We can now debate the Arsenal European conundrum with sober minds. This is for real football fans. If there was the time for Arsenal to win the European cup (call it champions league) it should have been during the Arsene Wenger peak years 1998 -2006.
The team Wenger built then had the coach, quality, class, character and personality to be European champions. Unfortunately, it was never to be and this is why…
At that same period 1998-2002, the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Juventus, Porto had everything that Arsenal had PLUS the most important thing – pedigree. Lest we forget the French contingent at Arsenal won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 Euros.
When Arsenal finally made it to the final in 2006, they met a much better side in Barcelona in terms of individual quality. It was the first and only time that Arsenal has madenit to the final.
Since 2006 final:
Arsenal lost ambition. They stopped recruiting big after losing the last of their world class stars. Nothing since then shows that Arsenal want to be top in Europe.
From the coaches they recruit to the players, they just want to be another club in Europe. They are similar to Atletico Madrid, Seville, Napoli. They are just happy to be Arsenal de ganazi. No pressure at all to become bigger than their dreams.
Evidence:
Chelsea and Manchester City were once like Arsenal. Then they got owners with big dreams. Roman Abramovich was willing to do whatever it took for as long as it was necessary to build a team that would one day conquer Europe.
They eventually did on 2 occasions. Manchester City did the same…the big money & the big coach. They gave him all the time and all the money; City are European champions after 6 years of attempts under Pep Guardiola.
The huge difference therefore is AMBITION. In football, you show ambition with money and recruitment policy. Chance will never do it in European football.
