[WBA-Josh]

Swansea will probably have the new manager bounce that we haven't had under Pardew and will pull away from the relegation zone before being dragged back into it after a month. A few weeks ago West Ham and Crystal Palace pulled away and now their both back in trouble.

The matches against West Ham, Brighton and Everton in January are going to be massive for the outcome of our season. 7 points from the next 4 matches has to be the minimum return.

---

Tony Pulis lost his first game in charge of Middlesbrough today. I've had a look at their social media and forums and as expected there's moaning already about the negative football they played at home against an underperforming Villa. Good luck to their necks.

[tidy]

There we go. The inevitable has happened. Bottom of the league after the donkeys at Watford couldn't be arsed. What was all the hype about their manager?

[drewks]

1) There are 7 teams within 5 points of us
2) It's still December

Panic not, dear friends

[Salopbaggie]

and Palace mange to hold Man City

[valpayne]

In the words of the immortal Mr Quint. Not too good is it chief?
We cannot afford to lose today or were going to start getting cut adrift but this is arsenal and were on the telly at home during the festive period cats chance in hell then
On the plus side if you believe in fate My sky box went titty up while i was away at xmas which means I cannot record the game and I'm at work
till 22.30 so I cannot watch the game either now if I apply the rules of how we always got a result when I was in the studio and bend this superstition
as far as it will go then there's hope surely??? One can but dream. now wheres my flying ford anglia

[Baggiebob(BBB)]

and Palace mange to hold Man City    

 Which will still mean we'd be in the bottom three even IF we beat Arsenal. What joy for the New Year, eh!

 Though still hoping for a rapid rise UP the table 

[WBA-Josh]

[4evaabaggie]

Pardew has picked his team to win ........ it's arsenal

[baggietrousers]

ffs, how many more times do we have to play against 12 men!!

[Borders Baggie]

Decent first half.
One thing, why do we more often than not cross from deep rather than try to get to the by line?
Surely against top defenders you have a better chance of scoring if you can get them turning towards goal rather than the ball being in front of them. Seemed to play that way for Pulis too.