Clrnc This team is so far away it's barely matching our 07-08 great team which finished only 4 points off.
That team only managed 83 points (we can still get 84) and also went on a run with 1 win in 8 games when it seemed like our title to lose. We also collapsed earlier down the line, we were 1 point behind after 34 games this season albeit with an extra game played, in 2008 we were 9 behind after 34 games, and 7 behind Chelsea in second - but that's just splitting hairs.
There's actually a lot of similarities with that season. Both teams defied expectations to challenge, both teams relatively young, both had critical 'what if' moments (Birmingham/Liverpool) that went against us, both comprehensively failed to deal with injuries, and adversity.
Hopefully that's where the similarities end though, because I remember thinking that side just needed a few additions to push further and longer the following year. Instead we lost Flamini, Hleb, Gilberto, Diarra and signed Mikel fucking Silvestre in the summer. For all of the questions about Arteta's man management or his own ability to deal with pressure, I am convinced the man won't allow us to go backwards.
