2012/2013 Season
Review:
Despite losing their talismanic
striker Robin van Persie to rivals Manchester United at the start of the
campaign, Arsenal had a very positive start to the league season, not conceding
in their opening 3 games. This led people to believe that they, with the help
of new defensive coach Steve Bould, had turned a corner defensively.
Unfortunately, as has so often been the case for Arsenal in recent years, they
had a sudden and dramatic dip in form. Between mid-October to early December,
apart from an emphatic victory at home to their great rivals Tottenham, Arsenal
were regularly performing below expectations, culminating in a dire performance
in a defeat on penalties to League 2’s Bradford City in the Capital One Cup.
Having been taken out of the
title race altogether by the turn of the year, and having suffered a humiliating
cup defeat to a side three divisions below them, Arsene Wenger’s position at
the football club began to be called into question. Despite this, from the turn
of the year, Arsenal’s form began to improve gradually, progressing to the FA
Cup Fifth Round and the Champions League Round of 16, and beginning to get back
into the hunt for a top 4 spot in the League. However, a treble of results in
February and early March gave a hammer blow to two of those aspirations, and
put a severe dent in the third. Firstly, Arsenal suffered a shock defeat at
home to Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup, with a mishit Colin Kazim-Richards shot
condemning Arsene Wenger to his first exit in the FA Cup to a team outside of
the Premier League. Just 3 days later, in form Bayern Munich came to town in
the Champions League, and gave Arsenal a footballing lesson on their own
ground. The match finished only 1-3, but it could have been so many more. Then,
to cap a miserable fortnight, Arsenal lost to Tottenham in the reverse fixture
in the League, in a game vital in the race for the final Champions League
space.
After three woeful performances,
Arsenal seemed to respond well, and were incredibly unlucky to miss out on the
Champions League Quarter Finals, after an enthralling 2-0 win on the night in
Munich. Unfortunately, away goals dumped Arsenal out of the competition,
leaving them without any possibility of a trophy for the 8th year in
a row, heaping further pressure upon Arsene Wenger to deliver Champions League
football the following season. Knowing that this was their final goal, Arsenal
responded magnificently, going on an impressive run of 10 games unbeaten after
the defeat at White Hart Lane. A nervy final day over the final Champions
League place ensued, with Arsenal knowing that a win over Newcastle would be
sufficient to hand Wenger his 16th consecutive year of Champions
League football. Win they did, but only just, with a narrow 1-0 victory to keep
Arsenal fans on the edge of their seats.
Overall, a typical season for
Arsenal based on the last 5 years or so, uncompetitive as far as trophies go,
but consistent enough in the League to qualify for Europe. Whether fans will
accept this role for much longer, having been used to the ‘Invincibles’
steamrollering the competition, remains to be seen. Arsene Wenger deserves at
least another year in the job, but I certainly understand the fans dissatisfaction
at seeing their team below where they think they deserve.
Player of the Season:
Santi Cazorla – the skilful little Spaniard has been an excellent buy for
Arsenal this season. Creative, pacy and full of flair, he has created plenty of
chances and goals for the Gunners this campaign. Without his injuries, perhaps
Jack Wilshere would have been competing for this award, however.
Game of the Season:
Reading 5-7 Arsenal, and Arsenal 7-3 Newcastle (joint): Whilst I know Arsenal
fans will point to the 5-2 demolition job of Tottenham at the Emirates in November,
the two games I remember most this season have to be these. The Capital One Cup
game against Reading in late October is a prime example of Arsenal’s turbulence
this season. 4-0 up and cruising, Reading conceded a Theo Walcott goal in first
half stoppage time. Cue the Arsenal fightback, eventually taking the game into
extra time with a hotly debated ‘offside goal’ in second half stoppage time.
5-5 until the closing stages in extra time, before two quick fire Arsenal goals
sent their fans into raptures. Equally, the game at home to Newcastle in the
league was particularly incredible. 1-0 after 51 minutes, I remember thinking ‘Arsenal
will probably end up comfortable 2/3-0 winners’, turning off the TV in the
process. How I regret that. An unbelievable second half performance from
Arsenal, who utterly destroyed a weary Newcastle.
Summer Transfer
Targets (Who I Think They Need): For Arsenal, the problem this season has
been mostly defensively. Whilst I believe they could possibly do with another
striker, although Theo Walcott has performed well since his switch to the
centre, most of their transfer targets should revolve around the back four and
the goalkeeper. I understand that Arsenal are reluctant to spend big on
transfers, and therefore realistic targets could possibly be Ashley Williams
from Swansea, or Torino’s Angelo Ogbonna. For goalkeeper, though Rene Adler has
apparently distanced himself from a move, QPR’s Julio Cesar or Borussia
Monchengladbach’s ter Stegen would be adequate choices.
Transfer Gossip
Links:
In:
Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton, CM), David Villa
(Barcelona, ST), Geoffrey Kondogbia (Genoa, CM), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid,
ST), Max Gonalons (Lyon, CM), Loic Remy (QPR), Abdelaziz Barrada (Getafe, RM),
Miralem Pjanic (Roma, CM), Sven Ullreich (Stuttgart, GK), Ashley Williams
(Swansea, CB), Julio Cesar (QPR, GK), Yaya Sanogo (Auxerre, ST)
Out:
Lukas Podolski (Galatasaray, ST), Gervinho
(Galatasaray, LW), Bakary Sagna (PSG, AS Monaco, RB)
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