Why Arsenal is the best in the League

 

21st May, 2005 – the day may not mean much to most people around the world, but for a certain section of football fans, it is like a second Christmas every year. This was the day when Arsenal won their last trophy – by beating Manchester United 5-4 on penalties in the F.A. Cup.

Since that fateful day, not much – actually nothing – has come in terms of silverware to the Emirates. But are trophies the only parameter of success? Hardly so. Portsmouth won the same competition in 2008, and can boast of a trophy. But will you call them successful? Birmingham City won the League Cup this February – by beating Arsenal in the final. But did this trophy made their season successful, in which they saw themselves drop to the second division?

Arsenal has faced continuous criticism for their lack of trophies in these six years – sometimes even from their own fans, but still by many accounts, they can boast of calling themselves the best club in the world. Let us see how.

Firstly, I would like to point out to their financial self-sustainability. The club is the third richest club in the world according to the Forbes magazine (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes’_list_of_the_most_valuable_football_clubs). This is despite the fact that they have a new and expensive stadium and a world class training facility. The club only spends the money which it earns and that has led to this strong financial situation where they have just an iota of credit compared to any of the other clubs near them in the Forbes rankings, which leaves them better prepared for any financial instability they may face.

Secondly, Arsenal, under Arsene Wenger have been pioneers in the system of youth development in football. The astute manager understands the importance of youth development, and thus the Arsenal academy has been producing Premier League ready players at an astonishing rate which compares to that of the La Masia academy of Barcelona or the famed Ajax youth system. The result is that several players have made it to the first team while still in their teens – most notably Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, who have become a permanent fixture in the Arsenal squad. These are the players who are going to become the Zidanes and Beckhams of tomorrow and Wenger understands that well.

Thirdly, Arsenal have managed to hold on to their top four place despite their expenses for the new stadium and the departure of many stars following that. Any other club would have given up hope on a top four finish after such a mass exodus of players – as was evident in the case of Liverpool, when just the departure of Xabi Alonso was required to snatch them of their top four status.

But Wenger has delivered on this front again and again – with very limited resources – over the years and looks set to do the same this time too if they manage to keep up their current form in the league. This is something for which they deserve much praise and admiration.

Fourthly, it is a very noticeable point that how many times have Arsenal missed the trophy by a whisker, and on most occasions due to bad luck. Be it the 2007 Carling Cup final loss to Chelsea, the loss of the top position in the Premier League after Eduardo’s horrible injury or the unlucky mix-up between Koscielny and Szczesny which cost them the 2011 League Cup, you have to feel sorry for this Arsenal side for being heavily unlucky.

Lastly, the thing I would like to point out to is much more recent. The departure of the team’s fulcrum – Cesc Fabregas along with the unhappy sale of Samir Nasri to Manchester City led many to believe that this side without two of its most talented players would be battling for a mid-table position at the most. I think it is safe to say that it has been proven thoroughly wrong. The players who remained in the background when Nasri and Fabregas played, duly stepped up to the responsibility when the time came.

And as it is said, cometh the hour, cometh the champion, Robin Van Persie has shown that he is right now, the most in-form striker in the world with his remarkable feat of 32 goals in a calendar year, with a month still to go. Combined with this were solid performances from the under rated youngsters – most notably Emmanuel Frimpong – that led to the team’s resurgence from early season jolts.

Arsenal has a rich and unparalleled history to cherish and the future looks very bright indeed. If Wenger can instill in the minds of his young team members the winning mentality that characterized the Invincible’s, then it is safe to say that a high point is very near.

Keeping all these things in mind and that the faith of the Arsenal fans is intact, no one can bet against them winning a trophy this season. And this will certainly cement their claim to be the best club in the world.