Saturday 26 May 2012

End of season awards 2011/2012

The results are in..........



Player of the season


Robin Van Persie, who else? Following the departure of Fabregas, the Dutchman was given the captain’s armband and carried the team on his shoulders for much of the season. Van Persie was simply phenomenal, scoring 30 Premier League goals along the way and becoming a real talisman for the side. Without him who knows where Arsenal would have finished in the league.



Goal of the season



Mikel Arteta’s wonderful free kick at home to Aston Villa deserves honourable mention, but Robin Van Persie’s volley against Everton on the day Arsenal celebrated their 125th anniversary takes the award.




It was an outstanding shot, with the ball arriving over his shoulder he still managed to find the bottom corner of the net with unerring accuracy. The captain’s volley away at Liverpool wasn’t bad either and there was his strike into the top corner at home to Tottenham too……



Luckiest goal of the season


Andrey Arshavin only scored one goal this season and it was a direct result of sheer luck. As Michel Vorm attempted to throw the ball forward, it struck his own defender on the back of his legs and fell straight to Arshavin for the Russian to duly slot the ball into the empty net.



 

Best celebration


There can only be one winner, Thierry Henry vs. Leeds. The Arsenal legend came back to the club he loves with many questioning his decision and wondering if he would tarnish his reputation. However Henry proved that class is permanent as he came off the bench against Leeds in the F.A. Cup to a rapturous welcome and duly slotted home the winner as if he had never been away. Cue sheer delirium, as Henry ran towards Arsene Wenger to embrace his mentor before manically beating his chest. A true legend.




Monday 14 May 2012

Happy Saint Totteringham’s day

West Brom 2-3 Arsenal

Let's all laugh at Tottenham!!

It may have arrived later than usual this season, but Arsenal supporters world-wide could yesterday celebrate Saint Totteringham’s day once again. This is the beautiful day which each season marks the point at which Tottenham can no longer finish above their illustrious North London rivals. That’s right, such is the dominance enjoyed by Arsenal and the sheer gulf in class between the two clubs that the Gunners’ fans have actually created a patron saint to celebrate the annual event.  This year’s feast day was probably celebrated as vigorously as any other due to the several trials and tribulations which Arsenal have had to face throughout the season.
Tottenham fans despair at yet another year below Arsenal
Before a ball was kicked in anger, the Gunners were shorn of their three most creative midfield players as Nasri and Fabregas left for pastures new while Jack Wilshere, their natural heir, suffered an injury which would keep him out for the entire season. Due to the transfers of Nasri and Fabregas being drawn out for the entire summer, Wenger was unable to quickly recruit replacements and consequently Arsenal endured their worst start to a season in over 50 years, sinking as low as 17th, with many believing this to be Wenger’s poorest side. Several red cards in the first few games, led to suspensions which further depleted squad numbers and morale was at an all-time low when Manchester United ran riot and humiliated Arsenal 8-2.  Then for two whole months the Gunners were forced to play without any fullbacks as Sagna, Gibbs, Santos and Jenkinson were all out injured. Meanwhile in the other half of North London, Tottenham were enjoying their best season in almost 25years as thanks to their best side since 1961 (when they last won the league) Spurs opened up a large gap over the Gunners. Tottenham’s delusional fans, never slow in having ideas high above their station, even began to talk about winning the league as they mocked Arsenal with the chant of “mind the gap.” A gap which on 26th February seemed destined to extend to thirteen points,

Monday 7 May 2012

Poor Gunners fail to win again

Arsenal 3-3Norwich


As the final whistle sounded at Villa Park on Sunday, Arsenal were able to breathe a huge sigh of relief. Despite their best efforts in the hapless draw against Norwich, the Gunners had not managed to gift Tottenham or Newcastle the initiative in the race for third place. With Tottenham also drawing against Aston Villa and Newcastle losing to Manchester City, Arsenal know that a win in the last game of the season away to West Brom will secure that much coveted third place and Champions League football.


Whether or not the Gunners can actually produce a performance capable of winning at the Hawthorns is another matter. In recent games, despite professing their great desire to repay the fans who have stuck by them throughout this season’s constant ups and downs, the players have not been fully focused on the task at hand. Our forward play has been slow and lethargic while defensive mistakes have also crept into our game. Against Norwich, even though Yossi Benayoun’s wonderful strike in the first two minutes gave Arsenal an early lead, the Gunners’ performance in the first half was simply atrocious. The home defence just could not cope with the aerial threat of Grant Holt and as a result, the visitors looked dangerous each and every time they launched an attack. In fact at times the defence was in total disarray and it seemed only a matter of time before Norwich would score.


Grant Holt had already had a shot which seemed destined to hit the back of the net, well blocked by Kieran Gibbs before the inevitable happened on twelve minutes. When Johnny Howson’s low cross was turned towards goal by Wes Hoolahan, it appeared as though Arsenal had escaped once again as the shot was rather weak and straight as Szczesny. Yet with his body behind the ball the young Pole somehow managed to let the ball squirm out of his hands and across the line. The moment summed up Szczesny’s recent dip in form. On Saturday his distribution was appalling, kicking the ball straight out on several occasions as well as not showing any fight or passion whatsoever. Norwich’s second goal highlighted this lack of desire perfectly. For the umpteenth time this season the visitors broke quickly following an Arsenal corner, the ball was fed to Grant Holt, whose shot hit Gibbs and looped over Szczesny and into the back of the net. While the goal was extremely unfortunate, Szczesny didn’t move at all to try to scramble the ball away. In fact he just stood there. With the summer transfer window fast approaching, it is imperative that Wenger signs another goalkeeper, someone who can really fight for the number one shirt and push Szczesny all the way, because at the moment he knows there is nobody at the club good enough to take his place and as a result he has let his high standards slip.


As Norwich kicked off to start the second half, Arsenal had to produce a vastly improved performance to save their season. However, they started the second period in the same lethargic manner which had so marred their first half showing. In fact the visitors should have further increased their lead, as first Simeon Jackson raced through the middle of the park, easily beating Vermaelen before hitting his shot straight at Szczesny, and shortly after this Hoolahan fired just wide. Had Norwich scored with either of these opportunities, there would have been no way back for the home side. In fact these missed chances actually galvanised the Gunners and they finally began to play the football we all know they are capable of as they created chance after chance. Benayoun slid the ball through to Van Persie, whose shot was saved by Ruddy, only for the rebound to fall to Ramsey. The young Welshman, who had another poor game, laid the ball wide to Gervinho whose low cross was met with a feeble effort by Ramsey, with the goal at his mercy. Vermalen then had an effort from close range blocked, before Arsenal finally restored parity. Alex Song picked up the ball on the edge of the box, following Chamakh’s blocked shot and the Cameroon international produced yet another perfectly weighted chipped ball forward to Van Persie who volleyed the ball home.


Arsenal were now on fire as they dominated possession and streamed forward time and time again with a winning goal seeming inevitable. With ten minutes remaining, the Emirates Stadium erupted once again as the ball deflected into the path of Van Persie, for the captain to hit a powerful shot beyond Ruddy and give Arsenal the lead. It was also the Dutchman’s thirtieth goal of the season, equalling Thierry Henry’s club record. Without their talisman this season the Gunners would never be in a position to fight for third place and having taken the lead at this stage of the game it seemed the home side had strengthened their grip on securing Champions League football for next season. However once they did take the lead, the Arsenal players became extremely nervous and seemed unable to maintain possession and see the game out. With five minutes left, Song needlessly gave the ball away, a looped ball forward then saw Morison run through on goal, in acres of space, to send his shot into the far corner and send the Emirates into despair. The Gunners had to push forward once again and with the clock ticking they did create chances to win the game, but ultimately did not take them. Van Persie shot straight at Ruddy and Chamakh headed the rebound wide, before Kyle Naughton clearly pushed Van Persie over, inside the box, as the Dutchman seemed destined to score. However the referee refused to award a penalty and in fairness Norwich also had claims for a penalty earlier in the game.


As the final whistle sounded the Gunners players appeared extremely frustrated, yet they only had themselves to blame. Far too often they have not approached games in a professional and dedicated manner. In the Premier League you cannot afford to take the opposition lightly as you will be punished. Yet once again Arsenal managed to somehow keep their destiny in their own hands, with Sunday’s results going their way. A win at West Brom will seal third place for the Gunners but they must vastly improve their attitude as in recent weeks this has not been good enough. Let’s just hope for a straightforward and uneventful last day of the season. Unfortunately as this is Arsenal Football Club, I sincerely doubt it will be that simple.