Alex Steine
The position, as we prepare to embrace 2014's Premier League commitments, is becoming tangible. Anyone who is aware enough can see the map of the route to the title, and the likely outcome of the race. Firstly, though, it is perhaps prudent to rewind and reflect on the journey so far. Before a ball was kicked, we had the usual suspects posing and preening, the pretenders aping them but in a clumsy and over-the-top fashion. An irrelevant ingredient, certainly to Arsenal fans, was the media pundits’ two pennyworth, and that in all honesty was its true value - two pence!
We at the Arsenal have had to listen to these power-fuelled fools for years, until we began to see that the emperor wasn't wearing clothes and slowly began to switch off mentally. Sadly, as with all things in life, they still influence some. The power of the spoken word, especially cloaked in faux importance through TV and radio appearances, still beguiles some. They in turn espouse the off-the-shelf views and patent them as their own original ones. So the mentality gathers pace like a snowball tumbling downhill. It doesn't mean anything, but views are often clouded in the smokescreen created by it. It all needs discarding; instantly it is by many, and summarily it is by the rest.
What did we know? Well we certainly knew we were a better shot than the footballing establishment gave us credit for. Also that Tottenham finishing above us was another unlikely pipedream. We were asking - in some quarters demanding - a "world class" striker, and we perhaps felt it would seriously affect our season, as it still might, because one didn't arrive. Still, we got Mesut Ozil, which was heralded as a step in the right direction, but the plaintive plea for a striker continues and may be realised before the month is out, but I shan't be holding my breath. However our form throughout 2013 has been consistent and that has been a missing ingredient for too long, so feelings were guardedly optimistic amongst many of the brethren. One or two setbacks along the way occurred but our ship was steadied and ploughed on through the choppy seas. Now the waters are more pacific.
Before the season began the main contenders shaped as thus - the original and perennial top four, namely Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd were ready and all but ourselves with new figureheads. Conjecture ensued that perhaps it would affect the other three. Perhaps it would. The second tier of the top teams comprised notably Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton. Most imagined the top four contesting CL places and the other three battling for the crumbs of the Europa League. Due to the domino effect, Everton had a new man at the helm, Liverpool had an unsettled and suspended Suarez, and Tottenham were playing silly buggers as usual. Selling their one world-class player and doing a supermarket sweep; that was seriously suspect. There were never going to be any other players.
So the season was under way and slowly gathered a head of steam. Suarez came back, and with the loudest of bangs. Everton maintained their prowess, Man U started to unravel, Man City looked inconsistent as usual, Chelsea always ominous but a little less so. We surprised ourselves by continuing our early year form, with a tighter defence, more maturity and a bigger sense of belief, both amongst the team and the fans. Tottenham, refusing to live up to their own pre-season hype, went in circles again, dispensing with their manager en route, and as likely as not soon to dispense with his replacement. The early season interlopers, Southampton and latterly Newcastle always able to hurt the biggest seven, are not able to sustain any worthwhile challenge. So slowly we see them fade off the pace.
Twenty games in, a new year beckoning, and we have the shape of things to come. We are riding high by a point with the two juggernauts of Man City and Chelsea breathing down our necks. Only just registering on the radar in seventh place, a shell-shocked Man U, and their most ambitious inclination is to get above Tottenham who occupy sixth place. That speaks volumes. Tottenham, of course, confuse and confound themselves so probably their ambition is to just stay in contact with Man U. That leaves Everton, who are easily able to compete with Liverpool, providing the "Suarez effect" bubble bursts soon. So, in summary, we see the likely champion coming from the top three. Can we keep up the momentum? Are Chelsea strong enough to go to the front and stay there? Can Man City overcome their poor away form and stride on for the title? Who gets the fourth CL spot? Liverpool if they keep their heads and their best player? Everton, who look more equipped than their neighbour and will rely much less on one player? Tottenham, if they find an unlikely magic lamp? Or Man U, who look rudderless but can always surprise?
In our heart of hearts, we probably expected a similar development in the league places to date, with a few tweaks happening here and there. We knew we would be good enough to offer but not perhaps to dictate, and our two rivals are no surprise. Merseyside would as likely as not send its two warriors in to contest the last CL place, Man U we guessed and hoped would struggle due to the changeover and so it's proven, and Tottenham? Well that's just Tottenham for you. Eighteen games to go, positions not cemented yet but giving the strongest suggestion that they may be very close to the finishing order. An interesting season so far. Let's hope the interest from Arsenal fans runs throughout. It just might, you know.
