All that talent for one trophy?

Arsenal lit up an otherwise unexceptional season with some magical football which they sustained through 34 games to deservedly win the Prem...

Arsenal lit up an otherwise unexceptional season with some magical football which they sustained through 34 games to deservedly win the Premiership title. It has been a phenomenal performance, involving speed, skill, fluidity, a near-unnatural understanding and a level of confidence that ensures they8217;ve won the match even before it begins.

However, I have problems with Arsenal8217;s claims to greatness. They are deserving winners of the Premiership 8212; they should get prize money for first, second and third places because they did the entertaining for all three. But if I were an Arsenal supporter, I would, when waking from the champagne-induced haze, wonder why the silverware is in single figures.

Truth is, all their talent and almost frightening brilliance have earned Arsenal slight returns. One Premiership trophy is not enough for nine months of sustained brilliance. And Henry 038; Co will feel a bit sick when the teams walk out at Gelsenkirchen on May 26 for the Champions League final. They know they should have been there, just as they should have been at Cardiff four days earlier for the FA Cup final. So why are Arsenal not there? Because they lost the only two matches when teams stood up to them. Because, if you shield your eyes from their dazzling brilliance, you can spot the chinks in their armour. One way of beating them is to frustrate them, deny them the freedom of the park, staunch the surging runs. That8217;s when they lose interest, when the silken touch turns leaden, perfection turns to petulance. That8217;s what Chelsea did in the Champions League.

The other way, as Man United did in the FA Cup, is to play them for 90 minutes. Too often this season they have failed to kill off teams and, unless you8217;re already five goals down, the last 10 minutes can get you something.

The third flaw is the over-dependence on Henry: Take him out of the equation, as happened in the FA Cup semi-final, and Arsenal are half a team. Not just the talent but the sheer passion and pride 8212; and confidence.

Greatness in football is measured in trophies 8212; and a truly great side measured in the ability to win back-to-back League titles. That8217;s something the Liverpool teams of the 1970s and 1980s did with remarkable regularity, and Manchester United since the Premiership began.

Twice before, Arsenal have flattered to deceive everyone that their success was here to stay. Their win in 1998 spurred Man United8217;s Treble the next year and winning the League two further years. Arsenal reclaimed the title in 2002, only for United to storm back last season.

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Football is a cyclical business. United won the Treble because, like some stellar configuration, their key players found form at the same time. They were all at their peak; some, like Beckham and Andy Cole, never repeated that level of performance. The momentum of the Treble carried them to the next two titles but then things began to go wrong for United and right for Arsenal. Similarly, this season8217;s win will give Wenger8217;s team the momentum for next year. Their peak should continue and the confidence of knowing they can destroy teams will get them off to a flying start come August. But you can bet on a stronger United, as the this season8217;s signings find their feet, and a stronger Chelsea, with an even longer star cast. That, and the responsibility of having to complete unfinished business in Europe, will be when Arsenal are truly tested.