2016/17 - ??? 2015/16 - 2nd, 10 points off the top. CL last 16. FA Cup 1/4 final. 2014/15 - 3rd, 12 points off the top. CL last 16. FA Cup winners. 2013/14 - 4th, 7 points off the top, CL last 16. FA Cup winners. 2012/13 - 4th, 16 points off the top, CL last 16. FA Cup 5th round. 2011/12 - 3rd, 19 points off the top, CL last 16. FA Cup. FA Cup 5th round. What would be the minimum you think we need to achieve this season to conclude we've made some progress? For me, only the CL and PL are competitions that represent the opportunity to demonstrate progress. The FA cup comes and goes and is nice when it happens. But for me, we either need to win the league, or come 2nd and get to the last 8 of the CL. 2nd place and a loss to Bayern would be status quo and stagnation. 3rd or lower and out to Bayern would be the pits and us going backwards.
Apart from winning the title, challenging for the title until the very end will show progress. If we fall apart around Jan-Feb, then we haven't made any progress. No point playing flashy stuff if we're going to mentally capitulate, that is the most annoying.
Well last season you finished second, so the only way to progress from there is 1st! Speaking sensibly though, as much as I think Wenger is a clown shoe, you have improved from last season. Although your starting XI isn't miles stronger, you have got a much better squad and can cope with injuries better. Last season, finishing 2nd wasn't really difficult, Leicester won the league and Spurs were up there too. Most of the usual top teams had nightmare seasons. It was only really you guys who stayed up there. City were meh, United were mediocre as ****, Liverpool were ****e and Chelsea had a complete ****ing meltdown. Last year was a golden opportunity, which, surprisingly, Leicester stepped forward to take advantage of. Although the Manc clubs are still looking a tad ropey, ourselves and Liverpool seem to have, at least somewhat, gotten our **** together. I think, even if you don't win the league, if you at least challenge and are still in with a shout come April, then thats progress. And you have to beat Bayern now guys, come on, you owe them a tonking!!
I agree, for a club with your resources challenging all the way is the only acceptable season that you should accept.
No one can say for certain they will win but we have enough quality to be challenging to the very end. The title should be the first and last priority for us this season.
Winning the league is the ultimate prize, but any improvement in the CL this year and finishing at least 2nd (hopefully 1st) would represent an improvement.
It is difficult to argue that anything less than a top 2 finish in either the EPL or the CL will represent progress.
We were 2nd last time round, dont know if 2nd again will represent progress. Challenging for the title and still failing with couple of games to go is still failure and will leave a bad taste in the mouth. I would have thought winning the title would represent real progress and nothing else. It was (and probably still) all to play for.