to show that it has grown and can handle the pressure better, these days. City met a better Arsenal side and couldn't handle it and neither will the chavs from West London.

Naijagunner

There's definatel a belief in this team right now, a belief from the players that has spread to the fans. I also think this team has shown Arsene Wenger that experienced players are essential to success. Mikel Arteta has been wonderful since he joined, even better than he was at Everton. Many described him as the poor man's Fabregas, and whilst he isn't up to Cesc's standards technically, his experience, maturity and professionalism has been vital to us.

Rocky7

I'll happily swap 6 mi for Clint Dempsey. get in.

Sajit

The man just knows how to get vital goals. Fulham 1-1 chelsea.

Naijagunner

What a weekend! Excellent. I still kinda feel ripped off by the Chelsea - Wigan game. I want to feel happy for Newcastle, but after what that bell end Pardew said about our CL team in 2006 it's a it of a struggle.

Rocky7

You refering to the Wenger hates English crap, Rocky? Lol.. Look at the number of foreign players in NUFCs team. :)

Sajit

Will never forgive Pardew for this piece of ****ishness.. http://youtu.be/E4aQSphwits

Sajit

I haven't forgiven Pardew for screaming "Made in England" in Arsene's face. He is a complete TOOL.

julieloveshenry4ever

Our away form has not been very convincing this year and its the away games where we may falter. The performance against Wolves will tell us how much we want 3rd place. With Chelsea drawing and Spurs losing there hasn't been a better time to capitalise.

Deltaforce

i observed the one main factor in our wins lately - everyone fulfill their defensive duties. when we are not conceding, we seems to have the edge for a late goal. by chasing down our opponents, it naturally instills a sense of urgency into our game and create more off ball movements for counter attacks. i hope our wingers realise this too as they are very prone to ball watching when the team are being attacked

Joe_@**

Think it's our away fixtures that are going to determine our fate this season. As Deltaforce says, we haven't played well away from home recently. Need to be as determined against Wolves as we were against City and not fall into our trap of thinking we're superior so we'll just play our football and the win will follow. Can only hope that with the QPR result so recent, it will serve as a blueprint on how not to approach the game at Wolves. We need to make the next 5 games count because going away anywhere on the last day of the season needing something is never easy.

Gooner_Vin

Can't believe you guys are nervous about Wolves! That game has to be the nearest thing to a guaranteed 3 points there can be in the league right now.

You guys are in the box seat & you will have nailed 3rd by end of play tomorrow. As has already been said, you have that most valuable commodity needed at this time in the season - momentum, so enjoy, you've earned it.

Spuds-U-Like

Oh, & I liked your "Poznan" a well on Sunday, brilliant!

Spuds-U-Like

Have to say fair play to wenger for getting the best out of the poorest arsenal team in years to still consistantly out peform spurs's best team for years. Do the goons fancy lending him to us for a year or so? Also maybe vp can teach our muppets how to finish....

JESUS WAS A YID

Not for a 100million pounds, we wouldn't, YID. Anything more and you'll have to speak with the Board. Lol!

Naijagunner

This sort of scenario is set up to be a classic for Arsenal. Beat City and then lose against Wolves. The worrying thing is that we don’t seem to learn that the intensity, the pressing and the work-rate should be applied to every game regardless of the opposition (I’m looking at you particularly Alex but everyone has been guilty in the past). The Catalan Cheats hunt from the front by pressing and harrying the opposition into mistakes, Messi included. When we can drive ourselves with this sort of work ethic then I think we will have a decent chance at winning something.

Sir Henry

Spuds, I'm sure we don't have to remind you how funny a game this is. On cloud 9 one week, down in the depths of despair the next. Anything is possible, and we are well aware that Spurs have the easiest run-in on paper. We gooners are not in the habit of counting chickens (no matter how tempting).

Wyn Mills

Fair point Wyn, but I still think 3rd will be yours to lose now.

Spuds-U-Like

Amen. Sir Henry. Could not agree more

Sajit

I'm not so sure we haven't learned SH, aside from the QPR game when we had an off day we've been pretty damn good even since that mauling in the San Siro.

Rocky7

Fear not gooners, our manager has the tactical nous of a dungbeetle. King is past it, key players are knackered, Harry loaned our entire bench out in January and to rub things in more we just aint getting any luck. Luck is now everything, look at recent undeserved victorys Newcastle and especially Chelsea have been getting recently... When was the last time fluked a last minute winner, 2008? Enjoy St. Tottinghams day, it will be a sweet one im sure. Im just glad i hadnt yet thought of the Arsenal version before our incredible collapse.

HuddersfieldYiddo

SUL - it's exactly that attitude that has been the downfall of the spurs fan. You looked at your run and said - 'hey, there are so many easy 3 pointers'. If there is a team that is capable of losing 3 pts to a Wolves side, it is this Arsenal team, although I'm hoping that they have learned their lessons (the signs are promising that they have).

prits

I wouldn't say you haven't been getting any luck HY - You had a tremendous amount of luck in that Norwich game, you could have been hammered had the ref got the two pens and the sending off right. People often seem to forget about the luck they get in the games they've lost, it's not luck's fault you didn't capitalise on that fortune. Had you done that you'd be above us now and the race would be well and truly on. It still is on, but it's just a little more in our favour.

Rocky7

What "attitude" is that then? I merely expressed the opinion that any team playing Wolves AT THE MOMENT is as guaranteed to get 3 points as its ever been possible before, they can't buy a win right now. As for this current Arsenal team being capable of losing this game, I'd agree with you if the team going into this was the same one that played before the NLD, but its a totally different animal now & if you come away with anything other than 3 points I'll be gobsmacked, very happy, but gobsmacked.

FYI, most Spurs fans do not fit your stereotype at all, we're pessimists by nature, but then we've had a lot of practice!

Spuds-U-Like

I should have clarified that - most Spurs fans who visit this site. We only have 2-3 sensible visitors from vitalspurs on here.

prits

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Norwich Put Arsenal In The Driving Seat

Writer: Rocky7

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