Arsenal 2012-13 Season: Picking the Gunners' Best 6 Goals

Even in a mixed season, Arsenal fans were able to celebrate some spectacular goals.

Goals live long in the memory. Sometimes they demonstrate outstanding technical excellence; sometimes their longevity comes from their importance.

Over the next six slides, we run down the best goals of Arsenal's season, taking into account the beauty and significance of each individual strike.

6. Jack Wilshere vs. Swansea

This goal had huge symbolic value.

Within the context of the FA Cup tie with Swansea, it was an important strike, winning Arsenal the game and ensuring they would progress to the fourth round.

However, it will be remembered as the goal that announced once and for all that Jack Wilshere was back.

Arsene Wenger deployed Wilshere in a new role as an attacking midfielder in this game, and it paid dividends. The young Englishman latched on to Olivier Giroud's lay-off to thrash home an impeccable left-footed effort.

Wilshere celebrated with all the joy and relief of a player reborn. 

5. Santi Cazorla vs. West Ham

It would be wrong to have a list of Arsenal's best goals in 2012-13 without including an effort from Santi Cazorla. Almost every goal he scores seems to be laced with aesthetic excellence.

This effort against West Ham is arguably the pick of the bunch

Picking the ball up 30 yards from goal, he launched an unstoppable rocket of a shot into the top corner.

The most remarkable aspect of this goal is that it was scored with Cazorla's supposedly weaker left foot. Cazorla is one of the few truly ambidextrous footballers: He is equally dangerous on either foot. 

4. Lukas Podolski vs. West Ham

Lukas Podolski is a no-nonsense forward.

When placed in front of goal, he rarely opts for a tentative side-foot. Instead, he unleashes full-blooded efforts that are more characterised by power than precision. Podolski generally figures that if he hits it hard enough, the goalie will struggle to keep it out.

This is one such goal. Arsenal were actually trailing against West Ham and needed something to drag them back into the game.

Podolski produced a missile of a shot which honed beautifully into the bottom corner.

3. Per Mertesacker vs. Tottenham

Like much of Per Mertesacker's play, this goal wasn't the prettiest.

It was, however, one of the most important strikes in Arsenal's campaign. It drew Arsenal level against Tottenham in a game they would ultimately win. Winning the derby is always important, and never more so than in 2012/13, as those three points would prove vital come the end of the season.

This defiant header was reminiscent of Bacary Sagna's in the same fixture last season: It was the catalyst for a comeback both in this match and across the season as a whole.

This was Mertesacker's first goal for the club, and it could not have been more timely.

2. Theo Walcott vs. Newcastle

Watch this goal again. No. 14 glides effortlessly between a sea of defenders, showing a remarkable combination of balance, speed and skill before clipping impudently over the advancing goalkeeper.

It was just like watching Thierry Henry.

Theo Walcott had an outstanding season, notching 22 goals in just 31 starts. This mazy dribble and ingenius finish was probably the highlight.

Walcott has a long way to go before hitting Henry's heights, but this goal indicated he might be able to produce similarly electrifying moments. 

1. Lukas Podolski vs. Montpellier

Sometimes the creation and execution of a goal approaches perfection.

Olivier Giroud was also the creator of Jack Wilshere's goal in this list. On that occasion, he produced a delicate lay-off. This time, it was an expertly weighted looping pass into the path of Lukas Podolski.

Podolski then did what he does best: He met the ball first time and absolutely smashed it into the roof of the goal. As the net bulged, Arsenal fans gawped in wonder: This was a volley to rival anything Robin van Perse had produced.

It's a fitting Goal of the Season for Arsenal fans.

Which goal would you have picked? Let us know below.