Arsenal qualify for Champions League if....

*Arsenal win
*Spurs do not win

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Spurs qualify for Champions League if....

*Arsenal do not win and Spurs win

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Chelsea finishes 3rd if....

*Chelsea win
*Arsenal do not win
*Arsenal wins by a single goal, Chelsea draws, and Arsenal score no more than two goals compared to Chelsea.

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Arsenal finishes 3rd if....

*Chelsea lose and Arsenal win
*Chelsea draw and Arsenal win by 2 or more goals
*Chelsea draw and Arsenal win by 1 goal, scoring 3 or more goals than Chelsea.

The Premier League has lost its 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th longest serving managers at a single club this season:

Ferguson (since 1986)
*Wenger (since 1996)
Moyes (since 2002)
*Pulis (since 2006)
Martinez (since Jun 2009)
Mancini (since Dec 2009)
*Pardew (since Dec 2010)
*Allardyce (since Jun 2011)
*Jol (since Jun 2011)

Making the list made me suddenly aware of how inexperienced managers were this year with their respective clubs. Incredible to think that more than half of the current managers began their job sometime in 2012, less than 2 years ago

After 30 games played

ManUtd 77 (+40)
ManCity 62 (+29)
Spurs 57 (+15) (one extra game played)
Chelsea 55 (+27)
Arsenal 53 (+26)

Only pity today is that we didn't win by more, but good wise we're still doing pretty good. Chelsea lost, but we're still not in control of our destiny. We're very close to it though, and once that extra game is taken into account, 3rd to 5th could be separated by just two points. City look to be safe, but too far from the title.

Southampton 34 (-9) (one extra game played)
Norwich 34 (-19) (one extra game played)
Newcastle 33 (-15) (one extra game played)
Sunderland 31 (-11) (one extra game played)
Wigan 30 (-20)
Villa 30 (-25)
QPR 23 (-22)
Reading 23 (-25) (one extra game played)

Reading are pretty much out of it now, and QPR must win tomorrow at Fulham to have any glimmer of hope. Wigan's 1-0 win over Norwich elevate them out of the relegation zone, so Villa will need a draw against Liverpool tomorrow to gain 17th place back. 13th through 16th look somewhat safe, but they have played an extra game, so it's too early to breathe easy

Sj's Rant
Mar/13/2013

Amidst the Proud Performance Rises the Heartbreaking Reality

A 2-0 win in Munich seems good on paper for confidence. But is it just me that thinks we actually played below-par in offense and a little bit better in defence? (we still gave up 1-on-1 chances and some shots right outside the box)

I think the reason our defence was good was in large part because Munich just played awful. Of course, you can argue that we caused them to play awful, but I don't think we can take sole credit for their bad performance. In fact, their "bad" performance had many more shots on goal than our "good" performance.

I know the result may have been "positive" and "proud, " but I'm not sure our performance really was. Arteta's constant fouling, Giroud's childish decision-making, below-par passing, and inability to get shooting chances, are just a few of the bad things I recognized in today's performance. Add to that list the constant question mark over Wenger's substitutions as well as the lack of a striking option other than Giroud.

All in all, I have my doubts as to whether Wenger will feel happy at all. The one positive (and I'll admit it's a big positive) we can take is that the team was committed to the cause. But that doesn't hide the fact that we have both internal and external cracks that need to be properly filled - not simply papered over

Sj's Rant
Jan/31/2013

Theolivier

If you aren't already excited about Walcott and Giroud, just wait until next season. Walcott has just signed a new $100, 000p/w deal with Arsenal, which goes well with the British fans and media. In addition, Theo has "improved in all aspects" on the pitch as well, leading the team with 18 goals and also boasting double-digit assists.

As for Giroud, having scored just two goals from Nov 21 to Jan 22, he has exploded with five goals (and several assists) in his last three games. His movement and vision has been fantastic - almost RvP-like - although his execution hasn't been quite up to that level.

But what's really been exciting these past two weeks is not just that they have performed well separately, but that they have bonded together. Walcott has found ways to play effectively with a big center in Giroud, and his presence has made it easier for Theo to play against teams with deeper defenses, something he wasn't able to do in seasons past. Another worry when RvP left was that Walcott liked to cross the ball low, but he has successfully replaced that aspect of his game by taking advantage of Giroud's contrast to drift in and play flashes of 4-4-2. The next challenge for Theo is to "think" more - again something he's always struggled with - and pick out Giroud in the middle when given the opportunity.

Giroud has also done well and started his Arsenal career brightly. He offers a different dimension to Arsenal, a physical target man for long defensive punts and set pieces. But Giroud is really set apart from the other big men by his vision and critical thinking. Of course he still has to execute better, but his one-two assists and team play has been phenomenal. Giroud too has benefitted from Walcott's contrasting physicality, and this awkward combination of size/vision and speed/directness has kept defenses off-balance and struggling to stick to one defensive game plan.

The pair have been on a tear lately, but it's exciting that they show signs of further growth, both as individuals and as striking partners. I don't know if Wenger will move back to a 4-4-2, but Giroud's vision and Walcott's transformation from a winger gives you a certain Bergkamp-Henry kind of chill. There probably won't be any deadline day signings for us today, but things are already looking upward for next season - provided that we make the Champions League