There are still some British football clubs that adhere strictly to recruiting and training their own players. Phrases such as "another player to come out of the famed Crewe production line" or "yet another example of wonderful recruiting and shrewd purchasing on the part of West Ham's academy."

For the most part, these phrases died out a few decades back. Following Premiership football over the last 14 and a half years has slowly ushered in the rise of the colossal transfer. Clubs like Manchester United peaked at the perfect time in the early ’90s, and were among the first to transfer players in multi-million pound deals that more closely resembled bank mergers than player swaps.

The trend continued through to the new millennium, and two of the more ludicrous examples were the most widely talked about and highly-publicised clubs, probably in football history -- Real Madrid and Chelsea.

The Galacticos at Real Madrid and the Abramovich revolution that continues at Chelsea are two examples of love/hate relationships with immense transfers that have swallowed both clubs. Chelsea are probably one of the most hated clubs in Europe, solely because of their vacuum-like presence in the transfer market. Arsene Wenger cynically observed last year, upon Chelsea's purchase of Shaun Wright-Phillips for £22million, that there has become a ‘‘second market’’ of sorts. The Arsenal manager went on to say that, with Chelsea's bankrolled millions, there was a second player-market opening up for them and any other club that had no bottom to the vault.

So, there is only one other option if a club cannot constantly transfer in players that it desires -- recruit, train and play their own.

It's more difficult than it sounds. At present, the larger European clubs tend to have far-reaching-if-not-global contacts, scouts, recruiters. It is still uncommon to hear of a new and exciting footballing talent who has not already been observed or spoken to by Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea. However, behind the scenes and in your own backyard there are 15-year-olds training with their local football academies hoping to get where Steven Gerrard hangs his boots, or where Thierry Henry stores his trophies.

On Tuesday evening, a contingent of Arsenal's youth movement travelled north to play against the 'mighty' Reds at Anfield. With an average age about the same as your younger brother, Arsenal's XI were likely nervous and fearful of a backlash from the 3-1 thrashing they had already sustained as part of a FA/Carling Cup mini-tournament for the two British giants. In true British fashion, the drama was palpable and the goals poured in, the final score reading, quite remarkably, Liverpool 3 Arsenal 6. Sad for Anfield fans, positive for Gunners supporters, and unbelievable for an academy that continues to produce class.

The most incredible part about Arsenal's victory with a largely untested XI (Kolo Toure, Cesc Fabregas and Manuel Almunia aside) is that most of Arsenal's best, young and exciting young talent wasn't there. Arturo Lupoli, Nicklas Bendtner, Sebastien Larssen, Fabrice Muamba, Kerrea Gilbert and Anthony Stokes were all on loan at different clubs, or being transferred out for a fee that reflected how valuable their time at Arsenal's academy really was.

Ultimately, nearly every other club in Europe could take a page from Arsenal's book. That is, if they are willing to make the investment. Wenger's ability to eye and swoop for young talent around Europe is unparalleled, but has not yielded any trophies as of yet. Based on the last year's results, you'd best bet that they will come good soon.