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1. Mark

   Apr 17, 2012, 12:46 #21233

   It's been one of the most amazing season I can remember in forty years of watching Arsenal. I have rarely felt so low at times. On a few occasions I have rarely felt more proud of my team. It has been awful and wonderful, with pretty much nothing in between. Do I want another season like this one? You must be joking! At times I've felt as if the club has torn my heart out.

2. Joe S.

   Apr 17, 2012, 6:02 #21208

   Samir, or whoever you are with money in the bank you can justify anything, however it does not take away the fact that you are poor value for money and your sparodic contributions to a game were of limited value. Players like you can be easily relpaced.

3. Joe S.

   Apr 17, 2012, 1:21 #21206

   A tenth defeat this time at home to Wigan tells you all you need to know about this team, it's mannagement and future direction.I haven't seen the game but I saw the result coming. After looking at the team sheet my first reaction with Djour was , " here's trouble". I am not a big Arteta fan either mainly because I think he will only fill in as a short term stop gap, however at this stage Ramsey, Song and Benayoun provide few creative options,together they are a mess. Also Theo and Rosickey don't show up often enough and Van Persie is a one man threat. The end result was another shabby performance which does not provide much confidence in breaking the trophy drought next season.It will be a relief to qualify for the Champions League (if) however I really can't wait for this season to end. It has not been fun being an Arsenal fan since probably the cup defeat against Birmingham.

4. goonercolesyboy

   Apr 16, 2012, 17:13 #21198

   @Gee, in future maybe you need to define "young" as none of them were under 20, which is what I define as young....like the fact that you responded though....

5. Samir Nasri

   Apr 16, 2012, 8:02 #21169

   My earning potential as a football player is limited to a 12-year career (at best). That being said, only fools will expect me to stay at a club that can't pay well enough in comparison to others. Yes... all the big clubs pays us insane wages, but put that aside for one moment and ask yourself: "Would I stay at my current job if another company offered me TWICE my salary?" I am not Arsenal fan like you... I WORK for the club just as you WORK for a company. If I stay at City for the next 5 years, I'll have earned upwards of 45m. Compare that to the 20m I'd have earned at The Arsenal and you must be havin a laugh if you think that I'd pass that up for the sake of my love of a football club. Football might be your life, but it's my JOB... end of! Please people... take a second to THINK before blurting out nonsense that shows how small-minded you are. -Samir

6. HowardL

   Apr 15, 2012, 21:12 #21168

   Corey - well I agree with you about the facination; despite the lows - and there have been quite a few - and the highs - and the 7 'lean years' which followed the 7 fat ones - I agree that overall it's been quite enjoyable. And I think we are on course for the title next season - provided RVP stays, which I think he will.

7. Chris

   Apr 15, 2012, 18:01 #21167

   @AndrewCohen - are you okay? Your posts seem increasingly detached form reality and simply not in line with the facts. Perhaps the stress of supporting a team that isn't a world conquering force - which is what you seem to suggest should be the default for our team gathering from your squad requirements - is getting to you? Perhaps you and 'Monsieur' should ride off into the horizon together for a well-earned break to re-charge your collective batteries before next season? Lol!

8. Jekyll

   Apr 15, 2012, 14:48 #21165

   @theeternaloptimist: There is no assumption required. This might be the last season in this era. I severely doubt it though. And I would assume from your 'Arsene knows best' comment that therefore there is no point in anyone posting articles or comments at all. If so, why are you posting?

9. andrew cohen

   Apr 15, 2012, 13:22 #21164

   @Mike. We need at least two dedicated defensive midfielders of international quality(to add to Song). We need a second good goalkeeper. We need 2 extra proven strikers (to add to Van Persie). We need a proven playmaker(to add to Wilshire). We need a third competent central defender, and two more competent full backs (to add to Sagna). We need 9 players, not 2. Of the rest, Oxlade Chamberlain, Rosicky ( who has shown his abilities in the last few weeks), Ramsey (who has been flogged to death), Benayoun and Jenkinson are worth keeping. We should get what we can for the rest. If we could get a decent coach in place then it might be worth seeing if Walcott can be salvaged. The re-building job to be done is huge. The current management / board team neither have the energy nor the inclination to take on such a task. It needs a new broom. One of the most important tasks will be to try and implement a system where players are prepared to retire from international football whilst at the club. Meaningless international fixtures are about to proliferate even further and there will be a significant strategic advantage to the club that gets its stars to abandon participation in them. Our present squad depth is the sort that teams who fluke a play off win find themselves with upon unexpectedly entering the premiership, i.e. tissue paper thin in terms of people who can go on the pitch and do a job. Lastly, no one is disappointed with the resurgence in fortune. Some of us just see it for what it is. A small number of talented young men who have stayed fit and fought hard.

10. Dan h

    Apr 15, 2012, 11:35 #21163

    Some good news for everyone that wants quality signings Podolski has signed for us it will be announced once Cologne allow it.It is the calibre of player we need in the squad really pleased with the signing.Ideal age 26 & vastly experienced can play all across the front line i wouldn't post this unless 100% confirmed.

11. Adrian Wagenaar

    Apr 15, 2012, 11:16 #21162

    According to our latest poll over 70% of you would prefer to be comfortable 3rd than be 5th but in two cup semi finals. You people do clearly think 4th place is a trophy and are part of Arsenal's change from a trophy winning club to a money making club. Now in my 60's I am clearly out of touch with competitive sport were I still think winning is everything.

12. Mike

    Apr 15, 2012, 10:35 #21161

    It seems there are a lot of people dissapointed with the recovery and for every dud like Denilson, Bendtner and Chamack there is a diamond like Chesny, Ox, Wilshire and RVP just like in any other club. There is now divided opinion about Ramsey. For every person who says leave him, there is another saying he is useless. My fifa manager says it is easy - buy Messi and Ronaldo. the fact that the team is where it is in the league is nothing short of stunning after the start they had. Two more signings is all that is needed to make this team great

13. Wombledin

    Apr 15, 2012, 10:27 #21160

    One to remember my Arse. Still talking about it in 20 years like bollox. Like the fool doth speak. The only thing that will be talked about this season in 20 years time is the 8-2 thrashing by Man U, which we will never live down. Apart from that, this season is just as pathetic and forgettable as the last 7 carbon copy seasons that we choked and flopped when it mattered.

14. gee

    Apr 15, 2012, 8:40 #21159

    @goonercolesyboy Petit + overmars bought for total of 10m and sold for 25m, vieira 3.5m and sold for 13m, toure bought for 300k and sold for 16m, adebayor bought for 5m and sold for 25m, even Henry was bought for 10 and sold for 16m

15. Andrew Cohen

    Apr 14, 2012, 17:31 #21157

    CT Gooner - No! Highlights:- The team growing a pair just before half time in the Spurs game at Arsenal, Rosicky's goal where he set up the move and got there just ahead of everyone else to touch the ball in, the re-emergence of the Steve Bould flick on at the near post and by no means least, about 5 seconds of the cup tie against Leeds which showed everyone in the stadium that the game is a simple one if you actually know what you are doing. Those 5 seconds made me feel how I used to about football. Let's hope T.H. comes back for a few games next year as well. It's the only coaching that the team get. My wish for 2012-13 is that Man City come in in the close season and offer Monsieur and his wonderful team a zillion pounds to "coach" the mercenary millionaires. I have "unbelievable belief" that it will happen.

16. Barry

    Apr 14, 2012, 15:55 #21155

    @Ron i could agree with you up to a point IF we weren't paying the highest ticket prices in the world,our manager wasnt on £7m a year and our average deadwood players weren't taking home £60k a week.If we are not going to compete slash the ticket prices cut the managers and the players wages.Can anyone work out how much the likes of Almunia Denilson Diaby Squillaci Djourou Bendtner Chamakh and Park are taking out of the club in wages, £20m?

17. Red mist

    Apr 14, 2012, 13:16 #21153

    Ron maybe when the next manager comes in spends a little to replace the average championship standard players we have plenty of, earning world class players wages, and starts winning we may all think oh what might have been 7 years or more wasted, the poor old Arsenal thing doesn't wash.

18. Ron

    Apr 14, 2012, 10:14 #21152

    As a fan its been a poor Season in my view but well rescued by the team and Wenger from what would have beeen a diabolical Season. The truth, putting aside frustrations as we as fans find hard to do is that its actually been a fantastic Season and productive too. In the modern game without massive cash to buy in the truly top quality players, just ending in the CL places is an enormous task and when achieved is a fantastic achievement. If it can be done with say, a Cup win (either Cup) as well, its on another planet as an achievement. Its the modern game and Arsenals model is actually the envy of Clubs the World over. Even when the ground is paid for, they wont spend like crazy. The Arsenal never have. They will win titles again. Under Wenger? I dont know. Possibly not. History will eventually show that what the Club and he have done in keeping us up there for these last so called 7 empty years will have been an incredible thing. Its something that wont be recognised until the SKY fueled football bubble bursts and make no mistake it will do. Theres a view that says that what hes done in these years since the Stadium shift will have esurpassed his years before it but for vastly differnent reasons.I strongly believe the bubble is deflating at the prsent time. In time, the game will look at what Chelsea, Man C and other so called big Clubs have tried and wonder why on earth that did it. Sanity will prevail and Arsenal will still be a top and very classy Club as they always have been. Our trouble as fans is that we get caught up in barmy hyped up media perceptions of the game oozing off every PC screen, every paper and every TV sport programme. The truth is far removed from it. As i say, im speaking as a football observer here and not as a fan who wants glory. Its something we should all try to do a bit more often from time to time.

19. CT Gooner

    Apr 14, 2012, 1:47 #21151

    That's quite the mouthful Eternal Optimist, but the question isn't whether he knows more than any of us. It's does he know more than any other manager who'd like to make 7 million a year? I decided in August 2011 the answer was no, and I've seen very little since to change my opinion.

20. simon

    Apr 13, 2012, 23:22 #21150

    sadly in a few years all we'll recall is 8-2 and maybe 5-2 against Spurs. maybe we'll recall RVP's scoring record and that volley against everton.

21. P45 for Wenger

    Apr 13, 2012, 20:48 #21149

    The highlights of the season Traore and Jenkinson at OT,2-1 up and we score 2 own goals at Blackburn,Mertesacker turning slower than an oil tanker,Santos being out of breath after running 5 yards,Gibbs injured again and again and again.Djourou being Djourou and being rewarded with a new contract,Diaby being paid £3m a year for playing half an hour,Arshavin,Gervinho proves why he wears Eboue's 27 shirt.Swansea Fulham and QPR when we couldnt be bothered to turn up.Milan in Europe,Out of all cups before March.And last but not least Dumb and Dumber Chamakh and Park.Yes an unforgetable season

22. Gary

    Apr 13, 2012, 19:56 #21148

    It will be remembered for us being out of the title race before a ball was even kicked.For a top 4 team to concede 8 is unthinkable but we managed it.It will be remembered for being totally outplayed by a promoted team Swansea.Remembered for the most gutless performance in Milan.In fact this season has been no different from the previous 6.A season to forget.We will not win another trophy while Wenger is in charge.

23. Peter Wain

    Apr 13, 2012, 18:56 #21147

    This is just like the other previous 6 seasons if onlu we had three more players etc. What worries me is that we will not invest again to the degree we need to so that instead of improving we will mark time. I think that the acceptance by the management that fourth place is ok is very disheartening and short sighted. For the last two seasons very ordinary Man U teams will win the premiership when we could and should have won it. Man U being dumped out of Europe is evidence of how weak they are and Arsenal should have won the league at least three times in the last seven years idf we had invested in quality players. I fear that this will happen again this year

24. goonercolesyboy

    Apr 13, 2012, 18:52 #21146

    Please tell me who we have bought low and young and sold high apart from Cesc and Anelka? At last though Wenger seems to realise that we need to buy mature to add to the younger pups we have in this squad and I would much rather be in our position than Liverpool's. Keep going boys and let's keep up the fantastic support we have had at home recently for Monday's tricky game.

25. gee

    Apr 13, 2012, 17:22 #21145

    We still will not win another trophy under wenger as that is not his priority anymore. Just balance books by buying young and low and selling high

26. theeternaloptimist

    Apr 13, 2012, 16:48 #21144

    For all those saying this season "will just be seen as part of those barren, repetitive years under Wenger where we finished 3rd or 4th every year for years on end" this is surely based on the assumption we win nothing again next season. Don't underestimate the turn around this year. If as I believe we will win the league next season and / or the European cup (you heard it here first) the momentum started this season (the latter part at least), and as a result it will also pass into folklore, and that Sagna goal may well be seen as the start of a new era of success. Needless to say I am 120% firmly in the Arsene knows better than anyone who posts articles and comments on the onlinegooner or the AKBTAWPAACOTOs as we are alternatively known

27. Mark

    Apr 13, 2012, 16:22 #21143

    Have really enjoyed this season more so than any since our FA Cup win against UTD. There have been some real lows especially in the opening month, but the highs have been incredible. As one of Europe's top teams! we should never have got into the situation we did in last years transfer window and someone should be held to account for it. Gavidas is paid a massive amount, he is responsible for transfers and I dont see how he can justify his wage. If I had run my job as Arsenal did in the transfer window, I would be unemployed! RVP must stay and 3 Quality players brought in. Finally, 5pur2 have had their best season in years and at 2.0 they f*cked it up, a real turning point for this team. Lets secure 3rd spot.

28. chris dee

    Apr 13, 2012, 16:02 #21142

    After such a s*** start to the season we are all naturally on a high after the great run we've had since rotten apple Arshavin was quietly shipped of to Siberia before some fans became so irritated with the lazy sod the would have invaded the pitch and physically carried him all the way to Heathrow. But meanwhile back at the ranch, the ultimate goal of any club that classes itself to be 'big' is winning trophies and winning trophies consistently. We have failed again in that respect although Champions League football could be achieved again. So enjoy the current buzz but don't forget our club should target trophies as ruthlessly as they do profits.

29. CT Gooner

    Apr 13, 2012, 15:38 #21141

    I think the highs have prevented an all out civil war, and even caused the biggest AMGs to feel Arsene should maybe get another year. But I'd prefer to forget our "Annus horribilis"!

30. jdhafc

    Apr 13, 2012, 14:15 #21140

    Yes, yet another year without silverware but yet another year of consolidation as a well run, financially healthy club. Agreed, a successful day at Wembley would lighten the load but if teams are allowed to borrow/spend with reckless abandon then we're not going to fall into that trap, let's be realistic and we don't want that. UEFA need to implement the financial fair play rules to level the surface again.

31. maguiresbridge gooner

    Apr 13, 2012, 14:05 #21139

    your right Its certainly been an up and down season with more downs than ups i doubt we'll ever see the likes of the invincibles again not sure on the carling cup would much rather be in our position without it than liverpool's with it although some would disagree.I personally wouldn't lose any sleep if jack and the ox were nowhere near the euros.The highs were fantastic when they came especially against the teams you mention and also the henry goal against sunderland but your right to point out it's still another season without winning anything and that has to change next season hopefully it will if arsene does the right things.

32. Jekyll

    Apr 13, 2012, 12:34 #21138

    It will be forgotten. It will just been seen as part of those barren, repetitive years under Wenger where we finished 3rd or 4th every year for years on end. People remember the trophy winning years.

33. Judge Fred

    Apr 13, 2012, 12:25 #21137

    This seasons low has been the fact that we have not challenged for a single trophy - we have never looked like we could win anything. That disappoints me more than any individual result. But I am encouraged enough (at the moment) to be looking forward to 2012/13 with renewed confidence; that with a few signings we can once again enjoy the thrill of the chase for silverware. Maybe I am mad. Maybe not. Come On You Rip-Roaring Gunners!

34. R Meade

    Apr 13, 2012, 11:56 #21136

    Only been one entry into our history book these last seven years biggest defeat the 8 - 2, will there ever be another entry while Wenger is in charge? And how long do we wait another 5 years 10?

35. Gare Kekeke

    Apr 13, 2012, 11:56 #21135

    This season will indeed be remembered for a variety of reasons. Some good, some bad and my God there have been some very bad moments. Having said that, there have been some very good moments too. Chelsea away is my personal favourite because of wiping those smug smiles off the faces of the Chelsea fans and the half time mocking of ex-Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair which came in light of the alleged John Terry race row. And Terry making a mug of himself (first half goal apart), priceless. I can’t stand Chelsea fans and their support of John Terry in light of the allegations tells you all you need to know about that mob. Will it go down in the annals of being a great season for The Arsenal? Not really in my book. 2011/12 should not be seen in any shape or form as a great season for us. Yes, it’s disappointing that yet again we are trophy less but the fact that we never really competed for any of them is for me more annoying. Terry Neill’s Arsenal circa 1976-83 achieved far more than this bunch and they lost three out of four cup finals but to an extent struggled to cope with the losses of Messrs Brady & Stapleton. Here’s hoping that Wenger & co would have learned a fair few lessons from this season and work much harder in the summer. I have my doubts but am happy to be proved wrong. Up The Arsenal!

36. Andy

    Apr 13, 2012, 11:41 #21133

    Agreed. I usually don't buy into "3/4th place is a trophy" but somehow this season seems far more memorable than the dross served to us post-Invincibles. I think our last minute "panic" buys have contributed to this greatly too : Arteta, BFG, Yossi and Santos have all brought in some professionalism, industry and balance - something that have lacked from the previous generation of lightweights of Vela, Denilson, Bendtner, etc. re : RVP, not only he has been a critical to our success on the pitch, but off the pitch he as shown himself to be a TRUE captain we have not seen since certain Tone was running the show. He is the guys who glues the team togethe - you can see this sentiment echoed by all our players, from youngsters to seniors.

37. ppp

    Apr 13, 2012, 11:06 #21132

    Thank Bergkamp! A positive article! "The statue came to life" is a great line. Henry's fleeting return was amazing.

38. Tony Evans

    Apr 13, 2012, 10:21 #21131

    It has been a strange season hasn't it? I am delighted and disappointed all at the same time which is very confusing. I agree with your take on Liverpool and if the Carling Cup is all they end up with I wouldn't swap their season for ours. If Arsenal finish third (or even fourth) it has to be seen as a good season but Wenger now for me has to go out and get the two or three QUALITY players we need to take us to the next (very top) level. If he doesn't then none of the lessons of the past 7 years will have been learnt and we will always be a 'nearly' team under Wenger, waiting for young players to develop (or not as in too many cases). I still have issues with Wenger's team selections with certain players and certain positions and his ability to send out a team tough enough to mix it with the Stokes of this world but we are getting better defensively so fingers crossed for next season.

39. Ramgun

    Apr 13, 2012, 10:09 #21130

    We have shown passion and fight throughout have we? Did you see the games at Milan, Sunderland in the FA Cup and QPR?