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Arsenal Season Review: Sanchez Stars For The Gunners

At least they didn’t finish fourth this season; Arsenal did one better by finishing third in the Premier League this season. They did have an outside chance of winning the league title but couldn’t claw back and take over Chelsea. The Gunners still have a chance of winning some silverware this season as they face Aston Villa in the FA Cup final, they could retain the title they won last season, which will be a good season for the Gunners but they would have expected for much more, especially during their great run in the second half of the season.

The high points

Reaching the FA Cup final must be the only real high point for Arsenal this season; they did defeat Manchester United at Old Trafford on their way to the final and will start as favourites as they face Aston Villa.

Their form after Christmas was another talking point for the season as at one stage they were on an eight-game winning streak and looked set to challenge Chelsea for the title but that ultimately ended and the Gunners finished just above Manchester United in the Premier League standings.

The low points

Again, another season of what could have been for Arsenal. They were given a favourable draw in the Champions League and could have made it to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010 only to see that blow up in their face as they staggered against Monaco at home, eventually losing the tie on away goals. Arsenal still can’t seem to click in Europe, even when they avoid the big sides.

The start of the season was the worst for the Gunners since 1982 and many wondered if this could be the season where Arsene Wenger really gets the sack but credit must be given to the manager as he was able to turn things around for the club and now has a chance of winning a trophy in the form of the FA Cup.

The star players

Alexis Sanchez
Alexis Sanchez

Alexis Sanchez, scoring 20+ goals in a debut season for a new club in a new league speaks volumes about the class and calibre of the player. Sanchez was brought in to play as a winger but has played in a central attacking role and as a striker as well for the Gunners, showing his versatility and letting his football do the talking for him during the season.

It might have been a tough start to his career at Arsenal all those years ago but Laurent Koscielny has developed into one of the best central defenders in the league. Calm, composed and a great tackler, Arsene seems to have been able to get the best out of the French defender and who knows what else is to follow next season.

Francis Coquelin has been another great player for Arsenal, he might not have been in the plans for the Gunners first team this season but after getting a start or two due to injuries, he made the defensive midfielders role all his own for the club. He has been a leader in the heart of midfield and it will be interesting to see just how well he does next season when bigger and better things are expected from the young Frenchman.

Plans for next season

Well, Arsenal still need to strengthen their team, they need another supporting striker for Giroud and probably another central defender and goalkeeper to make up a world class squad that could challenge for the title, theoretically.

The Gunners also need to do better in the UEFA Champions League and if they can progress into the quarter finals next season, who knows just what they might end up doing.