I think it is because we have reached the nadir of our incapability in Europe. We can now go on and win Europe's top prize knowing that fate has left the bad times behind.

You may think I am barking *woof woof* but I think it was Naz and the Plastic Population who put it so eruditely when they bemoaned that "The only way is up".

Oh, plus we need to spend a few shekels on the sort of experienced players that those clubs that are consistently competing for the top honours routinely buy. I'm not saying we should spend £20-30 million on individuals but our squad has typically been decimated with injuries for the last two seasons and our strength in depth just is not there, or if it is, it does not get a showing. Where are the utility players, the ordinary players that we complain about in other squads? The consistent players. The ones who slot into the squad seamlessly and do not become instant liabilities?

We have become like a team of savants at times, capable of moments of sublime brilliance, but prone to forget the basics; the getting back to defend, the attacking of the loose ball in the opposing team's penalty area, chasing the opponents in possession and closing down the space, as well as the the need to be more direct. We also seem to be the most wasteful team at set plays. How many times does the corner ball sail harmlessly over the 18 yard box and out for a throw/goal kick, for example.

The trouble with hot house kids is that they become specialists in generally one area - the brilliant nuclear physicist who cannot change a plug, the virtuoso violinist who fails to see the lack of green man at the pedestrian crossing. By all means drive your kids forward to be geniuses but don't forget the basics in English and Maths.

But why the negativity? We would certainly not be the first team to get so far winning ugly or via penalty shoot outs, as we would also not be the first team to go the distance having so few chances. We would not even be the first Arsenal side to do it that way – Copenhagen '94 was hardly a night of footballing genius on our part. Even the '05 FA Cup was won in a similar way, but history does not show the quality, just the result. Arsenal have been on the end of those sort of results as well, despite our ability on the pitch. The fact is that winning ugly is what football is about for 90% of the time, so why as fans should we not be willing to see our team shrug of its propensity for flair and attractive football in favour of the insipid, ground out, uninspired and dare I say unsightly version of the game? Why should we not be prepared to see our team win ugly more often and why seem so disappointed when we do? Have we become such footballing purists that we cannot accept anything but free flowing total football? For some I suspect that is the case, but actually history is more likely to point to the fact that the result has always mattered more than how it was obtained. Yes, it is a fantastic feeling to know you have won in the best way possible, but moral high ground, while easy to defend and hang on to, is often more easily bypassed as the battle for results moves swiftly passed.

If we do return to Rome in May, don't expect it to be because we are masters of our own brand of breath-taking football, but instead because we are capable of rolling with the punches when we need to and standing up to the test when it counts.

Sadly, such an image is all too unwarranted as I suspect without even a sniff of rumour this morning that Wenger failed to get his man. Unsurprising really given Benitez's inclusion of Xavi in his Champion League qualifier, the injury to Gerrard and the fact that if we could not meet Liverpool's valuation then it didn't have legs anyway.

So what now?  Well Wenger will be villified by so-called fans, who, like previously spoilt children are all too keen to howl their frustrations and discontent at their frugal guardian.  But have we been spoilt?  Is Wenger in command of more than just the untouched transfer pot?  Does his degree in economics give him an insight into the fooball market place that other clubs are blatantly ignoring?  Is he right to go no further than a £14 million bid?

 Whatever the answer, we are now resigned to live with the squad as it is, at least until January...

I don't have a crystal ball, so cannot say, but what do you think?

 What I find particularly disgusting though is the hyperbole from Sky this morning talking about the drama of yesterday's activities and how Sky Sports News was at the centre of it.  Drama?  I'm not sure where these morons were schooled, but if a madman shouts crazily at the top of his head all day on a crowded street, is that drama?  He, of course, is the star of his own show, but only those who choose to stop and stare in disbelief are truly his audience.

We won the league (we won the league), in Manchester (in Manchester), we won the league in Manchester, we won the league at old trafford, we won the league in Manchester.

We won the league (we won the league), at white hart lane (at white hart lane), we won the league at white hart lane, we won the league at the shithole, we won the league at white hart lane.  

We've won the league an awful lot of times when compared to 92 other top flight clubs.  We've also been lucky enough to rub those victories into the faces of our main competition and our rivals for the title in that season, oh, and at white hart lane too.  We have also done it unbeaten.  We also have the second best FA cup winning record of all time.  While we are at it we are among a handful of British clubs that have had at least two European successes.

We are more than capable of achieving these things again.  So what if we didn't do it last season, or even if we do not do it this season?  What we have is tradition, history and time and again the club we support have proven themselves as winners.  We are winners, not whiners.  True gooners should not have to be reminded of these things.

We practically invented the modern game, or have been at the forefront of its development (floodlights,  televised matches, heated changing rooms, post match warm downs, etc, etc).  Off the pitch we conduct ourselves with more class and panache than most of the other clubs plying their trade across Europe.  It is one of the reasons that every transfer we ever conduct is announced as an undisclosed fee.  We have traditionally run away from the pack, broken our own ground and set trends as opposed to following blindly the activities of others.  We are consistent in our history.  We haven't been a 'flash in the pan' for the last decade or so, or a product of the current billionaire owners trend.  Quite  frankly, that is something to be proud about.  I also think that it has more worth than any once in a blue moon trophy (no dig intended, Citeh).

As a club we plough a lone furrow, but as furrows go it is one of the best and the crop is consistently reaped because of it.

I cannot think of a single reason why we should now want to start emulating the short termism that has bitten a host of other clubs.  Why would we want to jeopardise our very history and make an enemy of our future.  Yes it is frustrating at times that we do not seem to be competitive in the transfer market, but I am struggling to think of a season since '95 when we were not competitive on the pitch.

If you dont like it or are not prepared to carry this legacy as an Arsenal supporter/fan/follower/whatever you call yourself, then I suggest you stop, take a few deep breaths, take a few minutes to consider what it is you want out of life and then fuck off to another sport; preferably one that involves a loaded gun, a hair trigger, a dirty barrel, a dodgy cleaning kit  and an overly inquisitive eye.

Will he get 30 goals for Barcelona though?  I fear the worse there.  Tee hee.

Obviously Arsenal will bank the £30 million and use it to pay for lunches for visiting directors.  Afterall we don't really need to spend.

Finally, there is a rumour on he internet that we may be signing some player from some French club today.  His name is Samir Nasri.  What bag did we pull that one out of I wonder?

I wonder who decides whether and how they are 'top-rated sources'.  I also wonder if it is time I got in the shower and ready for work, too.

Anyway the four clubs are Arsenal, Mancs, Scousers and Spuds.  Spuds I ask you!  Although I suppose they are linked with every player out there all the time.  How the hell do they rank their 'top-rated' sources too (no I don't have a scooby either.)

 Usually, it's a pure fantasy world of championship managers, buying, selling, experimenting with formations, on the wind up and ready to kill if the next piece of transfer news is not exactly what they want to hear. I guess it is what makes them tick.