Are Arsenal back in the Race?

Robin Van Persie has given Arsene Wenger something to smile about this weekend after his double strike helped Arsenal move to within seven points of Premier League leaders Chelsea.

The stunning comeback could reignite the Gunners season as genuine title contenders according to striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

The 24-year-old said: "It is a very big win because we went through a lot of difficult moments and people wrote us off in the Premier League.

"This is a message that we have sent out. We believe in ourselves, we can do something.

"Forget about what happened in the past — we are always together.

"We always believed we can do something and these are the kind of results we can show again.

"We know we have a great team, a great squad, everyone is ready for it.

"Now everyone can see we have kept our title dreams alive and the important thing is to keep going."

So have we been too hasty in writing off Arsenals chances this season? Can they now mount a serious challenge for the Premier League? Or does this result just blow the title race wide open for the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool?

I don't think any of the current top four are untouchable. I think each have weaknesses although ours have been exposed much more so far.

I think the other three will have more consistency & experience, but I do believe our character and talent will see us keep within a decent amount of points with the top side. I don't think we'll win it because we've made too many mistakes and shown too many weaknesses, but we're certainly not out of it. It's only the beginning of December and there's 7pts between us and the top. Beating Chelsea and Man Utd in the space of a few weeks shows that we're more than capable of competing, so you can't rule us out. However we still have to fill in the cracks and get some consistency. You never know with football and things might just turn around for us in the new year with more players returning from injury and perhaps a new signing which would fill in the cracks.

If we get Adebayor playing well again like last season then it could really benefit our chances & our consistency, whilst the return of Eduardo & Rosický will add more experience, diversity & class.

So we're still in it. But I personally don't think we'll win it, but dearly hope we do.

Far from being a crisis like many other fools were saying though!

The win against Chelsea was massive and shows that Arsenal can be as good as the rest of the top 4 on their day, but I still don't think they can win the title this season. Eventhough it's been said numerous times I still think the team is too young and inexperienced compared to United, Liverpool and Chelsea and losing 5 times in the opening however many games has been played so far does not spell championship material.

They were out of it when they lost to Stoke a few weeks ago,this result over Chelsea was fantastic and will help their confidence a lot,but they have to go unbeaten for the whole of the season from now on which i can't see happening

No, because Arsenal will lose a few more to bad teams who get physical and shut up shop.

Yeah, they're out of it for me.

Can anyone say they've shown evidence to suggest they have what it takes to sustain the consistency needed to win the retrieve the 7 point defeicit and win the league? I certainly haven't. And they need to be much more consistent than Chelsea or ourselves too. To get 90 points they will need to win 21 of the 23 remaining games, lose one and draw another.

I can't see Arsenal being capable of that frankly.

I dont think Arsenal have the depth and consistency to win the title this season so they are not seriously in the race.

Yep, same as you guys. I can't see them being "back in it".



Just incase you was referring to this comment:



That was said in the context of how it was being portrayed in the media, not my actual own thoughts, hence why I said in the same post that I thought Arsenal would nick a point. In fact, I don't think that Chelsea were flying, not in terms of their current form anyway.

Arsenal have averted a mini-crisis, but it was never a full blown crisis. Trust me, I know all about those - 2 points from 8 games and being rooted in the relegation zone is a full blown crisis!!

The one thing that helps Arsenal this year is the fact that the League is quite strong. Just as Arsenal are dropping points to teams they should be beating, the other top 4 are doing the same as well. Chelsea dropped two points to Tottenham early in the season; Liverpool have dropped points to Stoke, Tottenham, Fulham, and tonight to West Ham; United have dropped points to Newcastle and Everton. So there's been quite a few shocks here and there. I only see it continuing as some clubs in the lower half of the table are gaining form and the clubs in the top of the table are tied up on numerous fronts challenging for silverware.

What hurts Arsenal is the 5 losses. If 2 or 3 of those were draws, it wouldn't have been so bad; but unfortunately they were losses.

Arsenal were never out of the race to begin with. It's only the start of December people.

It's a really open race this season. The league seems stronger and none of the top 4 seem to be slip up proof and each of the four have niggly problems that they haven't got right yet.

Arsenal grit at Stamford Bridge was pretty impressive and if the players can just relax more against the teams that park the bus in front of goal and be patient, they could challenge, no doubt.

I don't know if they were ever really out of it to be honest.I think the strength of the league this season is being terribly overlooked.If everyone would just take time and look at some of the results it may shine some light on how tight this race is going to be. people keep knocking teams like Liverpool for drawing against Stoke , fulham and now West ham at home, and then knock Arsenal for loosing to Hull and Fulham.It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that poor performances only has a small part of these results and the ability and strength of these teams have more to do with it. A i said in another thread not even WBA are the same caliber of walkover as their promoted predecessors.
Realizing this a few weeks ago made me look at Arsenals results a little more realistically. I'm not saying that they should have lost against these teams ,but going into these games they were caught off guard by the quality and determination of these teams. It makes for a very exciting league ,even more exciting than last year.

Arsenal won't win the title as their squad isnt big enough to cope with lots of injuries and bans etc....

Their team is to young also and with no real leader on the pitch or experienced older players this will prove crutial.

The best the Gunners can hope for is to finish at least 4th to qualify for the champions league again next season.

Arsenal are still in the title race after their win at Chelsea but are just not good enough to be premier league champions.

Actually, they were never in it.

I agree this is unlikely to happen except is no important players get injured and a defensive midfielder is bought in january

Back in the race???? What race?? If its refering to the race for top 4 (CL spot) then yes. Race for the title....... they were never in it to begin with.

I have nothing against Arsenal, but they will NOT win the Premiership in my oppinion. They don't have the squad and consistancy to challenge for it. Its the beginning of Dec and they have already lost 5 games, they won't be able to make up the points lost.

Arsenal should be contended with a CL spot this season......

A BIG NO

ARESNAL APSOLUTLEY CAME BACK IN RACE FOR THE FIRST PLACE!!!

Arsenal have won against Manchester United and against Chelsea, so they are still in the race.

They were never out of the race but it will be very hard for them to get close to the top spot.

we were top for a week .....