The big question now is: Has Arsene Wenger taken Arsenal as far as he can?

Four years of promise have delivered some fabulous football, great goals and some great victories, but ultimately no silverware. Why? What has changed so much since the unbeaten season of 2003/04? Some great players have gone since then no question, but the core of our current crop have been sharing a dressing room for three seasons now, and the brutal truth is, we are a long way off being serious title contenders on all fronts.

Many pundits point to our lack of spending power. I don’t buy this. Wenger has never spent big money. Until Arshavin arrived, Jose Reyes was our most expensive signing, and this was a payment plan spread over a number of years. Henry only cost £11m.

The 2004 team was at the peak of its power, but we never saw its real potential. It was virtually broken up 12 months later. Pires should never been allowed to leave, nor Campbell, Lauren, Gilberto or Flamini. We kept Vieira for so long. Every summer for over five years we had to battle to keep him at N5. One injury plagued season, and slight loss of form, and he was allowed to flit off to Italy.

Too many great experienced players were allowed to leave in too short a time. Would our midfield have been overrun like it was last night with Gilberto or Vieira in there? Would our defence be so out of shape, with Campbell marshalling the back line?

Our transfer policy is from the dark ages. No contract over a year for over 30’s? What’s that about? If United had that policy, Giggs, Scholes, Neville, and Van Der Sar would be sunning themselves in Spain like Bobby is at Villarreal. But, all these United players can still do a job at the very highest level of football.

Wenger has to seriously look at his current crop. Cut the emotional attachment he clearly has with his young starlets, and cull the deadwood. Starting with Adebayor. He is the laziest, most arrogant, overpaid footballer in Arsenal’s history. We need three or four quality experienced (27-31 year old) players in this squad next season, if we are to stand any chance of challenging the top three. If the manager is unable to do this, then maybe the time that all Gooners have feared for years has arrived.

Taxi for Wenger?