Arsenal's recent Premier League status as a top-four club has continued in 2011-12, with some form worthy of a title challenger but other results failing to make the grade.
Arsene Wenger has once again got the league's hottest striker with Robin Van Persie reaching 30 league goals for the club for the first time since Thierry Henry's departure.
Sports Mole reviews another decent season for the Gunners where they again fell short of a shot at the crown they've sorely missed since their last triumph in 2004.
August
There will be few that argue against August being one of the bleakest months that Arsenal have endured in recent memory.
On the player front, the Gunners waved goodbye to creative midfield duo Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, while the defensive signings of Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos hardly whetted the appetite.
Things on the pitch did little to lift the atmosphere, with a goalless draw at Newcastle United followed by defeats to Liverpool and Manchester United, the latter being an 8-2 demolition at Old Trafford. 'Wenger out' was the cry from some Arsenal fans.
On the plus side, the club qualified for the Champions League group stage with a win over Udinese, in what was a tough qualifying draw.
September
Some of the gloom was lifted in September courtesy of victories over Swansea City and Bolton Wanderers, although Steve Kean's lowly Blackburn came out on top in a seven-goal game at Ewood Park.
Away from domestic duties, Wenger's men progressed in the Carling Cup, while four points were collected from their opening two Champions League matches against German champions Borussia Dortmund and Greek outfit Olympiakos.
October
October started with a loss at North London rivals Spurs courtesy of a 25-yard strike from full-back Kyle Walker.
However, that defeat was followed by home wins over Sunderland and Stoke City.
A last-minute winner from Aaron Ramsey in Marseille went a long way to securing their qualification to the knockout stage of the Champions League, while Bolton were disposed of in the Carling Cup.
October ended with a rousing victory at fellow capital club Chelsea. A late hat-trick from Robin van Persie helped the Gunners record a 5-3 win over their London rivals in one of the games of the season.
November
By the time November came around, everybody was beginning to stand up and take notice of Van Persie's goalscoring exploits. The Dutchman netted four times in two games as Arsenal beat Norwich and Dortmund in the space of five days.
A disappointing draw at home to Fulham followed before hopes of silverware in the Carling Cup were dashed with defeat to Manchester City. The penultimate month of the year would have ended sourly but for Champions League qualification.
December
December started with a bang as Arsenal hit four without reply away at Wigan Athletic. Later in the month Everton visited the Emirates Stadium and would have left with a share of the spoils but for a special Van Persie volley.
That set up their trip to leaders Man City nicely, trailing the Blues by nine points - losing wasn't an option. However, that is exactly what they did. David Silva struck the winner and despite creating numerous chances, Arsenal were unable to claim a point.
The Gunners then took seven points from a possible nine to end the busiest month of the year, but a narrow home victory over QPR followed a draw with struggling Wolves at the Emirates that would have displeased many a Red North Londoner.
January
The New Year couldn't have started in worse fashion, league-wise, with three straight losses against Fulham, Swansea and United.
Sandwiched between these defeats was a late FA Cup win against Leeds, courtesy of loanee Thierry Henry's trademark accurate finish. The Gunners progressed to the fifth round of the famous competition thanks to another Van Persie brace against Villa.
February
Arsenal hit seven past Blackburn early on in February with Van Persie again netting three times.
Wenger's men also faced a pair of trips to Wearside, taking one victory in the league over Sunderland before crashing out of the FA Cup at the Stadium of Light.
Continentally, the Gunners' hopes of continuing in the Champions League looked all but over after a 4-0 battering in Milan.
February ended strongly thanks to an exhilarating second-half display against Spurs which saw the red half of North London come out on top 5-2.
March
March didn't begin well with defeat at Liverpool before exit from Europe's elite competition.
Many thought Wenger's men had no chance of overhauling the four goals conceded in Milan but they attacked hard at the Emirates and were three-up at half-time. However, they couldn't find the net in the second half with Van Persie spurning a wonderful opportunity to level the tie.
Back home, Arsenal recorded three straight maximums with wins over Newcastle, Everton and Villa before ending the month with a limp defeat at struggling QPR.
April
Mikel Arteta struck a long-range late winner against title-hopefuls Manchester City to begin the penultimate month of the season before the Gunners piled more misery on Wolves with victory in the Black Country.
Wigan then left the Emirates with all three points after two early goals before Wenger's men recorded draws against Chelsea and Stoke.
May
Arsenal's place in next season's Champions League was far from guaranteed going in to May. The chasing pack of Tottenham and Newcastle knew that a win for Chelsea in the final of this year's European competition would mean only the top three would qualify.
Norwich left the Emirates with a point after a six-goal draw, which meant third spot was in the Gunners' hands heading into the final day. A nerve 3-2 victory at West Brom kept Spurs and Newcastle at bay to secure Wenger's men a spot amongst Europe's elite next season.
Pascal Lemesre
