The path to glory might not be glorious, just look at United and Real

By Darshan Joshi, writing from Kuala Lumpur

There is a case to be made that the Barcelona model works only in Spain. If England’s top flight is as competitive as a sperm race, with the notable exception of Real Madrid, La Liga is the quintessential opposite. Of course, this particular story has been told as many times as the Barcelona players themselves have reeled off in celebration after yet another goal – the shameless imbalance in quality of Spain’s top flight, the stratospheric difference in the revenues of Madrid and Catalonia’s top clubs and the other 18 sides that make up the numbers in the league. The past two Clásicos have shown that the path to glory even if you find yourself in engaged in warfare of medieval proportions against Barcelona is an embodiment of efficiency – getting stuck in, kicking lumps out of aesthetically superior opposition, and still being disciplined enough defensively and offensively will win football matches and thus, trophies. Even if those trophies nearly end up as road kill. Having said that, this theory still hangs in the balance. Two Clásicos remain and the next seven days will set the record straight.

There is no twist in this tale when being transposed to a British setting. If Arsenal are like Barcelona, Manchester United are like Real Madrid. The correlations between the former two are no less promulgated than the impending union of the houses of Mountbatten-Windsor and Middleton. The latter, much less so, but the ideas of efficiency laced with the occasional tinges of gorgeousness being a common theme between the two are solid and unquestionable.

Arsenal’s recent form has been worrying. Draws were had against Liverpool and local rivals Tottenham when victories were in clear sight, before last weekend’s calamitous tumble at The Reebok. That 1-2 reverse was reminiscent of the days when Bolton Wanderers represented Arsenal’s inability to match up against the physical prowess of Bolton’s men. Meanwhile, the table-topping Manchester giants, who are Britannia’s sole remaining European representatives, roll on like lovers in the deep. Five league matches have been seen off with undefeated precision since Sir Alex’s men faltered against their rivals Liverpool - four clean sheets and only two points have been dropped, in the process eliminating any hope the Merseyside club had of United stagnating, for another year at least, with 18 league titles.

Title-talk is a concept Arsenal fans will again have to bid a fond farewell to. For too long now, the Gunners have faded badly as the seasons come to a close. In hindsight, all the talk of doubles, trebles and quadruples in the months of January and February are vastly off the mark, year after year. Cup final defeats against Barcelona and Birmingham City, in the Champions League and Carling Cup respectively, have been defeats too many, and both are pregnant with, from Arsene Wenger’s perspective, self-destruction in the form of a Jens Lehmann red card in 2006, and a Laurent Koscielny-Wojciech Szczęsny mix-up disaster just two months ago. In both these instances, cool heads and a focused determination might just have seen them through, and we wouldn’t be contemplating and predicting the futures of Wenger and Arsenal’s star players today.

Arsenal have four league matches to stop the rot, starting this weekend at the Emirates, when the champions-elect Manchester United come knocking. A victory for the Red Devils could effectively seal the title, given Chelsea falter against another North London side, Spurs at Stamford Bridge. Fail to pick up at least a point this gameweek, and Arsenal risk dropping down to fourth in the standings – City are five points behind with a game in hand. Things could get very ugly for Arsenal before May hits us in full flow.

Arsene Wenger, or his philosophies – one of them will not be untouchable anymore. Change is what Arsenal need. It’s either the man, or his ways, that need be defenestrated.