Are Arsenal Isolated In the New Age of Football?

Arsenal now stand alone as the only top club not owned by a multi-gazillionaire or "sugar daddy".

Indeed, they are one of the few top clubs in Europe that don't run at a loss every season.

This is not just in reference to the Manchester City takeover, but a global football trend that is manifesting itself in the Premiership.

Big spending owners who think nothing of throwing expansive sums of money to build their "football manager" style super-club.

In comparison to this, the owners of Arsenal F.C. are a more conservative bunch of people, with a definite eye on maintaining stability and financial security for the club.  Add to that, they just don't have the billions to throw around.

Arsenal's record transfer fee is still only £13million, when they signed Sylvain Wiltord from Bordeaux in 2000. Compare this to most other top clubs and they are way behind.

Arsene Wenger's transfer policy does seem to compliment the Arsenal financial structure in that he buys players young, for a comparatively cheap price, and generally sells for a profit when the player is surplus to requirements or decides to leave.

A recent comment by Wenger, referring to Gareth Barry's fee, gave an insight to not only the manager's, but also the club's thinking:

"These older players you pay a lot but can get nothing in return."

Now, he is not talking about return on the pitch, but return in the bank balance.  Older players have far less resale value for the club, younger players value rises along with their career, so financially at least, it keeps Arsenal in a good position.

It is becoming more difficult to compete for the Premiership and the European crown as more and more clubs are taken over by big money. Arsenal still manage it year after year though.

Smaller clubs in the top division are increasingly becoming bit-part players in the greater scheme of things, rather than genuine contenders for the crown.  Talk of the "Big Four" becoming five has drawn criticism from some corners, but isn't a more competitive league good for the game?

Fans of lesser clubs now look for a "sugar-daddy" to come and lift them to glory with big name signings and international superstars.

Is all of this a good thing for football in the long term?

Will football as we know it end up a soulless plaything of the uber-rich?

Or will it come crashing down around the ears of the faithful?

I am not talking about Man City or Chelsea or any other club specifically, but in a general sense for football.

The past few years have seen the rapid growth of "buy to win", "win at all costs", and clubs paying higher and higher fees to get their man.

I have always thought Wenger's strategy of style and stability was a good one. I have never lost faith in the managers ability to be able to compete with the richer clubs on a lower budget than the other top teams do.

But now the question needs to be asked. Is Arsenal and Wenger's policy the way of the future, or is it dooming Arsenal to mediocrity in years to come?

Maybe the money bubble will burst.

Maybe the big money owners will tire of their playthings and move on.

If that happens, Arsenal will be surely left standing proud as the other clubs fall around them, due to years of indifference to balanced books.

Maybe the money bubble won't burst.

Maybe it will make the league ultimately more competitive as more clubs are taken over.

If that happens, Arsenal will need to find their own money man or face being left behind in the new age.

Personally, I can't wait to see what happens. I believe all of the doom and gloom about the new Man City owners and their wads of cash is misplaced. We have heard it all before.

As for Arsenal, I feel we will be fine. We have good heads running the club both at board level and on the pitch.  We also have our own potential Russian "money man" waiting in the wings if the current policy goes pear shaped.

We also have my membership fee every year along with the thousands of others...

So long as football is the ultimate victor in the new age, and doesn't end up regretting the move into mega-bucks, I'll be happy.