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We all know that Arsene Wenger is proud of the way that he has rebranded Arsenal since his arrival in 1996 and gone on to win the Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield with a side that he has built in his own unique way. But unfortunately for Wenger, football has moved on in the past few years and it is time for him to catch up.

The summer additions at the Emirates are beginning to settle in well and after a (club record) bad start to the season the Gunners have managed to push their way back up towards the European places where they surely belong.

However, it appears to me that Wenger’s selection and transfer priorities could well be holding Arsenal back and it is time for him to sacrifice his pride and get Arsenal back to where they were with the double winning side and unbeatable’s that are a distant memory now. Thierry Henry returned to the Emirates this month to give some much needed firepower up front after the team have spent too long relying on the goals of Robin van Persie. But Henry is simply not the answer to the obvious problem in North London that can only be solved in Wenger swallowing his pride and spending some serious cash.

Van Persie has been on stunning form this season for the Gunners and since the departure of Cesc Fabregas in the summer, the new Arsenal captain has been wrapped up in cotton wool to make sure he is fully fit for every league game. The Dutchmen was allowed to go on holiday to Dubai last week while his side were struggling to overcome Leeds United in the FA Cup third round. Henry spared Wenger’s blushes by coming on to grab a late winner that prevented Arsenal travelling to Elland Road tonight for a replay. Proof that van Persie makes the difference for Arsenal, Wenger fielded a strong side that should have had enough to comfortably overcome a mid-table Championship side.

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The FA Cup is Arsenal’s best chance to win a trophy this season as the Gunners manager is looking to prevent going another 12 months since their last silverware in 2005.  But by resting van Persie, Wenger clearly has different priorities and it seems that his side finishing in the top four is the be-all-and-end-all of the season. Deluded Gunners may feel they have a chance in the Champions League, but their team just isn’t good enough at the moment, but Wenger has the chance to do something about that.

With two weeks of the January transfer window remaining, Arsenal must buy a striker to take the pressure and work-load off of van Persie and that could be the difference between them finishing fifth or fourth. The red half of North London currently sit ten points behind arch rivals Tottenham, who coincidentally opened their eyes to what they needed to buy and done so. Wenger wants to bring through youngsters and is not a fan of spending big in the transfer windows but his transfer policy could hold Arsenal back in the race for trophies and Champions League football.

Why doesn’t Wenger just spend some of the Fabregas, Nasri and Clichy money on a world class striker that can improve the team and help drag Arsenal back towards Spurs. Another massive month is ahead for Arsenal who feature in three competitions and face the majority of their league challengers in the coming weeks. Spend some money and you can dramatically improve your team Arsene.

Is Wenger right to stick with what he has got or does he need some new players in January? Let me know on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard

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Bolton manager Owen Coyle was left to rue a poor performance as his team slumped to a 5-0 loss against Stoke City in the FA Cup semi-final.The Wanderers conceded three times in the opening half an hour at Wembley on Sunday before a second-half double from Jonathan Walters sealed their fate.

Coyle was upset about his team’s output on the big stage as defensive errors cost them any hope of progressing to the final against a ‘terrific’ Stoke.

“There is no getting away from it – it was a below-par performance,” Coyle said.

“When you come to this stage and this arena and you are out performed by going toe to toe and you are beaten by the better team then no problem.”

“But for Bolton Wanderers, we under performed today.”

“I thought we were the architects of our own downfall at times, but I don’t want to take anything away from Stoke.”

Matthew Etherington and Robert Huth both beat Jussi Jaaskelainen from range before Kenwyne Jones struck to end the game as a contest after 30 minutes.

Walters joined in the procession in the second-half with two fine finishes.

Coyle said he too was prepared to accept criticism for the way his team performed.

“A few players didn’t perform to their best but I am the manager charged with the job of looking out for the team,” Coyle said.

“Nice things have been said along the way this season when we have played well but you have to take the rough when you don’t perform.”

“As a manager you are open for criticism and I have to accept that.”

Potters boss Tony Pulis hailed his team’s improvement as they helped the club qualify for their first ever FA Cup final, to be played against Manchester City on May 14.

“We knew we would be criticised for certain things we do and we don’t do. But if you look at the team today compared to the team that started for us in the Premier League, we have improved,” Pulis said.

“We have more quality players and we are more expansive, but we had to do it gently because we haven’t got the finances other clubs have got.”

“The big aim is to do it over a period of time. We’ve done it for two and a half years and we have got into a final.”

Pulis said he had been eager to mark tightly against Bolton and free up space for wingers Etherington and Jermaine Pennant, insisting it worked to plan in the victory.

“We are very pleased. We worked very hard all week on nullifying what Bolton do well,” Pulis said.

“Bolton score a lot of goals from second phase football of Kevin Davies and we made sure we dealt with that.”

The transfer window always reminds me of Christmas. Full of expectation, excitement and then suddenly it becomes something an anti-climax once it is over. Some are happy with their presents, while others are left seething at the lack of effort that was put in. City fans are undoubtedly happy with their lot this summer, although others are bound to be disappointed.

It has been a relatively quiet transfer window as clubs remain cautious with their transfer spending, given the current climate. Chairman may have had little option but to be prudent, but it doesn’t stop supporters feeling slightly disappointed that a few more gambles haven’t taken place. Surprisingly a lot of managers have actually been sympathetic towards the situation, highlighting the curse of high wages that has made transfer dealings all the more difficult, rather than bemoaning the lack of backing from their club chairman, while others have simply made the best out of the stagnant transfer market, negotiated well and brought in some real bargains.

So how has Tottenham’s transfer window been and have you been disappointed by the progress that has been made? Was there any real need for Harry to strengthen in the first place? Do you foresee any last minute deals in the last 24hrs of the transfer window?

In recent weeks the tough times at Old Trafford have been a favourite for the media. With Manchester United catastrophically collapsing out of the Champions League from a seemingly easy group, eyebrows have been raised over whether they can compete at the top.

People have been looking back at the 6-1 drubbing they took at home to rivals City and say that their reign as the dominant force in England is over. Others have become worried about the players at their disposal and whether they can live up to the demands of playing for such an important club, with certain newspapers showing Fergie who he should buy to sort the problem. Former stars Roy Keane and Paul Ince have erred on the side of change while the extremists have said it’s time for a change in manager.

And while it is obvious that the club isn’t yet in full flow and has some issues to sort out, that should be a concern for the teams around them rather than fans of the Red Devils. On Sunday afternoon, United returned to the top of the league courtesy of their 2-0 win over QPR and although they were knocked off their perch just 4 hours later, it was a great achievement considering they were five points behind at the beginning of the month. It forced Manchester City to get a result in their game, (which they did by the skin of their teeth), but it means that they go into the busy festive period knowing the slightest mistake could see them fall back in the title race, which is an incredible situation considering the praise that Mancini’s men have received for their dazzling displays while the Champions have been slated for sub-par performances. To still be City’s closest challenges despite this should be a worry for all the teams that want to be challenging. It was a similar case last season with United not playing brilliantly but they were able to grind out these results. They know what it takes to win the league whether they are chasing or being chased, whereas the current leaders have never been in this position so the constant pressure could be too much.

People also seem to ignore that the Reds have only lost one league game so far this season. Although they were eliminated from the Champions League by Basel that was their only defeat in the competition and the League Cup defeat was a setback but it was an under-strength side. So far this season they have beaten Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea, scoring 14 goals in the process and ended a three game losing streak at Anfield with a hard-fought 1-1 draw. In 16 games they have scored 37 goals, only bettered by City and have conceded 14, one fewer than the leaders and only Liverpool have let in less. Fergie’s side have looked monumental at times, destroying opponents with their play and at the start of the season they were matching their noisy neighbours step for step. The ease at which they were winning games was something that nobody expected but it wasn’t going to go on forever. It was ended in the most brutal fashion during the Manchester derby but since then results haven’t been terrible. Swansea’s unbeaten home record was ended by a Javier Hernandez goal, and QPR were brushed aside on Sunday despite proving more than a problem for Chelsea and City. Since the 6-1 nightmare United have been on a better run than their rivals, dropping just two points in that time.

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Meanwhile, the main problem that faced the champions last season has been well and truly eradicated. Although they finished nine points clear at the top of the table last season, they only managed to win five games on the road and struggled outside of their Old Trafford fortress. The poor performances they have had this season are very similar to last year’s away game with mistakes, lapses of concentration and that lack of spark costing them points. But this season they already have six wins on their travels and have drawn the other two games, at Anfield and the Britannia Stadium, two places where weaknesses will be exposed.

At the beginning of the season their performances were breathtaking, Ashley Young made a great start to life at United and created a formidable attack with Nani, Welbeck and Rooney. Goals were coming in abundance and some very good teams were made to look ordinary. Despite recent troubles with injuries and a playing style that has left a lot to the imagination it hasn’t stopped the chances being created. Against Newcastle they dropped points but had a mountain of chances to win and on Sunday they could have scored five before half time with a bit more luck and accuracy. They have been wasteful rather than poor but this has led to the defensive lapses having greater significance. At times these performances haven’t been easy on the eye or as convincing as the victory over QPR but being successful isn’t always about playing attractive football, it’s about getting a result when your back’s against the wall.

The fact that Manchester United no longer have a first-team littered with world-class players has got people wanting signings and they are comparing the side to City and their endless supply of money and talent. I accept that they are not in the Champions League and that the Europa League is not acceptable for a club of this stature but there is the chance to win that. Similarly, a two point gap after 16 games is hardly anything to worry about. A slip-up at the Etihad Stadium or a reversal of October’s derby day disaster and United would be back in pole position.

Finally, for those still worrying about the 6-1 loss, in the 2008-09 season, Liverpool were top of the league and dished out a 4-1 beating at the Theatre of Dreams but their lead slipped away and United were able to win their 18th league title. Three seasons later City delivered their demolition. Could history repeat itself? Don’t ever rule it out.

How nervous do you think United’s rivals should be? Comment below or let me know on Twitter @jrobbins1991.

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Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has verbally accepted an offer to stay with A-League club Perth Glory next season.The Glory have been in discussions with Fowler since at least last December as the striker, who turns 36 on Saturday, weighed up whether to spend one more season in the A-League or head back to the United Kingdom to further his coaching ambitions.

With the A-League in a long off-season remission before the new campaign starts in October, Fowler has joined MK Dons as part of Karl Robinson’s backroom staff, while he will also spend the next week at Bury assisting caretaker manager Richie Barker.

But despite having taken some steps towards becoming a coach after retirement, Fowler has given the clearest indication yet that he wants to play out one more season in Australia, having already spent two years in the country with the now defunct North Queensland Fury and then Perth but is yet to sign a contract with the Glory.

“As you know we have made an offer to Robbie Fowler on reduced terms for next season,” a Perth Glory spokesperson said.

“Robbie has verbally confirmed his commitment for the 2011-12 season but the club will make a formal announcement once the contract is signed.”

The Glory are probably wise to not count on Fowler staying, as the club has been betrayed in the past, when midfielder Paul Reid made a verbal agreement to join in 2008 only to change his mind at the last minute and head to Adelaide United.

Fowler was the Glory’s international marquee player during the 2010-11 season, although he was slightly disappointing, scoring nine goals during a campaign where Perth came second-last, with five of those coming in two matches.

With the Glory fielding a big offer to Gold Coast and New Zealand striker Shane Smeltz to head west as their international marquee, Fowler’s wages will have to be incorporated into the club’s general salary cap.

Despite club chief executive Paul Kelly maintaining that the Smeltz deal is close to being finalised, it’s been reported the Kiwi international is still considering another lucrative offer from China.

England boss Fabio Capello appeared to be lost in translation at the World Cup after his instructions of how to play winning football failed to reach the players but he certainly has got the message this weekend that he has lost the respect of the England dressing room.

Before being omitted from the squad, Jermain Defoe claimed the England players were hungry to make amends but it has been the players not considered good enough to make his 23-man squad for the tournament this summer to publicly embarrass the Italian by retiring from international duty AFTER being selected for the friendly on Wednesday.

Both Blackburn’s Paul Robinson and defender Wes Brown had been named in Capello’s new look squad on Saturday night but have since declared they no longer want to be considered for selection. Brown met with the England boss in a face-to-face meeting but Blackburn’s goalkeeper undermined the Italian by announcing publicly he has retired from international duty.

The reality is the England manager can blame nobody but himself as this clearly demonstrates a clear lack of communication between him and his players. Robinson was frozen out of the England set-up having only been named on the bench of Capello’s teams eight times and was overlooked for the World Cup completely.

Signs of player power emerged during the World Cup after John Terry revealed in a press conference the England players and staff were due to have a crisis meeting before their final group match against Slovenia.

Further evidence to support the Italian has lost the dressing room occurred after Ashley Cole failed to acknowledge the outstretched hand of his national manager after losing to Manchester United in the Community Shield on Sunday.

The once strict headmaster figure we all praised during the qualifying campaign for the World Cup for his discipline and getting the best out of his players has now become the substitute teacher the pupils (the players) don’t respect.

Capello hasn’t only lost control of his players but the staff he is working alongside. Club England managing director Adrian Bevington announced after the World Cup: “We aim to have the new coach appointed for the autumn fixtures.” The new coach will be employed alongside Stuart Pearce and Ray Clemence.

However, when asked by the Sunday newspapers in their press conference with him at the weekend, he had no knowledge on who would be joining him ahead of the European qualifiers.

Not only have the players undermined the Italian but the Football Association have all but put an end to Capello’s reign as England boss after director of football Trevor Brooking declared they want the next manager to be English.

“I think longer term, after Fabio, we’d like to go English,” newspapers quoted former England midfielder Brooking as saying.

“We want to create a spell where we appoint English coaches, and Fabio can help us enormously to bridge that gap and help that transition.

“We’ve got a short-term priority of the qualifying games (for Euro 2012) but over the next couple of years the National Football Centre will hopefully be built, and that’s going to be the hub site for the future development of English coaches.”

Capello has agreed to work with Brooking in an attempt to find a dynamic young successor, which doesn’t bode well for England’s chances at the European Championships as the FA are already looking beyond the tournament.

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Written By Michael Muncaster

See Football FanCast columnist, Zarif Rasul, discuss Capello’s latest squad on SKY News

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North London club Tottenham Hotspur have certainly been busy looking at young players, with not only Crewe’s Max Clayton on their radar, but if The Sun are to be believed –  Wycombe prospect Jordan Ibe has also been attracting admiring glances from Redknapp’s staff at the Lane.

Highly rated youth academy recruitment head Richard Allen has watched the 15 year old striker on multiple occasions and feels that a £500,000 bid is more than reasonable to ward off the growing intrest from United, Fulham and Liverpool, which peaked after he became the youngest goal scorer in the Football League after his strike against Sheffield Wednesday.

Wycombe are currently struggling in League One, and the half a million Spurs look set to offer may prove too much for them to resist. Selling wonder kid Ibe would provide funds for the purchase of some much needed players to help battle for survival.

Despite Captain Ainsworth pleading with the player to stay and make a name for himself at Adams Park before moving on, adding ‘he has it all in terms of an up and coming player,’ Ibe looks set for a move in January.

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%image% A late equaliser by Konstantin Vassiljev denied Serbia victory in their Euro 2012 qualifier against Estonia.

Marko Pantelic’s poachers’ strike in the 39th minute put the Serbians ahead in the first half, followed by a handful of missed opportunities.

The Serbians would ultimately rue their squandered chances when their goalkeeper, Zeljko Brkic, allowed a low free kick slip under his body and into the net six minutes from time.

The result leaves Serbia stranded in third in Group C with Estonia a point behind them in fourth.

The group’s other game saw Northern Ireland and Slovenia play out a 0-0 draw which could prove a missed opportunity for both nations.

Northern Ireland will feel it missed out on a golden opportunity of joining Serbia on eight points, while the result denies Slovenia the chance of taking outright second place.

Slovenia dominated early leading up to the late surge from the home side, which saw them almost take the points.

Northern Ireland are still in the hunt for second place – currently occupied by Slovenia – with Italy charging ahead with 13 points and a game in hand.

This season, Rob Green will be the one to blame. Just as the general anger and disappointment surrounding England’s shameful World Cup exit was beginning to fade away, the pre-season friendlies offer up an opportunity to vent those frustrations. In West Ham’s friendly with MK Dons, Green’s first save of the match was brought with ironic cheers from those in the stands. This will be just the beginning.

The consistent and impressive performances of Green, will count for nothing compared to one error, which cost England, in the grand scheme of things, next to nothing. Green wasn’t even ‘dropped’ in the true sense of the word; he had been picked because David James was unfit, regardless of his display against the US, he would have made way for the more experienced keeper anyway.

With each game the Hammers play this season, and with each away day especially, Green will be taunted and abused all day long. As with most footballing failures, the English football fan must find a scapegoat, and Rob Green is that. Rather than taking the England team as a collective, and realising that very few, if any, of that squad performed remotely close to what they are capable of, Green’s single mistake was the most glaring and highlighted – thus he fits the bill.

I totally appreciate the anger with England’s performance at the World Cup, because I felt exactly the same way. But it was England that under-performed, not simply Green. Any England player that has missed a penalty in the last fifteen years spends at least a season putting up with tirades from fans across the breadth of the country. When David Beckham was singled out as the reason for England’s departure in France ’98, effigies were burnt. Effigies? He made a mistake but really? When Ashley Cole lost possession against Kazakhstan and they scored – in a game England won 5-1 incidentally – he was roundly booed with every touch he took for the rest of the match. Cole may not be the most popular of players, but he is one of the few players who England have who is genuinely world-class, and potentially the best in the game in his position, and abusing him for a mistake is how he is treated.

If Rob Green is called upon to play in another game for England there will be a huge overhanging sense of mistrust in his ability, which is a shame because the bottom line is that he is a good goalkeeper. I am not saying Green should be No.1, but he will almost certainly be involved in England squads in the future, and having been taunted on a regular basis will be the worst possible preparation for him.

It is important to stress that I believe fans are entitled to their opinion and chants at football grounds are part of what we go to games for – I don’t want to sit in silence in the way the match stewards would prefer that I do – but I also believe that songs, chants, and for want of a better word, banter, should all be reasonably justified. Rob Green was not the reason England performed so badly this summer. It looks quite probable that he will however become the symbol of that failure, which for a good player, and from what I can make out, a decent man, would be a sad state of affairs.

With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery

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The Mirror are reporting that Jermain Defoe could be set to leave Tottenham in January with boss Harry Redknapp lining up a move for Juventus striker Amauri as a replacement.

Defoe’s future at White Hart Lane has been the subject of much speculation for the past couple of weeks after the 29-year-old found himself playing second fiddle to Rafael Van Der Vaart.

The Dutchman’s lethal partnership with on-loan Emmanuel Adebayor has seen the England striker relegated to the substitutes bench for much of the season with QPR reportedly planning a move when the transfer window re-opens.

R’s boss Neil Warnock is desperate to boost his front line with an experienced Premier League striker and Defoe ticks all of his boxes and with Euro 2012 just around the corner it’s likely the Spurs man will be tempted by the prospect of first team football.

His proposed exit could pave the way for Redknapp to bring in Brazilian-born Italian striker Amauri who has fallen out of favour with Juve boss Antonio Conte and is surplus to requirements in Turin.

Reports have linked the 31-year-old with moves to fellow Serie A sides Genoa and Palermo but his agent Ernesto Bronzetti has claimed the powerful striker will snub both clubs to move to England with Spurs waiting in the wings.

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