Close But No Cigar

The Arsenal 2008/2009 season was one that promised a new era; promise; and ultimately disappointment. The Gunners seemed to be on the edge of something special; with young striker Theo Walcott seemingly hitting his prime; Nicklas Bendtner somehow looking like a good striker; and the arrival of legends Aaron Ramsey & Samir Nasri to this storied club. But it was undoubtedly the arrival of Russian superstar Andrey Arshavin that was the highlight of the season; with the stylish midfielder captivating the audience with some sublime displays.

It was a season that promised much but ultimately spluttered in disappointment; as Arsenal rode menacingly on all competitions before seeing their season grind to a halt. After being near the summit of the league in the early stages; they eventually had to settle for fourth; as their consistency seemed to die down in the latter stages. In the FA Cup; they succumbed to a rash of injuries and a heartbreaking semi-final defeat to bitter rivals Chelsea; while in the UEFA Champions League; a promising campaign came to an ignominious end when they were put up a poor performance in the semi-finals to succumb 4-1 on aggregate to powerhouse Manchester United.

But there were some highlights to savour: notably the rise of young sensation Walcott; and a memorable 7-6 victory on penalties over Roma in the UEFA Champions League Round-of-16. But the greatest highlight of their season would have to be the never-to-be-forgotten 4-4 draw with title rivals Liverpool at Anfield; the 'Andrey Arshavin match' where the Russian star scored four goals in a quite remarkable performance.