Arsenal Season in Review - Successful or Unsuccessful

Arsenal Season in Review 2011/12 - Successful or Unsuccessful

By Kieran Hadfield

From the first game on August 14 where Arsenal drew 0-0 with Newcastle to May 24 when Arsenal scraped past West Brom, I think you can agree that it has been a crazy season full of ups and downs. But at the end of the season is this a successful or unsuccessful season for Arsenal?

The summer transfer window in 2011 is the most shocking under Arsene Wenger's reign, after selling two of Arsenal's greatest players in Fabregas and Nasri to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively things were not looking good. It took just 3 games for the calls of 'Wenger out' to begin. Arsenal headed to Old Trafford after losing to Liverpool at home 0-2, they then hit the wall as Manchester United slotted 8 past a very weak looking Arsenal outfit. Increasing pressure on Wenger caused him to make some last minute moves in the transfer market. Chu Young Park, Yossi Benayoun, Andre Santos, Per Mertesacker and Mikel Arteta were all purchased.

Robin Van Persie scores winner against Everton March 22, 2012
Image from:
 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
Andy Hooper

After finally finding their feet, Arsenal managed to start stringing some wins together, in the end Arsenal just scraped past the desperate claws of Tottenham, Newcastle and Chelsea to clinch a guarenteed spot in next seasons UEFA Champions League. This 3rd place proved vital as Tottenham had  their spot taken away as Chelsea won the Champions League final

Robin Van Persie (30 league goals) , Mikel Arteta and Laurent Koscielny played a massive role in clawing their team into the top 4. Appearances towards the end of the season from Thomas Rosicky showed positive signs for the injury-plagued midfielder.

The season passed by in a flash, Arsenal continue their long trophy drought, however, considering where they were after the first 7 games, is where they ended up finishing a success? Many had already stated there is no way Arsenal will finish in the top 4.

In my opinion, if you look at the season as a whole and with a slightly pessimistic attitude, it's fair to say that this was an unsuccessful season, ultimately silverware is what the side should be striving for, which is a big factor in captain Robin Van Persie stalling contract talks with Arsenal. But some Gunners fans may look at this with an optimistic attitude and think about where Arsenal were and how far they came, the rising star in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Laurent Koscielny's improving adaption to the Premier League and Mikel Arteta's overall assurance on the pitch.

Perhaps with those positives from the season just passed, the signing of Podolski from FC Cologne and possibly Yann M'Vila and Oliver Giroud, Arsenal may just get the silverware they have been waiting for. However their chances of a trophy could be heavily reduced should Robin Van Persie leave the club this summer.