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Pick the top six - Arsenal

The first installment starts off with the first to hand in his piece for this segment an Aresnal stalwart, the legendary Garth Graeme Le Roux. It's his first time featuring on JCBA Sports United, let's give him a round of applause.

The Champions 2012/13:
This will be, and I hate to admit this, Manchester United.  Think the pain and sorrow of losing the league on the last day with the last kick, really motivated Sir Alex and his devils to up their game this season.  By far the most consistent team who shows no mercy to the so called “lesser” teams (something the other top 4 candidates can’t seem to manage).  Helped that they had a genius in Robin Van Persie in their squad.  Who did they sign him from again? Don’t see United dropping any points at home, especially with Howard Webb or one of his friends in the middle.  Title no 20 dusted then.

Second Spot:
Will go to Manchester City.  Think in-fighting and a manager that isn’t sure whether he wants to be there or not has cost them dearly this season.  Won’t be able repeat last season’s heroics this time around, but should comfortably finish in second.

The third automatic champions league spot:The size and quality of the Chelsea squad should pull them through and away from a fight with Spurs, Arsenal and maybe Everton for fourth place.  Juan Mata has been one of the star performers in the league this season.  He has scored goals at crucial times and looks like continuing to do so.  This together with the experience of old heads like Terry, Lampard and Cole will give them the edge.

The race for fourth and the last Champions League spot:
This will be the most interesting aspect in the conclusion of the season.  Fourth spot will however go to the Gunners.  Although a bit biased in my prediction, the reasons for this will be quite simple. For Arsenal, their brave effort against Bayern Munich would have revived the side and given them hope to win most, if not all, of their remaining league fixtures. Spurs, on the other hand, are still competing in the Europa League that might just take the toll out of their squad, giving Arsenal the edge in the race for fourth place.  And let’s be honest, Arsenal have been written off for the last five seasons that they’ll finish out of the top 4, yet they still managed to just do it (I’m sure the boys at Nike would love that caption).  Experience of having been in this position before should make Le Professors team the favourites.  Form might be temporary but class is permanent!

Position 5:
Spurs – but who cares?

Position 6:
Everton – but who cares? Besides the Liverpool supporters?

How they will finish:
[1] Manchester United
[2] Manchester City
[3] Chelsea
[4] Arsenal
[5] Tottenham
[6] Everton
JCBA's response:
Your being biased is understandable we all have our favourites, strangely enough I agree with you.... but not for the same reasons as you so boldly suggest. Yes Spurs European conquest could be distracting but I feel the quality of the opposition they still have to face in their remaining fixtures is not something AVB would be looking at with a smile on his face. April sees them face Everton, Chelsea, City and Wigan. 
Not that Mancini doesn't want to be City's manager it's him feeling the heat thats telling, especially since this in-fighting (as you say) could cost him his job (not just the title of Champions) Second place just isn't good enough.  

Jade Christopher Bentley Adams (@JCBA)

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