Hello football lovers, 

These are my personal Arsenal highlights for the just concluded 2007/2008 English Premier League season.

1. Most valuable player – Emmanuel Adebayor

EA just edges Cesc by a thin margin – goal scoring exploits. The man from Togo has been nothing short of a revelation this season. 2 seasons ago, he couldn’t seem to find his way to goal even with a GPS chip embedded in his jersey. But with the departure of Henry last summer, EA stepped up to the plate manfully and for majority of the season shouldered Arsenal FC’s goal scoring burden.

It was a testament to his importance that many a fan where left blessing the non participation of Togo in the 2008 African nations cup.

Ade's more memorable goals in no particular order;

a.the sumptuous chest control and volley at white hart lane. Arsenal won 3 – 1.

b.his chest control and volley at Newcastle in December. Arsenal drew 1 -1.

c. his goal versus Reading, using his thigh to beat the reading defender, before coolly slotting home.

2. Signing of the season – Eduardo da Silva

Dudu’s arrival was met with little fanfare. Youtube became a veritable source of his goal scoring exploits and had Arsenal fans excited to see him play. As is customary with Arsene Wenger, he allowed him a settling in period and it seemed this was beginning to pay off when his goal scoring run started. Blessed with great technical skill and an uneasy ease to find the back of the net, Dudu scored 12goals in his debut season before his season was crudely ended by a wild tackle in the Birmingham heat.

3. Flop of the season – Emmanuel Eboue

EE endured a torrid season as Arsene tried to fit him, unsuccessfully, into a right midfield role. With a tendency to pull shots at goal horribly sky high and an unerring skill not to put in a good cross, EE had Arsenal fans tearing their hair out wondering why Arsene stubbornly persisted with playing him in a right midfield berth. It is easy to forget that EE is actually a right back, and might have found the new task imposed on him daunting. The first half of next season will hold pointers to whether he will be a good solution or be reverted back to his comfortable position.

On the plus side, he never for one second moaned about being played out of position. He needs to rediscover the form that saw him emerge as one of the best right backs in Europe during Arsenal’s magnificent run to the champions league final in 2006.

4. Jinxes of the season – Robin van Persie, Tomas Rosicky

These 2 players spent most of the season in the nurse’s treatment room. It seems Arsenal FC employ some really fit nurses as RVP and TR were repeatedly sent back to the treatment room during the course of the season.

Season 07/08 started well enough for these 2 gifted but injury prone players. RVP in particular with a lovely swivel and shot at a tight angle against inter Milan in the emirates cup. His season will be cut short while playing for his country, Holland, during the euro 2008 qualifiers. He returned towards the back end of the season. The team certainly missed his goals as they stuttered towards the finish line of a highly promising season.

TR hasn’t been seen since early January and rumours abound that he might not be fit for the Euros. If isn’t far fetched to reckon that EE might have been relieved of his right midfield berth if TR had been fit for any length of time. An insightful passer of the ball that integrated seamlessly into the ‘Arsenal way’ and comes up with the occasional goal,TR’s absence was telling.

5. Mistake of the season – Lassana Diarra

In my previous posts, you will know that I am an admirer of this young lad. Granted he his big headed and impatient, but rather than let him go in January, I wish Arsene had convinced him to stay. Not the most physical of players but his ball retention and recovery will see him become hopefully a top holding midfielder for years to come.

Verdict: shouldn’t have been sold. Has now gone on to win the FA cup with Pompey. What odds would one have gotten on that. Hmm.

 
Final words

Anyways, these are my thoughts as the curtains come down on the 2007/2008 season.

What are your thoughts? Feel free to comment, debate, share, and criticize. Thanks.