Arsenal
Alternate PFA Team Of The Year: Featuring 2 Chelsea, 2 Liverpool Stars Along With Rodriguez & Lukaku
A month ago, the title race seemed anything but over as three teams looked set to keep their hands on the coveted trophy. With Liverpool beating Manchester City the following week, the title became Liverpool’s to lose. As the 24-year wait seemed to descend into oblivion, Steven Gerrard did what may have been the most expensive slip of his career.
As the ground failed to lose contact with Gerrard’s boots, the dreams of a million Liverpool fans were seemingly crushed. Chelsea had won 2-0 at Anfield while literally costing Liverpool the title. As we cruise into the final fortnight of this season, Manchester City have seemingly won the title and should take it home if they do not fall in the next two matches.
Although the season is yet to end, the English FA has released the PFA team of the year for 2013-14 season. Released a week ago, the team contained few surprises as the best performers of this season were clearly predicted beforehand. While the team has been a compilation of the best players, let’s take a look at an alternate team that could have been the team of the season.
Goalkeeper
PFA Team of the year: Petr Cech
Although Cech has been very good in goal for Chelsea, he hasn’t been exceptional. His clean sheet record is largely due to Chelsea’s excellent defense which has been amazing the whole season. Seeing that, we could clearly say that David Marshall from Cardiff City deserves a spot in the team. Despite his team’s awful campaign, he has been extraordinarily good in front of goal and has done everything within his limits to save the team. It’s a shame he will be playing in the Championship next season unless he secures a move.
Alternate Choice: David Marshall
Right back
PFA Team of the year: Seamus Coleman
While Seamus Coleman fully deserved his inclusion, Branislav Ivanovic would have made a fair case as a well. Playing under a highly demanding Jose Mourinho, Ivanovic has been solid throughout the season producing disciplined performances at the back and making sizeable contributions going forward.
Alternate Choice: Branislav Ivanovic
Center back
PFA Team of the year: Vincent Kompany
Just like Coleman, Kompany fully deserved his place in the team and has been an important part of Manchester City’s successful season. But, if we were to make a replacement, John Stones seems to be the most suitable candidate. Combining physical play with astute reading of the game, Stones has been a rock at the back for Everton and is a major reason for their finish above teams like Tottenham and Manchester United.
Alternate Choice: John Stones
Center Back
Gary Cahill
Another player from Chelsea and this is no surprise. Jose Mourinho’s penchant for defensive organization has materialized successfully at Chelsea and Gary Cahill is the man behind that. At the base of the defense, Cahill has been excellent and arguably the best in the Premier League this year. If we were to replace him, it would be with none other than his captain John Terry. Rather playing support to Cahill, Terry has rolled back his former days to bring out the old Terry that every forward dreaded facing. Under his former mentor Mourinho, Terry has shown that age is nothing but just a number.
Alternate Choice: John Terry
Left Back
PFA Team of the year: Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw, has been staking claim to be the league’s best left back and this season, I should say he has done that. With Leighton Baines out on the injury table for a better part of the season, Luke Shaw has been excellent and arguably the best left back in the league. But, to alternate for him, Jon Flanagan would be a more than able choice. Part of a stable defense, Flanagan has been a revelation at left back drawing comparisons to Cafu. That should say something about his performances.
Alternate Choice: Jon Flanagan
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Arsenal Women surrendered a commanding two-goal lead at the Allianz Arena, collapsing spectacularly after dominating the first half. The defeat represents an early blow to the holders’ Champions League defense and exposes fundamental weaknesses in Renee Slegers’ side.
Defensive High Line Proved Disastrous
Arsenal’s backline held an extremely high defensive position throughout, which Bayern ruthlessly exploited during their second-half comeback. Stephanie Catley and Lottie Wubben-Moy were caught flat-footed for Alara Sehitler’s 67th-minute goal, with Bayern breaking quickly while Arsenal pushed high up the pitch.
Sehitler found herself in acres of space to clip past Daphne van Domselaar, highlighting catastrophic positioning from Arsenal’s defenders. The same defensive naivety appeared for Pernille Harder’s equalizer, with both center-backs standing off and allowing the substitute uncontested shooting space on the box edge.
Read More: Experienced Vet Wins Arsenal Women’s October Player of the Month After Breaking Goal Drought
Second-Half Tactical Capitulation
Arsenal dominated the opening 45 minutes completely, making Bayern look ordinary through high pressing and controlled possession. But Slegers failed adjusting tactically after halftime, allowing Bayern to completely dominate proceedings and turn the match around.
The manager receives a damning 4/10 rating for her inability to respond as Bayern’s momentum grew. Her substitutions failed stemming the tide, with Chloe Kelly and Frida Maanum making minimal impact. Maanum particularly disappointed by squandering a glorious opportunity with 10 minutes remaining after excellent Alessia Russo work.
Pernille Harder Continues Arsenal Curse
Harder’s 80th-minute equalizer marked her seventh goal against Arsenal following her Chelsea career. The Danish striker’s unorthodox but brilliant looping shot over Van Domselaar demonstrated her instinctive finishing ability that has consistently punished the Gunners.
Arsenal’s inability to handle Harder’s movement and shooting prowess reflects deeper issues defending against intelligent forwards who exploit space between lines. Her goal sparked Bayern’s late surge, with Glodis Viggosdottir completing the turnaround four minutes later following another Klara Buhl assist.
Arsenal Dragon
Arsenal Women Player Ratings vs. Bayern Munich: Pernille Harder Haunts Gunners as Champions Squander Two-Goal Lead
Arsenal Women surrendered a commanding two-goal advantage to lose 3-2 at the Allianz Arena, suffering a devastating Champions League defeat that threatens their title defense. Emily Fox and Mariona Caldentey established control before Bayern’s second-half onslaught overturned the deficit.
The Standout Performers:
Mariona Caldentey – 7/10 Thrashed home Arsenal’s second goal after capitalizing on dreadful Bayern defending. Shifted the ball brilliantly before unleashing an unstoppable 20-yard drive into the roof of the net.
Provided creative spark throughout, constantly threatening with technical quality whenever receiving possession.
Alessia Russo – 7/10 Deserved more for her efforts after seeing plenty of possession in dangerous areas. Forced excellent save from Mala Grohs with long-distance strike and created wonderful opportunity for Frida Maanum late on. Her attacking intent couldn’t prevent the collapse.
Emily Fox – 7/10 Opened scoring by capitalizing on goalkeeper error, heading home from close range after Beth Mead’s powerful shot.
Faced significantly more defensive work after halftime as Bayern dominated proceedings.
The Solid Showings:
Beth Mead – 6/10 Credited with assist for opener after her fierce low shot was palmed down into Fox’s path. Involved in buildup for second goal and shrugged off heavy challenge in the 50th minute. Productive evening overall.
Stina Blackstenius – 6/10 Nearly scored spectacular goal when fierce strike crashed off crossbar. Constant threat before 60th-minute substitution but couldn’t add to Arsenal’s tally.
Caitlin Foord – 6/10 Productive display cut short after hour mark when replaced by Chloe Kelly.
Katie McCabe – 6/10 Relatively quiet evening before 75th-minute substitution.
Victoria Pelova – 6/10 Covered significant ground with tireless running before replacement by Kyra Cooney-Cross.
Daphne van Domselaar – 5/10 Virtual spectator during dominant first half. Exposed completely for Alara Sehitler’s 67th-minute goal and helpless preventing Pernille Harder’s brilliant looping equalizer or Glodis Viggosdottir’s winner.
Stephanie Catley – 5/10 Caught flat-footed holding high line for Bayern’s opener. Stood off Harder disastrously for equalizer.
Lottie Wubben-Moy – 5/10 Similar struggles to defensive partner Catley. Slow closing down Harder for leveller after being caught off-guard by Bayern’s quick break.
Chloe Kelly – 5/10 Struggled making impact after 60th-minute introduction with Arsenal pinned back.
Frida Maanum – 5/10 Squandered glorious chance after excellent Russo work with 10 minutes remaining.
Renee Slegers – 4/10 Shell-shocked after watching commanding position evaporate. Failed adjusting tactically after halftime as Bayern completely dominated.
Arsenal Dragon
Dramatic Turn of Events That Led to Arsenal’s Underrated 2013 Signing, and how Fans Reacted to it Back Then
One of Arsenal’s unsung heroes in the club’s rather silent years was Spanish full-back Nacho Monreal. Any given match, the former Malaga man would give it his all. A solid player, and an even nicer man off the field.
Nacho Monreal Recently Narrated that Hilarious Morning he Signed for Arsenal
Monreal joined the club in the winter transfer window of 2013. And more recently, he narrated how dramatically things went down before he reached London to sign for the club. He told Ladbrokes in an interview:
“I was in Malaga, playing for Malaga, and I remember, I woke up, I checked the phone and I had, two phone calls from Santi Cazorla. So I was a bit surprised…So, I arrived to the training ground and I called back, Santi, ‘Santi, what’s happening? Why are you calling me so early in the morning?’
“‘Nacho, Nacho, be quick, do you want to join for Arsenal?’
“I said, ‘What?’
“‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, the club, Arsene Wenger asked me if you want to join the club.’
“I was like, ‘What, really?’
“‘Yeah, yeah, Nacho. Yeah, it’s 100% serious.’
“And I said, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course I want to go.’“
Monreal went on to add that it all happened so quick that he hadn’t even told his wife that he had signed for Arsenal.
Arsenal Fans Back in 2013 Had No Clue Who Nacho Monreal was
A boatload of Arsenal fans back in January 2013 didn’t have any idea about Nacho Monreal. Although, the Spaniard had been a regular in La Liga for over half a decade by then, he wasn’t popular among the Gooners.
Here are some tweets from 2013 about Monreal’s signing:
Monreal, after over 6 solid years with the club, returned to Spain to play for Real Sociedad in 2019. After three seasons, until 2022, he was a pretty regular starter. Monreal hung up his boots the same year.
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