You watch a World Cup tournament and everyone gets something different from it. For me I found even more to admire about our manager. Remember the outpouring for Stuart Taylor to be given a chance in goal before we purchased another keeper?

Bob Wilson, a keeper and goalkeeping coach of great esteem was the main supporter of ST and felt he was a great keeper in the making, Arsene, however had other ideas and after turning down the opportunity of signing Robinson went for Lehmann and most of us thought he had made a complete “Horlicks” of the no. 1 spot at Arsenal.

Fast forward a few years and both Robinson and Lehmann have made progress, Jens obviously being undefeated in 2003/04 and after his heroics in the Champions League has made the greater progress. However proof as to who was the better keeper was left unanswered (all Gooners know Lehmann is the better of the two but the unbiased amongst us needed proof) - until this World Cup that is. The very highest level is where performers are judged and Jens’ command of his defence and his area in these finals was exemplary. It was the penalty shoot out against Argentina that confirmed what Arsene had seen in Jens that he did not see in Robinson. At the very highest level Jens was the better keeper and under pressure Robinson would let you down and so it proved. Bob Wilson was not the first and will not be the last to be proven totally wrong by our brilliant manager.

My Father always said two things robbed Arsenal of even greater glory; the Second World War and the premature death of Herbert Chapman in 1934. Far worse things happened in World War Two than Arsenal missing out on a few trophies but Herbert Chapman‘s vision and spirit lives on in Arsene Wenger and what we missed over 70 years ago is back with us as we make that next step in world football.