The race for Champions League football

The City - Arsenal game yesterday was the best game not involving Liverpool that I've seen this season. It showed we are still someway behind the topteams but we are closing the gap rapidly. I can only see us getting stronger in the second half of the season and i really do believe we can finish top 3.

I thought it was a very tight and hard-fought game...but not as good as when City visited Anfield. That was like a basketball match, the way the teams attacked as soon as they got possession. It was a real physical encounter as well, and the players must have been shattered after the game.

We put a hell of a lot of effort into every single game, we've just not taken enough of the many chances we create.

I did say the best game not involving Liverpool  . I take your point about our game against City being end to end and I think that is part of the reason we do better against the top sides. When we play the likes of the mancs , Chelsea and Arsenal the games are much more open as both sides think they can win. With the lesser teams they will play us hoping not to lose and put out a team to stifle our play. Of course they do this against the other top sides as well. It is the fact that they don't seem to slip up against these teams (well, not as often as us anyway) that shows we still have a way to go to challenge them. But we're not far off now.

I don't disagree with that. And as you said earlier, we tend to put in a high level of effort every game. Unfortunately,on occasions, we lack the guile to break down the ultra defensive sides.

I find it incredible so many of you think Arsenal are a one man team and that man is RVP.

Sit back and take a more considered look  They were at the start piss poor and down near the bottom and now look at them. I don't mean to be rude but RVP hasn't achieved that alone. They are a side that breaks quickly and then set up the likes of RVP but he would be nothing and not score but for the providing of others.
Song for instance is highly underated for starters and they have Ramsey, Rosicky, Arshavin, Arteta, Walcott etc who surge from midfield.

I am no gunners fan but they have pulled them selves right up there and it isn't just RVP who got them there. They will undoubtedly be a lesser team without him but it wont be the end of Arsenal. They have shown that before when he's been injured. I think they will be a better bet for top for than Chelsea.

The difference is Darlo, RVP takes a high percentage of his chances. The likes of Walcott, Ramsey, Arshavin, Arteta and Rosicky can be very very wasteful.

They clearly are not a one-man team, but they do heavily rely on him. He has scored 15 out of 31 goals and also provided 4 assists.

That is a lot to lose if he refuses a new deal.