Arsenal highlights from 2014

So what were the highlights of 2014? Perhaps it's no surprise that none of them are from this season, and that all of them came from the FA Cup run.

I suppose the first high point came in the first few days of the year with the smashing of Tottenham in the FA Cup 3rd round. It was 2-0 at the end but it was as comprehensive a thrashing as you're ever going to see.

Tomas Rosicky rolled back the years to dominate the game and Theo Walcott ran their defence ragged. Typically that was the last we saw of Theo.

 

 

The FA Cup run was full of special moments, of course, but Lukas Podolski's goal against Liverpool was a cracker, and the hammering of Everton to guarantee a place at Wembley had the stadium rocking. Both were great days.

My second highlight of the year was Santi Cazorla's winning penalty in the semi-final shootout against Wigan. Lukasz Fabianski had played his part with two saves, but Santi sent us wild.

Knowing we would play Hull City or Sheffield United in the FA Cup Final meant we knew we were never likely to get a better opportunity to win a trophy at last.

 

 

It was a moment that will probably never be repeated in that there were well over 50,000 Arsenal fans inside Wembley for the semi-final. The noise, the atmosphere and the celebrations will live long in the memory - even if Roy Keane was offended by them.

The happiest moment was yet to come as we finally ended the drought. We all know how we did it the hard way, but when Aaron Ramsey scored the winner it was what going to football is all about.

Again, there was a sense of relief, but also one that our pride had been restored. Arsenal had won the FA Cup in a classic Wembley final. It really doesn't get much better and it makes you want more and more of it.

I've felt it many times, but the distance between 2005 and 2014 maybe amplified things this time. Being there with my son and the other members of my family made it extra special.

 

 

And so to my player of 2014. It would be easy to select Alexis Sanchez but he's only been playing for us since August. It has to be a player who has been around all year long and, for me, there are only two contenders.

Kieran Gibbs has progressed so much in the last year and he is far and away the best English left back in the Premier League. However, my player of the year has to be Laurent Koscielny.

We miss him so much in our side when he isn't there. And he has the habit of scoring the most crucial of goals. In recent years he is the stand out piece of business done by Arsene Wenger - an unknown who has developed in to a top class footballer.

His goal at Wembley was the one that got us level and allowed us to go on and win. He can't get fit soon enough as far as I'm concerned. People say we'd be lost without Alexis, but the fact is we are already lost without Koscielny.

 

So that's it. Christmas time is here again. It's the time of year for happiness and I hope Arsenal can make us all that little bit more cheery on Boxing Day. Have a great Christmas wherever you are.