Arsenal's Season review
Intro
Better than expected and having finished just seven points off the eventual winners, it's definitely been progress of sorts. However, the way the title challenge fell apart really needs to be examined in detail by the manager and his staff. It's a game of fine margins, but injuries were costly and that nobody could be found in January to boost the squad, helping to cope with the absences in the process, still seems far-fetched. Ultimately, despite the increased points total, it feels like Arsenal lost a great chance to win the league.
Star pupil
Aaron Ramsey, no question. His career took a massive leap forward this season, and I think he's surpassed everybody's expectations. Sixteen goals and nine assists are impressive stats, but just looking at what he brings to this Arsenal team in terms of drive and energy makes it easy to see why he was so badly missed when he was out injured. The most encouraging thing is that he picked up where he left off when he did return, quashing any suggestion it was just a purple patch in the first part of the season.
Detention
I really don't think there was a player who seriously underperformed or stood out because of poor play. Even Olivier Giroud, heavily criticised, made a valuable contribution with 22 goals and nine assists. If there's a bad mark, it should probably go to the manager for not boosting his striking options last summer or in January.
Teachers' notes
Tactically, Arsene Wenger had a couple of nightmares, away at Liverpool and Chelsea, which resulted in embarrassing defeats. What made that so odd was that Arsenal's presence at the top of the table was built on a more pragmatic, defensively sound platform, so to eschew that against the top teams seemed a very odd thing to do. Whether the season is deemed a success depends on whether Arsenal lift the FA Cup next weekend, after which a more rounded judgement can be made.
Final grade
B+ -- More points and some real positives to take having been involved in a title challenge after so many years without, but they must improve the injury situation. That means keeping players fit but also having a squad with sufficient depth that it can cope better when the inevitable aches and strains of a season take their toll. Seven points isn't too far away, but it still requires a big summer in the transfer market to bridge the gap, especially as all the other teams will be trying to do the same.
Better than expected and having finished just seven points off the eventual winners, it's definitely been progress of sorts. However, the way the title challenge fell apart really needs to be examined in detail by the manager and his staff. It's a game of fine margins, but injuries were costly and that nobody could be found in January to boost the squad, helping to cope with the absences in the process, still seems far-fetched. Ultimately, despite the increased points total, it feels like Arsenal lost a great chance to win the league.
Star pupil
Aaron Ramsey, no question. His career took a massive leap forward this season, and I think he's surpassed everybody's expectations. Sixteen goals and nine assists are impressive stats, but just looking at what he brings to this Arsenal team in terms of drive and energy makes it easy to see why he was so badly missed when he was out injured. The most encouraging thing is that he picked up where he left off when he did return, quashing any suggestion it was just a purple patch in the first part of the season.
Detention
I really don't think there was a player who seriously underperformed or stood out because of poor play. Even Olivier Giroud, heavily criticised, made a valuable contribution with 22 goals and nine assists. If there's a bad mark, it should probably go to the manager for not boosting his striking options last summer or in January.
Teachers' notes
Tactically, Arsene Wenger had a couple of nightmares, away at Liverpool and Chelsea, which resulted in embarrassing defeats. What made that so odd was that Arsenal's presence at the top of the table was built on a more pragmatic, defensively sound platform, so to eschew that against the top teams seemed a very odd thing to do. Whether the season is deemed a success depends on whether Arsenal lift the FA Cup next weekend, after which a more rounded judgement can be made.
Final grade
B+ -- More points and some real positives to take having been involved in a title challenge after so many years without, but they must improve the injury situation. That means keeping players fit but also having a squad with sufficient depth that it can cope better when the inevitable aches and strains of a season take their toll. Seven points isn't too far away, but it still requires a big summer in the transfer market to bridge the gap, especially as all the other teams will be trying to do the same.
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