So that’s six years without a trophy. Let me think, who does that remind me of? Hmm, let’s see, oh yeah, Arsenal. We have gone six years without a trophy whilst we have invested in youth such as Fabregas, van Persie, Walcott, Song and Wilshere but to name a few. Just like Barcelona did in between 99 and 05. This was the time when Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Pique and Messi were coming

While they are a team  I hate with a passion, I must admit that they are the perfect role models for our trophy- less team. I don’t hate them because they have won a lot in recent seasons or because they play beautiful football, I hate them for their tapping up of Fabregas, their disrespectful comments about our club- a club with a great history to be very proud of, and for their cheating on the pitch (waving imaginary cards, diving and surrounding the referee).

But, they are a similar team to us, one with similar philosophies and we only need to look at them for inspiration and faith in our policy and our quest for trophies. I have looked at the Spanish records and Barcelona went on a run between 1999 and 2005 of not winning anything. Not the Spanish league, not the Spanish cup, not the Champions league, not the Spanish league cup, not the annual Spanish raffle.

So that’s six years without a trophy. Let me think, who does that remind me of? Hmm, let’s see, oh yeah, Arsenal. We have gone six years without a trophy whilst we have invested in youth such as Fabregas, van Persie, Walcott, Song and Wilshere but to name a few. Just like Barcelona did in between 99 and 05. This was the time when Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Pique and Messi were coming through, at different stages just like our lads and their investment in youth has proven successful.

I’m surprised at how similar the two situations are. The likes of Fabregas, Wilshere and Ramsey need only look at that team and think ‘that could be us in a few years, there’s no need to panic about lack of trophies in recent years, look at Barcelona’s records’. There is plenty of reason for faith and we have plenty of talent in our squad to achieve something like Barcelona in the years to come, and our chances will be enhanced if the likes of Fabregas and Nasri stay and show their belief in this team of very talented players. And we couldn’t ask for a better manager to guide us towards similar achievements in Arsene Wenger. We also have the financial stability that Barcelona don’t have, therefore it’s not just a short term plan,it’s a long term one.

Barcelona- 1999-2005   NO TROPHIES
Arsenal- 2005- 2011   NO TROPHIES

Mean Lean’s Response

It is quite funny really, on one hand we are being told that ‘project youth’ has failed and Arsene needs to stop this ‘vanity project’ a term which really riles me. Then on the other hand Barcelona are being lauded for being such a great team yet they have implemented the same type of strategy but a few years earlier.

Not only do Barcelona have the advantage of going down this route earlier than we did but they also have a much larger array of talent to choose from. In fact that can go around picking up the best talent around Spain and bring them to their academy whilst Arsenal are only allowed to pick up kids in a 90 minute radius of the training ground or something like that.

Without knowing the facts exactly, I would imagine that it would have been easier for Barcelona to have kept their developing players through the period 1999-2005 where as it seems like the spotlight is shining down on our squad much harder. Clubs around the world are waiting to pick the likes of Cesc, Nasri and others.

Part of the reason why Barcelona are so bloody good these days is because they have been playing together since they were kids. Real Madrid are dreaming if they think they can buy a team that can have the same understanding and combinations as Barcelona.

Before the doom swarms my way, I understand that we are a long way behind Barcelona. They are somewhat of the finished product even though the likes of Messi, Iniesta and Pedro are 24 and younger (madness really) but we are still aiming to get there.

I do not see any reason why the likes of Wilshere, 19 and Ramsey 20 cannot reach those levels in three years time. It is down to Wenger to get the squad winning trophies whilst keeping our younger talent at the club so they can all peak together.

A very difficult task and one that our manager is being massively criticised for trying to do.