Wenger needs the Carling Cup... but does he still need Arshavin?

By John Cross

Published 22:59 26/01/11

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There is a drawback to being in football for a long time.

At some point in the past, you will have said something that totally contradicts you in the present.

Just take Arsene Wenger. Last season, after crashing out of the Carling Cup at Manchester City in the December, Arsenal's manager said the following:

"I know we have not won a trophy since 2005, but I do not consider that if you win the Carling Cup you will be going on a trophy parade.

"It is a competition for our younger players. If I don't play them here, where would I play them?

"We played in the quarter-final of the Champions League last season against top teams. Playing in those matches is 10 times harder than playing in the Carling Cup."

Wenger, having reached the Carling Cup final after beating Ipswich, sought to explain those year-old remarks by saying he's asked about it so much that he now says he wants to win everything but still has priorities.

That is understandable as there is no doubting Arsenal fans would rather win the Premier League than the Carling Cup. That's stating the obvious.

But Wenger, in my opinion, thinks it's a bigger achievement to reach the Champions League's last 16 than to win the Carling Cup.

That's why he gets rather fed-up and sometimes frustrated at the constant stream of questions about why Arsenal have not won a trophy since 2005 and whether or not he thinks it's important.

The fact is, Wenger sees finishing in the top four of the Premier League and reaching the latter stages of the Champions League as a better indicator of consistent success than the Carling Cup.

There would also undoubtedly be uproar from Arsenal fans if the club finished outside of the top four.

However, finally the penny appears to have dropped a bit more on the Carling Cup and the need to win a trophy.

It may not be the biggest or the best trophy, but it's still silverware and it's still something to proudly display at the end of the season.

You get big cheques but no trophy for finishing fourth or reaching the last eight of the Champions League.

But the reaction from the Arsenal fans after beating Ipswich to reach Wembley shows they want a trophy. It can also be a springboard for renewed success, just as the Carling Cup was for Manchester United when they won it in 2006.

Three successive Doubles followed for Sir Alex Ferguson; it installs a winning mentality in the players - no matter the value of the trophy.

And some of Arsenal's players could do with a bit more confidence. Just look at Andrey Arshavin.

The debates will rage all day long about Arshavin. He was pretty hopeless for 63 minutes against Ipswich. Head down, poor body language and little effort in tracking back.

Then, a corner to supply Laurent Koscielny's header and a lovely through-ball for Cesc Fabregas. Two assists and job done, as far as some people are concerned.

I thought Arshavin had a poor game (yes, yes, I just mentioned the two assists) simply because he knows, Wenger knows and the fans know that he can do so much more.

He's a brilliant player and yet he seems to have lost his edge, his sparkle and his hunger. Maybe it's just a lack of form or confidence. Or maybe it runs deeper.

It's about time the real Arshavin stood up to be counted. Two assists keeps his stats up. But Arsenal didn't buy him for performances like the one against Ipswich.

They bought a world class talent who was magnificent in his first season at the club.

If his heart is not in it anymore, then maybe it's time he moved on this summer. But it's time he decided one way or another.

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