Manchester United, Barcelona Have the Fix for Arsenal in 2011

Having endured these past weeks of speculation with mounting frustrations at the intricacies and pitfalls of the transfer season, I was led to wonder how clubs such as Manchester United and Barcelona consistently manage to sign big names.

Obviously, exorbitant wages and prospects of immediate success are the main attractions at these clubs. But then there are the extended bench time, the less chance to show the wares on the world stage, the dying of their "brand."

There are a myriad of these examples—Alexander Hleb is one that comes to mind. Sold to Barcelona in the summer of '07, he surely would have left Arsenal with the knowledge he was not going to be able to command a starting place at Barca.

The same applies for Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung, who has remained faithful to United for years despite not getting regular football play. He has shown extraordinary loyalty and is perhaps the greatest marketing tool United possess in extending their already massive brand into Asia.

The crux of the matter is that these players show such extraordinary commitment because they are fans.

Fans.

Childhood support of a club is an incredibly powerful tool. It can result in an influx of players. You need look no further than Aaron Ramsey. Ramsey had intended to sign for United purely because he supported them as a child (this fell through after United announced the transfer on their website before it had been made). 

The same applies at Barcelona and Real Madrid. The depth of their squads is not only due to players willing to sacrifice game time for success, but it is because these are childhood supporters—boys who have been breathed this club since they have been able to play. 

Of course there are other factors that come into play, but by extending a club as a brand, and widening the supporter base, an important cog in the wheel is filled. This brings both financial and sporting success.

To think that Gael Clichy was the last player left from the 2005 FA Cup win is startling. That is one player out of 11 to be left. There are only six players out of 33 left from the entire squad. Astounding. If Mathieu Flamini had supported Arsenal as a junior, do you think he would have walked out of the club with such impudence?

I understand these are isolated examples, but in the wider scheme this is vital to a club's success.

At Barcelona, by breeding talent through their youth system, they guarantee loyalty. At United and Real and Inter, by having widespread global fan bases they guarantee at least a chance of loyalty. Arsenal is fast-losing even that respect. Respect as a top four club is important.

Need I point to Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas as key examples of divided loyalties—perhaps not so greatly in Nasri's case, but certainly in Cesc's. If Inter Milan, after their success in 2010, made a bid for Fabregas, would he even have considered it? I would think it improbable.

Childhood loyalty breeds success. Chelsea have always under performed because they only have a smattering of players who play for pride and for the club. The same goes for City—just look at Emmanuel Adebayor. Arsenal need a global base; the brand must expand, and success is not always found by looking for players. 

Jack Wilshere and Tony Adams are key examples of this. Being brought up supporting a club brings that club loyalty and commitment that money cannot possibly buy, or at least not for a reasonable price.

I live in Asia—well, technically the Southern hemisphere, but this example will still stand. Arsenal's supporter base in Asia and Australia is weak. Their Malaysia tour this year is a decade too late. The same applies for the Americas and the rest of Europe. For every one talented footballer that has supported Arsenal, there are a plethora who have supported Manchester United.