re: Arsenal 2012/2013 Season Long Thread

CEO got or is getting a raise, when asked why "we had a good year (profits)"

Earlier in the meeting they said "we define success on results not finance"

Well, which is it HW?

I agree. I imagine that statement will be mocked by a large portion of other fans in the coming days though.

Also of note, Chuba Akpom was added to our CL squad.

I love early season overreaction. First, we're title contenders. Now, we're toast. Ah, to be a Gooner.

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Arsene said there are 5 trophies now: 1) PL 2) CL 3) CL qualification 4) FA Cup 5) League Cup. Says potential new signings don't ask if you've won the League Cup (implying that everyone wants to play in the CL).

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And he's 100% right

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So does the Emirates Cup not count now? Wait, I'm confused.

so i dont watch many arsenal matches and only occasionally check in on this thread, but why does gervinho start? wasnt he playing as a lone forward yesterday? i always thought he was more of a winger and i've actually never seen him play well to be fair i've only seen him play 5-6 times, but that's still not a good omen

I don't think so. League championships are harder, less luck involved, more indicative of the best team in the competition.

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Top 4 > CL

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So winning the UCL is less than earning a spot in the UCL through league?

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I don't think so. League championships are harder, less luck involved, more indicative of the best team in the competition.

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This is why I would feel more pride in Arsenal winning the league over the UCL. I know there is more money in the UCL and people tell me it is a bigger deal, but the fact that the league is 38 games against every team involved makes it feel like a bigger deal. This isn't a Chelsea dig, but I felt like City winning the EPL over the course of 38 games was grander than Chelsea getting hot in April and May to win the UCL. 38 game accomplishment > 13 game accomplishment. Obviously, though, the competition is greater in the UCL.

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Winning the CL is the ultimate prize, even over winning the league.

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Yes, I understand that.

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Well then I'm confused why you would be more proud to win a lesser prize.

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For the reasons I described in my post. I understand that people tell me the UCL is bigger, but there are a lot of things about the domestic league that feel bigger to me.

For one, take a look at the crowd from the Arsenal game yesterday. I saw way more empyty seats than you would expect at an EPL match.

The second reason is the format of the season. If 20 teams made the Champions league and it played out exactly like the EPL as far as playing every team home and away, then I would feel differently. But it isn't. You play 6 games over the course of 4 months, then 3 different aggregate matches, then a final. This all occurs over the course of 10 months. It feels like a very drawn out tournament where you can get hot at the end like Chelsea did.

In the domestic leagues, it's 38 evenly drawn games that occur around 3 times a month. It just feels more continuous and shows more of how good a team is.

Does anyone really think Chelsea was the best team in Europe last year? Can anyone deny that Manchester City was the best team in the EPL last year? That is the reason why the EPL would induce more pride from me.

I understand winning the UCL is the big one, but it's not really comparable to LSU saying they get more joy from winning the SEC title over the NCAA title. Those go hand in hand. The domestic league and the UCL are related, but not in the same season.