Arsènal (39 page)

The infrastructure may be in place, but until the debt becomes less of a burden and more money is spent on the finished articles rather than potential, the club must be wary of being overtaken and falling back into the pack. They are attempting to chase those ahead of them at the same time as looking over their shoulder. So if Wenger needs eyes in the back of his head, he must first admit to seeing what is staring him in the face, and take the appropriate measures. Perhaps he will be prompted by Ivan Gazidis, who observes, “I don't have rose-tinted spectacles on with respect to where our team is, at the same time I do think it's a team that, despite its youth, is growing up. Now that doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't need to be supplemented and that we don't need to look at that but I think it's probably further along than people give it credit for.” And the CEO adds pointedly, “If we don't deliver success Arsène is under the same pressure as anyone in that position.”

And success means trophies: another season without them could see a long and happy marriage end in an amicable divorce. Arsène, though devastated, would probably understand if it came to pass. “I always say that a manager has a love story with the club,” he said in April 2008, “and he has to behave like it will be a love story forever. But not be stupid enough to believe it will never end.”