Arsene Wenger has become a victim of his own success, in many ways. The 8-2 humiliation at Old Trafford quite possibly was the beginning of the end for a man who has contributed so much, not only to Arsenal, but the entire game of football.
It really is hard to contemplate where the football club would be right now if it was not for his presence, but unfortunately, it seems that the empire he built is beginning to turn on him.
Let's get this straight, Wenger still is a fabulous coach – his philosophy of getting the ball down and playing attractive football has been a welcome addition to the English game. It has rubbed off on so many clubs, all the way down the football pyramid.
But it is not his tactical approach that has come under scrutiny – unfortunately it is his principles. Wenger still seems to have an idealistic, almost romantic view of the game. It is a view that, sadly, died out a long, long time ago. The idea of taking a gifted youngster, putting him into the first team, and moulding him into a world superstar seems to be something that is going by the wayside more and more.
Many of the top players in the Premier League no longer can say they started their careers with a top club and worked their way up – instead they have been imported in, later in their careers for extortionate sums of money.
Ryan Giggs might be one of the few, but his career began a long time ago – things have changed an incredible amount since then, and though it may still be possible to bring two or three promising youngsters through at any one time, a whole team is impossible.
The approach that Wenger takes to the game would not have been at all out of place thirty or forty years ago. As an Ipswich supporter myself, I am regaled with stories of the golden days when Kevin Beattie, John Wark and George Burley were at the top of their game. They all came up through the ranks at Ipswich, and went on to win some of the top honours in the game with the club.
Sadly, however, the days of winning silverware have long since slipped away from Ipswich, and are now a distant, distant memory. Indeed, so distant that fans such as myself cannot even say we were alive to witness them.
That is what, I am afraid to say, is happening to Arsenal. The difference is, Ipswich were naïve, and did not stop the rot, but the Gunners still have the chance to.
Football is losing its former identity, and has now become an almost entirely different game altogether. With the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City investing heavily with the backing of their wealthy owners, club's have to spend big to compete.
Manchester United are doing the same, and that is why they are still considered the top side in England today.
The great situation for Arsenal, is that they do have money there to spend. Wenger has admitted before that if he wanted to, he could splash out up to £40m on a player. I can understand why he does not want to – it is sickening that it should be the case.
Fan's are not interested in seeing their club saving millions of pounds – they want to see their club winning games. Winning trophies. Having large sums just sitting in the bank earning interest is not the way for it to happen.
Maybe Wenger has this impression that one day, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool will somehow implode, and his side will be left, unchallenged, to walk to straight to the Premier League title.
That may well happen – if Roman Abramovich walks away from Chelsea, they will have a serious problem. But who is to say that will happen any time soon, right?
The sooner Wenger changes his transfer policy, the more likely it is that Arsenal Football Club can return to their former glory. I have criticised them in the past, but as a football fan, you cannot help but feel a sense of sadness as to what is happening there.
If Wenger does not change his approach, one of two things will surely happen. The first is that he could lose his job. It would be an utter tragedy that the very man who has built that club from the ground to where it is now, would be pushed out of the door simply because his ethics, his principles and his morals are no longer suited to the game.
The alternative, of course, is that he keeps his job, and the club continues their demise. Robin Van Persie will leave, potential signings will be tempted to go elsewhere and even the youngsters will grow fidgety.
That cannot be allowed to happen – it does not have to happen – and Wenger needs to realise that. No one wants to push him out, but the sense of frustration in North London is growing stronger by the day.
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