Although I am not a sports writer by any stretch of the imagination, I thought I would do something a bit different this season as the Barclay’s Premier League and the UEFA Champions League get underway: I am going to offer my own prediction about how the Gunners will fare this season.
I follow Arsenal pretty closely, regularly reading the news about the team, the players, transfers and injuries. There are definitely people who know more than I, yet there are surely those who call themselves sports fans who know less. So I am somewhere in between.
In thinking about whether or not my prediction will add anything to the sporting conversations this season, my feeling is that it will. Sports fans argue about everything often with little or no understanding or knowledge of the facts. Why should I be any different?
Therefore, without further ado, my prediction:
Arsenal will finish in 7th place in the league and will progress far into the Carling Cup campaign, but alas, will not win it. There will be no Champions League or FA Cup trophies for us this year.
There! I’ve said it. I’ve written it down. I’ve published it. Now all we need to do is wait to see if I am correct.
Your pessimism, I presume, comes from spending too much time in England. For the record I think you will finish better than 7th. Probably 5th. My prediction – Man U, Man C, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal. To go down Swansea, QPR, Blackburn. Champions League cannot see anyone but Barca. FA Cup Brighton (that’s more of a hope I want them to go up this year)
@ Philip,
I think Arsenal will compete for that fourth spot, but will face competition from Spurs, and perhaps Villa. I expect that Arsenal will run out of steam towards the end of the season.
As for relegation, I think your suggestions are good. Wolves always struggle to stay up, but maybe this year will be different for them.