"We will continue to play the way we do but better. The trophies will come. The main target is to keep the team together. They are absolutely amazing." – Arsene Wenger.

The criticism and analysis of Arsenal’s so-called “failed” season has come from all quarters. There is seemingly not a football media outlet anywhere that has not published a list of reasons for the Gunners' failure to pick up a trophy for the third successive season.

There is a nagging suspicion that Wenger and this Arsenal team will in future seasons prove everyone wrong, provided of course the club can hold on to players such as Aleksandr Hleb and Mathieu Flamini, whose futures seem to be questioned every day.

'The future of Arsenal is placed in a large group of gifted youngsters'


The Sun linked Arsenal with a move for PSV’s Brazilian goalkeeper Huerelho Gomes. The £12m- rated keeper is a class act as he proved in Europe in recent seasons against both Arsenal and Spurs. Gomes could bring about an assured, calm authority at the back and really make a difference in a position Arsenal are a lot weaker in than their title rivals.

But short of a few tweaks in certain positions, Arsenal are not in need of a desperate makeover as so many pundits claim.

Undoubtedly the nucleus of a Premier League winning team is all but there. A first-choice back four of William Gallas, Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna is as good as any in the league. Squad strength is crucial in today’s game and whilst Philippe Senderos has made some high-profile mistakes in recent weeks, the Swiss defender should improve, especially with the upcoming Euro 2008 campaign on home soil.

In addition, Alex Song came back into the side against Manchester United on Sunday to show the depth of young talent at Arsenal. Song, nephew of Rigobert, was one of the finest performers at the Africa Cup of Nations where there were some real class players on show.

In midfield Arsenal have an embarrassment of riches, again when everyone is fit. Cesc Fabregas and Flamini make up one of the finest central midfields in the world, Hleb and Tomas Rosicky will always make chances and Theo Walcott has proven on a number of occasions, not just with his run at Anfield, that he can cut it with the very best.

Amazingly, many Arsenal fans have been critical of Emmanuel Adebayor this season despite the fact he has scored 26 goals and at one stage looked a shoe-in for Player of the Year. The Togolese striker can only get better and if Robin van Persie can stay fit then this could be as good a front-line partnership as any in the league.

With Nicklas Bendtner and Eduardo to come in next season, Arsenal FC also have strength in numbers up front. It could be argued that the Gunners' squad is a little thin, especially as Jens Lehmann and Gilberto are ely to leave but Wenger is a genius in the transfer market and there is no reason to suspect he won’t be able to weave his magic yet again.

The criticism of Wenger in recent weeks is nothing short of a joke. The Frenchman has changed the whole ethos of the club and had the vision to see that Arsenal had to move stadium to keep up with the biggest clubs in the land.

His policy of nurturing young players is a sensible one that will bear fruit. This collection of young, gifted players is simply too good not to succeed. Some of the passing and movement displayed this season has been compared to the greatest teams that ever played the game and these players will only get better.

Clichy, Sagna, Adebayor, Toure, Walcott and Fabregas are just a few of the first-team who will only improve in oming seasons and the understanding and experiences picked up this season will only serve them in good stead and it can’t be long until the Emirates is adorned with some silverware.

Many of the commentators criticising Arsenal’s failure to win a trophy were the very same ones who claimed the Gunners wouldn’t even finish in the top four. Arsenal have lit up the season, playing some wonderful football; this young team will make the step up.

Two phrases have characterised Wenger’s reign at Arsenal: "Arsene knows” and “in Arsene we trust." If anything, this season has confirmed these maxims to be true and the future of Arsenal is placed in a large group ifted youngsters.

Just weeks after the 50th anniversary of the Busby Babes tragedy, one would have thought the football world would have a little more patience with Wenger and his kids.