Going forward? Amazingly, yes

Arsenal added the motto ‘Forward’ to the bottom of the club’s crest for the 125th anniversary season, and for a large slice of the season, that was looking like an embarrassing move. It seemed like we were a club in decline, and one that was definitely moving backwards. No-one could have envisaged that we’d end the season with a higher points total than the previous campaign, and finish a place higher.

It might only be a small step, but we have gone forward as a team and as a club this season. Whilst we should be rightly pleased at how we recovered from the dreadful start, this achievement shouldn’t be looked at as the be all and end all for this group of players. It needs to be the start of something.

We’ve stumbled over the line, but finishing third not only puts us back in the Champions League group stage, it gives us more clout when negotiating new contracts for certain members of the current squad, and helps us in the transfer market to attract players. One of the reasons for the ill-advised trolley dash at the end of last summer was that we weren’t able to guarantee potential signings that they’d be playing in Europe’s top competition because of the Champions League qualifier with Udinese. We won’t have that problem this summer.

The win at West Brom to confirm our place in third was hardly convincing, and arguably doesn’t give us much hope for the future considering some of the elements of the performance. However in the last match of the season, the performance is irrelevant. If there is something significant to play for, so long as you get the right result, no-one really cares.

We undoubtedly got significant slices of luck with some interesting goalkeeping from Marton Fulop. It seems like Manuel Almunia has been embarking on a little tour of Premier League clubs in the last couple of weeks. After giving Wojciech Szczesny some tips ahead of our game with Norwich, he then got Marton Fulop to deliver an Almunia master class.

The first mistake was slightly reminiscent of Almunia’s spectacular error that he made at the same end of the same ground in the previous season. Yossi Benayoun deserves credit for closing Fulop down and putting him under pressure, but Fulop couldn’t have tied the bow on the present any better if he tried. The second mistake wasn’t catastrophic, but Santos’ shot was still saveable. The Brazilian’s effort was well struck, and it was good to see an Arsenal player shoot from outside the box, but Fulop gave it a helping hand.

Fulop then saved his best until last. His punch back towards his own goal was quite impressive, and Laurent Koscielny was well placed to flick the ball in. It was scrappy, but it was vital.

Defensively, once again we were horribly open. The first West Brom goal came about from our high line getting caught out as the offside trap didn’t work. Shane Long did look like he’d started his run a fraction too early, but we took a risk with our high line. Plus, Andre Santos was absolutely nowhere to be seen. Had he been in the left back position, he could have covered round and Long wouldn’t have had a clear run on goal, offside or not. Santos has clear ability on the ball and when going forward, but his positional sense defensively simply isn’t good enough to be a regular Premier League full back. I love his character, and he’s a good squad player, but Kieran Gibbs will have to be our first choice if fit at the start of next season.

Thomas Vermaelen’s radar has gone seriously awry in the last weeks of the season, and he was hopelessly out of position for the second goal. He tried to play offside, whilst the others dropped deep. That really shouldn’t be happening at the end of the season when the centre backs have played with each other enough times.

Some individual players deserve a mention from the match. Wojciech Szczesny had a nightmare against Norwich, but recovered well and apparently played through the pain of an injury to take the field against West Brom. He didn’t have much hope with either of the goals, but made some good saves in the second half to keep us ahead. Despite the knock his confidence could have taken, he still looked to command his area and didn’t look phased, compared to the man between the sticks at the other end.

Kieran Gibbs has also suffered from a dip in form in recent weeks, but his tackle at the end of the match embodied why this group of Arsenal players are different to the more disjointed teams we’ve had in recent seasons. At that stage of the season, players could have been relaxed and been thinking of the beach, but Gibbs put everything on the line with that tackle. He had to time it right and put his body in danger, and he did it. At the end of last season, when we were in a similar position to claim third, I doubt the players would have been willing to make such a risky challenge and be ready to put themselves in danger in that way.

We’ve acknowledged it during the whole season, that generally the team have been down on quality, but the team spirit and commitment to the club has seen them through in some tough situations. Quality can be added if we’re smart in the transfer market, but that spirit can be harder to build up. We’ve already got plenty of it, and should our captain stay, it’ll serve us well next season.

There are many moments that could be picked out as crucial to the season, crucial to finishing one point ahead of Spurs and crucial to avoiding the agony of fretting throughout the Champions League. Vermaelen’s winner against Newcastle, Henry’s winner at Sunderland, van Persie’s winner at Liverpool and Benayoun’s header against Aston Villa all stand out, however I can’t help but look past the North London derby at the Emirates as the match that truly turned our season.

We’d had some good results up to that point, but were on a poor run of form and could have gone 13 points behind Tottenham. Indeed at 2-0, it was looking like that would be the case. However the fans and everyone at the club seemed to truly unite, and from the moment Bacary Sagna powered in the header, there seemed little doubt that we’d go on to win the match and ultimately preserve the footballing equilibrium in North London. We’ve stuttered at the end, but the confidence gained from that match meant that the team still knew they had enough in them to beat West Brom as they were determined to see a St Totteringham’s Day this season. Tottenham have had a good season, and if we were going to finish above them, it was always likely to mean a place in the top three, so having the extra incentive of chasing them down undoubtedly helped this team.

It’s not a cliché or an exaggeration to say this season has been really up and down for Arsenal fans. Has it been a successful season? Realistically, no, as we should be constantly trying to push on as a club, and be looking to win trophies. However no team has a divine right to win trophies or finish in the top three. We were in a seriously sticky situation at the start of the season, and to finish in a higher position in the league, and with more points should be viewed as a success, even if it isn’t a major one.

Arsene Wenger was written off so many times by the press, but he has shown great commitment to Arsenal and to his own style of management, and helped blow away a few of the dark clouds that gathered over his head at times this season. He deserves a rest after the stresses and strains he’s been through this season, but he’ll know more than anyone that his job doesn’t stop while the players are either on the beach or at the Euros. Having worked hard to maintain our place at Europe’s top table, he has a good platform on which to build on for next season. If he does that, we can be looking towards a more major success in 2012/13.

A final word for Pat Rice. The way the players hoisted him up in front of the travelling Gooners on Sunday was recognition of the respect they have for him as an Arsenal legend, as a colleague, and as a man. He’ll be greatly missed, but should always serve as an inspiration to others who work or play at Arsenal. Thanks Pat.

I’m going to rate, and in some cases slate, the Arsenal squad for the past season in some end of season exam blog posts, after a two week break for my own end of year exams! Thanks for all of your comments on this blog during the season. To say it’s been eventful would be an understatement, but we’ve come out of it alive and with a hint of progress. Roll on August!

Source: Sam Limbert, ESPN Soccernet on 15 May 12

A Premier League of ups, downs and outs leaves a legacy of flaws

The Champions League finalists finish sixth in the league, Manchester United lose an eight-point lead and Manchester City lose five away games but end up winners

It was the flaws that made for an engrossing Premier League season. Even Manchester City, on their path to the prize, contrived to lose five away games. The new champions will scarcely be in anguish now but such results emphasised that this, to put it kindly, has been a transitional campaign.

One ought to marvel that Manchester United got so close to retaining the title. Expenditure in the transfer market has increased by comparison with earlier periods under the ownership of the Glazers but the outlay still seems relatively small when set against the scale of the club itself. That policy leaves United with a capable team rather than an enthralling one.

No one, for instance, assumes that either Antonio Valencia or Ashley Young, the wingers employed against Sunderland on Sunday, is going to be ranked with Cristiano Ronaldo, who moved from Old Trafford to the Bernabéu in 2009, when he was 24. There can be no claim that his best years had been in the service of United.

In the weekend win it always looked as if Wayne Rooney alone could settle the outcome, as he did. United are not alone in being a prominent side that is, for the moment, best suited to domestic consumption. The last 16 of the Champions League contained only two English sides. Arsenal were eliminated by Milan then and, while Chelsea will meet Bayern Munich in the final, the Stamford Bridge team have come sixth in the Premier League.

In the case of Arsenal one wonders if a touch of panic might be of assistance. Arsène Wenger seems so patient that trophies are still a remote consideration. Depth, for instance, was needed in attack but the transfer of Lukas Podolski from Cologne was agreed only recently. Had another forward arrived sooner, Arsenal would have enjoyed the option, on occasion, of selecting the excellent Robin van Persie as a schemer instead of a spearhead.

It might, all the same, be perverse to dwell on that sort of issue when half the teams in this season's Premier League have had a better defensive record in away matches than Arsenal. For a club of their standing, references to the injury troubles of Thomas Vermaelen do not amount to a satisfactory explanation. Indeed the side lost 4-0 away to Milan when the Belgian was in the line-up.

Vulnerability at even the mighty clubs has intensified the drama of the Premier League. Instead of being the resourceful, steely side of former days, United could find nothing better to do with an eight-point lead than discard it while losing, for instance, at Wigan Athletic and allowing Everton to recover from 4-2 down to draw at Old Trafford.

Nemanja Vidic suffered a grave injury against Basel in December but one would expect United to cope better at critical times, even if their points tally for the season was still large. Chelsea have suffered a greater fall from grace and, given the switch from the unsuccessful André Villas-Boas to the interim head coach Roberto Di Matteo, the improvisatory tone has been inescapable.

There is a craving at Stamford Bridge to see Fernando Torres flourish but the striker instead seems like the embodiment of the Premier League nowadays. He holds the promise of excellence but it is not fulfilled often enough. So it is, incongruously, that a 34-year-old Didier Drogba can look the principal hope for Chelsea, with agitation at the likelihood that he will leave.

Elsewhere the general state of affairs at Stamford Bridge would be envied. Liverpool have made a modest advance by taking the League Cup after a penalty shoot-out with Cardiff City and getting to an FA Cup final won by Chelsea, but it is too much to ask that Steven Gerrard single-handedly supplies the verve in midfield.

Tottenham Hotspur have come fourth, denying Newcastle United the prospect of Champions League football, but their stadium is not big enough to help generate the levels of income that would enhance the squad markedly. Beyond the current circumstances there is a difficulty in telling what we ought to anticipate from the Premier League in the near future.

Touches of austerity can be spotted, even if City are unacquainted with them. Should the forthcoming financial fair play measures have the profound effect sought by Uefa, we could see a dip in glamour that is more than offset by the rise in competitiveness. As it is, the elite have not seemed quite so aloof even if City will be sure that their era is only beginning.

Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 15 May 12

Robin van Persie's curtain call: a platitude or a goodbye to Arsenal?

Arsenal's directors will look to ensure this week that the Gunners talisman does not bid a farewell to arms

Is that goodbye? The question rippled through the visitors section at The Hawthorns as Robin van Persie strode towards them for a third curtain call.

He had already been over once with the rest of the squad for a collective whoop in recognition of Arsenal's third-placed finish. Then again after the players had fetched Pat Rice to give the departing stalwart the bumps. But what prompted Van Persie to come back again, by himself, for a final wave?

The moment prompted the travelling fans to find their inner Woody Allen.

What did he mean? Why an extra bow? Is it just because he is captain? Was he just overflowing with happiness? Might that be farewell?

Arsenal have been here so often, in the position of analysing the end-of-season gestures of particularly coveted players. They had it with Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Cesc Fábregas. Now it is Van Persie's turn. The Premier League's top scorer tensed up ever so slightly when the post-match flash interview mentioned his contractual situation. Rather like the extra wave, people looked for clues but found no answers. "We will have a chat next week somewhere and go from there," he said diplomatically.

Here is what we do know. Arsenal are super keen for their talisman to sign an extension to a contract that expires in a year's time. They are also intent on avoiding the kind of prolonged limbo that was so destabilising last summer with Fábregas and Samir Nasri. Meetings are set for this week when Arsenal will put what they hope is a good enough offer on the table, one which will exceed their maximum wages so far. They know they cannot match the packages proposed by the wealthiest, but are hopeful that Van Persie's affection for the club, sense of responsibility as captain, and the happiness of his family in London will hold significant sway.

An interview with his wife, Bouchra, in the Dutch magazine Heroes suggested there is more to this decision than finance. "We have been in London for eight years now. As a family, we love it here," she said. "We don't want to upset things at home either. Our kids, Shaqueel and Dina, go to school here in London. And they are just as happy as we are. We have to make some decisions at some point. But it is not just about Robin. He also thinks about us, his children and me."

Ambition, clearly, would be also a factor for any player in Van Persie's position. This is his last major deal. Can his club give him a realistic platform to win things? When he joins up with his Dutch team-mates for the European Championship, it is noticeable he does not have the medals many of his peers have. One FA Cup from 2005 and a Uefa Cup from 2002 does not stack up compared to the other experienced members of the squad. The likes of Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Mark van Bommel and Nigel de Jong have rather more on their mantelpieces.

Arsène Wenger has stated that he wants Van Persie's situation resolved before his striker heads off for the Euros at the end of this week. It would be remarkable if they can hammer out a deal quickly enough for that to be the case, but that is the goal. The key protagonists in negotiations are Wenger himself, the chief executive Ivan Gazidis, Richard Law, from the Football Operations team, and Van Persie's agent, Kees Vos. The role of Darren Dein, an associate of Van Persie's who spends a lot of time with him, is unclear. The son of Arsenal's former vice-chairman David Dein is, however, linked with having arranged the high profile departures of Fábregas and Henry.

Arsenal clearly have to demonstrate that lessons have been learned after the fiasco of last summer, and show they are in position to build, rather than see some foundations ripped out before a hasty reconstruction.

The early capture of Lukas Podolski was a good start. But it is vital that the Van Persie situation does not morph into another long-running saga.

Arsenal were dismayed this time last year that they were forced into a corner over the Fábregas and Nasri situations. While they view the Fábregas sale as something of a unique case (given that it was not subject to the usual market forces as it was universally accepted that he would only leave for Barcelona) the Nasri problem was the one which reflected the worst of their predicament. He would not sign a new deal, and yet his buyers did not come up with an offer until painfully late in the window. Arsenal were stuck in the mud.

They have to avoid a replica scenario with Van Persie. It is worth remembering that the Dutchman is not the only player in this position. Theo Walcott is also entering the final year of his contract.

Clearly, an important week lies ahead for Arsenal's negotiators. The fact that they believe Van Persie has not yet had his head turned, at least gives them a fighting chance.

Source: Amy Lawrence, The Guardian on 14 May 12

Arsène Wenger hails Arsenal's unbroken run in the Champions League

Maybe Arsène Wenger does know after all. An unbalanced, transitional, sometimes lightweight Arsenal team produced one of the most see-sawingly unlikely third‑place finishes in recent Premier League history with a victory at The Hawthorns that, but for Kieron Gibbs's late tackle, might have been a calamitous 3-3 draw. In the process they ensured the fiscal grail of Champions League qualification continued: shaken, stirred but as yet uninterrupted. At the end Wenger appeared both calm and commendably magnanimous after a season that had also brought occasional animosity from a vocal minority of the club's support.

"I'm very proud of this season," Wenger said. "We were tested not just on the pitch but off, for our unity and solidity in the club. We didn't show weakness and we stayed united. It's a good lesson for everyone.

"If you look at the season as a whole we only lost two in the last 16 games, we had a fantastic run and finished with a respectable 70 points and qualified for the 15th year in a row for the Champions League and we are proud of that. Only three clubs in the whole of Europe have done that. It shows it's not as easy as it looks."

Wenger conceded it had been a close run thing during a match that seemed to pulse along at its own frenzied tempo. "I felt when we were 1-0 up we looked nervous and shaky. At 2-1 down we got back to our game and we defended crosses with resilience. I'm still thinking of suing the referee for the five minutes of added time, because my heart suffered too much."

Gibbs received particular praise after a late appearance at left-back from the bench that steadied an initially harum-scarum back four. "He came on very well," Wenger said. "We suffered on that flank in the first half. He won headers and tackles and he deserves huge credit for that tackle."

Of Robin van Persie's decision after the other players had left the pitch to walk across, defying the attentions of stewards, and enjoy a protracted communion with the travelling support, Wenger remained wryly noncommittal. "You can make of that what you want. If he didn't celebrate, you would say he's already gone. If he does, you can say he's saying goodbye. I would see it as a positive." Talks are planned before Van Persie leaves to join the Dutch camp for Euro 2012. His fate is perhaps undecided right now but it was a moment no doubt designed to save the Dutchman from feeling he never got the chance to say goodbye.

As for Roy Hodgson, in some ways this was an ideal final Premier League workout for England's new manager. Charged with deploying his team of energetic middleweights to stifle apparently superior cosmopolitan opponents, Hodgson drew another well-drilled and even expansive performance from his players, sending his final West Bromwich Albion team out in an adventurous 4‑4‑1‑1 formation.

Hodgson also maintained his commendably low-key persona so far by dodging the post-match press conference, sending instead his No2 Keith Downing, who paid generous tribute to his departing boss. "Roy has given the club a stability, a structure, improving the standard every day. He's making players, even when they're 30 years of age better in their game," Downing said.

"There are a lot of players in the dressing room disappointed to see him go. People talk about senior players [with England] but senior players can learn. Roy will give honesty and integrity, a shape and a system that players will understand. He's got all the attributes to do a decent job at national level."

Source: Barney Ronay, The Guardian on 13 May 12

Arsenal secure Champions League place with victory at West Brom

Do not try telling Arsenal's fans that Champions League qualification is not a ribbon-draped, podium-bouncing achievement in its own right. At least, perhaps not until the lustre has finally faded from a breathless, error-strewn 3-2 defeat of West Bromwich Albion that sealed third place in the Premier League to scenes of wild relief as much as delirium. The annual trophy-by-proxy is now Arsenal's for the 15th season in a row, its metaphorical lustre deepened by a dramatic denouement to a season in which the fortunes of these late-model Gunners have oscillated between talk of an era-ending slump, to a spurt of mid-season title form, to a stuttering finish that threatened, with 45 minutes left, to gift the £25m bounty of a third‑place finish to Tottenham Hotspur.

In the end Arsenal's season was decided not by a moment of class from one of their own players but by a performance of memorable ineptitude in the West Bromwich goal by Marton Fulop, who contributed to all three of their goals. Fulop, who looked crestfallen, will be forever welcome in north London. Albeit, if the Hungarian's presence in place of the injured Ben Foster will have heartened Arsenal's travelling support before kick-off, there may have been a simultaneous flush of dread at the prospect of the tyro Carl Jenkinson and the one-way Roberto Carlos, André Santos – a man whose rampages go strictly forwards and not back – in a rejigged defence.

In the main, though, it was a cheerfully demob-happy Hawthorns in the early stages as the trend for end-of-season fancy dress was faithfully observed. In the fourth minute Fulop, starting his first game since September, made his own contribution to the gaiety, summoning up a decidedly wonky turn as a Premier League goalkeeper to gift Arsenal a dream start. Called upon to clear a ball deflected towards him by Jonas Olsson's challenge, Fulop instead produced a wretched moment of air-control, allowing Yossi Benayoun to nick the ball away and roll it into an empty net.

West Bromwich responded with verve and on 11 minutes a lovely through pass from James Morrison, nutmegging Francis Coquelin, released the unmarked Shane Long, who beat Wojciech Szczesny with a low finish. It was close but Jenkinson may have narrowly played him onside. Worse was to come three minutes later as Graham Dorrans hustled off in pursuit of Morrison's lofted pass with three red-shirted defenders in vague attendance. Arsenal hesitated. Dorrans didn't, chesting the ball down and volleying low into the corner. "One Roy Hodgson," chanted the crowd and if the new England manager really can make other teams defend and press this poorly perhaps Europe should already be trembling. The front half of Arsenal's game continued to function with relative fluidity, Benayoun offering width and Santos creeping forwards with roving intent from what might be called his "false three" role. Santos produced the equaliser, robbing Youssouf Mulumbu 30 yards out, advancing with a skip and shooting powerfully inside Fulop's left‑hand post. Again the keeper should have done better.

Arsenal were level but with Tottenham winning at home there was still a frenzy to the rejigged team sent out by Arsène Wenger for the second half. Theo Walcott replaced Tomas Rosicky, who had been all-but invisible, but still Arsenal's backline seemed to flap in the breeze, Simon Cox crossing dangerously from the right but just out of reach of Marc-Antoine Fortuné.

No matter, though: Arsenal still had Fulop. Robin van Persie's corner on 54 minutes should have been caught. Instead the Hungarian produced a limp double-fisted punch back towards his own goal that looped to Laurent Koscielny, who prodded the ball home. In the lead for the second time, Wenger brought on Kieran Gibbs to play at left-back and moved Santos into the left-midfield position he had, in effect, played for much of the first half. And it was Gibbs who produced a season-saving recovery tackle in injury time to deny Billy Jones when he looked certain to score.

This was also a game of goodbyes, some confirmed, some merely guessed at. Hodgson was roundly cheered throughout by three sides of the ground, an experience he may like to bottle and carry around with him for a while in his next job.

The retiring Pat Rice was chaired rather bashfully by his players at the final whistle. And at the very end Van Persie took a moment to applaud pointedly the away support. If his emotional demeanour is any guide, the kitty may yet be swollen a little further.

Source: Barney Ronay, The Guardian on 13 May 12

Wenger's reaction to the WBA 2-3 Arsenal match

on sealing third place…
I think if you look at the season as a whole, we lost only two of the last 16 games and created a fantastic run. In the end we finished with 70 points, which is respectable, and we qualify for the Champions League for the 15th consecutive year. Of course we are very proud of that, especially this season having started where we started. We had problems getting over the line and you could see that again today.

on another comeback…
When we were 1-0 up we were nervous. When we were 2-1 down we got back to our game again and in the end we just hung on. We defended crosses with resilience but as long as we did not manage a fourth goal [I was nervous]. I am still thinking of suing the referee for the five minutes of added time because my heart suffered immensely!

on the Tottenham game…
Yes [I was aware of what was going on]. They were 2-0 up and basically I did not want to finish fourth. If Chelsea win the Champions League then you are not in it and you are also not [definitely] in it because you play a qualifier.

on thoughts of a third-placed finish in September…
In September certainly not. We were 17th in the league then and in the first seven games we had lost four. When you have played seven games and lost four you think there are 31 games to go and it is very difficult to imagine that you will finish third. But we had an exceptional run after our exit in the Champions League.

on the defence...
Szczesny has played injured in the last five weeks with a shoulder problem. He gets injected on the day of a game and plays, you cannot maintain your level like that forever. We just decided to do it because there was not long to go. If it was in the middle of the season we would have rested him.

on Gibbs' late saving challenge…
I feel he came on very well. He suffered on that flank in the second half but when he came on he won headers and won tackles to get us out of difficult situations. He deserves huge credit for that tackle.

on overhauling Tottenham...
I don't know [if it is one of my best seasons], I leave that to you. I am very proud of this season because we were not only tested on the football front - which as a Club we are used to - but on our mental solidity, unity and solidarity within. We were deeply tested, we did not show any weakness, kept united and in the end came back. It is a good lesson for everybody. At some stages everybody was wondering what we were doing.

on qualifying for Champions League…
I would not say it is a failure. We have qualifying for the 15th season in a row now. There are only three clubs that have done that so it is not as easy as it looks.

on keeping hold of Van Persie…
It is easier to attract players and to keep them.

on signing Podolski…
I was asked many times the question whether or not we relied too much on the goalscoring of Van Persie. He has scored 30 goals and we have tried to add somebody else who can score as well. Yes [we plan to speak with him before the Euros].

on Van Persie's post-match celebrations…
You can make of that what you want. If a player does not come out and celebrate you say he is a already gone and if he goes and celebrates with the fans that means he is saying goodbye. I believe it is positive.

on a fitting send-off for Pat Rice…
First of all we are from the same generation you would call the 'Old Guard'. I am very happy to give him that present today. I would have been sad for him to leave the Club today and not be in the Champions League. It is very emotional for him and for me as well because I arrived here and he was always my assistant. Pat has many qualities of the 'Old Guard'; that means he is a fighter, he doesn't talk too much - but when he talks, he talks! He is mentally strong.

on the dramatic title race…
It is unbelievable. Maybe QPR knew they were safe, I don't know. Maybe they relaxed a little bit and thought they were over the line. But it is Manchester City and they can score goals. That can happen.

Source: Arsenal.com on 13 May 12

13 May 2012: West Bromwich Albion 2-3 Arsenal, The Hawthorns

It was tense, it was tight - but it was ultimately successful.

Arsenal finally secured third place in the Premier League with a nail-biting 3-2 win at West Brom on a frantic final day of the 2011/12 season.

The last 90 minutes was a microcosm of the Gunners’ rollercoaster campaign and the decisive moment came when Laurent Koscielny prodded home from close-range just before the hour following a mistake from Marton Fulop.

The Hungarian keeper had been a late replacement for Ben Foster and it was his error in the fourth minute that allowed Yossi Benayoun to score into an empty net.

Then on the half-hour, a long-range shot from Andre Santos beat him at his near post.

In between those first two goals, James Morrision had set up an offside-looking Shane Long and then Graham Dorrans to put West Brom in front.

The finale was intense and nerve-wracking with Kieran Gibbs crucially sliding into stop Billy Jones scoring in injury time.

However Arsenal saw out the game and, in celebration, the players chaired departing assistant manager Pat Rice out to their supporters.

A touching moment for a superb servant to Arsenal Football Club.

It was fitting that Rice's team concluded the campaign with a performance based on the very commodity the Irishman has always exuded - cast-iron character in the face of adversity.

Hopefully Arsenal can kick-on to silverware next season without Rice. But third place is perfectly satisfactory for now.

It was always going to be a dramatic final afternoon with issue key issues remaining at the top, bottom and surrounding the European places.

Arsenal had the luxury of self-determinism. Victory this afternoon would secure third spot but its by-products – guaranteed entry to the Champions League Group Stages for the 15th successive season and a finish above near-neighbours Tottenham - were just as important.

Wenger’s side saw three changes. The elevation of Francis Coquelin was expected after Bacary Sagna broke his leg in last week’s draw with Norwich. But the younger Frenchman did not come in at right back. Instead he replaced Aaron Ramsey in midfield and Carl Jenkinson took the full-back berth. It was his first start since the home win over West Brom back in November.

The final swap saw Santos replace Gibbs on the other defensive flank. Theo Walcott was fit but only made the bench.

A victory for West Brom would provide them with a top-10 finish for the first time in the 20 years of the Premier League. Either way they were saying goodbye to manager Roy Hodgson before he left to take over the reins at England.

It was going to be a massive afternoon no matter what.

Arsenal could not have made a better start. Neither side had settled into any sort of rhythm before the visitors went ahead.

In the fourth minute, Benayoun chased a lost cause and the hesitancy of stand-in Fulop at the edge of his area allowed the Israeli to nudge the ball past the stranded keeper and tap home in the empty net.

It was massive moment and should have helped the away side settle. However, it did not and West Brom were level in the 11th minute – although the strike was marred by controversy.

Long appeared to be clearly offside when he race onto Morrison’s through ball. However, a flag to not come and the former Reading frontman buried his shot from just outside the area.

Four minutes later it got worse but this time Arsenal had to look at themselves.

Again Morrison provided the ball forward but Dorrans was afforded too much space to nod down and hook the bouncing ball in the same corner Long had found just before.

With Tottenham leading, Arsenal had it all to do.

In fairness they would dominate the remainder of the half territorially. The buzzing business of Tomas Rosicky and Benayoun kept winning the ball while Gervinho always offered an outlet.

Just before the half-hour, Robin van Persie was brought down just inches outside the area could only batter the wall from the free-kick.

The chance came as a result of sustained Arsenal pressure and it would soon brings its reward.

In the 30th minute, Santos stole the ball, weaved inside and let fly. Again Fulop could have done better but the ball went in off the post.

Arsenal now had some momentum but, despite sustaining pressure as before, they could not breakthrough.

In fact the third goal would arrive 10 minutes into the second half. Van Persie swung over a corner from the right and, under pressure from his defender Jonas Olsson, Fulop punched the ball towards his own net allowing Koscielny to stab the ball home from close range.

It had taken Arsenal 44 minutes to regain the lead and they just about deserved it.

However, West Brom would respond with perhaps their best period of the game so far. They forced a succession of corners and substitute Keith Andrews stung the hands of Wojciech Szczesny from distance.

Wenger had brought on Walcott for Rosicky at the break. Just before Andrews' effort, he reached the byline and clipped the ball back to Alex Song, whose drive was deflected wide.

But as the seconds ticked by, Arsenal began to look a little nervous and Hodgson’s substitutions suggested he was desperate to say goodbye with a win.

They poured forward until the final whistle and only a superb challenge from Gibbs stopped Jones scoring at the far post

It was a massive moment. It saved Arsenal’s season and ensured the Club can now look forward to Champions League football next term.

A breathless end to the ultimate rollercoaster campaign.

Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 13 May 12

Rice to leave Arsenal after 44 years at Club

Arsenal Assistant Manager Pat Rice is to leave the Club at the end of the season after a 44-year association with the Gunners.

Rice has a rich history with Arsenal Football Club, having first joined as a youth team player back in 1964. A Northern Ireland international right-back, he was a ‘double’ winner in 1971 and captained the side to FA Cup glory in 1979. In total, Rice made 528 appearances for Arsenal across 14 seasons.

After a spell with Watford between 1980 - 1984, Rice returned to Arsenal as a Youth Team Coach, winning two FA Youth Cups in 1988 and 1994. He took up a senior coaching role when Arsène Wenger joined in 1996.

As Assistant Manager, Rice, 63, has been Arsène Wenger’s right-hand man, helping to guide the Club to seven major honours - three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, including two ‘doubles’ in 1998 and 2002.

Arsène Wenger said: “Pat is a true Arsenal legend and has committed almost his whole life to Arsenal Football Club, which shows huge loyalty and devotion to this Club.

“Pat has been amazing for me over the past 16 years. When I first arrived at Arsenal, Pat was always there and taught me so much about this great club. I will always be indebted to him for his expert insight into Arsenal and football as a whole. On the training pitches and on matchdays, Pat has always been a passionate, loyal and insightful colleague, who we will all miss.

“Thank you Pat, we’ll miss you and all of us wish you and your family the best of health and happiness for the future. Although, we’ll still see Pat a lot, as I know he’s planning to come to all the home matches as a supporter!”

Pat, whose last match as Assistant Manager will be this Sunday against West Brom, last night enjoyed a farewell barbecue with Wenger and the first team squad.

An announcement on his successor will be made in due course.
 
Source: Arsenal.com on 10 May 12

Arsène Wenger's worries abate after Arsenal escape Norwich draw

There were a few stragglers left inside the Emirates Stadium when Mikel Arteta and his two‑year‑old son enjoyed a kickabout on the pitch. Young Gabriel evidently has a stylish left foot already. His father, unfortunately for Arsenal, was not able to do anything more than roll the ball gently for his boy to chase.

Arteta's injury – he damaged ankle ligaments against Wigan Athletic, and as he fell the opposition broke from the exact area the Spaniard was patrolling and scored – has coincided with Arsenal's end‑of‑season decline. The moment he went down turned out to be a quadruple whammy. Arsenal lost a goal, the game, the player who glues the side together for the remainder of the season, and their momentum. They have not won a single Premier League match this season in which Arteta has been absent.

At the end of a deflating draw against a lively and opportunistic Norwich, it seemed that all Arsenal's frailties were coming back to haunt them at the worst possible time. Arsène Wenger made no bones afterwards about how badly his team fared both defensively and offensively. He sounded fed up that the goalscoring burden rests with Robin van Persie, although he has to take some responsibility for the fact the two support strikers he signed, Marouane Chamakh and Park Ju‑young, have not been trusted enough to play much part.

"Again we are punished because Robin had to score, and many times we do not get enough goals from elsewhere," Wenger said. "We had so many obvious chances that you want somebody else to score one. That doesn't happen enough. Of course we need to address that." The arrival of the German international Lukas Podolski from Cologne is a start, but you sense Arsenal will need more shooting prowess from other areas to push on next season.

Planning is in a kind of limbo as Arsenal wait to see what the fates bring in terms of Champions League qualification. Wenger was in no mood for optimism at the end of a match that was engrossing for the neutral yet enraging for him. He declared himself "gutted". But his spirits were boosted 24 hours later when both Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur faltered, effectively handing Arsenal a get-out-of-jail-free card. Third place had slipped out of their hands on Saturday, only to be gifted back on Sunday. Arsenal will have to lift their levels of concentration to get a result in their final game at West Bromwich, and prevent what has become a recurring seasonal breakdown at this time in the football calendar.

Three and a half weeks ago, going into that home game with Wigan, Arsenal were five points clear of both Tottenham and Newcastle, and on a convincing run of eight wins out of nine. If third place was not quite a formality, it was certainly expected.

Two points from three home games since left Wenger shocked. Not for the first time this season, the Frenchman intimated there might have been some complacency in his team. That is a damning indictment at this stage of the season. The fact that Wenger did, in the early part of his Arsenal career, produce teams with the personality and endurance to finish a campaign strongly makes the trend even more puzzling. The manager knows what is needed when the pressure is do or die.

The changes in the team this season, with more experienced heads around the place, seemed to be making a difference. But it is a concern that whatever the personnel or circumstances, Arsenal choke up at this time of year. The League Cup final defeat to Birmingham City last season, and the subsequent collapse (they won two of their last 13 games and slipped from second to fourth in the table) was a case in point. The previous season they lost four out of the last six games. Before that they lost four from seven. Go back another year to the 2007‑08 season, and Arsenal were title contenders but a period of two wins from 13 games saw them fall away.

It is a terrible habit they have one last chance to break next Sunday.

When it comes to battling qualities, Arsenal could have learned a thing or two from Norwich. Not that Paul Lambert took a question about his team's grafting as a compliment. "You trying to say that was just a battling performance?" he growled, looking as if he had been gravely insulted. The Scot was proud enough of what he had witnessed to value Norwich's performance as superior to their victory at White Hart Lane. "Top-class," he said. "And you've got to remember where we came from. Two years ago we were bottom of League One."

As Arsenal now realise, their rise has been sensational.

Source: Amy Lawrence, The Guardian on 6 May 12

Norwich's Steve Morison dents Arsenal's Champions League hopes

In keeping with this season of the sublime and the ridiculous, Arsenal and Norwich served up a see-sawing draw that dripped with drama. When it was finally over, Arsenal's players were crestfallen. They have not won in their past four games, dropping nine points out of a possible 12, and this ill-timed dip in form takes Champions League qualification out of their hands. If Tottenham and Newcastle win their remaining matches, Arsenal will be pipped at the post.

In Norwich, they came up against the most gutsy of opponents, who delivered a performance that delighted Paul Lambert. Even though Arsenal clawed their way back from a 2-1 deficit into a winning position, Steve Morison slammed in an equaliser, five minutes from the end, that has potentially worrying consequences for Arsène Wenger's team.

The Arsenal manager was grim-faced as he pondered the question of where it leaves his team in terms of the Champions League. "I don't know," he mused. "We have to wait for Sunday's results."

Such a setback seemed unlikely as Arsenal got off to a flying start courtesy of Yossi Benayoun's virtuoso strike. In the second minute, the Israeli gathered possession on the corner of the penalty area, befuddled Kyle Naughton with a little shimmy, and bent a beautiful shot past John Ruddy.

Norwich responded with terrific determination, and no small amount of invention. They drew level when Wes Hoolahan met Naughton's cutback, though Wojciech Szczesny was left acutely embarrassed as he struggled to react. The ball bounced off him and dribbled into the goal. It was the worst moment of what was an uncharacteristically shaky performance.

This was one of those days when the Arsenal defence had shambles written all over it, and Norwich duly took the lead midway through the first half. Thomas Vermaelen had surged forward – trying to give his team another body and something extra to aim at – and, with Arsenal outnumbered at the back, Norwich motored forward. Hoolahan dinked a pass to Grant Holt, whose effort took a sharp deflection off Kieran Gibbs's boot.

Szczesny's thoughts after he was stranded as the ball changed course to sail into the goal were not difficult to imagine. Likewise Wenger, who irritably tossed his water bottle to the ground. But the mood soon turned even more despairing when Bacary Sagna was taken off the pitch on a stretcher with a fractured fibula.

Arsenal were struggling. They lacked fluency, concentration, and were clearly feeling the pressure, too. There were moments of recklessness – Benayoun kicked out at Simon Lappin and, later, Alex Song grappled with Holt, while Aaron Ramsey was fortunate to escape a second booking after a late challenge.

Lambert also felt that Norwich should have had at least one penalty. Francis Coquelin, filling in for Sagna, made a last-ditch tackle on Hoolahan. Then Laurent Koscielny had a handful of Russell Martin's shirt. "When I see some decisions it can drive you mad. Several times it could have been 3-1 when we tore through the heart of them," noted the Norwich manager. His side ought to have taken a more emphatic lead in with them at half-time. Arsenal were jeered off.

In the second half the home side stepped it up, with Robin van Persie, inevitably, the man with the ability to drag his team back into the game. It was the familiar sight of Alex Song chipping an assist for Van Persie that finally released the tension gripping the Emirates Stadium. Goal number 36 for the season brought Arsenal level. Goal 37 bought pandemonium.

Arsenal kept probing, with Vermaelen and even Marouane Chamakh getting busy around the Norwich goal, until they forced the breakthrough. The move went from Gervinho to Tomas Rosicky, via Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and suddenly Van Persie was in. He took aim with his right foot, and the excellent Ruddy could not keep it out.

Norwich, though, were not finished. When substitute Morison broke clear of the Arsenal rearguard, as Szczesny dithered about whether to come or stay on his line, the Welshman finished with aplomb into the bottom corner. "We gave them the third goal with a situation that is absolutely unbelievable," said Wenger. "There were five or six mistakes in the same move. It is more than frustrating.'

The pendulum swung back again. Van Persie had another chance, but Ruddy saved with an outstretched foot. Then Oxlade-Chamberlain broke free down the right and crossed for Van Persie, who was bundled over in the box by Naughton. No penalty, according to the referee, Anthony Taylor.

Arsenal's late siege threatened, but Ruddy and his colleagues withstood it all. "Marvellous," said Lambert. "I never thought we would surpass the performance at Spurs, but we have now. I am proud as anything of the team."

Source: Amy Lawrence, The Guardian on 5 May 12

Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 3-3 Norwich City match

on dropping two points...
It is more than frustrating because we were very poor in the first half, not switched on. The quality of our first half was absolutely not at the level we wanted in a decisive game like that. in the second half we did very well. We created at least 10 chances but again not only did we not take our chances, but on top of that we gave them a third goal in a situation that was absolutely unbelievable. In the end we got punished for our mistakes.

on conceding the third goal…
It was five or six mistakes in the same goal.

on the first half…
We have to analyse the reasons why we were not sharp enough in the first half. There is no obvious reason because we prepared normally as we always do, but maybe subconsciously [we thought] we would win it. Norwich played well, you have to give them credit.

on Arsenal's Champions League hopes…
It leaves us with one thing - it is not in our hands anymore. We have to wait for the results to see where it leaves us tomorrow night. We knew that if we didn't win today, that is what would happen.

on whether Arsenal deserve to qualify…
It depends on what you mean by 'deserve'. We have 67 points, and every year you qualify with 67 points.

on the defensive performance…
We were [too frail], of course. We lost too many challenges and it is surprising because recently we were quite good, but today I feel that defensively the whole team was very poor.

on Van Persie's penalty shout…
I don't know, we have to accept the decisions of the referee, that is the only thing I can say. Here, the whole season we have got zero penalties. It is absolutely amazing because you see other clubs who have 10 or 11.

on Aaron Ramsey…
He was unlucky with the first booking, it was a good tackle. It is part of learning your job, you have to deal with all kinds of situations and he will do that. He is very strong mentally and is going through a difficult period at the moment. But he will come off that stronger.

Source: Arsenal.com on 5 May 12

5 May 2012: Arsenal 3-3 Norwich City, Emirates Stadium

Arsenal’s battle for third place in the Premier League took a dramatic twist after they were held to a 3-3 draw by Norwich City at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

In a stunning, see-sawing afternoon, the home side led after 65 seconds through Yossi Benayoun but were trailing 2-1 by the half-hour.

Robin van Persie’s late brace seemed to have given them a vital victory. However, five minutes from time, substitute Steve Morison steered home a low shot to pinch the visitors a point.

It means Arsenal are now two points clear of Tottenham and Newcastle, however, Arsène Wenger’s side have only one game left this season. The others have two.

This battle is going to go down to the wire.

There was a slightly strange feel about this game before kick-off. Nothing to do with Arsenal or their need for three points, it was just that this was FA Cup final day and the weather was Autumnal, not the early-summer sunshine that normally greets English football’s showpiece.

For only the third time this season, Wenger’s side was unchanged. It meant a ninth Premier League start for Benayoun, a player who had been increasingly influential in the final quarter of the season.

After the draw with Stoke, the Israeli had spoken of his desire to relish both his 32nd birthday and potentially his last home game for Arsenal.

It took him just over a minute.

Benayoun collected the ball on the corner of the area, dipped his shoulder to create some space and curled a gorgeous shot high into the far corner of the net.

It was a luxurious goal – and just what Arsenal required.

However, the home side could not build on it and Norwich would be level 11 minutes later.

The visitors had already signalled their intent. Holt saw a goalbound shot hit Kieran Gibbs and then headed wide of a gaping net with Wojciech Szczesny stranded.

Shortly afterwards, Jonathan Howson found space on the overlap down the right-hand side. His cross was fired low towards Szczesny by Hoolahan and the keeper could only fumble the ball over the line at the near post.

The visitors had been a credit the Premier League all season and, on the balance of play, they were worth their equaliser.

However the 27th-minute goal that put them ahead was fortunate. Norwich broke quickly following an Arsenal corner and Holt’s shot hit Gibbs before floating over the helpless Szczesny.

A huge, huge blow.

Van Persie was inches away from Bacary Sagna’s low cross shortly afterwards as Arsenal began their pursuit of the game. It would be the Frenchman’s last meaningful contribution as, just past the half hour, he went down in pain and was stretchered off. Francis Coquelin came on.

Nine minutes from the break, Gervinho weaved his way through on the left and Gibbs trickled a shot just wide.

On the whistle, Van Persie tried to squeeze home a shot from an acute angle. Ruddy blocked his effort and Russell Martin booted away the loose ball.

However, in injury time, only a superb challenge from Koscielny prevented Holt from adding a third.

It had been a horrible first half for Arsenal and you felt their pursuit of third place rested on an improvement.

In fairness the home side created persistent pressure after the restart but, apart from Van Persie’s ball across a gaping goal, they could did not trouble Ruddy.

The clearest opportunity would go to Simeon Jackson, who beat Vermaelen but then fired meekly at Szczesny.

Just before the hour, Benayoun met Rosicky’s curling free-kick but Ruddy clutched the ball on the line.

The game was now wide open. Arsenal had to make it that way as they needed goals but the process allowed Norwich opportunities.

Hoolahan went through and scuffed a shot wide. Then Arsenal went straight down the other end and Benayoun set up Van Persie, whose shot was saved by the legs of Ruddy. Gervinho collected the rebound but Aaron Ramsey could not convert his cross.

Just past the hour, Wenger brought on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Ramsey. Later, Marouane Chamakh would replace Benayoun.

Arsenal now had one thought on their mind. In between the substitutions, Vermaelen’s shot had been blocked and Rosicky had hacked the rebound wide.

For the first time, the home side had built up momentum and Norwich were feeling it. Eighteen minutes from time, they drew level.

Chamakh’s shot was blocked but the rebound came out to Alex Song. As so often this season, the midfielder chipped the ball to Van Persie, who fired home his 29th Premier League goal of the season.

A game that had crackled throughout suddenly caught light. Norwich went in their shell a little while Arsenal started to win midfield battles.

It brought a goal 10 minutes from time. Rosicky tried to nudge Van Persie through on the right of the area. Via a deflection, the ball sat nicely for the Dutchman who slid home his second of the afternoon and his 30th in the League, equalling Thierry Henry's Club record.

Emirates Stadium was now alight and Arsenal still had to see the game out.

However, Norwich had not given up and, five minutes from time, they proved it when Morison escaped on the right and arrowed his cross-shot just inside the far post.

Another twist in an incredible, if gut-wrenching, game.

Van Persie might have responded immediately when Rosicky sent him clear. However, Ruddy saved with his legs.

In the final minute, Arsenal had strong claims for a penalty when Van Persie appeared to be bundled over by Kyle Naughton at the far post when he seemed certain to convert.

Song’s late backheel was booted away by Ruddy as the home side frantically fought for a winner.

However, they could not conjure up a conclusive goal this afternoon.

Arsenal's battle for third place will go down to the final day.

Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 5 May 12

Arsenal agree long-term Podolski deal

Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that a deal has been agreed to sign German international striker Lukas Podolski on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.

The Polish-born attacker will team up with the Gunners in the summer ahead of the 2012/13 season from Bundesliga side FC Cologne, where he has been in fine form this season, netting 18 times in 28 league appearances.

After spending his early years training and playing with FC Bergheim 2000, the 26-year-old joined the youth set-up at Cologne in 1995, before making his first-team debut in 2003. After three successful seasons with Cologne he moved to Bayern Munich in 2006. He spent three seasons with Bayern before re-joining FC Cologne in 2009 and is now regarded as one of the leading strikers in the Bundesliga.

Podolski has made 95 appearances for Germany and scored 43 goals since making his debut as a 19-year-old in 2004. He made a huge impact with a series of impressive performances at the 2006 World Cup, where he scored three times and followed this up with three more goals at Euro 2008.

Podolski was also part of the Germany team that produced a number of eye-catching displays at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, including a goalscoring contribution in the 4-1 win over England in Bloemfontein in the last 16. He also featured for ‘Die Geißböcke’ in the pre-season friendly against Arsenal at the RheinEnergieStadion last July.

Manager Arsène Wenger said: “We are delighted to secure the deal for Lukas and see him as an important part of our future. He is a top-class player, a very good finisher and a proven performer at club and international level. He is a very strong player and will provide us with good attacking options.

"We are happy to have made this signing early and we are looking forward to watching Lukas contribute at the European Championship over the summer, a level where he has already made 95 caps at the age of 26. That is a phenomenal record and just shows his quality as a player.”

Speaking about his move, Podolski said: “I’m so happy to be joining Arsenal Football Club and to play in the Premier League. Arsenal is one of the top clubs in Europe with a huge history. There are many top quality players at Arsenal and the style of football which the team plays is fantastic. I’m proud to become an Arsenal player and am looking forward to playing my first match at Emirates Stadium and doing my best for all the Arsenal fans.

“I am looking forward to becoming an Arsenal player, but at the moment my focus is with my current club, FC Cologne. I will give everything I have until the end of season to make sure the team finish as high as possible in the Bundesliga. There will always be a place in my heart for FC Cologne.”

Everyone at Arsenal looks forward to welcoming Lukas to the Club in the summer.

Source: Arsenal.com on 30 Apr 12