The season is over as of completing an unbelievable run of a 10-games unbeatable (8 wins) which was enough to keep us in the Top 4. Let's highlight individual efforts and precious moments of a very challenging year for the Arsenal Team.
Match of the Season
Bayern Munich 0 - 2 Arsenal
This was the game that made Arsenal gain confidence. It proved to be a catalyst to an amazing run in the Premiere League. Additionally, dropping out of the Team our captain Thomas Vermaelen and Wojciech Szczesny due to their poor forms, proved to be one of the best decisions Wenger made this year.
Best Defender
Laurent Koscienly
From a good defender last year he improved dramatically in 2013. In my opinion, right know, he is one of the strongest defenders in the world. His dedication, determination and bravery were significant. Through his career he had a lot of lows but right know he can simply make the difference. The partnership of Mertesacker and Koscienly is one of the most consistent ones. Wenger finally found the perfect combination in defense after experimenting for years.
Best Miedfielder
Santi Cazorla
What can I say about this amazing player ? He is probably one of the best players Wenger managed to sign in recent years. His talent and his vision, which made an impact since the first game, are simply exceptional. One of the most exceptional players this season proved to be the most consistent one. He played overall 48 games, scored 12 goals (all of them in EPL), and provided 16 assists.
Best Forward
Theo Walcott
Theo is becoming better and better and his record of goals this year comes of no surprise. He proved to be one of the most proactive players on the field this year and a true Gunner. His contract extension came as a very happy ending. After all of those players who left, he was one of the first ones to sign an extension to his contract. This addressed a change of policy from a feeder club to an ambitious one, which aims for glory.
Player of the Season Now for this part you are going to choose your favorite Player of the Season 2012-13
Leave comments of which Moments, Games or Players were your favorite ones this season and your opinion about the awards.
The Daily Telegraph are reporting that Arsenal are lining up to bid for Read Madrid's striker Gonzalo Higuain which will blow their transfer record the striker would cost over 20 million pounds.
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Would you want to get Higuain? Do you prefer someone more prolific?
Having seen the club finish in 4th place and seal their place in the Champions League Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis insists they are able to compete with best and are ready to win a trophy and not settle for just a 4th place finish.
"It is important to reiterate that for everyone at the club, qualification for the Champions League is not our ultimate ambition," he told the club's website.
"Our majority owner Mr Kroenke has made it clear that while it's an achievement to make the Champions League, our ultimate objective is to win the major trophies.
"We all share that clear ambition and will be driving the club forward to achieve it.
"Arsene and I have already been planning what we need to do to strengthen so we are better placed next season.
"One thing is certain - the club is in a very strong position to move forward and our form of losing just one of our last 16 Premier League matches shows that we have a solid foundation on which to build for success."
Jack Wilshere spoke to SkySports and he believes that the Arsenal can challenge for trophies next season, he also spoke about his minor surgery on his ankle and insists he will be back for the start of the Pre Season.
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For SkySports coverage of the game Matt Le Tissier watched Arsenal beat Newcastle 1-0 to secure the final Champions League spot and paid a tribute to their defence, in particular Laurent Koscielny who gave a man of a match performance.
20th May 2013 By Jeff @ArsenalTrend & Gordon @Arsenal_Supremo
Arsenal will be in the Champions League for a 16th successive year after Laurent Koscielny's strike secured a priceless 1-0 win at Newcastle on Sunday. Arsene Wenger's team looked likely to miss out on a lucrative top four finish in the Premier League when they were seven points adrift of north London rivals Tottenham with only 10 games to play.But the Gunners' unblemished record of qualifying for Europe's elite club competition under Wenger was extended thanks to Koscielny's goal early in the second half at St James' Park.
It brought Arsenal their fifth successive away win and maintained their excellent form in the second half of the season, a period when they have picked up more points than any team in the top flight. There was an extra edge to Arsenal's celebrations as their success came at the expense of Tottenham, who finished one point behind the Gunners in fifth place. Newcastle's third successive home defeat was a disappointment for a crowd of 52,354. But, following the victory at QPR that confirmed their Premier League status, the main focus for Newcastle was the final game of Steve Harper, the goalkeeper who has spent two decades at the club.
Captain for the day and wearing the No.37 jersey, Harper was applauded by the fans before and after the match and received a remarkable standing ovation in the 37th minute. In truth, Harper must have expected a much more hectic exit because the odds were always loaded against Newcastle in view of Arsenal's excellent form in recent weeks. They were unbeaten in their previous nine games and the confidence engendered by that run was soon obvious.
Newcastle were outnumbered and outmanoeuvred in midfield where Santi Cazorla, Thomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey prospered with the security of Mikel Arteta behind them.But, for all their possession, Arsenal created few tests for Harper in the opening stages, although Koscielny did head narrowly wide from a 12th minute corner. Arsenal were forced to alter their midfield shape in the 28th minute when Arteta was injured and replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Ramsey was given a more defensive role but Arsenal retained their midfield edge and should have gone ahead in the 31st minute. Cazorla was given time and space on the edge of the area to meet a cross from Kieran Gibbs, but his shot lacked conviction. Newcastle's more direct style, allied to the trickery of Hatem Ben Arfa, brought another chance which the French international failed to steer under the bar.
Arsenal required only 30 seconds of the second-half to carve out a better opportunity than they had created in the entire opening 45 minutes. Ramsey seized on a poor clearance by Harper to send Theo Walcott clear, but Harper made amends with a low save, although he was fortunate that no Arsenal player was closing in on the rebound. If Arsenal's followers expected it to herald a more imaginative and aggressive second-half performance, they were quickly proved right as Wenger's team finally broke through in the 52nd minute.
Walcott's free-kick was won by Lukas Podolski and fell perfectly for French defender Koscielny to turn and volley in via Harper's head. Newcastle's earlier attacking instincts had faded by now and their prospects were further damaged by an injury to Yohan Cabaye, who went off after only 57 minutes. Arsenal, once notorious for their ability to grind out 1-0 wins, seemed content with that scoreline once again, although Oxlade-Chamberlain did threaten with a long-range effort in the 70th minute.
Ben Arfa remained Newcastle's best hope of a reply but his final shot of the match was wayward in the 70th minute. It meant Arsenal were able to cruise to a vital victory without any late scares and it would have been more convincing if Walcott had taken a glorious chance in stoppage-time instead of hitting the post.
Arsenal won the race for fourth place, a Champions League play off awaits but a much needed summer transfer with few quality players to challenge once again.
ArsenalSupremo MOTM : Laurent Koscielny
Match Pictures Arsenal Starting 11 : Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky, Cazorla, Walcott, Podolski
Booked: Rosicky. Goal: Koscielny 52. Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire) Attendance: 52,354.
Newcastle: Harper, Debuchy, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa (Campbell 81), Ben Arfa, Cabaye (Anita 57), Tiote, Gutierrez, Gouffran (Marveaux 64), Cisse.
Arsene Wenger Post Match Reaction
"I'm proud of the character and the spirit, especially with all we had to deal with during the season," Wenger told Sky Sports.
"The players are special. I've told them many times and they've shown it. In the last two months they have been absolutely exceptional.
"It's a good basis, as well, on a longer term to go into next season on such a strong run.
"I'm very proud. We were very far behind Tottenham and even after defeat there (at White Hart Lane) we've shown character and attitude to come back and make 73 points, which is three points better than last season.
"I have had many groups in my life and the focus and the desire to do well was always exceptional. It's one of the best groups I've had in my life on that front.
Alan Pardew Post Match Reaction
"I think it's been the toughest season in terms of workload because of the Europa League campaign, and the stress it had on the squad was also going to cause stress on myself and the staff," he said.
"We have just had too many key players missing. I think we've had seven different central-half partnerships this year, and when we finished fifth that hardly changed."
Match Facts and Stats
1.Arsenal have won five successive Premier League away games for the first time since September 2004.
2. Full Time Stats Newcastle v Arsenal Shots 7-10 On target 1-2, Fouls 18-10 Duels Won 41%-59%, Pass Accuracy 85%-80%, Possession 51%-49%
3. Arsenal took 32 points from the teams who finished in the bottom six this season, only Man Utd (36) won more.
4. Arsenal have won five successive Premier League away games for the first time since September 2004.
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What are you thoughts on the game? Who was your MOTM? Do you think Arsene Wenger will keep his promise and spend some money on world class players? If he does I really expect Arsenal to make a serious challenge on the title if we can bring in some world class players and add to the players we already have.
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