A Humbling Week For Wenger

Poor Arsene Wenger. In the space of a week, the wily, old voyeur (just kidding) has seen his football philosophy completely crushed. While the likes of Chelsea and more recently Manchester City have thrown millions into the transfer market in an attempt to ‘buy’ silverware and fast-forward their club’s progress, Arsene Wenger has continually professed a more frugal approach – spending within one’s own budget and not relying on billionaire bankrollers. But five years after Arsenal won its last trophy, and with a place in the top four proving more sacred as each season passes, has Wenger’s philosophy run it’s course?

In Sunday’s Premiership London derby, a match that Wenger claimed would be the moment when Arsenal would be confirmed as genuine title challengers, a powerful and dynamic Chelsea outfit steamrolled over Arsene’s band of midget-gems by the score of three-nil. Dusting themselves off for another bite of the apple, a youthful Gunners side traveled up the M25 on Wednesday to play Man City in the Carling Cup quarter-finals. Known for selecting reserve team players and young prospects for Carling Cup matches, Arsene’s kids were duly thrashed by a bunch of money-hungry mercenaries – the very professionals on which Arsene refuses to splash out.

Maybe trophies aren’t the number one priority at the Emirates these days. With stadium debts still being paid off and a host of highly-talented prospects gradually coming through the ranks, perhaps a top four finish and good cup runs are the more realistic goals. But one factor that might demand a heightening of those expectations is the recent success of their bitter London neighbors, Tottenham. Under the first 13 years of Arsene Wenger, Arsenal have clearly enjoyed the bragging rights, while Spurs have endured their most barren period, winning only two League Cups and never finishing above their neighbors. But with Tottenham flying high this season – and currently sitting above them on the table – Arsenal’s era of superiority could be coming to an end… and that ultimately could be Wenger’s undoing.

Is it Wenger's turn to take a seat?