Sunday 15 May 2016 23:15, UK
Stats, quotes and expert opinion on Arsenal's 2015/16 Premier League season as they missed out on the title but pipped Spurs to second place.
Finishing position: 2nd (+1)
Total points: 71 (-4)
FA Cup: Quarter-finals
Capital One Cup: Fifth round
Top scorer: Olivier Giroud (16)
WhoScored Top Rating: Alexis Sanchez (7.72)
Season review
Another frustrating season for Arsenal began in inauspicious circumstances when Petr Cech, their only new signing of the summer, gifted West Ham two goals in a shock opening day defeat at the Emirates Stadium.
It immediately dampened the optimism around the club, and while the Gunners responded by winning three of their next four games, they suffered another 2-0 defeat to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea on September 19 which raised familiar questions about their title credentials.
The pressure was on after their stuttering start to the season, but Arsenal enjoyed their best period of the campaign before Christmas, winning 11 out of 14 Premier League games, including meetings with Leicester, Manchester United and Manchester City.
The Gunners suffered a galling 4-0 loss to Southampton on Boxing Day, but back-to-back wins over Bournemouth and Newcastle saw them start the New Year two points above Leicester at the top of the table. With Chelsea, City, United and Liverpool struggling, Arsene Wenger's men became title favourites, but their challenge faded rapidly amid mounting injuries and poor form.
A costly four-game winless run began with Joe Allen's last minute equaliser in a 3-3 draw with Liverpool, and the slump continued after that. There were dismal losses to Manchester United and Swansea, and by the time of their insipid 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on April 17, they were 13 points off the top and the title challenge was over.
For all that, however, the season still ended on a high as the Gunners pipped Tottenham to second place. Wenger's men cruised to a 4-0 win over Aston Villa as Spurs were thrashed 5-1 by Newcastle, leaving Arsenal to celebrate St Totteringham's Day.
Quotes of the season
"We lost the championship at home against the lower teams, but we played at home in a very difficult climate." - Arsene Wenger suggests a negative atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium contributed to Arsenal's downfall in April.
"There are great players. I train with them daily and they have got the mentality and the desire to win but we lack hunger, the mentality that we are winning 1-0 when we go out on to the pitch. Sometimes we lack this hunger to believe that we can be champions." - Alexis Sanchez questions the mentality and hunger of Arsenal's squad in March.
"That's completely wrong, and I don't know where this information comes from." - Arsene Wenger denies he has been offered a contract extension in May.
Stats of the season
Arsenal scored an average of just 1.6 goals per game at home this season in the Premier League, their lowest return since 1994-95.
Olivier Giroud went 881 minutes without scoring in the Premier League between January and May.
Mesut Özil has created more chances in a single season (146) than any player in any of Europe's top five leagues since Opta started recording data in 1996.
Arsenal have now secured a top-four finish for 20 consecutive top-flight seasons. Only Man Utd (22) in 2012/13 have managed more.
Arsenal secured their highest Premier League finish since 2004/05.
Charlie Nicholas' view
All in all it's been disappointing and that's been reflected in the greatest ever pressure on Arsene Wenger.
"There was obviously high expectations with Petr Cech coming in to follow Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil but there are still problems at central defence and up front. There haven't been enough 1-0 wins and when they do concede they've fallen to pieces too many times.
"They still need a leader but not just a good speaker, one of real substance that can lead by example. All in all it's been disappointing and that's been reflected in the greatest ever pressure on Arsene Wenger. I'm happy for him to stay but he needs to realise where he's made mistakes and address them now."
