THE LAST EDITION OF THE ‘BARCLAYS’ PREMIER LEAGUE: ARSENAL

The upcoming edition of the Barclays Premier League will be the last under the sponsorship of Barclays. The contract will be over at the end of the 2015/16 season and will not be renewed. It has been a very memorable journey since Barclays became the official sponsor back in 2004. Let’s go down memory lane and experience one more time some of those shocking, surprising, thrilling, enthralling, exhilarating moments that took place in the most unpredictable and entertaining league in the world. The Barclays era saw the Big Four domination in its prime. From 2004/05 to 2014/15, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United finished in the top 4 positions on 4 occasions. 3 of these 4 teams finished in the top 4 positions on 6 occasions. Arsenal never finished outside the top 4 during these 11 seasons. Surprisingly, they never finished as winners in any of these 11 seasons either. Manchester United were the most dominant team during this period with 5 Premier League titles to their name. Now that the facts and stats are done, let’s go down memory lane and experience some of those extraordinary and unforeseen moments during the Barclays Era. The infamous North London Derby at White Hart Lane on Saturday, November 13, 2004. Arsenal managed to edge this one out as the 9 goal thriller at The Lane ended 5-4. Goals from Thierry Henry, Lauren, Patrick Vieira, Fredrik Ljungberg, and Robert Pires sealed a crucial win for the Gunners. Middlesbrough at Highbury on Saturday, January 14, 2006. Arsenal thrashed the visitors 7-0. But it wasn’t just the final score that made the fans happy. Star Frenchman Thierry Henry bagged a hat-trick to become the fourth player in Premier League history to score 150 goals. When Arsene Wenger was appointed as the manager of Arsenal in October of 1996, people hardly knew who he was. With time, he showed the club and the world what he was capable of doing and achieving if he had the right squad. In October of 2006, Arsene Wenger completed 10 years at Arsenal. He is the second longest serving manager in the Premier League after Sir Alex Ferguson. Back to White Hart Lane for Derby Day on Saturday, September 15, 2007. Another victory for Arsenal as they came from 1-0 down to win 1-3. The moment of the day was Emmanual Adebayor’s thunderous volley which sealed the win for the Gunners. Big game at Anfield on Tuesday, April 21, 2009. The game ends in a draw, but an entertaining 4-4 draw which saw Russian attacker Andrey Arshavin score all 4 goals for the Gunners as they got a crucial point from the match. Derby Day at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, October 29, 2011. Skipper Robin van Persie bags a treble as Andre Santos and Theo Walcott score one each as Arsenal shock Chelsea 5-3 in their own backyard in a thrilling encounter. Newcastle United at Emirates on Saturday, December 29, 2012. A hat-trick from Theo Walcott, brace from Olivier Giroud and goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski helped Arsenal thrash the Magpies 7-3. Saturday, May 17, 2014. Wembley. Arsenal look to end their trophy drought, but are shocked early on by Hull City who score 2 in the opening 10 minutes of the game. The Trophy Drought finally ends after 3283 days and 512 games as Arsenal come from behind to win in extra time after goals from Santi Cazorla (17’), Laurent Koscielny (71’) and Aaron Ramsey (109’).

Oumar Aga

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