1.) 16 Feb 2017
15 Feb 2017 23:50:11
We are a long way off being a top European club. It will take many years. But we are going in the right direction. something that had stopped the last 3 years.


2.) 16 Feb 2017
16 Feb 2017 08:53:10
bluegray - I get where you're coming from, but you have to start somewhere. No one is going to come fresh into the Champions League and win it - no matter how many seasons Europa League football they have played. The jump in quality to the very top is just huge.

Take Spurs as the example you brought up. They are perennial qualifiers for Europa League and have a number of years experience in that competition, yet they didn't do well this season in the Champions League.

But, even though they really struggled, I bet their team is significantly stronger as a result. They would have learned more from playing in the group stage this season than 2 seasons of Europa (not that I'm knocking Europa - I just think there's a massive jump up to the top 16 in Champions League) . I think any team would improve more from a painful night away to Bayern than they would a comfortable night playing someone more at their level - and so I would prefer that.

Saying that I think we're currently short of Europa standards - we'd do well to get beyond group stages based on where we are today. So if we get into Europa we'll develop and learn a huge amount from it. As degsy says - we are many many years from being a top European club again, but you only get better by playing teams better than you.


3.) 16 Feb 2017
16 Feb 2017 09:59:59
Would you say Arsenal are a top European club though Degsy, me personally I see them as the weak link in the so called top 4.


4.) 16 Feb 2017
16 Feb 2017 10:33:37
To start qualifying and get beat is one thing. But Arsenal have been there longer than most. It is indeed all they ever harp on about. For them it's very embarrassing but for us if we were to start qualifying then no great deal.


5.) 16 Feb 2017
16 Feb 2017 14:00:33
nobody is going to escape relegation then the next season win the premier league then the year after battle relegation? this is football strange things happen!


6.) 16 Feb 2017
16 Feb 2017 17:36:53
I think Arsenal are a strange case Bluegray87. They are a club who grew organically without too much heavy investment from a sugar daddy. ie unlike Chelsea. They also decided that early on in the creation of the Chapions League, that they would invest in a huge larger ground for their fans. I think they underestimated the cost of building it somewhat and it was a matter of balancing the books re signing players. I think they are through that period now, but for some years they were behind the spending power of Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool. Perhaps part of it was Wenger's stubborn attitude but we will never know how much was down to him. Anyway, yes they are a team that is constantly in 2nd, 3rd or 4th at the moment. but so are Man Utd, Liverpool and perhaps Man City too now? I think their fans have been spoon fed success a few years back and now expect it. I also think that other countries have been a bit better at development and growth. The English clubs have wasted a lot of money and had it very easy. With just a few signings, Arsenal could easily be a top European club again.