It is common for the end of season to not only signal summer vacation but also time for the end of season awards.
So with my Arsenal blogs coming to a close for the 2014/15 campaign, I thought it would be fitting to dish out my own Arsenal awards. But before all of that there is just time to squeeze in my reaction to the recent release of the 2015/16 fixtures.
After winning the FA Cup we already knew that we would face league champions Chelsea in the Community Shield at the start of August. This in itself is a great game to open the season with. Yes, admittedly in some ways it is a bit of a 'mickey-mouse' piece of silverware, but when the big sides meet neither likes to lose no matter what competition it is in. Also, if Arsene Wenger can somehow lift the hoodoo of never having beaten Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho before the Premier League season even kicks-off, who knows what impact it might have. It may not be the most important of competitions but we must take it seriously as a win would be a big morale boost and set us up nicely for the league games with Chelsea later in the year. We will have to make sure we are on top form as Chelsea are always a tough nut to crack, but I am still glad this is the fixture we start the competitive season with.
As for the Premier League we remain in London for the opening few weeks of the season, starting with a home clash against West Ham before travelling to face Crystal Palace. There are no easy games in the Premier League but it is certainly a big boost starting with a home game and the fact it is a derby makes for an even more exciting opening weekend. We travel to Chelsea in the league the following month and have to wait until November for the first clash with our bitter rivals Tottenham. The league campaign also ends at home with a clash against Aston Villa but let's hope by the time this game comes around we are in a far better position in terms of the title race than we were last time around.
Now it's onto the awards and where better to start than picking out my star player.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
3) Santi Cazorla & Nacho Monreal - Although Cazorla has had a very impressive season and been one of our key players, Monreal deserves to take third spot just as much as his fellow Spaniard. While Cazorla is expected to hit the high levels, Monreal has shown vast improvements in his game to earn a more regular role in the starting XI.
2) Francis Coquelin - As much as I wanted to give Coquelin the top prize, he narrowly misses out. Since returning from his loan spell at Charlton to cover for injury, Coquelin has exceeded expectations to become one of the most important players in the side. He reads the game so intelligently and has impact on the team cannot be underestimated and I am sure I won't be the first to admit his performances have surprised me. He has been truly sensational. The main reason he misses out on the top prize is not only down to him facing stiff competition, but also because he only played part of the season.
WINNER: ALEXIS SANCHEZ - As soon as he arrived I had high hopes of what Sanchez would bring to the side and already knew he was a very talented player. His work-rate and sheer desire to win the ball surpassed any expectations I had and he is truly a joy to watch.
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: HECTOR BELLERIN - The young Spaniard has never looked back since getting his chance in the first-team following injury to Mathieu Debuchy. The 20-year-old has been a breath of fresh air and is already showing signs of great potential, so long may it continue. His goal in the 4-1 thumping of Liverpool was among the highlights in an impressive season for the youngster.
SIGNING OF THE SEASON
Youngster Krystian Bielik didn't break through into the first team and Gabriel Paulista only featured in the latter months. Mathieu Debuchy spent a fair amount of time out injured, so I'll have to leave this between the other three. I expected big things of Danny Welbeck and, although he did provide some great moments, he wasn't as big a success as I had hoped for. But it is still early days and next season could yet be a big one for him. Goalkeeper David Ospina looks far more calm and confident between the sticks than Wojciech Szczęsny and, ever since taking his place in January has never looked back. Ospina also has one of the highest win ratios of any player in Premier League history but there could only really be one winner.
WINNER: ALEXIS SANCHEZ - There isn't much more to add than what has already been said earlier but he really has been a joy to watch. He has had a fine debut season and it is great to have such a positive feeling about a new signing again and I hope he continues to get better and better.
GOAL OF THE SEASON
Without watching through every single one again, there is a slight chance the odd goal may get missed but the great strikes tend to stick in my mind longer and this is certainly a tough one to call. There are a number of top goals we have scored this season that I like for different reasons, but I've managed to narrow it down to four.
3) Sanchez Vs Man City & Wilshere Vs West Brom
It was hard to separate these two great volleys. Wilshere's volley from the edge of the box was a joy to watch and voted goal of the season by Match of the Day viewers. But Sanchez matched him in the volleying stakes with a great first-time strike giving Joe Hart no chance.
2) Aaron Ramsey Vs Galatasaray
A corner was headed clear and Ramsey raced onto the ball 30 yards out and unleashed an unstoppable and sublime volley into the top corner. Unsurprisingly Rambo's top strike was voted goal of the season on the club's official website.
WINNER: SANCHEZ VS ASTON VILLA - Whilst Ramsey stole most of the headlines with his stunning strike, I am going to give my award to Sanchez. Don't get me wrong I love Rambo's wonder goal but Sanchez's effort, not only matched it for quality, but to be on the big stage in a cup final win made it even more special. Like Ramsey, Sanchez received the ball around 30 yards from goal before hitting a wonderful swerving long-range strike to give Shay Given no chance.
BEST TEAM PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON
The first half of the games at home to West Brom and away to Hull were nothing short of sensational. The way we battled to a 2-1 win at Manchester United in the FA Cup was also excellent, but there are two games that really stick in my mind. The 4-1 hammering of Liverpool at the Emirates was a truly great performance capped off by four top-notch goals and, this game for me, comes a close second but there could only really be one winner.
WINNER: FA CUP FINAL ARSENAL 4 ASTON VILLA 0 - We really turned on the style in the cup final and blew Aston Villa away, thoroughly deserving the big margin of victory we ended up with. It was a complete performance and we dominated with a magnificent display. I can't deny that sounds incredibly biased but we really did play excellently and seeing us lift the cup after such a good display made it all the sweeter.
ANGRY AWARD
At the other end of the scale are the games that have left me feeling very frustrated and, at times, angry at my team. Players have also irritated me at times and there are some moments you definitely want to make sure the team don't repeat.
3) INJURIES - Yet again injuries affected our season. I don't think it can be used as an excuse for some of the results and we should've also maybe signed another one or two players to cover for this. Nevertheless it is still very irritating. On a more positive note, certain injuries meant Hector Bellerin and Francis Coquelin were able to break through into the first team and I am at least delighted at that.
2) DEFEAT AT STOKE - As much as the losses to Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham hurt, this one arguably felt like the biggest kick in the balls because of the manner of the performance. Although we restored some pride with an improved second half performance, that doesn't distract from the fact that the opening 45 minutes were one of the worst I witnessed all season and one I never want to see again. To add insult to injury that result was on the weekend of my 30th birthday celebrations.
WINNER: MONACO DEFEAT - Sorry Olivier! Giroud responded well after the set-back and went on a good run of form and, for someone that also had time out injured, a return of 19 goals is impressive. But that doesn't fully excuse his poor display against Monaco that had a big impact on us losing the first leg and ultimately the tie. He can't fully be blamed as the majority of his team-mates were also woeful in the first leg that left me annoyed and with a big feeling of wondering what might have been.
FAVOURITE MOMENT OF THE SEASON
This could be seen as similar to picking a best performance or best goal but this is more about the moment that got me out of my seat the most.
3) DANNY WELBECK CUP GOAL - When we drew Manchester United away in the quarter final of the FA Cup, I genuinely feared that our defence of the trophy could be over. After Wayne Rooney cancelled out Nacho Monreal's opener, I thought we were going to be made to pay but up stepped Welbeck. The actual goal itself wasn't a wonder strike, far from it, and it was only really made possible by a poor backpass, but it didn't stop it being special. Welbeck latched onto Antonio Valencia's backpass before beating the goalkeeper and slotting the ball into the empty net. What made it more special wasn't just it being against Welbeck's former club but that we were also able to end our Old Trafford hoodoo. After nine years and 11 attempts we had finally won away at Manchester United again and the feeling was amazing.
2) FA CUP VICTORY - Lifting back-to-back FA Cups is a great achievement, especially as it made us the most successful side ever in the history of the competition. It was a great performance and superb result but, as this has already won an award, it was an easy decision to make.
WINNER: TWO TRIPS TO THE EMIRATES - I don't get to see Arsenal live too often and the two trips I was able to make were truly memorable and got me out of my seat the most....literally! On both occasions - the 2-0 win over Hull in the FA Cup and 2-0 league victory over Everton - the stewards showed amazing understanding to my dislike of heights and were able to change my seats both times. I ended up near the pitch both times and can't thank them enough. Both games and results were ones I'll never forget.
The final award and, arguably the most important, goes to you my readers. I would like to thank my friends for their advice and opinions on my blogs throughout the season and I am grateful to everyone that has taken the time out to read any of my work during the 2014/15 campaign. It has been a great journey and I hope to come back with more of the same that you seem to enjoy, along with some fresh ideas to keep you on your toes. For now it is farewell from me and enjoy the off-season. Roll on August!
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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