End of Season report

Arsenal touched back down in London a day after their magical European victory against arch rivals Chelsea. Its almost impossible to have a season without the highest of highs and lowest of lows. So as season 2 of the ever popular TFF football league now draws to a close we'll be taking a look back through Arsenal's season and assess just how good a job manager Ben Clifford had done under his second full season.

November - December:

November 26th saw the seasons grand opening Arsenal were held to a 2-2 Draw away vs Hull. Arsenal largely dominated the game but lacked the finishing touch. Two days later Arsenal manager Ben Clifford reacted. Lionel Messi became a Gunner !

Arsenal went on to win 8 straight games after the season opener.

A 1-0 win at Lazio followed by big

2-0, 5-0 and 4-1 wins against Man United, Newcastle and Villarreal the stand out wins during that period, Messi bagging himself 7 goals in the space of those 3 games, including a hat-tick what a signing.

Arsenal were to only drop 2 points in all competitions in the whole month of December. A 2-2 draw to eventual top 4 finishers Watford the only blip on a otherwise 100% record. Arsenal's fine form end up landing manager Ben Clifford the manager of the month award for December ! Arsenal top of the league to end 2017 Happy Christmas and New year indeed.

January

EVERYONE AT Arsenal knew the season would be too long and luck not kinda enough for the club to produce wins week in week out like December had given. January the 2nd - Arsenal's first competitive loss had finally arrived. TTF's shield round 2, a much changed Arsenal side coming up against welsh side Swansea. Luis Veigas has a unbeaten record in TFF against Clifford and it wasn't about to change a 1-0 win for the swans.

Arsenal recovered well from the loss, a friendly win over rivals spurs followed by more big scoreline wins 3-1, 4-0, 4-0, 3-1, 5-3 and 3-0 against Southampton, Leicester, Birmingham (Cup) Everton and Spurs and Man City. The latter a 5-3 win against Spurs the highest scoring game in Arsenal's TFF history. A 0-0 Draw with Liverpool sandwiched in between.

Arsenal's first loss in Division 1 came at the hands of Chelsea. (A team which would go on to influence Arsenal's season quite a bit) Arsenal were top and unbeaten in 18 league games before the visit to Chelsea going down 3-2 in the last game of the Month. How Clifford wasn't awarded back to back Manger of the months is beyond this writer.

February:

The half way point of the second TFF season. Arsenal were to put right that 2-2 Draw with Hull toppling them 3-0. Arsenal soon found themselves in a stick or twist situation with the Quarter Finals of the cup on the horizon manger Clifford had decisions to make, 13 points clear in the league deemed enough of a gap for Arsenal to momentarily switch focus to the cup.

Arsenal's second Division loss came quickly a second string going down to United 2-1. Arsenal would however book their spot in the cup semi-finals beating Southampton 1-0. Wins against Sunderland and Burnley and Arsenal looked good again, Arsenal now faced the dilemma of the cup semi finals. Watford on course for a good season no matter what the rest of the season would throw up, beat a surprisingly strong Arsenal line up 1-0. Arsenal's 3rd loss in quick succession in Division 1 Watford taking 4 points from 6 off Arsenal.

Arsenal ended up advancing to the cup final with ease a 4-1 win over QPR booking their place in the final against no other then Chelsea who were having a fine season themselves after a slow start. A shocking 2-0 loss at Home to Leeds had seen Arsenal effectively thrown in their 13 point lead those 4 losses against Chelsea, United, Watford and Leeds costing Arsenal 12 points.

March:

The Cup Final

Arsenal had given so much in their cup campaign, throwing their 13 point lead in the league just for a opportunity of winning a cup. Fan's and media had voiced their concerns about Clifford's lack of league focus some calling the manager greedy. Clifford stated a double could be achieved and that he believed in his squad enough for this to be a realistic dream. As we call know by now the dream was achieved and the double won.... By Chelsea.

In a very very even game a Ronaldo double secured the win and TFF Cup for Chelsea. Arsenal manager Ben Clifford was left with some egg on his face a very healthy gap in the league thrown away for effectively a cup final appearance and runners up medals. - Arsenal's lowest point of the season so far.

Arsenal's season looked like it had de-railed a 2-1 loss at Home to West Ham had cost the club the top spot in the league a position they had held since early December. Pressure would surly be mounting on Clifford should Arsenal's season crash and burn now.

Luckily Arsenal had Europe to turn to - A 3-3 (agg) away goals win over Real Madrid saw Arsenal advance. A draw against now table topping Liverpool proved Costly as Arsenal had lost their chance to have their say in league title. A win taking Arsenal back on top with their destiny in their own hands. However 3-1 wins against West Brom and Spurs keeping them alive, a nice double over Spurs to bring a smile to the face of Arsenal fans.

A 1-0 Home loss to Man City spelt the end of Arsenal's league title hopes... Clifford would surely come in for stick now from media outlets and fans alike. 13 points clear at the half way stages all gone, was it a good decision to try the double clearly not now.

April

Although the title had been kissed good by Arsenal Manager Ben Clifford said Arsenal would remain professional a showdown with Chelsea which could decide the titles destination loomed.

A good 3-1 win over Stoke was the perfect tonic for Arsenal's SMFA Cup semi final vs Juventus. The first leg won 4-1 even a draw would do. Arsenal ended up coming through 1-0 away in Italy and booked themselves into another final, the only issue ? Chelsea were also in that final. Arsenal needed that to save their season for sure.

As mentioned above Arsenal had a league game against Chelsea to get out the way first. Chelsea very much on for a double and thats excatly what they achieved. Easy was the chant from the Chelsea fans as they stormed home 3-1 winners at The Emirates. Arsenals final looked that much more impossible now 3 losses in 3 games with Chelsea so far this season.

SMFA CUP Final

The last game of the season had come down to this.... What exactly have we learnt thus far ? Arsenal were looking at a 2nd trophy-less season in the face. A consecutive 3rd place finish, and a final all to show for a season that HAD seen Arsenal top for more then half of the campaign and well clear at one point.

Ben Clifford would have faced some difficult questions should Arsenal have lost the European final. Chelsea had secured the double and you have to question how envious Clifford was... The double his obsession.

The final in Brazil turned into a South American affair, Argentinian duo Messi and Higuain the goalscorers as Arsenal came out 3-2 winners what a time to get their first win over Chelsea preventing them from the treble. Arsenal with a trophy in the bag at last !

THE VERDICT

Transfers - Arsenal brought in Golden Boot winner Messi before Turn 2 in what has been the best bit of business the season has seen. Neymar returned to Arsenal with De Bryune and Higuain also coming in. A+

Results - Only Chelsea, United, Man City, Watford West Ham, Leeds, have beaten Arsenal this season. Chelsea doing the double over Arsenal with Watford also going unbeaten vs Arsenal. The losses to Leeds, West Ham and Man City perhaps the most damaging. B-

Trophy's - It looks as if Arsenal had thrown them all away this season a early exit in the Shield, a Cup final loss and the league being lost with a couple of games to go. The SMFA Cup win was massive for the club coupled with a cup final appearance its been steady. B

Over All Arsenal's season can be looked back favourably. A very even Cup final which could have gone either way could have changed the landscape of the season all together. While Arsenal slipped in the league a solid 3rd place finish having competed for the title all season is surely the minimum requirement for Arsenal. The SMFA Cup win topped it off nicely. B-