Mick Appleton
Well that was a poor season and no mistake. The team really put us through the ringer this season and I’m not sure how much more my heart can take. Finishing in the Champions League places (thanks to Fulop) cannot paper over the gaping cracks this term.
I’ll move past our goals conceded, which was the poorest for us in the Wenger era (1.29 goals per game), but I cannot ignore losing ten games in a 38-game season. That’s over a quarter of our league games, and, if you chuck in the seven draws, it means we didn’t win in nearly half of our league fixtures. That simply is not good enough. We dropped 13 points against the bottom five this season, and we were the only team in the top half not to complete the double over at least one of them. We finished 19 points behind the Manchester clubs, and we cannot expect to return to being championship contenders with a record like that! We also dropped points against all of the promoted sides. We were just as bad in the cups. We were awful at Sunderland in the FA Cup; we were a little better in the League Cup, but went out to a late sucker-punch from City. The capitulation to AC Milan in the Champions League surpassed the game at Old Trafford as our worst performance this season for me. We had a much stronger team in Milan but, individually and collectively, it was completely gutless. It could have been worse than 4-0, and I for one never want to see us perform that badly ever again.
Far too many players underperformed this season, and the manager was tactically inept at times. Injuries again played a big part, and a serious shake-up of our coaching and medical staff is required. I was very pleased to see that Arsène’s yes-man, Pat Rice, has decided to retire (again). He has been a good servant to the club. but he should have been put out to grass three or four seasons ago. Steve Bould will make an excellent replacement, and he should help us address our defensive frailties next season, if given a free hand.
My wishes for the coming season are first that we get RvP to sign a new contract. It’s of massive importance not just to retain our star players but also to send a message out to Man City and other clubs who come sniffing around at this time every season that we are not a nursery that grows players from saplings so that they can come along and take them off our hands when they are in full bloom. Also, it will help us attract other top players if our stars remain at the club.
Secondly, that we sell most of the players who were out on loan this season, i.e. Bendtner, Arshavin, Denilson and Vela (not sure about Lansbury), and that we also shift several of the other pieces of dead wood. Almunia, Squillaci, Djourou and Chamakh most instantly spring to mind, but there are also others I would like to see replaced (see player reviews below).
Lastly, I hope we add the necessary signings that will finally make us competitive again. Podolski is a good start, and I hope that all the rumours about M’Vila are true, as we need a quality defensive midfielder (although I still hope Frimpong will break through as our number one for that position). I hope the influence that the experienced players signed at the end of the August transfer window had convinces Arsène that buying young, unproven players all the time is folly. As already mentioned, Podolski & M’Vila will be a good start, but I also think we need one more experienced centre-back, a top-quality left-back and a back-up goalkeeper! I think we could definitely challenge next season if we can secure those players and we get another improvement from our existing players. Stopping the recurrence of long-term injuries would also take us a massive step closer.
Manager
Arsène has had a very mixed season. His usual reluctance in the transfer-window meant our title challenge was virtually over by the end of August, and the writing appeared to be on the wall with media and fans alike questioning if he was finished. Getting out of our Champions League Group and a good run during February and March silenced many, but it failed to convince me that he is able to turn his latest crop into winners. For many Arsenal fans, the time has come for a change, but I still want to give him one more chance to work his magic. However, I think he can only achieve this if he allows fresh voices and ideas into his little world. New coaches (specifically a defensive one) are needed to inject new impetus into the squad. A change of tactics, to work much harder when we lose the ball, is of the utmost importance. He also needs to spend less time berating officials and more time criticizing underperforming players. A more magnanimous approach towards others would also be a step forward; refusing to shake hands because you’ve lost is childish and only makes teams want to beat you more. Also, complaining about other teams’ tactics (e.g. Stoke’s) will only encourage them. Beating them will always be the best answer to their bully-boy antics. Arsène, I still love you, but you are in the last chance saloon. 7/10
Goalkeepers
Szczesny – Had a good season, but improvement is still required to make him world-class. He is prone to concentration lapses, needs to control his impulse to rush in to a crowd at set pieces, and he also needs to work on his kicking. 7.5/10
Fabianski – Fortunately, has warmed the bench most of the season; an accident waiting to happen, should be replaced with a more reliable number two. 3/10
Mannone – Not even good enough to play for Hull. Bye, Vito. 2/10
Almunia – I cannot believe this waste of space is still on our wage bill. Just pay him up and send him packing. 0/10
Defenders
Sagna – Steady as usual, badly missed during his injury absences. Defence improved massively on his return. However, two broken legs in one season is a very worrying trend; just hope he comes back stronger next season. 7/10
Gibbs – I keep waiting for him to go to the next level, but his constant injuries never allow it to happen. Suspect tactically & positionally; I hope we buy a quality left-back and use Gibbs or Santos as squad players. 6/10
Vermaelen – Another like Sagna who was a big loss during his injuries. His partnership with Kos is one of the few major plus-points this season. Unfortunately, had a really poor game in Milan that saw us knocked out of the Champions League but his goals, all-round enthusiasm and drive easily make up for his occasional lapses. 7.5/10
Koscielny – Has a great understanding with TV and has improved massively this season. Our most solid and dependable performer this season. He would be my player of the year if RvP hadn’t have been sensational. 9/10
Mertesacker – A back-up player whose lack of pace is a major obstacle in the Premier League. He turns like an oil tanker and is only third choice due to the lack of competition for his place. 6/10
Andre Santos – Just started to look better when he picked up his injury. Took time to get match fit and it will probably mean going through another six games of mediocrity for him to be fit again. Has good feet but is slow and is often caught in possession. A squad player at best. 5/10
Djourou – Simply not good enough. It looked like he might make it for a short while during 2010-11, but I have panic attacks every time he plays. He must go. 3/10
Jenkinson – Looked solid and committed prior to his injury, a good back-up for Sagna. He will not let us down when called upon. 6.5/10
Squillaci – Fulham away, nuff said. Taxi for Squillaci. 0/10
Miquel – Not seen enough of him this season to see if he has improved. He has shown promise so should be retained. 5/10
Midfielders
Diaby – The most frustrating player in our squad; has obvious attributes but constant injuries and a lack of urgency prevent him from reaching his potential. Should be sold. 4/10
Rosicky – Will the real Tomas Rosicky please stand up! After several below par seasons, Tomas woke up and started to produce some very good performances this season. He is still profligate in front of goal, but is one of the main reasons we saw the big improvement after our Champions League debacle in Milan. 7 /10
Arteta – I was glad to be proven right after being a fan of Arteta for many years. I wanted him to play along side Cesc, but alas they were passing ships. He came in and gave us some of the experience and stability we were badly lacking, has been a very consistent performer, and left a big hole when an injury finished his season. The fact that we didn’t win when he didn’t play sums up his worth this season. 8/10
Walcott – Continues to irritate me; outstanding one week, anonymous the next. Has contributed a large percentage of assists for RvP and has improved his own scoring record, but he needs to be consistent. I’m not sure that’s ever going to happen, but I live in hope. 6.5/10
Oxlade-Chamberlain – Excites me more than any player we’ve signed in a long time. Has the physique and power that Theo lacks and he’s not afraid to shoot from outside the box, a lost art at Arsenal. Just hope he plays more regularly next season, although I think Arsène will send him out on loan. 7/10
Ramsey – I was so happy when we bought him, but I now wish Man U had beaten us to his signature. Has no second-gear, kills the impetus of our attacks, and cannot keep the ball in the stadium when shooting. I think we should cut our losses and cash in. 5/10
Song – Another player who drives me to distraction. It seems impossible that the same player can play the ball he did at Anfield for RvP & then give the ball away with his next three touches. Looked well short when not paired with Arteta, good and terrible in equal measure. Definitely not a holding midfielder. 6.5/10
Benayoun – Was very good when he eventually broke into the team and, as with Rosicky, he helped speed the team up to a tempo much better suited to our passing style. Unfortunately, it looks like he will decide to return to Chelsea next season now they have a new manager. 7/10
Coquelin – Another player who had started to perform when injury interrupted. A solid squad member who can cover in a variety of different positions. 6/10
Gervinho – His talent, like his forehead, is greatly exaggerated. I can only hope that his lack of form (or is it ability?) is because he has had trouble settling into the Premier League. If not, it looks like Arsene has found another Reyes - plenty of pace but little else. Looks like Newcastle got the better half of the deal by signing his midfield partner at Lille, Cabayé. Worth another look, but he must hit the ground running next season. 5/10
Wilshere – His absence, in my opinion, was the main reason we came up empty-handed again this season. I just hope he comes back fully fit next season to fulfil his and our potential.
Forwards
Van Persie – Was absolutely outstanding for the majority of the season; makes me wonder how we might have done in recent seasons with a fully-fit Robin to step up when we just came up short in important games. I think he will stay and that will be a massive boost and should help us encourage other quality players to join us. My player of the year for carrying us when we looked like a rudderless ship. 9.5/10
Park – Another who showed some early promise, but he lacks the physical strength to succeed in the Premier League, much like Vela before him. 5/10
Chamakh – A total waste of space, bears no resemblance to the player we saw in his first three months at the club. A one-way Euro Tunnel ticket for him. I’ll drive him personally if required. 0/10
