So ends another season. It promised so much in late summer / early autumn when we started the defence of our Premiership crown in blistering form and managed to reach the halfway point of our Champions League Group with maximum points. However, as we all found out this was merely Arsenal flattering to deceive as a 2nd Round Champions League exit and an eight point Premiership lead thrown away were to show. We did manage to win the FA Cup though to provide some light at the end of the tunnel and ensure the close season was not all doom and gloom.
But how did the players perform? Well in true schoolboy style, they are about to be graded for achievement and effort. The following scale will be used:
Achievement
A = Excellent
B = Good
C = Average
D = Poor
E = Justin Edinburgh
Effort
1 = Outstanding
2 = Good
3 = Satisfactory
4 = Unsatisfactory
I will also make a short comment on their season too. So let’s begin …
1. David Seaman, Appearances 42, Goals 0
As this report is based solely on domestic performances, Seamans’ blunders for England are not being counted against him. He has had a consistant season for Arsenal and has produced crucial saves when needed. However, he has also missed cruical games through injury and forced Arsenal to play inexperienced keepers. Grade = B 2
3. Ashley Cole, Appearances 42 (+ 1 Sub), Goals 1
Ashley has had a great season, starting well and improving consistanly throughout the year. His defending still has room for improvement though, but the signs for the future are good. Grade = B+ 2
4. Patrick Vieira, Appearances 41, Goals 4
Immense. What else can you say about him? Has proven an excellent club captain and always gives everything on the pitch. Arsenal were not the same team without him when he missed games this year. Grade = A 1
5. Martin Keown, Appearances 31(+3 Sub), Goals 0
Time seems to finally be catching up with Martin as injury restricted him to only 22 Premiership games this year. However he gave 110% in every game and is still one of the top defenders in the game. Grade = B 1
7. Robert Pires, Appearances 36, (+7 Sub), Goals 16
Injury meant Pires missed the first 3rd of the season but he made up for lost time averaging nearly a goal every two games on his return. Scored the crucial goal in the FA Cup final, but outspoken comments in the media have had some questioning his commitment to the club. Grade = B+ 2
8.Freddie Ljungberg, Appearances 28 (+3 Sub), Goals 9
A below par season for Freddie, who failed to recapture the heights of the previous year. However, to be fair he only looked fit in the last month of the season, when the goals started to return. Hopefully an injury free run will see him return to his true form. Grade = C+ 2
9. Franny Jeffers, Appearances 10 (+18 Sub), Goals 6
Another season of treading water for Franny as injury robbed him of the 1st and 3rd parts of the season. His middle section showed promise, with his form getting him an England call up and goal on his debut. However his finishing has to improve or he could well be out the Marble Halls. Its all or nothing for him next year. Grade = C 2
10. Dennis Bergkamp, Appearances 31 (+9 Sub), Goals 7
Season 2001/2002 saw the rejuvination of Bergkamp and his return as one of the most dominant forwards in the Premiership. However Dennis could only recapture his form in patches this year and more often that not his pretty football would ultimately prove fruitless. His future is still up in the air, but the sentimentalists amongst us will be hoping he gets one more crack at showing what he can do. Grade = C+ 3
11. Sylvain Wiltord, Appearances 40 (+13 Sub), Goals 13
Wiltord’s early season form was sensational as he raced to the top of the goal charts in the early weeks. However this was followed by a barren spell where he simply could not score, despite at times producing some decent play. He has scored some cruicial goals for us,
notably in the FA Cup but his form has been somewhat hit and miss. On the whole though, it has been more hit. Grade = B 2
12. Lauren, Appearances 41 (+2 Sub), Goals 2
Much like Cole, ‘Ralph’ has shown consistent improvement this season and is becoming a better natural defender with every game. His overall defendings not quite there yet, but again, like Ashley the signs are very encouraging. Grade = B+ 2
13. Stuart Taylor, Appearances 11 (+2 Sub), Goals 0
This season has shown Taylor has all the fundamentals to be a good goalkeeper. All he lacks is the experience to improve his decision making. Grade = B 2
14. Thierry Henry, Appearances 51 (+3 Sub), Goals 32
PFA Player of the year, Players’ Player of Year, Henry has had a sensational season and at times has look unstoppable. However on occasions he can be temperamental if things are not going his way in games, and this costs him a 1 for effort. Grade = A 2
15. Ray Parlour, Appearances 20 (+7 Sub), Goals 0
Arguably Razors most ineffectual season for Arsenal, he failed to hit the score sheet once while being mainly a bit part player. Despite always giving his all on the pitch there have been occasions where he has looked lost at times and he has struggled to keep up with the game. However grit and determintation in other games combined with his loyal service means he is a valuable squad player. Grade = C 2
16. Gio Van Bronckhorst, Appearances 15 (+ 15 Sub), Goals 1
A serious injury meant Gio missed the start of the season and the rest of it he was always struggling with match fitness. He does however have the potential to be a valuable player and possibly a 1st team regular, if he stays fit and plays to his full potential. Grade = C 3
17. Edu, Appearances 18 (+ 10 Sub), Goals 3
After an excellent 2nd half to season 2001/02, many expected Edu to kick on and establish himself as a regular member of the first team. Despite a few induvidual outstanding games, his performances, while never poor, have not shown the consistancy of the previous year. But then he did score that free kick against Man U … Grade = B 2
18. Pascal Cygan, Appearances 27 (+4 Sub), Goals 1
Occasionally sublime, typically dodgy, a sustained period of averageness would be most appreciated by Arsenal fans worldwide. Until then he gets an unprecedented … Grade = D / A 3
19. Gilberto, Appearances 44 (+6 Sub), Goals 2
Gilberto made an excellent start to the season and despite fading towards the end looks a quality player. Next year, when he is fully settled into English football watch him fly! Grade = B+ 2
22. Oleg Luzhny, Appearances 17 (+7), Goals 0
You have to feel sorry for Oleg. Having laboured for most of his spell at Highbury, late 2002 early 2003 looked to be the pay off to his hard efforts. Injuries had given him a place in the side and he looked composed enough to get a run until the end of the season. Then sod’s law kicked in and he got injured. He did come back to be MOTM in the cup final though so for that he gets … Grade = B+ 2
23. Sol Campbell, Appearances 48, Goals 3
Sol is Arsenal’s new rock. The Gunner’s defence just is not the same without him and this year he showed why he is England’s top defender. Give yourself a pat on the back Sol. You richly deserve it! Grade = A 1
25. Kanu, Appearances 15 (12 Sub), Goals 6
Having half arsed the last 2 and a half years Arsenal fans thought we had a rejuvinated Kanu as he had a notably impressive August and September 2002. Sadly, come October we new this was just fate playing a cruel joke and he was as inept as he had been for the preceding two to three seasons. The talent is there but the motivation is not. Surely another close season can’t pass without him being sold? Grade = D 4
28. Kolo Toure, Appearances 16 (+23 Sub), Goals 2
An encouraging first year for Kolo who has worked tremoundously hard to get first team football. A powerful and commited player he has had many highs this year, and looks to be a star of the future. However he has also made some unfortunate errors and seems to have sudden rushes of blood. Hopefully experience will eliminate this part of his game in the seasons to come. Grade = B 2
So there it is. Some players are rushing home to show their reports to their parents with glee, while others are looking for stray dogs to eat theirs. Thankfully none of the squad have to come to terms with being the next Justin Edinburgh! I didn’t include anyone who had less than 10 appearances for the club, so my apologies to the other players who contributed this year (Messers Pennant and Shabban in particular). Obviously it goes without saying these reports are purely my opinions and not affiliated with anyone in the least bit important, so feel free to disect and rubbish them as you wish. Lets not lose site of the fact that every football fan views a game differently and if everyone had a uniform opinion on subjects then the facet of the beautiful game that makes it so great (the discussion and interaction between fans) would be lost forever.
Okay, I’m going to stop ranting now, all I have to say is well done to the lads for bringing the FA Cup back to the Marble Halls and that part 2 of David Seaman’s Arsenal life is on the way. Also when the season is fully over in a week or so time I will be staging the 1st annual Hot Stuff season awards. Will Titi be player of the season? Who will win donkey of the year? And can anyone seriously challenge Giggs for miss of the season? Well you will just have to wait and see. Till then my friends, my name is Ally Wood and this has been another edition of Hot Stuff!