Arsenal: When Will They Turn Potential to Success?

It's official. Arsenal are a team in transition, yet again. It's amazing how expectations quickly change. In 2004, Arsenal were the Invincibles, a great team which seemed it might contend for the Premier League title perennially. 

Now, beating out Aston Villa for fourth place seems like a great triumph, while erstwhile rivals Manchester United go from strength to strength, gunning for their third straight title, two League defeats in a row not withstanding.

What I really take issue with is Arsene Wenger's lack of transparency with the fans. It's fine to say that he's sticking with the youth philosophy, but at least admit that one over-riding reason behind this shift (which coincided with the new stadium being built) is the significant debt pressure Arsenal now find themselves under as a result of the £200 million+ loan they need to service.

Consider this as well: The wage bill has doubled since 2004, despite having 54 players now, compared to 61 players then.

Wenger's teams are now too unbalanced- too young and the best players he buys are all attack-minded. It is no surprise that the team is better when it has 27 year old Arshavin on the field, along with players like Eduardo (25) as opposed to a bunch of 20 to 22 year-olds.

Plus, when was the last time Wenger bought a great defensive player? Gallas was brought in as makeshift cover when Cashley Cole was sold to Chelsea, Silvestre only when Manchester United deemed him surplus to requirements, and Amaury Bischoff has been a regular in the physician's room since he joined the team.

Why does Arsenal seem to buy only defensive castoffs and misfits from other teams? To not replace Flamini and Diarra from last season was no way to prepare for this year.

For too long now Wenger's way has been the only way at Arsenal. When Dein left the club, Arsenal lost the only voice Wenger would listen to. No manager is bigger than the club, and Wenger is not bigger than Arsenal.

There needs to be different points of view to bounce around the club boardroom, hopefully the new CEO Ivan Gazidis can bring some much-needed counter-balance. Although, quite frankly, things don't look great- he just promised Wenger a job for life.

Just the performance incentive Arsenal needs for a manager becoming complacent in his ways!

The last couple of games have seen a marked improvement, but that has been the nature of this frustratingly inconsistent team—able to go on unbeaten runs but not able to mount a sustained challenge through 38 League games due to the nature of youth and a lack of depth in the squad.

Still hope springs eternal- perhaps Arsenal can somehow win the FA Cup or even the Champions' League this year. For the last four years Arsenal's fans have had Wenger preach patience to them.

It is time to start turning potential into actual success, starting with the final phase of this season. If this team fails to that, at some point we need to start calling Wenger's experiment a failure. Great managers reinvent themselves and are able to admit when they have been wrong.

It remains to be seen whether Wenger will be able to change if necessary.