Arsenal 2013-2014 Season Review and Transfer Preview

The Arsenal season of 2013-2014 was one of many highs and many lows. This season saw the Gunners overcome a lot of adversity and negative press and forced them to make their own happy ending. The Gunners started the seasons strong, in great form and at the top of the table. However, injuries and some terrible results to their title rivals derailed the title challenge and saw Arsenal finish in the all too familiar position of 4th. However, the best success of the season was found in the FA Cup where yesterday Arsenal overturned a two goal deficit to beat Hull City to win the trophy, effectively putting an end to the 9 year trophy drought. So without further ado lets address the big points at hand here.

1.) The FA Cup is a big achievement but Arsenal must use this as a stepping stone

Arsenal fans felt a big release of emotion following the final whistle at the end of extra time. Hull really took the game to Arsenal but through some fighting spirit (and a little luck) the Gunners were able to pull through. While not the most convincing of wins, it was a trophy that Arsenal thoroughly deserve. They beat Spurs, Liverpool, Everton, and Wigan (the cup holders) to get to the final and Hull could hardly be considered an "easy" opponent. The important thing is the Arsenal won and these players now have experienced the feeling of winning a major trophy. There is now a greater feeling of optimism around the Gunners heading into the summer this year as opposed to last year in which finishing in 4th felt more like a punch to the gut. Arsenal has finally gotten back to winning trophies, now they must use this success to go out and invest in the squad and challenge for the Premier League next season.

2.) Arsene Wenger's kids are growing up

Arsene Wenger is often criticized by fans and pundits alike for relying too much on youth to win. However, the critics now might be eating their words when they look at the young core that Wenger has assembled. Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, and Kieran Gibbs among others all hit incredible runs of form. Ramsey stands out the most for going from fan pariah to probably the most loved player among the fans in a matter of months. Gibbs is another player who elevated himself into the group of best left backs on the continent this season with several brilliant attacking performances. A new group of youngsters could also be on their way down the line in the forms of Yaya Sanogo, Gedion Zelalem, and Serge Gnabry. The future really does look bright for the Gunners.

3.) Squad Consistency

Once again it doesn't appear that there will be a major exodus of players out the door this season for Arsenal. That fact alone led to the Gunners success this season, no major players left and shook up the team. Keeping the same players together allowed Aaron Ramsey to emerge this year, Olivier Giroud to improve, and Koscielny and Mertesacker to further develop their partnership. This is a squad that seems to love one another and enjoys playing together. That love really showed in the celebrations following the FA Cup win. Keeping the core of this team together is best for everyone.

So now here are my awards for this season:

Player(s) of the Season: Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny

It was really hard not to give this award to Aaron Ramsey because of his spectacular season but to get to the core of why Arsenal was successful this year it comes down to defense. In years past Arsenal has been doomed by defensive errors and has struggled to find a working centre-back combination. Mertescaker and Koscielny were that iron wall for Arsenal this season, working hard together and delivering many a clean sheet for the Gunners. By fixing the problem at the back, Arsenal improved the entire team which is why I have to give the honors to these guys.

Honorable mentions: Aaron Ramsey, Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna




"Worst" Player of the Season: Nacho Monreal

Picking a least valuable player out of this year's bunch was rather difficult because no Arsenal player actually stood out in that way. Even the guy I've chosen this year, Nacho Monreal, scored the winning penalty in a League Cup shoot-out! However, Monreal was also on the receiving end of some pretty bad maulings this season, most notably against Liverpool. Monreal started the year on equal footing with Kieran Gibbs and by the end was quite clearly second-choice, his performances in relief of Gibbs indicating that as well. Monreal was not egregiously bad this year but his marginalization within the team is what earns him this award.

Honorable Mention: Nicklas Bendtner (barely, you need to actually play to be considered for this)

Game of the Season: FA Cup Final vs Hull City

Was there any doubt about this one? Sure Arsenal may have played better games during the season but this was easily the most meaningful and important win of them all. The game started out nightmarishly for the Gunners, going down by 2 goals in the first 8 minutes. Many Arsenal fans had their head in the hands thinking that Arsenal was simply folding in a big game again. However, instead of folding, they rose to the challenge. A Santi Cazorla free kick in the first half got them back in the game. Lauren Koscielny drew them level in the second half and from there the game's result was never in doubt. When Aaron Ramsey scored the winner in the second period of extra time, 9 years of frustration was released all across Wembley; Arsenal were finally champions again.

Honorable Mentions: 4-1 vs Norwich, 2-0 vs Liverpool, 2-0 vs Napoli in Champions League, and the first 1-0 win over Spurs at the Emirates

Worst Game of the Season: The Mauling at Anfield

Handed another chance to prove themselves in a big game the Gunners found themselves 4-0 down to Liverpool before the twenty minute mark. Liverpool's fast paced blitz felt like a call back to the Arsene Wenger teams of old and felt like a reminder of how long it had been since Arsenal had won a trophy. Arsenal would eventually pull a goal back through Mikel Arteta but by then it was already too late. Liverpool had announced their title candidacy with the win and Arsenal began to see the Premier League title slip through their fingers.

Honorable Mention: the 6-0 drubbing at Stamford Bridge, the 3-0 beating at the hands of Everton, the 2-2 draw against Swansea at the Emirates, and Bayern's 2-0 victory at the Emirates which saw Wojciech Szczesny sent off

Surprise of the Season: Aaron Ramsey

Aaron Ramsey's Arsenal career before the season was marked by two things, a broken leg against Stoke in 2010 and constant criticism from Arsenal fans just about every game. Most of the criticism was unfair and by the end of last season he had established himself as one of Arsenal's best players. However, nobody could have forseen the leap Aaron Ramsey took this year from a good player to a great player. At the start of the season he was scoring cracking goals for fun, playing with intense energy every game, and the team always played best when he was in the side. In a span of months he became Arsenal's pivotal player and their dip in form correlated closely with when he was lost to injury after the New Year. Even after he returned from injury no other Arsenal player had laid claim to his spot of second leading goalscorer. When he returned in the spring he picked up exactly where he left off and scored the winner in the FA Cup final. He's only 23 which means his best years are still yet to come. 

Honorable Mention: Yaya Sanogo

Performance of the Season: The midfield in the 2-0 win over Liverpool at the Emirates

The stakes were high, an early season matchup between the two teams that occupied the table at the time. Most of the pregame talk was about Liverpool's star strikers Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge however after the game the talk was about Arsenal's midfield. Brendan Rodgers sent his Liverpool team out with three man midfield that quickly found itself overwhelmed by the creative interplay between Mesut Özil, Tomas Rosicky, Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta, and Santi Cazorla. Arsenal ran the game and ended it with a huge win that provided a glimpse of just how good they could be. It was that game that forced Rodgers to switch up his tactics to the ones which led to Liverpool's title push.

Goals of the Season (Known this year as "The Aaron Ramsey Show"):

5.) Aaron Ramsey vs Norwich

It was a game filled with fantastic goals and Aaron Ramsey's was no exception. Great move into the box, through one defender, by the other and a classy finish.

4.) Tomas Rosicky vs Sunderland

An exquisite goal that features all of the lovely passing and skill that makes Arsene Wenger's style of football so brilliant to watch. The lovely chip at the end makes it all the sweeter.

3.) Aaron Ramsey vs Norwich pt. 2

Having missed several months since the New Year, Aaron Ramsey picked the last game of the season to show Arsenal fans that he early season form wasn't just a flash in the pan. Fantastic technique to volley the ball home.

2.) Aaron Ramsey vs Liverpool

This time he strikes from long range, goalkeeper helpless. A great goal from one of Arsenal's best wins this season.

1.) Jack Wilshere vs Norwich

Like the Rosicky goal this goal represents the end product of some fantastic one touch passing. Voted the Premier League's goal of the season this one has to go down as one of the best team goals of the year and of all-time.

So what does Arsenal need to improve for next year?

1.) Better results against top teams

Arsenal figured out how to beat up on the small fries this season. The only losses they had to teams outside the top 5 were to Stoke City and Manchester United. However, their form against their title rivals left little to be desired. 6-3 at Manchester City, 5-1 at Liverpool, 6-0 at Chelsea, and 3-0 at Everton. Sense a trend? Arsenal had their worst results this season away against top teams and things got ugly quick. Arsenal needs to be better prepared mentally for big games, even against Hull they struggled out of the gates. In order to contend for the league next year Arsenal will need better results against these teams.


2.) Sign a top striker

The two teams that were in the race for the title on the last day of the season, Liverpool and Manchester City, both had one thing in common. They possess world class strikers who provide goals when the team needs them. Olivier Giroud's 22 goals in all competitions was a fine tally, however lack of depth at striker meant that he was playing many of Arsenal's biggest games extremely fatigued. Giroud has also shown great form when he can play off a second striker who is faster, for example Yaya Sanogo. Giroud is good enough to play at Arsenal but signing a second striker is definitely necessary for Arsenal to contend for the Premier League title.

Now onto the summer, who will Arsenal be in the market for?

Loic Remy was spotted in the stands during the Arsenal-West Brom match earlier this month, fueling speculation that he could on his way to Arsenal. The striker has spent the past year on loan at Newcastle from Queens Park Rangers and would relish a permanent move to top club in the Premier League. His pace is exactly the kind of thing Arsenal's midfield wants, a striker who can get behind defenders; something that was missing in Theo Walcott's absence.

Rumors are abound that Arsenal is interested in activating the buy-back clause that they have on Real Sociedad striker and former Gunner Carlos Vela. Vela left the Emirates before the start of the 2012-2013 season but Arsene Wenger felt reason to include a buy-back clause in the deal. Now Vela is available to the Gunners for a relatively cheap 3.3 million pounds. Few players in Europe have been as prolific as Vela has been for Sociedad over the past two years so it may be a risk worth taking.

Another Real Sociedad man, Antoine Griezmann, could also be available this summer. His price will most definitely be higher than either Vela or Remy but Arsene Wenger could be convinced to splash the cash on the young Frenchman.

A more radical rumor is that Arsenal is willing to bid 30 million for the services of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema. The Frenchman has been in fine form for Madrid this season and he seems to be an unlikely arrival unless Madrid pull off a shock move for Liverpool's Luis Suarez.

Reports out of France suggest that Toulouse full-back Serge Aurier is headed to the Emirates this summer. He could be seen as a replacement for the potentially departing Bacary Sagna. Aurier is known as a huge Arsenal fan and is willing to make the switch no matter the price according to French sources.