watched man city last night and it showed where we are short. need to bring in 2 midfielders and 1 stiker.for us to compete we need a class midfield, fernandes and ireland to soft ned a gatuso orgerrard type players what do other blues think.

What a load of tosh! Great idea, let's just ruin domestic football shall we... the gap is closing between the top 4 and the rest, give it 2 more seasons and there will not be so much of a gap! If you want to improve the domestic game in England, reduce the number of Champions League places available to English clubs to 2!!!

What a load of cack! Arsenal have consistently spent far less than most teams in the league, never mind the likes of Chelsea, liverpool and uNITED. tOTTNUM, NEWCASTLE, cITY, eVERTON HAVE ALL SPENT MORE THAN THE gUNNERS. eVEN sUNDERLAND HAVE DONE THIS YEAR. sO, TO RECAP, WHILE THE PRETENDERS OF whl SPEND FORTUNES, aRSENAL CONTINUE TO PUNCH WELL ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT SHOWING THAT GREAT MANAGERS CANB GET RESULTS WITHOUT RESORTING TO THE OPEN CHEQUEBOOK.

another great article, especially seeing as the prem is as open as it has ever been in the last ten years...maybe not in terms of where the title will end up, but in terms of the league as a whole...

If we were to remove the big 4 what do you think would happen? There would be teams that start to dominate again and over the following 5 - 10 seasons the same pattern would appear. Not to mention where would you plan on putting the "big 4"? European Super league... I hope not!!!

oh god i wish i sell my 2 million home if you can get rid of arsenal

I suspect your heading for a wake up when Liverpool finish 5th or sixth. Personally, I would settle for the current top four being refereed in a similar manner to the rest of the league - that would cut down the points gap straight away.

As a THFC fan, I totally disagree with everything that's been said here; let's take a look at, specifically, Tottenham. We finished fifth for the past two seasons, and the only reason that we didn't finish fourth is because the players came down with food-poisoning in the final match of last season. Otherwise, they were fourth for the entire second half of the season. Also, we have just as good a chance as Arsenal to win the Carling this year; anyone who saw their league match this month would know as much. And what is this about giving the Championship more attention? People the world over pay to watch the EPL because it IS the richest league, and thus can attract the best players from all over. It is the most international and competitive league that there is, because the highest reward is attached with being in the EPL. And for the record, yes, Fulham are a bigger club than Wolverhampton, and yes, Bolton are much bigger than West Brom - anyone who has followed the premiership over the past ten years know

whatsoever..the premier league is a very entertaining affair........

[quote]If we were to remove the big 4 what do you think would happen? There would be teams that start to dominate again and over the following 5 - 10 seasons the same pattern would appear. Not to mention where would you plan on putting the "big 4"? European Super league... I hope not!!![/quote] Excellent post. You're quite right. Get rid of the current top four and you'd soon have a new elite. Even though, as a Spurs fan, I cannot reasonably hope for my team to challenge for the Premiership in the immediate future, I see no reason why that shouldn't change. Spurs, like a few other clubs, has enough fans and enough money to believe that they can eventually crack the top four and win the Premiership. And it would only be a truly worthwhile achievement for any club if they had to beat ALL England's clubs to do so. To win a Premiership shorn of the current top four would be a hollow victory indeed.

this is actually a great article and you make lots of good points but another team can make it more competitive by making it a 5 or 6 team race

[quote]As a THFC fan, I totally disagree with everything that's been said here; let's take a look at, specifically, Tottenham. We finished fifth for the past two seasons, and the only reason that we didn't finish fourth is because the players came down with food-poisoning in the final match of last season. Otherwise, they were fourth for the entire second half of the season. Also, we have just as good a chance as Arsenal to win the Carling this year; anyone who saw their league match this month would know as much. And what is this about giving the Championship more attention? People the world over pay to watch the EPL because it IS the richest league, and thus can attract the best players from all over. It is the most international and competitive league that there is, because the highest reward is attached with being in the EPL. And for the record, yes, Fulham are a bigger club than Wolverhampton, and yes, Bolton are much bigger than West Brom - anyone who has followed the premiership over the past ten year

Good idea, so we won't bother with the likes of thuggish Bolton, Blackburn etc But be watching beautiful football

Cannot agree with the article.Cos in italy and spain league only one or two teams dominate the league while other teams are very minor and uncapable.Italy AC Milan and Inter,Spain Real M. and Barca, all this teams i mentioned won many times of the league title as compare to the english big four.No disrespect to any league,but I think english league is much more competitive.Teams from english premier mid table as compare to other league,are capable to challenge with the top.So y don't get rid of r.mad or ac milan etc. first???

west ham beat united, boro beat arsenal. If you look at net transfer spending over the past ten years it is fact that arsenal are not in the top four in terms of net spending. Maybe instead of kicking the top four out maybe the rest of the league should keep thier managers for more than 5 minutes. Arsenal have Wenger for 10 years not all of them good, but they stuck with him and achieve success. Man United have had Fergie for 20 Rafa's been at liverpool 4 years and counting and have achieved success. Look outside the top 4 which teams have finished consistently in the top 8, Everton who have stuck with Moyes even after finishing in the bottom half the year after finishing 4th. Blackburn have stuck with Mark Hughes. On the other hand Newcastle, Spurs change manager whenever they loose 3 games and wonder why they never progress. Portsmouth are another exapmle nealy got relegated, stuck with redknapp and are progressing. Look what happened in the period redknapp was at southhamton. Bottom line is stability bree

It is sadly true that the Premiership is now only open to 4 clubs, despite the 'nearly' performances of Everton and Spurs recently. Let's not forget that even they had to sell Rooney and Carrick recently, and the pro Man U press are again trying to make Berbatov move. It is a fact now that top players only want to play in the CL, and whether they arrive at a CL team thought a big money transfer or are picked up earlier in their careers by Arsenal, the effect is the same. How to change it? Firstly, introduce a rule that no team can be in the CL two years running unless they win it. This will immediately increase the number of Prem teams with a chance to 8 or more. Add to this a limit on the squad sizes allowed and the number of non UK players in each club and you will have a competitive league again with the best players spread out among more clubs, not bench warming for the current CL teams. Someone at the FA needs the balls to deal with the curreny monopoly. In any other business it would be considered ill

A team that dominated the league, in all the years I've watched football one team has always been head and shoulders above the rest, in fact its more open.In my humble opinion with the advent of more money coming into the prem, a more competative league will ensue, as more players are drawn to the higher wage structure the EPL offer. I prefer the league at it stands at the moment, than it was in the seventies, eighties (Liverpool), and the ninteties (Man Utd, every other season, with the occaisional blip (Arsenal). The question is really is it better to watch nowdays, is the product value for money?, and can it be improved upon!

[quote]Good idea, so we won't bother with the likes of thuggish Bolton, Blackburn etc But be watching beautiful football[/quote] yes lets play hoofball and use are hands to score goals. Thats the football i want to see

Totally agree. Spurs finished 5th two seasons running, have spent a fortune and have been closest of any team to break in. This is however the problem as their best player wants to play in the CL and as spurs won't make that this year he'll be off to one of the big 4. If Man City continue to perform well but don't crack the top 4, Micah Richards (who is already stalling on a new contact) Elano and the likes will also have their heads turned and be off. As such the players contracts mean clish and the CL is a closed shop. As for reducing the number of teams in the CL seems like a good idea two teams would mean that the CL places are not guranteed and so top players might be tempted to stay with their current teams. As for Arsenal - runing English football, how can you have a side that has only two domestic players that ever even make the squad? Why don't they go and play in France as their players would feel more at home. Also all this Wenger hasn't spent hardly any money!!!!! Yes he has! Walcott Adebayor,

I could not agree more get rid of the top 4 and lets have a competitive league great idea.I am so fed up now with prem football its all about money and we the fans get ripped off every time.

Please stop grouping Arsenal with the others..... Why are ManU, Pool and Chelsea again lining up to spend big in Jan? because they cannot compete with the Arsenal youth system! The only player to break in off the bat was Sagna....and who had heard of him in the past, hell, Flamini? Betdner? Eduardo? Here is a great idea.....get a good team of scouts! Quit being lazy and relying on debt spending. By the way....on the Man City game: Haman ruled the midfield yesterday and had Sven solved the pathalogical need to give away the bad final pass in the last 30 yards, City would have one. Sven has done a great job with City but he couldn't correct the final pass. Corluka should have been pulled at halftime. To conclude...there is a top 2, not a top 4. Pool and Chelsea cannot seriously challenge. If the lesser teams want to compete...get scouts and make better purchases....and learn to pass in triangles and run into space.....it really is that simple!

Absolutely true.the gap may be closing but same old, same old i'm afraid.Outside the top 4 the rest are only also rans.s*** league where the top 4 need the rest more than we need them.

one of the best article about english football(or football in generally) I've read for a long time.Bravo and keep doing that way!

A Gooner above slagged off "thuggish" Bolton and Blackburn, others mention that that old chestnut "the hoof"... well, the gap IS closing. I saw Everton-Arseanl at the weekend and there was only one team there being thuggish (that tackle on AJ was shocking) and hoofing it up field to chase(and it worked for Arsenal). Yes, the gap ois closing.

I went to the city liverpool game yesterday. On the way home I had to listen to a load of scousers moaning about city not attacking, and liverpool not taking chances. At half time liverpool were lucky to be level. City were much the better team at half time. I admit that city had to hold on in the second half, but Liverpool aren't all that. With a couple of new players, i.e. a world class striker (please frank, give sven the money to sign berbatov) and maybe a right winger with similar pace to petrov, we can def challenge for a top four place. This is the best prewier league in years. City, Everton, Villa, and Portsmouth (until lately) all improving, and making inroads on the top four.

"Totally agree. Spurs finished 5th two seasons running, have spent a fortune and have been closest of any team to break in." What are you talking about, Everton finished 4th in 04/05! I disagree with people on here saying that the 'big 4' will monopolize the Premier League over the next few years. I might be a little biased but I see Everton joining the aforementioned in the newly named 'big 5' in the near future. This will be just rewards to the loyal fans and chairman who have stuck by Moyes through the bad times. Today's Everton team has been in the making for the last 5 years and it's now starting to bear its fruit. PL beware!

[quote]learn to pass in triangles and run into space.....it really is that simple![/quote] That does not work. Everton tried it against Arsenal and got beat 4-1. Arsenal went long ball and THAT worked.

Unfortunately there is an element of truth in this article, however this is just a fact of life. You need to realize that the Premier League, Serie A or La Liga all have things in common. They are all dominated by big teams such as Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Barcelona but what you all need to realize we are not talking about just a football league title to be won. This is a business just like any other business out there in the world. Football clubs are doing exactly the same as businesses in the world, trying to make as much money as possible. The rich get richer and so on. Nobody complains because Microsoft dominates in their market or Hugo Boss is bigger than tin pot fashion designers, it’s just the way it is. As a Spurs fan it angers me when a club buys a decent player only to see him move on once the team start competing (Carrick is a good example) but when you are the chairman of Spurs and another bloke offers you 15 million profit for a

Just read through the comments on here & its amazing how inferior the fans of Everton & Spurs really feel. Everton fans crying foul because they got spanked in their own back yard, yet I didn't see them crying foul when the referee robbed Watford at that dump in merseyside last season. As for spurs fans, it must be hard watching the club throw money around at any player who has half a decent season only to come unstuck & end up back down near the bottom of the league where they belong. Keep it up lads, the more comments you make, the more jealous you sound.

For now, every player’s dream is to join one of those big boys and win something. So the cream of the talent will inevitably keep drifting to the Emirates, Old Trafford, Anfield and Stamford Bridge at ridiculous prices only the Abramoviches and Glazers of this world can afford. To all who's mouths are full of sour grapes: This is what I replied to so settle down. Why all the hate Hotspurs.....you have had your chances to beat us and again you couldn't.....spend another treasure and see if that helps. We just have better talent. End of story. Jealousy is a stinky cologne! And a previous poster was dead on....keep a coach for a while and build....give your team a vision, inspire them. You are the ones who have put all your eggs on a Berbabasket and now the sulky striker is leaving you like a spoiled girl to a richer boyfriend. And on the Everton retort....yes, they came out and tried to be physical...and it worked. So as a good team does, we adapted and destroyed them.....you should have watched the

[quote]crying foul[/quote] You know all about crying don't you lad? You lot do that all the time.

we need to stop going on about getting berbatov weve no chance,we need to be realistic. lets just see, erricson promised us big names , will be interesting to see if we have heard of any of them, any more comments from city fans coz id like to hear them

[quote]And on the Everton retort....yes, they came out and tried to be physical...and it worked. So as a good team does, we adapted and destroyed them[/quote] Which game are you on about ? At the weekend it was Arsenal who were physical. Everton played it around, esp in the first half. Even Ray Parlour on the telly commented on this and he is a big gooner. And Arsenal scored from Everton errors and long balls. There wrre NO triangles. I am not arsed (sic) just pointing out that THAT was was happened. Everton played good football, not hoofing it.

If you got rid of the Big 4, what would you achieve? First, you'd destroy your worldwide audience, so the remaining clubs would have lots less money. It would go to this super league, and would therefore also hurt football in spain, france and italy -- which is why it won't happen. Second, 2-4 other clubs would then spend to gain similar ascendancy after a few years, and nothing would have changed. Third, someone else would use the Arsenal approach to achieve success without big spending, which could, don't you know, happen today, if only someone had the brains to do so.

ajx , feynord,einhoven...milan.inter,juve..barca,real...baye rn,werder ..rangers,celtic its the same in any league ..an it will never change...arsenal,manu and looserpool have always been there..chelsea are the newcomers courtesy to roman and the rest will fight for the scraps..every now and then there will be a false dawn (at spurs more than most )..occasionally somebody mite win it..but thats it...u wanna change it..have a european superleague..its coming anyway and the rest will play for the domstic honours...only problem is...it ll be 4 other teams u will dominate that league..and so on....

[quote]Maybe instead of kicking the top four out maybe the rest of the league should keep thier managers for more than 5 minutes. Arsenal have Wenger for 10 years not all of them good, but they stuck with him and achieve success.[/quote] Good effort but not a valid analogy, I'm afraid. Wenger arrived at Arsenal and was an immediate success. Taking over, two months into the 1996-97 season, he steered Arsenal to third in the Premiership (their highest finish in six years), missing out on the Champions' League only on goal difference. The following season, Arsenal won the double. In subsequent seasons, they won the double again in 2002, the Premiership in 2004 (unbeaten) and the FA Cup on a further two occasions. They also finished Premiership runners up on a further five occasions, FA Cup runners up once and UEFA Cup and Champions' League runners up once. And, since Wenger's first season, Arsenal have always qualified for the Champion's League. Furthermore, he has achieved it all with a relatively meagre bu

Furthermore, he has achieved it all with a relatively meagre budget. To top it all, he has transformed Arsenal from a team that was notorious for being just about the most boring in all of football to one that is among the most entertaining. Of course Arsenal have stuck by him! So would any club.

Listen good lad....I understand your points. But Arsenal changing their game plan and going to long ball isn't as Moyes called "Hoofing It"....in the first half they did try to disrupt our passing game with challenging play so we went over their heads....so yes I agree on the triangles. I was refering to an overall style. But we did dominate them once we adjusted. By the way, did you miss the thrown arms by Arteta on Cliche, Hleb, and I know you saw the one to Cesc. Everton did play well....and I commend Moyes on the team he has built. But this is not last years gunners.....rarely if ever will packing it in or "Blackburning" us work anymore. Oh by the way....the Bedtner tackle was stupid and he did deserve red.

Although saddend by the everton result I feel its more important to mention the city game. I don't know what every one was watching but city played well Sven's subs were attacking showing he wanted to get a win. Ok so city had less chances but they bossed the midfield away from liverpool all game!

I don't think you can single out Arteta arm use. He is not a dirty player. Cesc, though a great player, ia a bit nasty and when that doesn't work he acts. He is getting a bit of a reputation for that. There was no way Arteta should have got a red. Wenger's post-match comments NEVER help, either. Sure, managers defend their lads, but sometimes his defending turns into excusing. Anyway, yes, a good victory for Arsenal at a difficult place and with a good use of tactics changing. But the overall point I wanted to make was that Everton are really trying to break this "top 4" bollox and Arsenal are not as "nice" as much of the media makes out.

I just told some Gooner the same thing. Let them go and play in a European Super League for all I care. Their boring little mini league is killing the Prem!

I must have been watching a different game, 'cos it wan't that bad, but anyway City played that way because 1. SGE KNOWS City STILL have BIG problems up front, 2. Pool have a pretty good away record, 3. He did NOT want to end the year by losing at home and the undefeated record, 4. Two names...Gerrard and Torres, who were handled pretty well, unlike the Bentley-Santa Cruz issues in the last game. This article = cutting off nose to spite face.

the other clubs, such as everton, man city, blackburn and aston villa are starting to close the gap on the big4 and have even taken points off them. right now wat some of those clubs need is a little more consistency and maybe one or two more better players and the monopoly of the big4 will end..

On many fans forums I have yet to see a gunners fan say anything objective about his team. Every other team has fans weighing up pros and cons. Are all the gunners fans younger than the bloody team? eg Arteta and Fabregas, I mean be serious and look at what happened. Bentner raked his studs 12 inches down johnsons legs - did ANY gunners fan see that or not? rsvp

[quote]On many fans forums I have yet to see a gunners fan say anything objective about his team. Every other team has fans weighing up pros and cons. Are all the gunners fans younger than the bloody team? eg Arteta and Fabregas, I mean be serious and look at what happened. Bentner raked his studs 12 inches down johnsons legs - did ANY gunners fan see that or not? rsvp[/quote] Sorry, mate, but all Arsenal fans are like that! As you say the Arteta sending off was very harsh. Yes, he put his arm out, and yes, it caught Fabregas. But it was an accident. Fabregas also put his arm out and caught Arteta but (fortunately for Fabregas) only in the chest. Fabregas then got his friend sent off by play acting. You'd have thought he had been hit by a cricket bat wielded by Kevin Pietersen, the fuss he made! Disgrace that Arteta got a red when Bendtner only got a yellow.

Of course they are, because they keep going on about beautiful football, and thats only been associated with the Gunners for four or so seasons, have to laugh at their 'fans' going on about teams spoiling the game by playing defensive football, FFS It's taken them a hundred years to entertain their support, only ever used to be that clowns outfit of a kit that could bring a smile

No I'd close down Man Utd, Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter, Milan, Juventus, Chelsea and Liverpool. Hey presto fair opportunity for once

Right get rid of the top 4, so you can win the league now by only beating the also rans. All you Spurs, Everton and City fans have just lost your 2 biggest games of the season. Do you really think the money will be there(tv companies and sponsors aren't going to fork out loads of cash when the biggest game of the season is Newcastle vs Spurs) to pay your players wages when the big 4 aren't involved. We would all love football to go back to the days when players didn't earn much more than the working man, but it's not going to happen . All the best players will go and play in Europe, Titus Bramble would be the best defender left in the premiership!Where exactly would the big 4 go to? Playing a 4 team tournament on the Isle of Man? I think you're living in cloud cuckoo-land. There have always been dominant teams, and let's face it if any of the big 4 investors decide to go somewhere else it could be the end of any of them. It's only a short time ago that Leeds were one of the 4, look at them, then Chelsea tur

Everton did finish in the top 4 and really did well, with that qualifying place. Out of 2 European competitions in a month.

Actually, make gambling on the Premiership (and all English football for that matter) illegal and your problem will be partly solved. Arsenal would have won the last two titles and would have a significant lead already if you do though. At least Chelsea would be bleeding money as it would have been impossible for them to make the Champions League this season.

Totally disagree with the assesment that the top 4 are untouchable. Ebglish football is cyclic. Those at the top are succesful not because of money but because of those who have the money. Take Arsenal for instance. As someone above pointed out, they don't spend big (take notice Benitez) their strength is Wenger's ability to spot talent. When he goes be it next week or next decade, who will replace him. The chosen one has been replaced at Chelsea but are they still the same fearsome team. And then there is Man Utd. Just who will replace Sir Alex. Getting rid of the 4 isn't the answer, just have a bit of patience. All good things come to those who wait.

"Reality, continued Everton did finish in the top 4 and really did well, with that qualifying place. Out of 2 European competitions in a month." ..and have you seen what Everton have done with their European place this time round? Clown!

you group the big four together when you moan on, but every time you come up with an argument to why the big four are better its always to do with money. surely your not forgetting how the great arsene wenger only spends a smidgen of the rediculous amount that the other big four spends and look at them, they are out classing everybody. hell even some of teams outside the big four spent more than arsenal did this summer but whos on top?? if you are going to argue a point, pleas pleas please dont be a cry baby and moan on about something with no meaning. arsenal are clearly the best team in the league and the reason they are there is not because of money

Salary cap the whole lot.

Ian: from the first comment by a City Fan, to my own, I think only four City fans have said anything. Not one of us has agreed with telling Arsenal, Liverpool, United or Chelsea to go and play somewhere else as we are more concerned with our own 30 years in the wilderness. It just happens to be true that without these four clubs, the PL might not have the exposure...the TV...the money...the interest...and foreign owners like Frank rescuing clubs like City from the brink. Like I said Ian, I am not about to cut off my nose...in anycase (cue laughter), I think we can, given the right manager, solid buys, backing, cause some serious upset in the future...who knows we might even win something? Competition encourages excellence. The object is not to boot the "big four" out, it's the beat them at their own game, and even if you don't, you should get better.

...Everton played well in the first half and couldn,t get near Arsenal in the 2nd, so whats the beef. cesc went down after an Elbow from Arteta, his 3rd or 4th of the game. We simple found a way round your game plan and you couldnt live with us after that. Stop crying about it and realise some gooners know there stuff. Brendtner made a shocker of a tackle and deserved a straight red, we were lucky it was a 2nd yellow.

this article is crap. no disrespect but it looks like the writer has only got knowledge of the prem and for just 5 years. Juventus has been dominant in italy for the last 20 yrs with a mix of roma(1 scuddetto) and AC Milan at times. In spain Real madrid has been the team for ages with barcelona not even affording to qualify for CL when spain had 3 spots same happened to liverpool many times. In england, it was liverpool from the 60s to the late 80s. then there came in united for most of the 90s and arsenal always had a mix in there with the blackburn's of this world. now chelsea has too come in plus man city and the ever overrated spurs. so how talk about of a four horse race in english before you talk of a two and one horse race in italy and spain respectively.

But i don't agree with getting rid of the top 4, just go back to the European cup and only the champions get in.Those that think the league is competative need their head testing, the CL clubs have such a finacial advantage the rest can't compete. Leeds tried look what happened to them. NOTTS FOREST and Aston villa winning the European cup Ipswich the Eufa cup, will never happen again so long as we have this format. Remember the years Norwich cystal palace and Ipswich finished 3rd? That won't ever happen again. The most a team can hope for today is Finish in 3rd or 4th the title for a team not in the current top 4 well you can forget it.

blud arsenal is da best and arshavin is coming