Arsenal are the League’s ‘top performers’ but why haven’t they met expectations whilst clubs like Norwich are overachieving?

Meanwhile, whilst Arsenal fans boo an oncoming substitute that was one of only two available Arsenal players that are considered as in the 60 top European league footballers, based on last season’s performances, Norwich City sneak up the Premier League and into 9^th place without a single one of those 60 players, but a squad full of inspiring stars that have come up from the Championship and League One.

Condemned to relegation – in fact, predicted to finish rock-bottom – at the beginning of the season, Paul Lambert’s Norwich City are the most overachieving club in the Premier League. Lambert was “frustrated” earlier in the January window, unable to attract players that he wished to sign, stating that Norwich, “can’t do the wages.” However, he has since brought in Leeds United’s Jonny Howson and will be hoping to maintain the impressive first half to the season, which has seen his hit man, Grant Holt, attracting other top flight teams, less than 2 years since he was playing for The Canaries in League One.

Newcastle’s early season rampage took everyone by surprise and despite their form dipping somewhat in November, they came back stronger in December with Demba Ba scoring his way to the Player of the Month Award and January started even better with a 3-0 demolition job on Manchester United; however, no one would’ve predicted the finish CIES did either. According to their pre-season predictions, Newcastle would’ve done well to escape relegation and their pencilled in, best hope, finish was 15^th place. Yet, Newcastle are 6^th and have recently signed Papiss Demba Cisse, who will partner Demba Ba up front when the pair return from the Africa Cup of Nations, where they have been representing Senegal together.

Lastly, in a season where the return of Thierry Henry and Paul Scholes has been criticised and seen as a step backwards due to their age, Andre Villas-Boas has rotated Chelsea’s captain because he too is aging and Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson have had their future questioned due to the amount of time they’ve been at their respective clubs, I wish to end with a toast to the golden oldies and a tipple to experience.

At the beginning of the season, Stoke were in the two-star category, meaning that they “may claim a European place.” At the moment, they are 8^th place, 5 points off of European qualification through league finishing and are in the last 32 of the Europa League, where they will face Valencia over two legs for the right to make the last 16. They’re doing this, despite being the 8^th oldest team in the 33 top flights of football across Europe – 29.08-years.

Even better than that, though, is the performance of Levante UD this season, who are the 7^th oldest team at 29.13-years. Unlike Stoke, they’re not performing as expected; they are performing better than they were expected, without even being considered as a team with the ability to do so. Last season, Levante finished 14^th, but only 2 points off of relegation and this season, the Observatory gave the Spanish side a one star rating and predicted a finishing position of 19^th, which would see them relegated to the second tier of Spanish football. However, they are fourth in La Liga only behind the El Clasico giants and Valencia; and this is undoubtedly partly down to their impressive home form that has only seen them lose once and concede five, akin to the form Stoke frequently enjoy at the fortress Britannia.

Most impressively though, are the oldest side in Europe: AC Milan. At an average age of 30-years old, AC Milan are proving that you are as old as they feel, teaching the whippersnappers of Serie A a thing or two: they sit in 2^nd place, only a point off of league leaders Juventus who are unbeaten all season. Milan have only lost once at home, have only conceded five there too and against the rule of the older you are the less you play, they are still in all competitions, including the Champions League in which they take on Arsenal for a place in the next round.

Some things never change and others do: Arsenal haven’t met expectations, Norwich are overachieving and experience counts at home.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

Introducing the neat little app that’ll pay you to view content tailored to your interests:

ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.