An Arsenal Career

Season 1 - The Review

Manchester City made it two Premiership crowns in a row after they completely blew the rest of the division away, winning the league by some 16 points ahead of rivals Manchester Utd. Tottenham finished third and Arsenal fourth, taking the final Champions League spot on goal difference from Stoke City. At the wrong end of the table Norwich (20th) and Sunderland (19th) would be making the big step down to the Championship next season, but the final relegation place would not be decided until the final day. Mark Hughes' QPR knew that a win at home to already deceased Norwich would see them safe no matter what happened elsewhere, but Norwich played with no fear and managed a very well fought 2-0 victory. It was then down to Reading, needing a win at White Hart Lane to secure their Premier League future. But it wasn't to be, a 73rd minute Yarmolenko goal was enough to send Reading back to where they were just 9 months earlier. Under performers of the season would have to go to Liverpool who for much of the season saw themselves at the wrong end of the table. And finally enough was enough and after just 4 months in charge Brendan Rodgers was sacked and replaced with Dutchman Co Adriaanse who steadied the ship to see them finish a still very poor 12th.

The golden boot winner was somewhat of a surprise, finishing on 19 goals and one ahead of both Van Persie and Aguero, was Southampton's Rickie Lambert. This form got the media men calling for an England call up, but as of yet thats still to happen.

In the domestic cups Manchester Utd thrashed Chelsea 3-0 to win the League Cup, whist Tottenham's reward for winning their North London derby semi against Arsenal 2-1, would be QPR in the final of the FA Cup. Jermain Defoe grabbing both the goals in a 2-0 win.

Arsenal new boy Santi Cazorla picked up the Football Writers player of the year award, whilst Carlos Tevez and Eden Hazard won Player and Young Player of the year awards respectively.

2011/12 would be the year England conquered Europe. In the Europa AVB's Tottenham showed tremendous quality to lift the trophy after a 3-1 in the Amsterdam Arena against Italian giants Inter Milan. But not to be outdone by their North London rivals, Arsenal went one better and somehow against all odds triumphed in the Champions League. Beating arguably the greatest club side in football history Barcelona 2-0 at Wembley, after goals from Negredo and Podolski. Despite finishing runners up in their group to Shaktar, Arsenal defied the odds to beat Milan and Chelsea along the way to the final. The FA's 150 anniversary could not have been celebrated any better.

On the international front Roy Hodgson's new look England begun their World Cup qualifying campaign and after 5 games see themselves topping group 8 by a single point from the Ukraine. Wayne Rooney grabbing 4 goals along the way.

In the transfer market big money would once again be spent, Chelsea's £30 acquisition of Dutch hitman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar would be the biggest English spend of the season. Whilst Leighton Baines' £24.5m move to Manchester Utd would be the highest domestic move, this came in the January window just 5 months after Baines one time Everton team mate Marouane Fellaini moved to Manchester City for £23m. Despite making £49m throughout the season in player sales, Everton only invest £12m of that back into the team.

Overseas

Germany
Champions - Bayern Munich

Italy
Champions - Juventus

Spain
Champions - Real Madrid

France
Champions - Marseille

Portugal
Champions - Sporting Lisbon

Russia
Champions - Zenit

Holland
Champions - PSV

European Golden Boot - Fernando Llorente 24

Best Player In Europe - Lionel Messi

Best Young Player In Europe - Mario Gotze

Biggest Transfer - Lucas Moura from Sao Paulo > PSG - £37.5m

For the third year in a row it would be the blue half of Manchester celebrating, City won the league with 85 points, 7 ahead of runners up Manchester Utd. Tottenham, once again finished above North London rivals Arsenal in 3rd place, with the Gunners coming fourth. A complete replica of last seasons final placings. Wolves and Chelsea completed the European positions finishing fifth and sixth. The relegation zone was chop and change all season, whilst newly promoted Huddersfield Town managed just 20 points, the final two places were to be contested between 6 teams until the final two games. Swansea and Derby were the losers of this 6 way battle royal, but West Ham, West Brom, Liverpool and Aston Villa can all count themselves lucky. And yes thats right, Liverpool were very very close to relegation, Jonjo Shelvey's 89th minute winner in a 2-1 win over Wigan on the penultimate Saturday of the season meant they could relax on the final day.

This years top scorer would once again be a surprise, West Brom's Shane Long netted a terrific 22 goals which saw him rewarded with the Golden Boot, he was also in red hot form for Ireland, but more on that later. Van Persie was again in 2nd place, his total of 20 goals was also equalled by Southampton's Jay Rodriguez.

In the Capital One Cup Wolverhampton Wanderers would beat Everton on penalties to win the trophy and their first major piece of silverware since 1980. The FA Cup would also go to penalties, with Manchester City the victors over Stoke City to make it a league and cup double. Stoke's consolation was a place in the Europa League next year.

Man City's Spanish superstar David Silva won the Football Writers POTY, Eden Hazard added the POTY year award to last years YPOTY, which was won by Tottenham's Gareth Bale.

Last seasons European Champions Arsenal would be knocked out of this years competition in the 2nd round, Dortmund disposing of them in some style. But once again England would have a representative in the final, Tottenham Hotspur would make their first ever appearance at club footballs biggest final. But Bayern Munich were to prove to strong (thank god) and take the trophy home to Germany after a 1-0 win. Oscar Cardoza would be the hero in the Europa Final, his single goal enough for Benfica to grab the win over Athletico Madrid. Despite having a poor domestic season, Arsenal would win a cup double internationally. A 1-0 win over Tottenham in the Super Cup was followed by a 2-0 win over Brazilian side Vasco Da Gama in the World Club Cup.

England failed to make the World Cup after a poor qualifying campaign see them finish 2nd in group 8 to the Ukraine. A play off against Portugal would prove too tough a task, the tie was lost in the 1st leg at Wembley, where they threw away a 3-1 lead to draw the match 3-3. Helder Postiga's 51st minute goal in Lisbon won the tie 4-3 on aggregate for the Portuguese. But the Republic of Ireland would fare much better, they too finished runners in their group, Germany winning it by 4 points. But in their play off against the Czech Rep, competition top scorer Shane Long (11 goals) would score twice in a 2-1 aggregate win.

This season would see some big moves in the transfer market, Yann M'Vila would make a £29.5m move from Rennes to Liverpool, Cheick Tiote gave up the black and white stripes of Newcastle for the lilly white of Tottenham for the cool sum of £16.75m. But the biggest deal of the summer would see Brazilian wonderkid Neymar swap the hot climate of Rio for some wet Wednesday's in Manchester. As Utd stumped up £40.5m for the young prodigy, he repaid them by scoring 6 goals in 28 games. TAKE IT FERGIE TAKE IT.

Overseas

Germany
Champions - Bayern Munich

Italy
Champions - Juventus

Spain
Champions - Real Madrid

France
Champions - PSG

Portugal
Champions - Porto

Russia
Champions - CSKA Moscow

Holland
Champions - FC Twente

European Golden Boot -

Best Player In Europe -

Best Young Player In Europe - Mario Gotze

Biggest Transfer - Neymar from Sao Paulo > Man Utd £40.5m