Daily Archives: June 3, 2015

2014/15 Arsenal End-of-Season Awards

The nominations were published yesterday and you, my esteemed readers, made your votes count. It’s time to see how those votes were reflected as Gooner Daily brings the 2014/15 Arsenal End-of-Season awards.

SAVE OF THE SEASON

David Ospina’s save against Yannick Bolasie (44.34% of the votes): The skillful winger broke through from the left and blasted a shot that almost beat Ospina on his near post but the Colombian goalie made an unorthodox save to spare his blushes from conceding from such an awkward angle.

Runner Up: Ospina’s save against Moussa Sissoko (40.57% of the votes)

Second Runner Up: Szczesny’s save against Ciaran Clark (15.09% of the votes)

GOAL OF THE SEASON

Aaron Ramsey against Galatasaray (49.18% of the votes): The Welsh wizard used his weaker left foot to fire a surface-to-goal missile that sent Arsenal fans into raptures. Szczesny’s reaction to the goal told the whole story.

Runner Up: Alexis Sanchez goal against Aston Villa in the FA Cup final (48.36% of the votes)

Second Runner Up: Olivier Giroud’s goal against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fifth round (2.46% of the votes)

MATCH OF THE SEASON

Manchester United 1 Arsenal 2 in the FA Cup Quarterfinal (42.61% of the votes): Arsenal went into this game with a very shambolic record against the Red Devils at Old Trafford. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s good work paved the way for Nacho Monreal to open the scoring but Wayne Rooney equalized. Danny Welbeck scored the goal that leveled the contest and sent the Gunners to FA Cup semis.

Runner Up: Manchester City 0 Arsenal 2 (33.91% of the votes)

Second Runner Up: Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 4 (23.48% of the votes)

WORST MATCH OF THE SEASON

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 in the Champions League Knockout Round (87.39% of the votes): After season of getting knocked out by Bayern Munich and Barcelona, the Gunners finally had a chance to face a supposedly ‘weaker opponent’. What we witnessed at the Emirates was an utter disgrace and the Gunners got what they deserved – elimination from the tournament.

Runner Up: Tottenham 2 Arsenal 1 (9.91% of the votes)

Second Runner Up: Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0 (2.7% of the votes)

MOST DISAPPOINTING DRAW OF THE SEASON

Arsenal 0 Sunderland 0 (47.66% of the votes): For a team that was scoring for fun, the goals dried up for Arsenal in their previous home games against Chelsea and Swansea. A trio of successive failure to score at the Emirates arrived in the draw with Sunderland.

Costel Pantilimon put up a MoTM performance

Runner Up: Arsenal 2 Hull 2 (36.45% of the votes)

Second Runner Up: Leicester 1 Arsenal 1 (15.89% of the votes)

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE SEASON

Francis Coquelin (67.5% of the votes): The Coq Block was an immense addition to the team and his performances on the pitch were exemplary. Let’s hope he builds on this next season.

A Coquelin tackle – Something we got accustomed to seeing in 2015

Runner Up: Nacho Monreal (20% of the votes)

Second Runner Up: Hector Bellerin (12.5% of the votes)

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER OF THE SEASON

Lukas Podolski (39.64% of the votes): Podolski featured sparingly for the team and was rightly shipped out on loan to Inter in January. One goal in 14 games for Inter was proof that Wenger was right to let him go. It’s gonna be hard to see him remaining at the club this summer.

One of his finer moments this season

Runner Up: Joel Campbell (34.23 of the votes)

Second Runner Up: Yaya Sanogo (26.13% of the votes)

YOUNGSTER OF THE SEASON

Hector Bellerin (100% of the votes): The decision was unanimous from the voters that Bellerin was undoubtedly the youngster of the season. He had the harshest of debuts away at Dortmund but he made his mark on this season and it’s interesting to see how Wenger would manage the return of Carl Jenkinson.

Young Hector was great this season

Runner Ups: Calum Chambers and Damian Martinez (0% of the votes)

UNSUNG HERO OF THE SEASON

Santi Cazorla (49.57% of the votes): This season Santi Cazorla was taken away from the spotlight but his performances were downright consistent throughout the campaign. With Mikel Arteta unavailable for selection due to his injury woes, Cazorla became Arsenal’s spot kick taker and he never missed any.

Mr. Consistency

Runner Up: Nacho Monreal (28.7% of the votes)

Second Runner Up: Mesut Ozil (21.73 of the votes)

BEST MOMENT OF THE SEASON

Retaining the FA Cup (89.72% of the votes): The FA Cup defending champions battled hard to retain their trophy and they did it with some style.

Wenger has won six FA Cups. What a legend!

Runner Up: Theo Walcott’s long-awaited return from injury (5.61% of the votes)

Second Runner Up: Alexis Sanchez maiden goal for Arsenal (4.67% of the votes)

SIGNING OF THE SEASON

Alexis Sanchez (99.12% of the votes): I actually thought Alexis Sanchez would get 100% of the votes, but there was a reader that placed one vote for Mathieu Debuchy. How do I have a feeling it wasn’t Debuchy himself that placed the vote?

25 goals in his debut campaign. What a signing!

Runner Up: Mathieu Debuchy (0.88% of the votes)

Second Runners Up: David Ospina, Calum Chambers and Danny Welbeck (0% of the votes)

BREAKTHROUGH STAR OF THE SEASON

Francis Coquelin (71.17% of the votes): Since breaking into the scene in the tail end of 2014, Coquelin has never looked back and he put up consistent performances in the middle of the park. A breakthrough campaign for the Coq.

Runner Up: Hector Bellerin (28.83% of the votes)

Second Runner Up: Damian Martinez (0% of the votes)

BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON

Alexis Sanchez – two goals and one assist against Stoke (48.11% of the votes): Sanchez turned up a notch in the home fixture to Stoke, scoring from a tight angle as well as a free kick that crept past Asmir Begovic. He also swung in a cross that was nodded home by Koscielny.

Runner Up: Theo Walcott hat-trick against West Brom (27.36% of the votes)

Second Runner Up: Danny Welbeck hat-trick against Galatasaray (16.04% of the votes)

Third Runner Up: Olivier Giroud brace against Newcastle (8.49% of the votes)

PLAYER OF THE SEASON

Alexis Sanchez (85.47% of the votes): Sanchez was an outstanding performer for the Gunners all season long. Perfect candidate for the Player of the Season award.