Arsenal 2018/19 season review: European final kicks off new beginning | OneFootball

It was a big season for Arsenal, their first of the post-Arsène Wenger era, and one with a European final.

However, they lost to Chelsea in the Europa League final and only finished fifth in the Premier League.

Here’s what we made of their season.

Player of the season: Alexandre Lacazette

The Frenchman just edges out Bernd Leno and strike partner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

As well as the goals, Lacazette’s superb work-rate and selflessness make him such a well-rounded striker and he’s built a brilliant partnership with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Lacazette racked up 19 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, including big game contributions against against Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Napoli and Valencia. That’s quite the list, isn’t it?

A worthy winner.

Flop of the season: Shkodran Mustafi

Where to begin with Mustafi? A player Arsenal fans have come to expect nothing from and, somehow, a player who still manages to disappoint.

The centre-back is at fault in defence again and again and again. Total lapses of concentration, a tendency to dive in.

He has to be moved on in the summer.

Rate the manager

Unai Emery had a big task on his hands, this was always going to be a transitional season after Wenger’s departure.

Arsenal set out to return to the Champions League football and got close enough to have two bites at the cherry, only to miss out anyway.

Their Premier League form, though, left a lot to be desired. Despite a marked improvement in big games, Arsenal struggled to dominate when they were favourites.

A top four finish was in their own hands as midway through April but they threw it away with a string of surprise defeats. The team didn’t play particularly attractive football and the defence was as porous as ever.

With little different from last year, you still have to wonder if Emery is the right man long-term.

What needs to be fixed

The defence. Arsenal conceded more league goals in 2018/19 than in any season since 1984.

Simply, that isn’t good enough.

Other than that, they have won have won just 24 of  78 available points on the road since the start of 2018. They won’t improve their league position until that record changes for the better.

Rating the season: 5/10