Arsenal Season 1 review - 02/07/2017 - 09/11/2017:

Season 1: 02/07/2017 - 09/11/2017* Let that sink in. 4 months of hard work, commitment, blood, sweat, tears and drama over and done. Long live TTF and bring on the second season!

Let's break down Arsenal's first season in TFF. We'll be looking at the stats behind the team and the numbers behind the season.

The Season

On the 28th June 2017 Ben Clifford walked into the Emirates like a breath of fresh air, gone had the days of Arsene Wenger's top 4 ambitions, gone had the strange and down right frustrating transfer policy. In were new ideas, and a new vision of the game.

The objective challenge for the League title - just as the fans wanted, new man Clifford took the challenge and ran with it, no longer was top 4 the go to aim of the club or the man behind the wheel of that club. Life started nicely, an opening day win at Everton followed by wins in the Champions League had fans in a fluster.

Tottenham were making noise across north London with Ronaldo and Lewandowski turning down the chance to move to the red side. Ibrahimovic and Kroos being Arsenal's pick of the transfers. Arsenal's first loss came against Spurs, a 3-0 drubbing. That would, as so many people now know, be the overall pattern for the season, Spurs cruising and Arsenal, while always remaining in the top 4, never pushing or applying the pressure. Silly losses against Bournemouth and Sunderland signalling the Arsenal fans usual season come down.

Queue a transfer juggle at Arsenal. Clifford acting quickly, along came Matic, Morata and Kyle Walker. With Hull and Leicester impressing, United and Liverpool falling flat, the pressure doubled, and questions were asked of the top flight managers. The season picked up and Arsenal claimed 2nd place as there own, with Spurs a massive 18 points ahead, something to shout about? Not quite. Arsenal managed to maintain second whilst pulling off the signing of the world's most expensive player, Neymar, and getting to the Cup semi-final, again the Arsenal fan frenzy picked up and died almost right away, with Hull taking the win 2-0.

The Champions League proved a step too far as Arsenal were sent packing in the first knock out round to Real Madrid 4-1 on agg. Sound familiar? Arsenal's only hope of silverware was the league title. But how was that possible I hear you cry, with Spurs' 18 point lead? The whole footballing world had witnessed the biggest fall from grace since Michael Owen. Arsenal's time to shine was now, however Man City had also strung together results.

Arsenal's win's away to Man City and at home to Chelsea had the footballing world talking. Any of Spurs, Arsenal or Man City could now win the league title with 3 games to go. Arsenal effectively threw away the title as quickly as they had entered the race proper, with a 1-1 draw at Stoke. Man City took the league title by 4 clear points with Arsenal 5 off that.

The end of season awards were held and the fans and players alike voted the German midfield engine Toni Kroos as the man of the season. Fans will be questioning why Clifford has since let the man who bossed the majority of the games leave, going back to the Spanish capital, but the manager has asked the fans to judge the team next season rather then make early decisions.

Season Facts

14 home wins, the most home wins in season 1 in Division 1

Goals scored: 67

Goals conceded: 30 - best defensive record in Division 1

Biggest Win: 4-1 West Brom

Biggest Loss: 3-0 Tottenham

Record Attendance: 60,432 vs Sunderland

Sunderland were the only team to do the double over Arsenal. Stoke and Tottenham, along with Sunderland the only teams Arsenal failed to beat over the course of the season.

Conclusion

Next season promises to take things up a level, with Liverpool under new management, Chelsea looking strong and United under pressure to deliver. Arsenal may find themselves also under pressure, Clifford will need to be smart in the transfer market if Arsenal are to make a assault on the title. Silverware is surly a must now with the second season coming around and with so many other 'top' clubs missing out competition could be extreme.

Arsenal's first season then; never really at the races. With the starts United, City and Liverpool had the spotlight was perhaps removed. With no promises of that happening next season, Arsenal will need to start fast and strongly, an early Champions League exit wasn't ideal. Onwards to better things.