The mystery of Arsenal

Enough has been written, said and researched about Arsenal F.C. But, since i love that club, i am still amused by it all the time. They recently defeated table toppers and probable winners of this season's league, Man Utd last week. But, as it has happened so many times in the past, it was a little too late again.

Arsene Wenger is equally bemusing to me as is Arsenal. Football fans, this includes Arsenal fans as well, have been asking for AW's head after his failure to win a major trophy for 6th consecutive year. But that just sounds ludicrous to me. And i am not just saying this because of what he achieved during his best years at the club, but because of the kind of football Arsenal plays under him. To see to it, what he has achieved with almost zero funds available, i dont think anyone else would have been able to.

Its too difficult to imagine Arsenal without AW. Since the debt laden days, because of Emirates stadium loan, funds were limited to AW. Arsenal were 11th in the table in terms of amounts spent in the first decade of 21st century. Now, even with that kind of spending, and with the kind of youth AW propelled, Arsenal still were one of the most threatening teams in EPL and Europe. This will always remain a feather in the cap for AW.

There have also been claims that AW's project youth (the policy to buy and develop youngsters) has been a failure. These sound totally inexplicable to me again. How can it be a failure, when Arsenal have developed so many world class youngsters in the recent years. Buying players at the young age of 15-18 and to watch them play at the world cup finals, is that a failure? Come on folks, get real. The likes of Fabregas, Nasri, Clichy, RvP, Walcott, Wilshere, Diaby, Djouru, Bendtner, Ramsey, Song, etc are all among the best young footballers. Almost each one has played more than 300 matches and apart from RvP, all others are below 25.

Not just this, but the kind of football Arsenal plays under AW is simply mesmerizing at times. Even though they have to suffer goals at times because of that, it still justifies the beautiful tag for football. No other team in England plays this kind of passing, attacking football that Arsenal displays time and again. And yes, at times even they over do the passing, much to the agony of fans.

I believe that to AW deserves a chance to carry forward the legacy created by him. He should be convinced to buy a few experienced players who can lead the team out of crisis when needed. A good center back, a good denfensive midfield player and a world class goalie will do the job for Arsenal.

In Arsene, i still trust!!