2012–13 Arsenal F.C. season
The Champions League also proved fruitless, as despite a valiant effort in Bavaria winning 2–0, they were ultimately knocked out on the away goals rule against Bayern Munich, thus extending their trophy drought for an eighth season.After an open-training session (which was attended by 30,000 fans in the previous season),[12] Arsenal scored two late goals from German youngster Thomas Eisfeld and fellow reserve team player Chuks Aneke following Azmi Muslim's opener to win the match 2–1.[14] Arsenal ultimately lost 0–2, with two goals in the last five minutes of the first half by Pablo Zabaleta and Yaya Touré to lose the China Cup.The game gave the club's huge fan base in Hong Kong the opportunity to see Arsenal play live in an entertaining encounter that ended 2–2 after 90 minutes after Eisfeld equalised late on (which should have led to a penalty shootout, but it was later scrapped).The fixture, which was scheduled six days before the start of the Premier League season, featured the likes of new signings Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla in a commanding 4–0 win with an early opener from Thomas Vermaelen, a penalty and a close range strike from Podolski in the first half, and a finish from an acute angle from Gervinho in the second half to complete the rout.[20] As the previous season drew to a close, Arsenal announced the release of seven players on 22 May 2012, five of whom played professionally for Arsenal, including Manuel Almunia, who made 175 first-team appearances for the club (including the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final), and Gavin Hoyte who was the only other released player to receive a first-team cap (against Manchester City on 22 November 2009).[26] He was primarily signed as a backup (rather than a replacement) to golden boot winner Robin van Persie, in a bid to challenge this season's Premier League title and win the club's first trophy for seven years.A week later Arsenal announced that defender Laurent Koscielny had signed a new long-term contract after a series of consistent appearances in the first-team last season.[33] With the sale of Van Persie being confirmed by the club for a fee thought to be around £24 million,[34] on 17 August Arsenal revealed that Thomas Vermaelen had taken over the captaincy from the Dutchman, with Mikel Arteta being given the position of vice-captain.Arsenal's tough month continued, with arguable the toughest test that awaited them in the entire season – an away tie at champions Manchester City.Following an international break, Arsenal travelled to Carrow Road to face third-bottom Norwich City, and lost 1–0 through a 20-minute Grant Holt goal after a Vito Mannone spill, in an unconvincing display from the Gunners.Arsenal then produced a respectable performance in their next match against a struggling Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League, thanks to another late goal, this time from Mikel Arteta, following Stéphane Mbia's red card dismissal.Four days later, Arsenal surrendered another two-goal lead, this time created by Lukas Podolski and Giroud, into a 3–2 deficit following a brace (including a penalty conceded by Arteta) for Dimitar Berbatov and a header from Alexander Kačaniklić for Fulham.With an uncanny resemblance to last season, Arsenal entered their first North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on the back of a poor run of results, while still managing coming out as 5–2 winners against their bitter rivals, who were once again down to ten men.Two sublime finishes from Jack Wilshere, his first in 725 days,[41] and Podolski, a left-foot volley reminiscent of former captain Van Persie, allowed Arsenal to secure qualification to the knockout stage of the competition, with only the top two places to be settled on the last matchday between the Gunners and Schalke.[42] Arsenal returned to poor form in their next match however, as they played out a dull 0–0 draw with relegation-threatened Aston Villa, meaning the Gunners lost ground yet again on the top four sides.Had Arsenal won the game, they would have gone top of the table, as Montpellier managed a draw against Schalke 04, but instead they finished second, setting up a tough test against Bayern Munich in the last-16.Arsenal continued their revival with a solid victory over Wigan Athletic with the Gunners recording three consecutive wins for the first time since March last season.Arsenal have a larger break than other teams in the Premier League however, as the West Ham game was postponed due to a tube strike in the London Underground.However, following another two goals from Walcott (to complete his hat-trick), and a brace from substitute Giroud, Arsenal rounded off an impressive display to give confidence to the fans ahead of the crucial month January.A week later, Arsenal slumped to a controversial yet disappointing loss to the champions Manchester City as Koscielny was sent off in the ninth minute after fouling Edin Džeko in the penalty area.Despite Walcott managing to pull one goal back in the second half, the game eventually ended 2–1, leaving Arsenal's hope of finishing in the top four in serious doubt.Back in the Premier League, Arsenal continued their increasingly frustrating habit of starting games slowly, going 2–0 behind against Liverpool inside an hour thanks to goals from Luis Suárez and Jordan Henderson.Following an injury picked up by Kieran Gibbs in that game, Arsenal rushed to complete a late signing of Spanish international left-back Nacho Monreal from Málaga on deadline day, for an undisclosed contract length and fee (thought to be around £8.5 million), though disappointed Gunners fans by not making a move for linked Barcelona striker David Villa.A deflected free kick from Lukas Podolski late in the game and a brilliant display from debutant Monreal left the Gunners in a promising position as teams around them dropped points.Arsenal did so with a brace from Santi Cazorla either side of an Andreas Weimann equaliser to stay four points adrift of North-London rivals Tottenham, who they played the following Sunday.Arsenal made it 12 wins in all 12 games against Reading as goals from Gervinho, Cazorla, Giroud and Arteta ensured the Gunners ran out 4–1 winners (with Hal Robson-Kanu pulling one back for the Royals) and kept up their chase for the top four.Along with news that Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott were to return from injury soon, Arsenal fans were given more to cheer about as a spirited performance following Metersacker's sending off against West Brom lifted the Gunners temporarily up to fourth in the table.Following a guard of honour to the newly crowned champions, Arsenal faced a Manchester United side with former captain Robin van Persie in tow.In fourth place came the Spaniard Mikel Arteta for his consistent performances in the middle of midfield (which included recording the second highest number of passes in the campaign: 2750 at a 92% success rate) with 5% of the votes.
Arsenal2012–13Peter Hill-WoodArsène WengerEmirates StadiumPremier LeagueFA CupLeague CupUEFA Champions LeagueTheo WalcottManchester UnitedCoventry CityHome coloursAway coloursThird colours2011–122013–142012–13 seasonArsenal Football ClubPremier League seasonBradford CityChampionshipBlackburn Roversfifth roundBavariaaway goals ruleBayern MunichReadingNewcastle UnitedTottenham HotspurGerman internationalLukas Podolski1. FC Kölntransfer windowPer MertesackerWerder Brementhe EmiratesPat Riceprevious seasonacademySteve BouldMarkus Liebherr Memorial CupSouthamptonMarkus LiebherrScottish clubRangersAnderlechtround-robin systemHenri LansburypenaltiesGervinhoJay RodriguezMalaysiaMalaysia League XIKuala LumpurThomas EisfeldChuks AnekeAzmi Muslim'sManchester CityBeijing2012 Summer Olympics2008 Olympic StadiumPablo ZabaletaYaya TouréKitcheenational leaguepenalty shootoutNigeriaNigeria national teamBacary Sagnahome groundOlivier GiroudSanti CazorlaThomas VermaelenLondonEmirates CupIvan GazidisRobin van PersieManuel Almunia2006 UEFA Champions League FinalGavin HoyteNeil BanfieldArsenal reserve teamTerry BurtonOğuzhan ÖzyakupTurkishBeşiktaşmidfielderstrikerMontpellierFrench leaguegolden boot winnerCesc FàbregasSamir Nasrifree agentFeyenoordCarlos VeladefenderLaurent KoscielnyMikel ArtetaBarcelonaAlex SongChampions LeagueBritannia StadiumStoke CityNicklas BendtnerPark Chu-youngJuventusLa LigaCelta de VigoLiverpoolAnfieldPepe ReinaWojciech SzczęsnyStade de la MossonYounès BelhandaJoleon LescottLeague OneMurphyAlex Oxlade-ChamberlainIgnasi MiquelAndrey ArshavinChelseaFernando TorresJuan MataMadjeski Stadium