Crunch Time for Re-Emerging Arsenal

Only last week did Arsene Wenger reject another big money approach from Real Madrid—£40m to be exact, underlining his sustained commitment to the North London club.

However, the Emirates pressure-cooker has been ticking away for four years now and, having been trophyless since 2005, Wenger knows he must convert the undeniable potential of his young squad into hard success. Sooner rather than later.

In Andrei Arshavin, Wenger may have only recently found someone capable of filling the iconic shoes of Thierry Henry, which was one of Arsenal's biggest problems.

A turbulent season, plagued by injuries to several key players and the perplexing dressing room unrest, sparked by the outlandish and damaging remarks of then captain William Gallas, added to the Emirates headache.

But there have been pluses; Walcott's coming of age, the fine form of their English goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, and the masterful signing of Arshavin, whose best is almost certainly yet to come. Each of these bonuses have shown glimmers of an emerging new Arsenal era.

Arsenal's probable fourth place finish in the Premier League will achieve Champions League qualification again for next season, the minimum requirement, but their progress in this year's competition could provide an unexpected fillip for the club.

Whereas Barcelona, Chelsea, and Manchester United crave a place in the final in Rome, this is a boost which Wenger feels Arsenal desperately need.

With every summer that passes by, the offers from La Liga for Cesc Fabregas become ever more tempting, for player and club alike, and the likes of Van Persie, Adebayor, and Walcott are coveted by Europe's football giants. Arsenal's continuing failure on both domestic and European fronts may eventually leave Wenger with no choice but to cash in.

This gives tonight's second leg at The Emirates the expectant air of a must win for the London club. Wenger is rallying his troops and last night promised that his side will produce a "magnificent" team display to overcome Manchester United.

Many key players were rested in Saturday's 3-0 win over Portsmouth, and with Wenger afforded the rare luxury of being able to field the likes of Van Persie, Fabregas, and Walcott in the same starting XI, Arsenal's return to form in recent months could culminate in a memorable night in London.

On the back of Wenger's longest run without silverware, he is, despite what he says to the press, discreetly banking on the only trophy he has never won with Arsenal to protect his own status as one of Europe's finest managers, but, more pertinently, to ensure the Arsenal futures of his nearest and dearest.