What’s Your Highlight of the Season? 

Having watched a video of some spuds struggling to find a highlight to their ‘best ever team’ season, I started to ponder which were the highlights of my Arsenal season.  As I went back through the games, I realised that, even though this was a big dipper of a ride, with lurching troughs and exultant peaks, there were so many truly memorable moments this season I could have chosen. 

5-3 at the Bridge
A game with so many highlights, but the king of the chavs munching turf for our 4th goal sticks out for me.  This clip doesn’t show the goal perfectly but I love Cashley in the foreground and the Gooner faithful in the background. Best away fans
When Dortmund came to town their fans really put on a show.  The North Bank upper tier always used to bounce on big nights.  This was the first time I’d felt the upper tier at the Grove bouncing.  What a phenomenal atmosphere and a great footballing occasion. Biggest away victory plus Sir Chez sings
It was my third away trip to the pie-eaters in three seasons.  We’d seen two successive comebacks by the opposition in the previous two trips.  Four goals, two in each half, a clean sheet, “He scores when he wants” for the first time and Szcz leading “We’re by far the greatest team” at the end of the game.  What more could you want?Arsenal’s goal of the season? 
The sublime technique of Mr van Persie unlocked the door of the Everton bus and provided the perfect present on our 125th birthdayBenny’s winner at Villa
After coming on as sub with less than 10 minutes to go, Yossi snatched a crucial 2 points for the Gunners with his stooping header. The Return of the King
Thierry returned home in January and produced two moments of such magical timing, they left our hearts aglow.  First was the exquisite Henryesque ‘open up the body’ finish on his comeback against Leeds in the FA Cup. 
The second was his athletic winner from an Arshavin cross at the Stadium of Light which provided another crucial 2 points and started a run of 4 league matches where we came from behind. Mashing the spuds
Quite simply this was one of the top 5 games I have ever been lucky enough to witness.  Two nil down to the N17 pondlife, the knuckle-draggers tempted fate singing, “Arsene Wenger, we want you to stay” and “Your season’s over”.  Five glorious red and white goals later they weren’t singing anything with most of them half way up the Seven Sisters Road before the final whistle.  The turning point of the season without a doubt.  Enjoy. A Krul joke
Thomas Vermaelen’s winner deep into injury time caused by Tim Krul’s persistent time-wasting was the perfect answer from the footballing gods to petty gamesmanship.  Another exquisite capture of 2 vital points right at the death. “ Cam on Theo, do summink Theo”The cleanest strike of a football you could ever see
When Mikel’s boot connected with the back of the football against Villa, the red and white angels carried it with speeding wings past Shay Given.  This was my favourite goal of the season. Arsenal do the Poznan
Arteta again gave us a season highlight with his late strike to dispose of the Oilers at the Grove. 
The new Home of Football has seemed more like home this season than at any time since the move from Highbury.  Even the Upper Tier were doing the Poznan.  Great moments like this help to cement the stadium in the hearts of the supporters.  Joyous stuff. 

I’m sure we’ve all had moments of great joy and excitement during this season that will live long in our memories.  These are some of mine without even mentioning another glorious last day St. Totteringham’s.  What’re yours? 

I happen to know you’re on the golf course today so good luck with that. 

My favourite moment was the Arteta goal against city.  Not because I am an Arteta fan, but because that goal appeared to ensure a top four finish for us and to have killed off city’s hopes of landing the premiership. 

Mine was without doubt the day my Son and I went to see our 5-2 win against Tottenham Hotspurs. 

The whole day was fun from start to finish.  So many happy memories of that day. 

The one loll, was when we went 2-0 down, but that was not for long. 

Dancing in the aisles with complete strangers, singing chants to the opposition fans when they were flooding out at 5-2, “is there a fire drill, is there a fire drill”. 

Drinking and singing on the coach going home. 

Stepping from the coach and walking into my local with the two of us singing “Arsenal,Arsenal,Arsenal” and being greeted by half his football team (who unfortunately could not get tickets) who were still in there celebrating.  We turned it into an Arsenal party.  Happy dayz. 

Oh sorry, and least of all, meeting some AA,ers in the Tavern before KO. 

I agree with Rasp, Arteta vs Man City was my favourite goal.  Not because it was the best just because we really deserved that victory.  We absolutely played all over the title winners! 

I terms of emotion you can’t look past Henry vs Leeds.  The celebration says it all really. 

In terms of importance I loved the Sagna goal against the scum.  It really jump started the season again, and i loved how Sagna attacked the ball! 

Execution wise i thoroughly enjoyed RVP’s goal against the spuds.  From the moment he recieved the ball you just knew he was going to score it.  He dazzled, he waltzed then he bent the ball with precision! 

Favourite Game: Arsenal vs Spuds

What a rollercoaster ride of emotion that was.  From on the verge of sending the remote through the televison, to complete and utter euphoria! 

I love this post.  Thanks Chas. 
Tough decision.  For me highlights have to contain a personal element, and from that point of view being at a game helps.  I was at the Everton game, and Robin’s strike was the goal of the season for me, but the game itself was fairly dull.  I was at neither Chelsea away or Spuds home, and for me, those were the stand out matches.  However, for my personal favourite I’m torn between the CC Shrewsbury game and Newcastle home. 
I had made the pilgrimage to the CC game specifically to see The Ox.  I watched the game high in the North Bank sitting with Peaches and Evonne (top that lads!)  and from there witnessed the birth of a Legend.  For the Newcastle game, I had taken my father in law to his first ever top flight game (he’s a Southend United fan).  Last gasp winners always hit the spot for me, but most importantly, my father in law still mentions every time we speak about how much he loved the whole experience, and most of all how much he was impressed by the camaraderie and passion of the AA’ers he met before the game. 
So it’s a tie between those games for me.  Friends and Family really matter. 

What a cracker of a post!  Great memories but strung together beautifully, words and Vids.  Salute!! :-) 

I’m with Rasper and Arty Farty’s goal, if pushed to choose, but Oz sums it all up so well with his 10:48, and then again, Slim at 11:10 and Gibbsy’s block —— oh to hell with it, I loved them all equally, the Chavs game, the Spuds thrashing — it’s why I love Arsenal and the ecstasy of moments like those, and yes, OK, also the descant or down side of losing stupidly and unexpectedly, so bollix to the stats, football is life, man!! :-) 

Well said Oz re Sagna.  I especially loved his complete and total lack of celebration.  Just continued his run, grabbed the ball, sprinted back and spotted it as if to say…c’mon boys I’m tired of this ****ing shit*, are you lot with me or what…??’ 

Sagna’s sprit at that moment turned our season.  Loved his comments yesterday (?)  about his broken leg feeling better with a g’teed CL place

“One Chas, we’ve only got one Chas, we’ve only got one Chas, we’ve only got one Chas”

You are the King of Experiences, of making us sniff, hear, watch, enjoy and relive the games of the season again.  Simply fanChastic! 

Fully agree with your choices and I would like to add:
1.  Theo’s throughball for RvP in Dortmund
2.  Ramsey’s (of course :) ) late goal in Marseilles
3.  Theo’s second goal in Udine
4.  Szczesny’s double penalty save at the Dippers
5.  Arsene’s rest on Pat Rice’s chest at WBA
6.  Wilshere’s bet with the Spud supporters
7.  RvP’s free-kick winner against Sunderland (I was there)
8.  The interview in which RvP puts an arm around Theo and tells the reporter how fantastic he is
9.  Song’s performance against Milan at home
10.  Rosicky’s celebration when he scored against the Spuds

And there are so many more highlights.  There is plenty to improve for next season, and so many holes to pick if we want to, but just as in live in general, we should look for beauty and enjoy it when we can, as much as possible.  Your post today does exactly that, and I salute you Chas. :) 

The Milan game was a topper as well as the aforementioned.  It was such a turn in the attitude of the haters in media circles and a reboot for the fans who at that point had bn frustrated and sulking over the previous leg.  Somehow, i thought we cld have made it thro to the next round after 3goals before halftime.  The atmosphere at the emirates looked epic with wild uproar after each goal.  A fine comeback after the rest of the world had trashed us after the loss at Milan.  I recall vividly pundits ruling out th chances of a comebck, and if it did happen, it wldve bn history in th making.  Well, we came very close to making history by defying all odds.  The effort the boys put in that day, is why i see we’re Champions material.  They just need to reach deep in them and pull it out.  Whatever happend to that spirit that night?  They need to get it back.  PS I still blame the pitch at Milan for part of that loss. 

In a season full of ups and downs the Up’s must be beating the runaway Double German Champions (BD), Winning home and away v Udinese who are a fine team.  Newcastle away, Liverpool away.  Blackburn home. 

Oh Chas, what a wonderful idea of a post!  See, it was a great season full of memorable moments.  For me it was Milan at home.  I and many others were prepared for a lack boring 90mins, with our resigned team and Milan on the bus outside their goal.  It was anything but that, great game, very good result (almost perfect) and terrific atmosphere.  And I was there enjoying every minute of it. 

I’d say that games you go to stick in memory for longer.  Gosh, Peaches and Chas might need to archive theirs somewhere

Hi Raddy, we actually have plenty of midfielders, but not one who is defensively minded enough (except Arteta) and not one who can direct our attacking play. 

I thought the same thing about Wilshere – on the mend one day, under the knife the next! 

Micky, unfortunately we have learnt to take what the club says about the longevity of injuries with a pinch of salt.  I don’t know whether that is because our medical staff are crap at predicting recovery tinmes (unlikely) or whether its the PR department who decides what message to give. 

For me it has to be the Spuds game not because we played so well or scored wonder goals but because of all the emotions involved.  Before the match the no nothing Jurno’s and pundits had written us off, it was all about how many we’d lose by?Then to go 2 nil down inside 35 mins, especially with the soft pen given, and scored by Ade buy buy that was sickening!  I couldn’t believe it because I thought we were playing the better football.  To come back and win by 3 topped everything.  Especially wonderful to see all the experts having eat humble pie. 

I have got another favorite moment though less football more of a joke John Terry falling over as Malouda’s back pass eluded him in the 85th min allowing RvP to score his 2nd of his hat trick that was priceless, especially JT’s face. 

Bad news about Jack having to go back under the knife, the injury is now going to be as much about the psychology of it as the physical.  If everytime you make a come back you are re-injuried you’ll be scared to push things so recovery could take much longer.  Plus if psychologically you try not to favour the injuried limb you can inadvertently put more strain on other limbs or joints “a la Diaby” our physio’s have now really got to earn their keep. 

i wouldnt worry guys these sort of key hole surgies happen all the time.  They often call them tune ups or tidying up the joint.  You would be surprised just have fast they recover and just how common they are (Rafts of players have them in Aussie Rules Football yet are ready for pre-season training). 

@ BR

i agree with the meeting comment.  You would think if it was good news that it’d be out in the open.  I’m just hoping it’s not a long drawn out affair (for instance “i want to focus on the Euros ect ect”) because then we have to deal with story after story. 

I really hope he doesn’t play out his contract with us, leaving all Arsenal fans praying he signs another one during the season instead of leaving on a Bosman!  We deserve some respite after the cesc saga!  come on RVP give us all a break, we want relief for once dammit! 

With regards to RvP I put this on the stupid le-grove this morning who are determined that RvP is leaving. 

“Perhaps it is because Robin needs to consider the offer?  Signing the rest of his career off might be a simple decision, but he has family to consider along with his own personal ambitions. 

If you were negotiating a deal, would you accept the very first offer?  I wouldn’t.  I’d use a bit of kidology, convince the other party that others were involved and it isn’t cut and dried and let them make their very best offer possible before I commit. 

Simple contract negotiations. 

Until anything is announced it is foolish to speculate either way.  Robit might sign it today, he might not sign it until after the Euro’s.  They might have made an agreement to meet again next week to sign leaving Robin a brief period of consideration without stress or pressure,

I wonder if we are going to have the worst moment of the season?  If so I happen to know Sharkey’s darkest hour, sorry Sharkey but I thought it was really funny when you said:
“My lowest point was last week with Norwich’[s equaliser.  I was sat on a chair in the Computer room at home.  I was tempted to just fall sideways and let my body and head just hit the floor.” 

RA :) Sorry I missed you after my comment.  This is the time of the day when I earn my keep…

I loved your comment yesterday re the value of stats and the difficulty of fair and truthful interpretations. :) 

Re the ‘quietness’, I reckon a deal is nigh.  Robin asked for £150k pw and a new contract for his assists-tants Song and Theo, whether he can play in the hole behind the Pod, and whether the club is prepared to sign another beast of a winger/AM, and to put the Verminator in the DM position, and Gazidis and Wenger said ‘sound doable, let us check with Stan the Man.  Let’s talk again on Friday… :lol:

Interesting article Chas.  Only problem I have been unable to get in all day, I suspect it may have something to do with wordpress and all those video’s.  any way good luck to all will try and catch up tomorrow. 

Favourite ?.  Getting up for the Villa FA Cup tie, meeting some AAers and jumping up and down hugging my son when the winner went in after being 2 nil down.  Magic moments that will become precious memories , something that cant be bought or taken away from me. :) 

Hi RA, it is when I cook for my wife and daughter and look after them like a proper househusband should :D

You are right re Fish and Chips – it can be a licence to print money.  Unfortunately, the smell and preparing the fish is very unappealing, but if it means that you and dandan come to visit, I will consider it :)

GliC :) In Cornwall, I have been to award winning toilets, gardens and museums, and I ate award winning pies, fish and chips, bread, ice-cream and sweets.  I bet you are all behind this: Gooner Loves Issuing Certificates! :) 

Redders
Mrs glic is a great cook and I`m not surprised that her first attempt at bread making was delicious ,Mmmmmm ! 
I live near to the village of Lezant ( as you can imagine, I like the Leza bit of Lezant ! : lol: )

It has to be beating the fools down the road.  ive seen a new side to them this week, and i lurrve it.  Usualy, at the end of the season there emotions are anger and defiance.  Comments like “were closing the gap” or “you lot will be finished soon” are the norm, but this year its different.  Bewilderment, shock, disbelief, numbness, confusion, yes its all there.  Every single one of them, and i know hundreds, have come out with “cant believe it” or “your shit, were brilliant, yet you still finnished above us”.  If you see someone walking down the road, head bowed, Nosferataly pale, muttering to themselves, there probably Totnumb fans. 

I intend to write a paper on this pshcological behaviour.  My thesis will centre on the premise that years of anger and resentment finaly gives way to resignation and disillusionment.  The title will be, “I LURRVE IT”

Mashing the spuds after going 2 down was a fantastic day for all sorts of reasons – beating the spuds, coming from 2 down, the weather was amazing, the boy sitting next to me had a hangover and should have gone back to university that morning, was slumped in his seat at the start of the game and practically on the floor at 2 nil down.  Mainly it was a day of laughter and screaming – unbelievable. 

But when Henry scored the goal against Leeds, that was a wonderful moment.  The love and warmth that was in every person that stood and cheered that night at the Emirates was heart stopping.  I’d seen Henry score goals before but this goal was filled with love and it exploded as the ball hit the back of the net.  The noise was incredible as the Emirates rose to cheer our much loved son – it was as if he was your own flesh and blood – you had to cry.  I’ll never forget it. 

Thanks Chas,
Top Post, one that makes every Gooner happy, yes, even me! 
Best memory for me has to be the ‘mashing of the Spuds’.  Brilliant! 
And thanks for that appropiately funny clip earlier. 
Hi GiE – I was bemused that you felt the need to apologise.  There’s nothing wrong with healthy honest debate as long as it’s done in the right spirit.  It keeps the old grey matter ticking over.  I don’t disagree with everything you say, and I fully understand that we (Arsenal) are working within strict financial restrictions, I just happen to think our resources could be used more intelligently sometimes. 
You can be quite beligerent at times. 

Regarding Jacks knee I’m gutted but clinging on to feint hope that it’s just a ploy by the club to ensure he doesn’t get picked for the Olympics, from what they say the knee injury is old, if that’s true why didn’t they sort it when the ankle needed fixing.  Let’s hope that his size means recovery is not going to take a biomechanics rebuild that has held Diaby back. 

As for RvP talks my guess is it went something like this:

AW: What will it take for you to sign
RvP: More players
AW: Ivan? 
IG: Errrr…..
AW: Ivan!  We kept some back remember, kept our powder dry? 
IG: Errrrr…..
RvP: Who we signing boss? 
AW: Ivan!!!!  If he goes I go. 
IG: Iniesta, Ronaldo, Messi! 
RvP: Not Ronaldo….now get the other two and I sign. 
AW: Get them or I leave. 
IG: Errrrrrr

What a good idea for a article.  Truly inspired.  Their are too many gooners moaning now the season is over about this and that… mainly about being so many points off the top however you choose the right portion.  You looked at what was great in the season….  we need more gooners like you positive!!  Plus when the new season starts if the crowd is positive this translates to the players and they become more positive. 

Im afraid ive done it again though (sorry peaches) I listened into talk sport today.  Durham was talking about liverpool and possible new managers (how on earth could he possibly have a dig at my beloved Arsenal. 

Well a caller phoned him to say whom he would like to take over from kenny he said Jurgen Klopp of Dortmund to which Durham said ….”no he led Dortmund no where in the champions league … they could nt even beat arsenal” then casualy moved on. 

How can he possibly get your arsenal bashing into everything you say you moronic imbecile. 

I guess ive only got myself to blame.  Which is why i value positive posts such as this one. 

Can some one please take all my radios and wipe talksport off the dials… o if it werte only possible. 

I know you can say just dont listen but its like when your driving along and slow down to take a look at a accident … wrong YES but somehow hard to stop from rubber necking. 

Quickly my highlight of the season was a game we lost.  The League Cup against City when Nasri tried to sub himself .  Poor boy looked like he was going to cry!!! “ let me off now these nasty gooners dony like me” Ha serves you right you money grubbing buck toothed goit. 

Jake..those same whinging fans were moaning about how much money the likes of Liverppool Chelsea and the Spuds were spending and that we were going to get left behind and struggle to even get a Europa League place…lol

damn you RA, GLIC, TA and your talk of home made bread! 
When the Mrs cooks it the aroma makes me salivate (i feel like a dog sitting by it sniffing away)!  Nothing is better than slapping some butter on it while it’s still warm and putting some polony on top! 

For me Ox will be better centrally.  But he is a bit like Rooney in a football sense can pretty much play anywhere, but I think Rooney has always been misused by England as an out and out centre forward.  The big difference is Ox seems to have his head screwed on off field (the benefit of his Dad being in the game). 

The difference with Theo is that I think Ox could play centrally now, as he is physically stronger than others we have had. 

He is out saying we should have settled the deal with RvP a long time ago….problem is, can you imagine the reaction if we had extended RvPs contract when he was spending another month or two on the medical table?  Well we can just look at the reaction to any contract extensions for Diaby I guess. 

Raddy – I remember the pains I went through to watch the Barcelona game in March 2010.  After 4 hour implant surgery at the dentist, with my mouth full of blood, swallen to the eyeballs, in pain I ran to my brothers house like I never ran before.  I got there in time, but blacked out for a moment :) They were all scared for me, but I was petrified I would miss the game.  What an idiot :)

Micky I like BFG, just for his organisation and reading of the game, and distribution from the back. 

If RvP stays we are starting to get the makings of a really good spine. 

11v11 first choice players we can beat anyone.  16v16 (when subs are looked at ) we are weaker than City, but I’m not sure if we are any weaker than United, Chavs or Spuds when you scratch beneath the surface. 

I’ve got a couple of posts planned to compare us to other squads, as football fans we focus so much on our own navels without truly comparing to others. 

Yes, let’s get Tevez.  Dzeko?  not sure.  I thought he was such a hot signing and then nothing.  Until last week, he hardly played so I guess Mancini had seen something during training and decided to seat him on the bench next to fatso

Have just looked at City’s website, according to them their first team squad is 35 players including loanees.  They will (like us) need to sell before buying to balance the FFP books.  Unlike us they will be looking for big money to recoup what was initially spent whereas our self raised players can be sold on a free if necessary without affecting FFP. 

Raddy – no gain without pain :) My sinuses were very low, hence the lenghty op.  The second implant was much easier and it’s almost done.  Marvellous invention, feels and looks like your own teeth, can chew through a tennis racket with them :)

We won’t be able to get him, but I watched Pirlo the other day playing for Juventus against Novara, and it would be brilliant to have him at Arsenal for one or two years to show the likes of Ramsey and Wilshere how to orchestrate play from midfield.  It was an absolute masterclass. 

Oz, that’s a great picture of Sharkey – he really is that cool, you know! :)