Rather than a statistical analysis or match by match recounting, I thought I would post impressions of the season in some kind of random way that reflects discussions I've had with other Gooners since the FA Cup final victory over Hull City.
THE GOOD
My player of the season for Arsenal had to be Per Mertesacker. Ramsey burned brighter but you can't miss 14 weeks of the season and be named footballer of the year. BFG's interventions became so routine that they were expected, and I can't count how many times he would do the simplest thing that caused an opposing attack to break down. That's what I loved about Per this season: the simple toe-poke to dispossess someone, the simple pass from the back to the open midfielder, the clearance that snubbed out a threat; it was minimalist, Philip Glass-esque defending and that's what we needed. I don't hate his goals, either, few though they may be, they seem to always be of vital importance.
His partner in the centre of defence would be option 1a in the POS voting. Koscielny, the man with the big pockets, the man who scores the falling-down-iest goals in the squad used his considerable athleticism to chase the ball down when Wenger employed the much-lamented high line and I shudder to think what things may have been without him. Many was the time the opposition would break up the pitch and Kos would be the one at the touchline harassing the ball until reinforcements could arrive.
Aaron Ramsey...what mysterious ailment kept him out so long? We'll never know. But what we do know is that the cheeky look-off that he gave Podolski at the end of the 2012-2013 campaign before he smashed home a goal from a ridiculous angle was just a preview. He had displayed his tireless running and tackling during that season's run-in, but the goal scoring...it leaves one speechless. It didn't even seem as though it took effort, it just seemed to occur and then keep occurring every time it was needed. He was everywhere, he was industrious, he was classy, he was inspirational. Teams that want to win have to plan for injuries, but with only one striker Arsenal couldn't compensate for Ramsey's absence. And of course, he scored THAT goal.
THINGS I LOVED
Rozza's goals versus Spuds, especially picking off the ball from Danny Effing Rose, finally helping put to rest that ghost from season's past.
Wilshere's goal versus Norwich. Everybody likes that one, don't they?
Ozil versus Napoli at Ashburton Grove. More like that, please. The man is so good it's just ridiculous sometimes.
Carl Jenkinson's goal versus Norwich, and the joy he showed following it.
Wilshere giving the middles to the MCFC supporters. Never surrender!
Theo giving the scoreline to the swamp people, then being pelted with missiles which the FA did absolutely nothing to punish, and rather made the story about TW14 "inciting the crowd." Tremendous leadership and showed absolutely NO anti-Arsenal bias there.
Szcz's selfie. Anyone who was churlish over this needs to seriously grow a sense of humour.
Mertesacker and Cazorla's "unclassic" commentary video.
Anything involving Gunnersaurus.
Opponents running away scared from Bacary Sagna on the pitch when he got in their faces.
Flamini doing needed business against those who had it coming to them.
Wilshere doing the "Tottenham-Shit" cheer at the FA Cup celebration. Well done, lad.
Nicky Bendtner's goal versus Cardiff City whilst I was in the process of nearly shitting myself in angst.
All of Podolski's 8 league goals.
And my goal of the season, Aaron Ramsey's blast versus Liverpool. I hate Liverpool. That's why.
(All the fun stuff that happened during the FA Cup final is different unto itself, and since it was finally a trophy you could probably pick every moment in that game that was good as a highlight.)
THINGS I DIDN'T NECESSARILY LOVE ALL THAT MUCH
Losing at home to Villa on opening day following a summer of (to that point) transfer inactivity. It was not a pretty sight anywhere amongst the Gooners of the world.
Losing away to Stoke City and Manchester United without scoring a goal.
Drawing to Swansea, Everton, and Southampton.
"Those heavy defeats." I've said enough about that elsewhere.
The way they played at Napoli.
Arjen Robben, Chelsea Football Club, Stoke City supporters, Yanks pretending to like Liverpool, Juan Kincaid jinxing the Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger shirtless after the FA Cup final. Still better than seeing Steve Bruce shirtless ever, but not something I'd anticipated.
Starting Big Luke in the FA Cup final. What's done is done, but I thought that was not a very good choice by the manager.
People talking about the number of goals Olivier Giroud scored as 22, when he only scored 16 in the league, which is still not good enough.
I HAVE NO CLEVER SUMMATION FOR THIS POST
It was another decent 4th place finish for the Arsenal and it was great to win the FA Cup. Here's to a summer of smashing transfers that will push the club on to winning the Premier League. Heh heh.
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