Arsenal - Out with the new, in with the old.

Well, where do we start?

King Cesc left for Barca, Clichy and Nasri flew up the Eastlands, and a hatful of youngsters came in, along with the beanpole Mertesacker,  the Ivorian Gervinho, and Arteta from Everton. The majority believed they had simply papered over the cracks, and that they would struggle to compete again.

Cue the season. Arsenal started badly. I say badly, after fans begged for proven strikers and money to be splashed, they shot blanks vs. Newcastle and Liverpool, only to score 2 away at Man Utd. Problem was, they conceded a hatful. 8 to be precise. A few dog-eared performances, including an infamous 4-3 defeat at the hands of Blackburn, and a 2-1 loss to their North London rivals, who had struggled out the blocks themselves.

Arsenal needed a hero. A superhero. Cue Batman, or more importantly, Robin. 10 goals in 6 games from Mr.Van-Persie, and 6 league wins on the trot, the title race was on again, and they couldn’t stop scoring, not more so than in an unexplainable classic at Stamford Bridge, in which they came through 5-3, with a hat-trick from you-know-who. However, the wheels started to falter, a fellow Londoners Fulham frustratingly drew 1-1 at Emirates, and then robbed them late at the Cottage, leaving Arsenal with just 1 point from the 6 available.

So they sit 5^th. 12 points off the lead and potentially out of the race for silverware for another season, whilst Tottenham seem to have progressed at a canter, Arsenal have stagnated, and will potentially just be happy to simply not see their rivals pick up the trophy come May

Of course, now is the time to freshen it up in January, which isn’t quite what Arsene has done. Rumours that Gervinho may leave after a paltry 4 goals from 17 games, and in comes Highbury legend and automotive expert Theirry Henry. So it does seem out with the new, and in with the old. But without an in-form Tony Adams, Patrick Vieira, and a minor miracle, I fail to see Arsenal mounting a title challenge for yet another season.

Best Player So Far - Robin Van Persie. 17 goals in 20 games, and countless assists. Contender for the Ballon D’Or.

Biggest Flop So Far - Maroune Chamakh. Had a season to settle, should be helping with the goal tally, but has only scored 1. Could be gone in January.

Predicted finish. 6^th.

Brad Smith @BrummieBrad

Football Friends bring you the latest football news and opinion from football fans around the world. Football News