2005/06 Cup Progress FA Community Shield vs Chelsea (n) - lost 2-1. Champions League Final vs Barcelona (n) - lost 2-1. FA Cup Fourth Round vs Bolton Wanderers (a) - lost 1-0. Carling Cup Semi Final vs Wigan Athletic - lost on away goals with the score 2-2 on aggregate after extra time.
Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Thierry Henry (striker) - 33 goals.
Players In Tomas Rosicky (Borussia Dortmund - ?8,000,000)
Players Out Robert Pires (Villarreal - Free), Sol Campbell (Portsmouth - Free), Mark Howard (Cardiff City - Free), Michael Jordan (Chesterfield - Free), Graham Stack (Reading - Loan), Kerrea Gilbert (Cardiff City - Loan), Fabrice Muamba (Birmingham City - Loan), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham City - Loan), Nicklas Bendtner (Birmingham City - Loan), Dennis Bergkamp (Released).
Arsenal were within a whisker of becoming the second English side in succession to win the Champions League but came unstuck in the final against eventual winners Barcelona. By their own standards, Arsenal slipped up somewhat in the Premiership, finishing the campaign in fourth place, but Europe's biggest prize would have more than made up for it.
Manager Arsene Wenger has allowed a host of fringe and more senior players to leave before a ball is kicked in the brand new Emirates Stadium, but has pulled off a coup by signing Tomas Rosicky from Borussia Dortmund. The Czech Republic international joined the Gunners for an undisclosed fee believed to be ?8 million, after five seasons in Germany. He has racked up 15 goals in 53 international appearances and set a Bundesliga record when he joined Dortmund from Sparta Prague for ?18 million in 2001.
Long serving centre back Sol Campbell joined Portsmouth on a free transfer after his contract expired in North London. Campbell infamously stormed out of Highbury after being substituted at half time in a defeat by West Ham United in February and considered walking away from the game for good. However, he came back strongly and netted in the Champions League final in May. Since arriving on a free transfer from bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur in 2001 Campbell made 197 appearances for the club and won 68 England caps.
Wenger also lost winger Robert Pires to Villarreal but has been unsuccessful in trying to lure Franck Ribery to the club as a replacement. Joe Antionio Reyes has also been linked heavily with a return to Spain with Real Madrid.
Verdict Despite numerous departures Arsenal are still in very good shape and will look to improve on last season's fourth placed finish. Rosicky adds experience to a young midfield and Thierry Henry will again be prolific. A third placed finish is the least they can expect to achieve.
2005/06 Cup Progress FA Cup First Round vs Northampton Town (h) - lost 3-1. Carling Cup Second Round vs Aston Villa (h) - lost 8-3. Football League Trophy Southern Section Quarter Final vs Walsall (a) - lost 3-2.
Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Tommy Mooney (striker) - 19 goals.
Players In Sam Stockley (Colchester United - Free), Chris Palmer (Notts County - Free), Anthony Grant (Chelsea - Loan).
Players Out Roger Johnson (Cardiff City - ?275,000), Joe Burnell (Northampton Town - Free), Clint Easton (Gillingham - Free), Charlie Griffin (Forest Green Rovers - Loan).
Wycombe Wanderers looked certs for promotion last season until a spectacular collapse towards the end of the campaign in which they lost seven of their last 10 matches. Their poor form stretched back even further and since the turn of the New Year, in 21 matches they won just six times.
From automatic promotion contenders, the club just about scraped into the final play off place and lost 2-1 on aggregate to Cheltenham Town in the semi finals. Following manager John Gorman's departure to Northampton Town, Wycombe have appointed former Scottish international Paul Lambert as their new boss.
Lambert, who won 40 international caps for Scotland and played for Celtic and German side Borussia Dortmund where he won the Champions League was the unanimous choice of the board but he has a difficult job on his hands.
Wycombe have been rocked by the departure of several influential players, most notably captain Roger Johnson to Championship outfit Cardiff City. Johnson had spent his entire career at Adams Park and started almost 150 games for the club. His transfer fee of ?275,000 will be paid in instalments while the club rejected an earlier bid of ?100,000 from Swansea City.
Luton Town are the preferred destination for defender Danny Senda following his decision not to sign a new contract at the club. The Hatters had a bid for the right back turned down earlier in the year but now look set to sign him for nothing.
Former manager Gorman has swooped to sign midfielder Joe Burnell for new club Northampton on a free transfer following two years at Wycombe. Burnell started his career at Bristol City where he made over 150 appearances. Midfielder Clint Easton, who made over 50 appearances for Wycombe last season, has joined Gillingham on a free transfer while veteran Robert Lee has also left the club.
Verdict This is likely to be a transitional season for Wycombe and new manager Paul Lambert will face an uphill task to replace the players who have left the club. The club has the potential to reach the play offs again although the supporters may need to be patient and accept a mid table season this time around.
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