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How big of a role will Lukasz Podolski play next season?

By Kevin Mooney

The ceremonies are over, the lockers are cleaned out and the pitch at Emirates Stadium is quiet. But before we close the book on Arsenal’s 125th anniversary season we took a moment to catch up with some fans on this side of the Atlantic to see what they thought of the season that was.

Part 1: Highs and lows
Part 2: Best games and top goals
Part 3: Players of the year
Part 4: Looking ahead to 2012/13
Part 5: Finals words (coming soon)

The off-season is underway and clubs, fans and the media have turned their focus away from the pitch and toward the front office. Arsenal – like every other club in Europe – will have to make tough decisions ahead of the new season. Not only will the Club need to make personnel decisions, but they will also have to cope with a remarkably busy summer that includes Euro 2012 and the Summer Olympics in London, as well as a pre-season tour that includes stops in Malaysia, Hong Kong, China and Nigeria.

What happens next season could very well be defined by what happens this summer. I asked our panel what they thought are be the biggest issue facing Arsenal as we look to 2012/13.

Charles Belle: Blogger at Goons of Anarchy and Secretary of Arsenal America

Aside from hypothetical transfers, three things. First, staying healthy. I think Wenger said we set a Club record, something on the order of playing 32 players this year. That’s three teams. Second, the team needs to maintain belief. That’s up to the players, partly, but the Club must assure stability as well, this means finishing transfer business as soon as possible (whatever they decide) and closing up contracts. Finally, tactically, the players have to get a bit more organized -I’m not placing the blame on anyone, but the team defense needs to step it up a notch. Defense wins championships.

I’m feeling quite positive about next season. Arsenal should challenge for the title next year. Anything else is a failure. This was the year of transition so desperately needed; a phase every Club must go through, but not all successfully do. Arsenal, however, has the stability and talent to succeed. After suffering one of the most destabilizing summers and horrendous starts, Arsenal pulled themselves into third. This means the team is good, it just needs a few tweaks.

The final point total was deceptive: seven draws were too many, and the beginning of the season skews the loss column. Health alone should provide most of the tweaks. For example, Wilshere missed the entire season; Mertesacker and Diaby each missed half a year; Gervinho needs a rest (the ACN is always physically exhausting on players); and, we have a lot of very good players on loan possibly returning.

Finally, wrapping up the Podolski signing early was fantastic — it sent a message and gave the Club more flexibility in the transfer market. Who knows what will happen, but Arsenal are in a good place after a rough transition year.

That player transfers are on the minds of supporters this time of year is a given. But interestingly, transfers took a back seat to other issues. The themes most often mentioned? Consistency and health.

Chris Toronyi: Stateside Gooner and host of the Arsenal America Podcast

We need to deliver consistent performances starting in the back. But in order to do so we must be healthy as well. We have the talent, we just need to actually be able to showcase it on the pitch. A healthy Jack will also allow us to push more forward and allow Song to sit a little further back, helping provide cover to the back four. But I do love watching Song bomb forward and deliver some amazing assists.

Joel McNamara: Co-host of the Arsenal Review USA Podcast

Defensive discipline has to be the number one focus for next season, both in midfield and in the back 4. While variance in attack was sometimes a problem for Arsenal this season, you feel that having the discipline and mindfulness to keep out even a handful of the goals we let in this season could’ve swung more results our way.

Zara Bashir: Blogger and podcaster at LPG podcast

The most important thing for the start of next season is a fit, healthy squad. This will no doubt be a challenge since many of our first team players will be involved in the Euros this summer. It will also be important to ensure the complete fitness of Jack Wilshere who had missed all of the past season due to injury. He is no doubt an integral part of our team and I believe his careful re-introduction will bring the team to a whole new level.

It’s not to say that player movement was an afterthought. But before anyone spoke of bringing in new talent, they wanted to make sure that are best players stay right where they are.

Kyle Van Buren: Co-host of the Arsenal Review USA Podcast

I said it during the podcast that keeping current players at the club is as, if not more, important than bringing more quality in. It goes without saying that the club must resign Van Persie. Rumors have surfaced that his decision may rely heavily on the clubs movement in the transfer market. Getting Podolski early was a fantastic start to what we hope will be an ambitious transfer market shopping spree. A spree that consists of buying a “true” holding midfielder, another striker (or two) and sufficient No. 2 keeper who can play so Szczesny doesn’t have to play hurt, as he did many times this season.

So how will the Club fare next season? If there is one problem with supporting a team that has finished at or near the top of the Premier League for as long as Arsenal has, it’s that standards are remarkably high. But overall, the views from the panel were somewhat mixed, but generally they were all very positive.

Joel McNamara

My honest prediction for next season is for Arsenal to improve upon 3rd to 2nd, at best, with the added boost of silverware coming from either the FA Cup or the Carling Cup. I don’t think they’ll be able to add enough defensive discipline and genuine squad depth in time to genuinely contend for the Premiership title next season.

Morgan Rubes: Chair of Arsenal Canada

It’s too soon to tell, but I would peg one cup final and a top three spot.

Kyle Van Buren

If Arsenal make the necessary moves strengthening the team this summer I think the Premier League title is well within reach if not a strong run in both the FA Cup and Champions League.

Zara Bashir

I expect that the club will once again be competing for the top spots with the usual suspects next season. The Manchester clubs will no doubt strengthen over the summer as will Chelsea and Spurs. It will also be interesting to see if a resurgent Newcastle will have a say in the title race. If we manage our summer carefully and hold onto our best players and make good additions, I have no doubt we could challenge for the title and more.

And finally…

Mark Barbeau: San Francisco Branch Manager, Arsenal America

I start every season believing Arsenal will win every trophy. Next season will be no different.

Up next: Finals thoughts on 2011/12

The views expressed above do not necessarily reflect those of Arsenal Football Club or Arsenal Broadband Ltd.

[Friday, May 25, 2012]

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Our panel’s player of the year. Was there ever a question?

By Kevin Mooney

The ceremonies are over, the lockers are cleaned out and the pitch at Emirates Stadium is quiet. But before we close the book on Arsenal’s 125th anniversary season we took a moment to catch up with some fans on this side of the Atlantic to see what they thought of the season that was.

Part 1: Highs and lows
Part 2: Best games and top goals
Part 3: Players of the year
Part 4: Looking ahead (coming soon)
Part 5: Finals words (coming soon)

At the end of most seasons, there is usually at least some semblance of a debate over who the most valuable player of the year was. But with 37 goals and nine assists, our panel of supporters had no trouble agreeing on Robin van Persie as Arsenal’s top player of 2011/12.

Zara Bashir: Blogger and podcaster at LPG podcast

I think it’s difficult to talk about the achievements of this Arsenal team without talking about how integral Robin van Persie has been to it. Not only was he Arsenal’s best player this season but most would argue he was the best player in England. Scoring 30 goals domestically and 37 in all competitions and winning the PFA and FWA POTY awards, this season finally answered the question that had been dwelling in the minds of many Arsenal fans in seasons past: “What would Arsenal have achieved if Robin had been around for most of the season?”

Chris Toronyi: Stateside Gooner and host of the Arsenal America Podcast

What do I need to say that hasn’t been said already? Captain on and off the pitch. Delivered goals that will out live him. Thank you, Robin.   

Mark Barbeau: San Francisco Branch Manager, Arsenal America

Beyond simply the goals, he comported himself with the class, determination, and spirit you want to see from your Captain.   

But the real debate picked up when I asked them to name the Most Valuable Player Not Named Robin van Persie — we’ll dub it the “MVPNNRVP”. The opinion was nearly equally divided, although in the end one player had the edge. Still, some members of the panel had an easier time deciding than the others.

Chris Toronyi

Easy. KOS. Without question Koscielny provided the stability at the back. Yes, we conceded more goals than we have in recent memory, but he was exactly what we needed. He was consistently great with his play in the air and his timing when going in for the tackle was second to none. Oh, and he scored the winner against West Brom.    

Joel McNamara: Co-host of the Arsenal Review USA Podcast

Koscielny for dutifully and (usually) competently putting out the defensive fires created by some of his compatriots in the backline and in defensive midfield. Kos just edges out Arteta in this category.    

But other members of the panel saw it slightly differently. For them, while the French defender deserved many plaudits, it was the last-minute signing from Everton who earned himself the special and unique honor of MVPNNRVP.

Kyle Van Buren: Co-host of the Arsenal Review USA Podcast

A lot of players deserve a mention and frankly it pains me not to pick Koscienly, but the player of the season (not named RVP) has to be Arteta. Arsenal struggled to win without him and what we saw regarding his leadership and experience playing at the highest level, you can understand why.

Brett Chase: Vice President of the New York City Arsenal Supporters

Many will back Koscielny, and I love Kos, but I don’t think enough can be said about Arteta. His presence in midfield has been assured, his passing metronomic, his distribution immaculate, his experience palpable. He has brought precisely what Arsenal were missing in the engine room. It’s a bit of the Gilberto Silva Syndrome here, I’m afraid; it is difficult to appreciate just how good he is until he’s not there and you realize what is missing.    

Up next: Looking ahead to 2012/13.

The views expressed above do not necessarily reflect those of Arsenal Football Club or Arsenal Broadband Ltd.

[Thursday, May 24, 2012]

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