Modern Times

It was somewhat depressing to hear Paul Scholes add his opinion to the current Arsenal For Sale debate. Scholes, a player that many would have English football build a revolution on his particular brand of playing had the following words of wisdom: "They do play the best football to watch at times, but what is the point of that, if you are not winning anything? Not only that, they are potentially going to lose their best players, in Fabregas, Nasri and Clichy." 

A former player who would have graced the Nou Camp and certainly graced Old Trafford came across a little too Don Revie or worse still Rafa Benitez. 

There is no doubt that Arsene Wenger is at something of a cross-roads with some star players looking to leave the club. Yet, throughout all the talk of investment, it is not the blockbusting signings that have kept Wenger and The Gunners at the top for 15 years.

This is not the dismantling of a successful side,  it is an opportunity to  change the face of a team that has won nothing for six years and has proved alarmingly inadequate when presented with the greatest challenges.

If Arsenal were not in crisis when their star players of a trophy hogging era wanted away (Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka) then there is certainly no crisis now. 

It is fair to say that what Wenger did then, bringing in the mecurial Thierry Henry and Robert Pires, is harder to replicate now. Indeed, it is his very model that has been copied and the chances of picking up the second-tier of up-coming stars at reasonable prices is harder to do.  Yet, there is a very strong argument to suggest that what Wenger has achieved since then is nothing short of a miracle in modern footballing times. 

Arsenal have always been a big club with a rich history. It would be fair to say that they had never stepped out of the London glare and stamped their own style on world football - until now. Arsenal pre-Premier League were thought of as a old-fashioned club with principles. A fairness and pragmatic approach to footballing life that would make their loyalists proud. 

Wenger has embraced the club and its philosophy and taken it into the new century. To have left it the way it was would left them as Everton. 

Talk to any football fan in the world in 2011 about Arsenal and you will hear over and over again - they pass the ball well, they embrace their skills - but most importantly in this pop-world - Arsenal has a cutting edge brand. 

Simply, not everybody can win all the time. Look the popularity of Benitez at Liverpool when results dried up - it wasn't that Liverpool fans demanded success - they didn't even want to go to the game! Wenger had identified a gap in the English game. To be the champions of footballing. A modern day School of Science to take the Everton link one step further. 

  

The £11m Ivory Coast forward Gervinho from Lille, the talented Andrey Arshavin and the rapid rise of  Jack Wilshere fit neatly into the Arsenal brand. Most importantly they are players that you would be pleased to watch. 

For every Cesc Fabregas there is an Aaron Ramsey waiting in the wings. Kieron Gibbs is quite simply a better player than Gael Clichy (so to  Aleksandar Kolarov - but that is a different debate). 

While the majority of football hierarchy bury their heads in the sand, Wenger is a rational voice who will be watching the high spending of his rivals in accordance with new FIFA rules. He knows that the years of 'boom' will inevitably be followed by those of 'bust'.

Although supporters may feel restless with regards to a six year trophy drought, it should be noted that in terms of league placings and Champions League qualification his record is matched only by Ferguson. More importantly than that, it is Wenger whose legacy can been seen all around Arsenal's modern stadia. It is his brand of football that Arsenal fans can be proud of. 

When England's top clubs were knocked out of the Champions League this year by the FC Barca procession - there was one club in Europe who could say they took Barcelona on in the right spirit. One night in London this year Arsenal took on the best side in living memory, went toe-to-toe and beat them. It is nights like that one that make it all worthwhile. Football is about drama and beauty - moments to be treasured. For the record - Wimbledon have an FA Cup, Leeds have League titles, Marseille have a European Cup - Mr Paul Scholes ... what's the point of that?