Season Review: The Course of Our Season

Sorry for the big delay in getting this up, but computer issues prevented me from doing so. Today is the final Season Review article, looking at the season as a whole and the future of the Arsenal football club. We've looked at the players, good and bad; we've looked at the tactics and the manager himself; now it's time to review the season as a whole. How was it, where did it leave us, and how will it be remembered in the future?

The season began with some doubts. Sure, we had been major title challengers the year before, but over the summer we had lost some key players, and didn't look like we had replaced them adequately. Perhaps many fears were confirmed when we lost 1-0 to Fulham in only the second match of the season, but just a few weeks later, following a 4-0 thrashing of Blackburn, we were top of the table once again, and what was more, Tottenham were rock bottom. It was a great week to be a gooner.

But over the next two months it all fell apart. We suffered losses to Stoke, Aston Villa, Man City, and Hull, and a disappointing draw to Tottenham after being one minute and stoppage time away from victory. By mid-November we found ourselves fifth in the league, and the title was a no longer an option. This was rock-bottom, the point where it didn't look like things could get much worse. And so we started to rebuild.

Into January we went, and our defensive problems sorted themselves out to be replaced by offensive problems. Arsene Wenger broke the back to sign Arshavin on deadline day to cure our problems, but he couldn't play right away, and we continued to struggle to score goals, recording four successive 0-0 draws in the league.

But then it all came together. We started attacking again. Fabregas, Walcott, and Eduardo all returned. Arshavin began playing, and with big victories over West Brom and Blackburn, it looked like we were well and truly back. We made it to the semi-finals of both the F.A. Cup and Champions League, and we reclaimed fourth in the league comfortably.

But by then Villareal and Wigan had happened. We didn't lose either game, but what we did lose was our first-choice defense. Gallas, Clichy, Almunia, and Djourou were all lost, and as a consequence we leaked goals once again. And then our inexperience showed when we were dumped unceremoniously out of the F.A. Cup and Champions League.

So it ended on a low note, but your final analysis on the season will rest on whether you are a glass-half-full or half-empty supporter. I am the former, so here's how I see it:

It was a year of growth. We had lost some major players over the last summer, so we had to rebuild. And rebuild we did. After hitting rock-bottom in November, we turned it round in spectacular fashion, going over 20 games unbeaten in the league (our longest streak since the famous 49), and making the F.A. Cup and Champs League semi-finals. In the end it is lack of experience that cost us the silverware, but we gained so much this season.

Players like Denilson, Song, Gibbs, Walcott, and even Almunia, all made spectacular progress and development this past season. Arsene Wenger has said we will look to shape up the defense next season, so with all the young players gaining experience this season, the older ones returning (e.g. Rosicky, Eduardo, possibly Gallas), and the new ones fitting in (such as Arshavin and any new summer signings), I think we have fantastic potential next season.

We don't need major changes, just slight ones. One or two signings; that's how close we are to major silverware, and just think: when our players return from injury and our new signings come into place, we could have players such as V. Persie, Eduardo, Fabregas, Arshavin, Nasri, and Rosicky all on the same pitch together. How mouth watering is that?

So all in all 2008-09 was not a year to remember for trophies or any sort of silverware; but perhaps next year or the year after we will look back on it as the year that began our trek the the summit of English football once again. The year which turned around so dramatically, and matured the players we have so much, that in the years to come, it turned out to be invaluable. Next season, we'll find out just how influential this past season really was, and I have a feeling we'll find out it was a positive step in the right direction.

Please feel free to read the rest of our Season Review articles, all of which can be accessed from the Season Review main page. Next week our Season Review articles will be replaced by our Best Players series, revealing the top five players of our past season. You've no doubt seen the poll on the right, but if you vote now your vote will affect the final results, which will be factored into our choices for the Fab 4 Arsenal Player of the Season. So vote now and have your say; and watch this space next week for the Best Player articles. Till next time,

Fab 4