After a disastrous run in this season many are questioning Arsene's ability to win trophies, get the best out of his players or to even see that there is a problem with the heart and tactics of the team. These concerns are understandable but if you take into account the extenuating circumstances that surround our failings this season you might think again.

1. Despite what the board says it is obvious that our spending power is severely limited. Would our rivals in the top five have done as well in the last five years under the restrictions that AW has worked under? I don't think they would. For all that has been said about Alex Ferguson's success, would that have been possible if he didn't have £30m to spend on individual players? I have my doubts. If he does end up being restricted during the summer as is muted he may well find himself looking up at their closest neighbours next season and his retirement may well come sooner than he thinks. AW has worked miracles to keep us in the top four over this period and we have been competitive but come up just short on several occasions. If we finish third we will have surpassed last season’s finish and we will also not be 18 points behind the champions as we were last term.

2. I know that our squad depth is down to AW but the injuries we have suffered this year are the worst I have ever known, so bad that half of the regular first teamers have been missing in recent weeks. But the biggest blow has been to lose our two most influential players for large chunks of the season. Only Chelsea have a squad that can take that kind of hit. If Man U lost Rooney for the amount of time that we lost RVP would they be challenging for the title? Most teams have two or three world class players that lift them to the level where they can challenge for the two major honours. At our club RVP and Cesc are those two players and without them we cannot expect to compete with our two main rivals.

Despite what you may be thinking, I am not blindly supporting the manager, his tendency to completely back his players and ignore our obvious shortcomings can be infuriating but I still believe he is the best man for the job. I have always said that you should never replace a manager or a player unless you have a better man to do it with. Off the top of my head no person springs to mind who could make us better or take us forward under the current conditions and restrictions at our club.

I'd also like to reply with regard to Kevin Whitcher’s comments about half of the squad not being good enough. (Ed’s note – well, actually a third, but whose counting?) I think we have some players who are definitely not good enough but not half the squad. I think the following players should be sold, Almunia, Fabianski, Silvestre, Eduardo, Vela, Traore and probably controversially Diaby. I also think that Man U and Chelsea will feel the same about their squads and we are not alone with regards to deadwood in our squad.

I do not feel wholesale changes are required. This is what I believe is required for us to not only challenge but actually win something next season:

In the goalkeeping position we obviously need a top keeper as we are the only club in the top 10 without one. Buffon would be ideal with Szczesny and Mannone as back up. In defence we need a big ball winning centre back like Hangeland to play with TV and we also need to secure Gallas and Sol for next season. With Djourou returning that should cover us in that area. In midfield we have too many of the same type of player and we only really have Alex Song who wins the ball and breaks up play. If we could get either Yaya Toure or Flamini I think we would have enough numbers in midfield with Ramsey and Wilshere returning to bolster the ranks.

Up front we have been woefully short this year and I think AW's reluctance to sign a striker was coloured by the knowledge that Chamakh would be coming on a free in the summer. But I feel another striker will be required if we want to challenge on all fronts. I make that four players not the two or three that Arsene as mentioned. But I think that would close the gap to the top two and bring the much desired success.

For those of us of the 40+ persuasion, a gap of five years is not a long time without a trophy. We have experienced long periods without trophies, semi finals or European football in the past so we will have more patience than most. I do understand that those who have been spoilt in the Wenger years are far less used to going more than a couple of seasons trophy free but I think that their wait will end next season if we spend a little cash and show a little faith in the manager. Here's hoping.

Keep The Faith.