Happy New Month People…..
Talking to my brother yesterday and he asked “Oreva what are our weekends going to be like without football?”
At that point, I became aware that the football season had officially come to an end as all the cup finals had been played Saturday, save for the champions league final that is this weekend though.
I really wonder how the weekends would be now with no football to look forward to.
Like I said earlier, the season is over and it’s time to assess teams and carry out performance evaluations.
For Arsenal though, we could say we had a fairly good season especially on the domestic front. Winning the community shield, the FA Cup for the second year consecutively and then finishing third ahead of Manchester united and behind Chelsea and Manchester City respectively.
We signed Alexis Sanchez who for many was the signing of the season, scoring thunderbolt after thunderbolt, carrying the team sometimes, man of the match performances and a host of other brilliant displays from the Spaniard.
Wojciech Szczesny also gave David Ospina the chance to be the first choice goalie after that blunder at Southampton on New Year’s day, and the Columbian sure did look as though he was not going to concede for some time. All the same he cemented that starting shirt and made it his, relegating Wojie to second choice and FA Cup keeper.
We defeated Man United at the OT, defeated Liverpool, Manchester City, drew with Chelsea as always, lost some stupid games and in the end finished the season third. Guaranteeing an automatic spot in the champions league, no play-offs. That is def good news.
Also Coquelin became the revelation of the year after being called back from a loan spell thanks to injuries and boy did he boss that midfield and make it his.
In general, our squad improved. We seemed to have a better team, more options in every position, players returning from injury as others go but the team still performing.
But then I ask, was this a successful season or we failed??
IMO, we did not meet expectations meaning we failed. Yet again we failed to mount a challenge for the trophy, starting our own title assault in January. Too late!!!
The last time we finished 2nd in the EPL was in 2004/2005 season and since then, it has been third or in most cases fourth position.
Yes we finished in the top four again but we could do better, way better in the EPL.
In Europe, I am not even going to mention how we disgracefully were eliminated by Monaco. After years of praying not to be drawn against the Barcelona’s and Bayern Munich’s of this age, the Gods of football heard us and gave us Monaco and yet we fluffed it and were eliminated from the Champions league again.
As we all know, Wenger is building that team that he could once again compare to the invincibles. That team that we can watch play and not have any worries, be it Chelsea or Swansea and this summer he has a chance to improve on the work he has done this season.
I really cant wait for next season ‘cos I know the team would be way better by then with one or two additions hopefully and the players all hungry for more success right now. Lets see how far that hunger takes them.
So over to you, rate our season, Success or Failure?????
