My Arsenal hopes and expectations 2012/13

So another new season approaches.Strangely for Arsenal though, we are actually optimistic about it. Every year something happens that fills us with dread but this is different.Yes our captain wants to leave AGAIN but he seems to have no takers. So far we have not  lost any of our squad apart from Vela, which is a good thing, but it also means we still have Squillaci. We’ve completed the two most exciting signings for a long time. We are in for a Spanish international,and a former Bundesliga Player of the Year. Life is good.

Most Gooners this summer

BEAR IN MIND THIS IS A BEST CASE SCENARIO

The fixture list is ok. August should be ok, although Sunderland and Stoke are definitely not easy teams to play early on. I am a bit worried about that month, as Wenger talked about having to give time for Pod and Giroud to settle,so I’d say 4 points would be fair. We have 2 very tricky months-September and January which are identical to each other. They contain new boys Southampton who could be tricky, League champions Man City, Champions League winners and big spending Chelsea, and an average Liverpool side, who could change into a completely different outfit under Brendan Rodgers. In September we are away to Pool and City, and at home for Soton and Chelsea and of course the opposite in January. I think 8 points in both months  would be amazing  for us-Wins v Soton and Liverpool and draws v Chelsea and City. However I dont think we will have enough for the Oil clubs, so I predict 2 losses there. I don’t think they’ll do the double on us though.

Can the money boys top us?

October should be ok, 3 much easier matches against promoted West Ham(A), Norwich (A) and QPR(H). Anything less than all 9 points would be disappointing. November is another tough month, perhaps the toughest if Villa and Fulham are on form. We play Man Utd (A), Fulham (H), Tottenham (H), Aston Villa (A), and Everton (A). My faith in the team will be dented if we don’t beat United. If we can do that the confidence will be flowing and we should make light work of the rest so I predict at least 13 points if we beat them. If we lose that match however, the players will be disappointed and anything less than their A game will be punished, as none of these teams are pushovers so in that case, I would expect 9 points. We’ll probably end up in the middle with 11.

We got incredibly lucky with our December draw. Tough games in this most jam packed of months can be soul destroying but we have no one we should have trouble with bar Newcastle. We play Swansea (H), West Brom (H), Reading (A), Wigan (A), West Ham (H), and Newcastle (H). I honestly think we could max out here, giving us 18 points. At least 16 points is what we should get, drawing only with Newcastle should be our only slip up, any others would be inexcusable.

Christmas cheer for Arsenal?

The post Christmas hangover however will be difficult to overcome

February shouldnt be too hard. Games against Stoke(H), Sunderland(A) and Aston Villa(H) shouldn’t pose too much of a threat so I expect at least 7 points. March is slightly tougher with games v Spurs(A), Everton(H), Swansea(A) and Reading(H). 10 points please Mr Wenger, although I think 12 is entirely possible. April is a bit easier. We play West Brom (A), Norwich(H), Fulham(A) and United(H).We should have collected 9 points in the month before we meet United, who we could do the double over. 10 points? Yes please. May is squeaky bum time. Luckily our matches shouldn’t  be too tense as we play QPR(A), Wigan(H) and Newcastle(A). 7 points at least I think.

So that’s what I think will happen this season. Obviously its VERY optimistic, but we can hope right? I do think we will lose around 5 matches-2 to big teams, and 3 to smaller ones. I think the main candidates for the smaller clubs are Fulham and Everton, or any club near the end who are fighting for survival.

Using very complicated mathematics involving the laws of physics(just taking away and adding) I think we will end up with 79 points. That would be a great season, getting 9 points more than last season. It will only be enough for 3rd I think, as I posted in my PL predictions –>http://strongastheox.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/premier-league-predictions-20122013-the-league-itself

Me working out how many points we will get

Cups wise, I am hopeful. We should win a trophy this season and I think the FA Cup is the one. The League Cup is now such a COC up (geddit?) that none of the big teams play full sides anymore. It does give valuable experience to our young players though, so a Semi-Final would be lovely. I pray that the Champions League draw is kinder to us than it has been for so many years. If we win our group I want an easier tie dammit! Not AC Milan! A quarter final place would be great, another improvement on last year

So that’s it for now guys. I’m going on holidays next week so unless a bolt of inspiration hits me,this will be my last post until I come back, so it could be month before I post on here again. Please leave a comment, share on a social network, and follow me on Twitter @CiansBlog. As always, thanks for reading, and take care.

 

About these ads