2008/2009 Jav's Arsenal Awards

Always with the goal of improving and bringing the tradition of the awards, already made from last season EURO 2008, I am delighted to bring you, dear reader, the 2008/2009 Jav's Arsenal Awards. Among many improvements made in posts are the triple match picture features and half block columns, along with extended grammar and spelling revision. You know dear reader, that I close the season with a full round up, and the fact that many people do the that in the final part of the year irritates me, so I do it at season's end. I will try to contrast it with the previous season regarding the figures and prospects that I had this previous term. The usual overall balance by each position is provided among with several common things with the other awards, and some new adds. Enjoy dear reader!



Best Young Player of the Season
Again, the average of age in the team, for this awards, is U-23.



Jack Wilshere: It is true that the beginning of the season did cost him a lot but when he found his pace, the toll of goals and appearances increased, covering a position that needed refreshment and which provided the final step he needed: confidence. Obviously his chances will decrease but his early impact in the season did make some Gooners sigh but his growth as a player in Arsenal's side will certainly become a subject of interest in the next years. His performances for both reserves and youth teams earned him the double that the Arsenal youth ranks can presume to have now.



Worst Young Player of the Season


Not even a stain of dirt!

Amaury Bischoff: If someone skipped him in any review or comment it may well be the same as skipping breakfast ona busy day. Slow, clumsy and perma-crooked, the Portuguese midfielder did not feature in the starting eleven for the team in a whole year, being one of the "major siginings" by Wenger last summer, with a couple of passes, tackles and a shot among his repertoire in the four appeareances, all as substitue, this season. Maybe the best picture of him is watching him above Jack Wilshere and Lukas Fabiasnki, above the bench, in the place for injured players.


Best Goal of the Season

1-Arsenal 4-0 Blackburn by Andrei Arshavin

And incredibly stunning goal, offered only through a Playstation match. Magnifique display of footwork, technique, speed and finishing, top class.





2-Villareal 1-1 Arsenal by Emmanuel Adebayor
Tremendous technique in what was a match-winning goal, considering the circumstances.





3-Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal by Andrey Arshavin
The final touch to a dream night that saw him as the giant. Event though the party was spoiled by the late equalizer his deed shall remain in the Gunner's memory long enough.





*-Special Mention Arsenal 6-0 Sheffield United by Carlos Vela
The second in his three goal tally that day, saw his main asset to arise as the Gunners' brightest immediate star.





Best Match of the Season

1-Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal (EPL)
A heart-breaking game that saw how the Gunners resurged from the bottoms to see the best spirit of the team.

2-Newcastle 1-3 Arsenal (EPL)With the Toon Army support, the Geordies managed to keep Arsenal on a tight leash for sixty minutes, in a speedy good match.

3-Arsenal 3-0 Villareal (UCL)
The solid display put the Gunners in the semifinals of the European tournament.


*-Shefield Utd 0-6 Arsenal
The tremendous haul of goals that the youngsters provided is among the best performances in Carling Cup history.

Worst match of the season
1-AS Roma 1-0 Arsenal (UCL)
A terrible display by the north Londoners was spared by the excellent penalties execution.

2-Stoke 2-1 Arsenal (EPL)
Rory Delap and the horrid defending gave the Potters the home win at Britannia Stadium

3-Arsenal 0-0 Fenerbahce (UCL)
One of the most boring matches that I have ever seen in my entire life ended in a goaless draw. Nothing to do with the previous match in Turkey. If you can avoid repetition or skip in season review, do it, it will save you healthy neurons for the next day.

*-Tottenham 0-0 Arsenal (EPL)
In yet another London derby, the frail and childish stupor that emerged from London rivals was nothing compared with the eight goal thriller earlier in the season. Wenger's men were lucky to scrap a tie from Spurs, this time.

**-Arsenal 1-3 Man Utd
The final humiliation in yet another tough and sad end of season for two consecutive years. Cristiano Ronaldo outclassed the team in every departament, and even though Utd did not win the final, the wound remains open as last years' last gasp goal, courtesy of Owen Hargreaves.


Best Young Revelation

1-Jack Wilshere
2-Carlos Vela
3-Aaron Ramsey


Best Revelation

1-Andrey Arshavin
2-Jack Wilshere
3-Samir Nasri

Injured player of the Season

In the nurse's favorites section we have the ill-managed, ill-fated Czech captain. Cesc is not mentioned due to his enormous contribution to the club, even with a four-month digression.
1-Tomas Rosicky
2-Amaury Bischoff
3-Mikael Silvestre


Worst Player of the Season

1-Amaury Bischoff
2-Mikael Silvestre
3-Emmanuel Eboue

Best Player of the Season

1-Robin van Persie
-Andrey Arshavin
3-Samir Nasri


Players to Watch

Defense: As the previous year I expect the inclussion of Harvard Nordveit in a Carling Cup clash. Obviously the new signing Vermaelen will have to prove his value and the battle for the left back position between U21 Gibbs and Clichy.

Midfield: Fran Merida final jump to first team should be, not as the previous year, a secondary attraction while Jack Wilshere stole each and everyone attention last season. Aaron Ramsey, Mark Randall should all make greater efforts to jump into the first team. Alex Song clumsy performances evolved into neatly solid defensive displays and next season more will be expected from the youngster.

Forward: Nicklas Bendnter's impressive tally should be more regular and the bright start of Mexican Vela should bring him to a higher standard in the team. Nacer Barazite is the greatest doubt, and after a series of loan spells he should be availabke for some games. Also Emmanuel-Thomas and the double youth champions should be an interesting addition.

Best Goalkeeper: Manuel Almunia
Best Defender: Bacary Sagna
Best Midfielder: Samir Nasri
Best Striker: Robin van Persie



Football Posts made during 08/09 season (as for July 10th):

-Barclays Premier League: 38
-FA Cup: 4
-Carling Cup: 2
-UEFA Champions League: 16 (counting final preview and final review)
-International Friendlies: 1
-World Cup Qualifiers: 5
-Others: 16
TOTAL: 82

Newcastle United Relegation Tribute - Loony Toons!

Well deserved! Welcome to the Toon!

Arsenal v. Stoke 4-1 24/May/09

Gossips, rumours and all kind of machineries and plots will be the main talk for the following three months. Here at Deviations we will always keep you posted and debriefed as the season comes close to mid July to see the formal kick off of preseason. Regarding the main topic of our post, the Gunners confidently won against their tormentors that earlier this season won two-one at Brittania Stadium. If you remember, dear reader, Rory Delap made his famous throw-ins to earn the Potters the home victory. This time at Ashburton Grove things resulted quite differently as the home side rose above level in the first half to give the shaky atmosphere (Regarding the stay of Wenger) the season finale worth of a team of this magnitude. All we can do is wait until next July 18 (one day past my birthday) when Arsenal face Barnet in the first preseason match.



It has been a tough but delightful year and as always I would like to thank you, dear reader, for your preference. Jav's Arsenal Awards 2008/2009 edition will eventually come along with the full coverage of UEFA U-21 championship, Gold Cup, Confederations Cup and World Cup Qualifiers. At least a taste of some football will come to us in what promises to be a long summer regarding transfer speculations.







Fortunately enough Arsene decided to play an alternative side, mainly because of a lack of firepower due to injuries. At least the manager decided to put more attention to the last game of the season, which in previous years had not been one of the most necessary tradition. And the early higlights were brought up by Denilson; a volley at 10' that became a corner. In that particular corner kick Cesc crossed, after a combination with van Persie, and Beattie wrongly netted against his team.
Five minutes later, the Dutchman fabricated one of that plays that suddenly inspire teengaers to become footballers: with a lovely back flick he tricked two defenders, just to be thrown by the second to give Arsenal a kick from the spot. And as if it were not enogh suffering for the Potters, on the pitch and the few brave who made the travel, Abou Diaby headed three minutes past van Persie' goal. The service, from the right, was half goal and the other half can be attributed to Stoke's defense. Stoke had to replace Simonsen for Sorensen due to an alleged hip injury. Manone's calm evening came along with Beattie futile spot attempt but was spoilt by the penalty that Fuller converted later on, in the 30th minute.
Robin van Persie could have made the gap wider with a freekick on the bar the following minute and Arshavin too but Sorensen's determination kept the ball off the mark. The Londoners kept track of Stoke efforts and nearly scored through Diaby and Arshavin but it was again van Persie who put the final touch of defeat in Stoke's face, when Rory Delap mistakenly headed the ball towards the Dutchman who, with a lovely chest control, finished bottom corner. The final minutes were a nightmare for the Potters who supported the siege kept by the young guns.







If anyone thought that an onslaught was supposed to take place in the following forty five minutes, a sea of tranquility saw the Gunners cover their current quota of goals to end the season in a swift fashion. From the beginning through the 60' the siege displayed by the home side saw a wide array of attacking options: from header to shots and walls. Sagna, Toure, Arshavin and Cesc, all proved Sorensen, unfortunately. Andrey's contribution in the 63' was outstanding, with Diaby and Cesc building a play, just to van Persie to put it on the farthest stand of the Emirates.
While the Gunners relied on one-two plays, the Potters replied with denial after denial, either by the result of a solid defense or by the pure grace of a higher power. With Vela's entrance, at the 72nd minute, the main concern for the Gunner watching was if van Persie was going to end his run with a hattrick or if any of the other players should score. None of those happened as the minutes passed on, while more of the same came from both sides; from the home, attacks from all places and the visitors, a defensive wall.

UCL Final Preview

Tomorrow the most important game in Europe's football take place: the two best teams of the season play in the City of Light.

Full of history from primaeval ages the world's eyes will turn for ninety or more minutes to this clash of giants: FC Barcelona seeking their third European title whilst the Mancunians their fourth which could narrow the difference from Livepool, with five. Obviously we could all be more happy if the Gunners, among myself, were travelling to such beautiful city.


From comments on both sides of course prudency and humbleness have prevail. I still, disgracefully enough, that Utd have the edge, with both flanks of the Spanish side diminished due to the absences of Abidal and Alves. Rather strange have been the results of the campaign raided by different sites and media sources regarding CR7 and Lio Messi. I dare not to make a judgment over such gigantic pair of c*nts. Anyway you know that I hate both teams but with respect to football this is a match that cannot be missed.

Of course we will have the final review here as always and also in our Spanish site. I am thinking of making a post regarding ceratain European Awards, meaning sort-of-Arsenal regular Awards but for Europe's best goals, games and so but that will need feedback from the readers, which is rare.

Remember dear Platini, be careful with what you wish!

Again, dear reader, obviously I will post as soon as possible the last match of the season followed by Jav's Arsenal Awards. Again, as the previous summer, here at Deviations we will have a busy time covering the Gold Cup, Confedarations Cup, UEFA U-21 Championship and as always pre-season.

Sweet and tender cares from Joppie

Usually when Johan Cruyff speaks, he tends to deliver a direct-speech, without any difficult metaphors while performing with such intelligence in few words. One has to take his newest declarations with care: only when smashing against the British football style, English press hears and speaks of him.

In the note he makes a judgement regarding the famous 6+5 rule. I am afraid that in certain amtches he only featured three of four Spaniards, the same numebr he is arguing Utd has: "The English national team - missing out on the last European championships - and football in general suffers as a result of them signing so many foreign players.

Make no mistake, this does not have anything to do wuith the current series of attacks that UEFA and high football comissioners are making upon English football.

In other news, I am afraid that Adebayor has lost his remaining temper and with his recent declarations will not regain the hearts and minds of even the Gunners' most faithful. Now that we are on the subject of Joppie, remember dear reader, that "no one is above or greater than the club."

In this unbearable torment of gossip the intelligence of one of the best players this season for the Londoners was heard, and who else but Samir Nasri. The problem is that many supporters, and even Wenger himself, does not clearly see the end of his project or in any case a short-term project.

Regarding Arseblog request I do agree, because we have played that way in the past but avoid, please the horrid and wretched comparissons: "Would he be inclined to look at Barcelona's 4-3-3 and have a go at that? Alex Song as the Toure-like holding player, Cesc and Nasri as the Xavi and Iniesta, then any 3 from Arshavin, Eduardo , Bendtner, van Persie, Walcott, Vela as the forward players? It would make sense with the players we have, plus it allows us to sell Adebayor and reinvest his money in some players who can defend."