Arsenal - 2011-12 - A season review

Robin Van Persie, after the drubbing at Old Trafford

The Premier League season of 2011-12 has been a roller coaster for an Arsenal Fan. Indeed from being touted as the next relegation contenders at one point in September, to finishing third in the end has been a miracle of sorts. Arsene Wenger had to face the most torrid season of his 16 glorious years at the club, being subjected to chants varying from the wild “You Don’t know what you are doing” at the Emirates in January to the more regular “Arsene Knows!” at the Hawthorns in the last game. A detailed review of this “Great Escape” of a season is pertinent to understand what we need to be in the position of a Man City fan after the QPR game.

The pre-season started disastrously enough, with the entire summer spent bashing rumours as to whether Nasri was going or staying or whether Cesc Fabregas’ final contribution to Arsenal’s cause was going to be the back heel that gave Barcelona its first goal in that robbery of a game at the Camp Nou. The closest we came to signing a superstar was in the gossip columns in the Sun. August came and Arsene’s stubborn refusals to sell Nasri was overturned by a meek Board, who risked qualification to the group stages of the Champions League by resting Nasri for the Udinese tie, to prevent him from being cup tied. The inevitable happened, both Fabregas and Nasri went away to find glory elsewhere and Arsenal were left with signings of Gervinho and promising Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to stew on.

In the entire recent history of Arsenal, never have we been so unprepared at the start of a season. But so it was to be and the thumping at Old Trafford woke the Arsenal Board up from their slumber and they realised that signings were a must. In what can be described as a last mad dash to the supermarket before the stores close for Christmas, Arsenal bought five players including the leggy Mertesacker, the neat Arteta, the gutsy Benayoun, an unknown Park Chu Yong as well as an overweight looking Andre Santos.

Still the results showed the lack of cohesiveness in the team due to the forced changes as a result of the transfers. September came and even Yakubu pumped in three for Blackburn in a 4-3 against Arsenal. In Europe we were passing through the group stages steadily, till the team finally gelled into a proper outfit.

The obvious weakness was the lack of a proper left back, with Santos showing more guts than speed to try rampaging down the left flanks like Cole once did and Clichy after him. The biggest heartbreak was the loss to Tottenham at the Lane in October, where we lost Bacary Sagna to a broken leg for a lengthy period of time. Arsenal’s form was patchy at best, being kept up by the irresistible Robin Van Persie who scored a goal almost every game. We were still being let down by defensive errors compounded with a weak midfield, especially missing the drive of Wilshere beside Song and lacking the creative attacking midfielder that Fabregas was.

However the form of Van Persie, Song and the improved robustness of Koscielny and the exquisite vision of Arteta gave Arsenal a defensive resilience as well as a potent counter attacking threat, usually with Van Persie and Walcott leading them.

Santos after scoring against Chelsea at the Bridge

Improved performances in October saw Arsenal thump in five at Stamford Bridge and winning what would be a crucial tie at Marseille due to Ramsey’s last minute goal. The performance at Chelsea was a magnificent one, that showcased the counter attacking skills that Arsenal had now come to rely on. It was indeed heartening to see a left back that at went on the offensive at every opportunity, was not easily pushed away like Clichy and who in hopeless situations, would foul the player rather than be nice and allow him to run towards goal. Santos’ goal was a brilliant piece of footballing skill, one that boosted the confidence of a team that looked like falling apart earlier in the season.

November and December were full of workman like performances, with the team huffing and puffing to find the aesthetically pleasing style of play that Arsenal was famed for, but somehow to its credit and largely due to Van Persie’s heroics the Gunners got the job done, with the loss at the Etihad, the only blemish on an other wise clean record. In the recent years, Arsenal usually stumble in October and November once their customary fast start slows down. This was a change in direction this year and despite never looking in contention for the title, Arsenal buckled up for the fight for the top four.

January brought Thierry Henry to the club for six weeks to help out with our striking department and what a dream spell it was for him and the fans. Henry’s delirious celebrations at his return goal against Leeds United showed what the French marksman’s heart was made of – Pure Red and White. The psychological impact of a hero trampling across the stadium showing his love for his club, on his team mates cannot be underestimated. For all the brouhaha that followed his return, Henry not only pitched in at the right times but also injected enough passion in the players especially Van Persie, Walcott, Chamberlain and the defensive rock named Vermaelen.

However, January and early February were months when we actually stumbled a lot, losing matches we should’ve won and at the time of the return game against Spurs at the Emirates, we were 10 points behind the rivals down Seven Sisters Road.

The first 39 minutes Arsenal played well and conceded two goals. The Spurs cockerel was perched proudly above the Cannon. And then as it always happened against Spurs, we clawed back. Five goals and Spurs were reeling as they did for the rest of the season. The comeback pushed the Gunners into action, almost negating the four ignominious goals at the San Siro, with a dazzling performance at the Emirates, that showed the Italians how to attack and defeat teams on a proper pitch in which we destroyed our illustrious Italian opponents 3-0. Nonetheless, the team was out of the Champions League.

Usually the Champions League setback causes Arsenal to lose direction and fall back. However, this time the team stayed on and taking advantage of Chelsea’s blues and Tottenham’s tendency to self-destruct, Arsenal at one point, moved 5 points ahead of the other teams in contention for the 3rd and 4th places.

Arsenal players celebrating during the West Brom win on the final day of the season

As it has always happened, the inconsistency that has dogged us in the recent seasons, almost caught up with us, needing a tremendous display of inept goal keeping by Martin Fulop yesterday to clinch the direct spot to the Champions League next season.

The some how optimistic end to the season does not prevent the inevitable questions from popping up.

Is this current team capable of challenging for the title, with Podolski thrown in (and hopefully few others)?

If so, why did they fail so badly last year?.

Do we need a recognized left back next season or is the combination of Gibbs and Santos enough to contain the likes of Van der Vaart, Nani and Aguero?

Do we need cover in the Trequartista role (the attacking midfielder right behind the striker) or are we going to juggle Rosicky and Ramsey with Arshavin likely departing this summer?

But the biggest question on all Gooner minds is whether inspirational Captain Robin Van Persie departs or stays at the club. Van Persie’s dominance in the scoring charts ensured Arsenal gained 24 points due to his goals. Where in mid table obscurity would we find ourselves without his rich haul is a big question. In the worst case scenario of him leaving, is Podolski enough to substitute the captain or do we need a superstar signing like Benzema or Cavani ?

One deficiency we had displayed this season was our inability to win without Arteta on the pitch. He is the closest you could get to a combination of Fabregas and Wilshere, passing the ball forward, into openings and staying back and mopping up when Song went ahead. Having two good central midfielders in Song and Arteta who pass well and defend better is heartening, but the lack of a creative midfielder causes either of the two to push forward to create, leaving huge gaps behind for the opposition strikers to exploit. Rosicky is good, but injuries have decimated him and a superstar signing in the creative midfield position would certainly help both defensively freeing one extra player to stand guard and obviously would give better balance to our attack.

While there are noises about M’ Vila and Hazard coming to Arsenal, it will be Wenger’s top priority to prevent a calamitous start like this season and ensure that we will be in contention for the highest honours club football has to offer, come May 2013. How will Wenger be able to achieve that? Only time will tell us.