We have become used to the plaudits that our classy play attracts from neutrals and on our day are probably regarded as the best (if not always the most effective) football team in England. Opposing managers and journalists have often said how they would pay to watch Arsenal play.

To those who have grown up watching Arsenal in the Wenger years, this is perfectly natural and they will regard it as a defining feature of Arsenal. To those of us who started watching Arsenal before that time, however, it can still be slightly disorientating. I started going to Highbury regularly (after occasional childhood visits) at the start of the George Graham period. Though George’s team was undoubtedly effective and had some free scoring purple patches (1990/01, second half of 91/92) they are probably better remembered for “1-0 to the Arsenal” based on solid defence and a talented goalscorer. Certainly it was that style that brought us domestic and European cup success.

At that time, whilst sometimes frustrated by the lack of craft, as the likes of Hillier, Jensen and McGoldrick gradually replaced Davis, Rocastle and Limpar, we still took pride in our effectiveness and success by contrast with our neighbours. They revelled in the talents of Gascoigne, Hoddle, Waddle and Lineker yet had only one FA Cup to show for it. They would argue that they were “the better football team” to which the riposte was “show us your trophies”. We also still had the better record in derby games.

Looking at recent years from this perspective, it is fantastic to consider how much the club has developed under Arsene Wenger. I sometimes wonder though if we are falling back on the same excuses? The danger is that we are now glorying in the method (and football is still part of the entertainment industry) but without the ultimate end product (though at least there is no danger of Spurs switching roles and becoming effective).

The ideal is obviously to combine virtuoso football with consistency but this is difficult to achieve with almost exclusively younger players. Even Man United’s “Beckham generation” were balanced by the experience of the likes of Schmeichel, Bruce, Pallister, Irwin, Cantona etc.

I would not want to see us return to the style of the Graham years (and doubt this could work in the modern game). How much greater the achievement will be if we can achieve it by playing the best football with players we have developed (if not exactly home-grown). That is obviously the Wenger plan but we should not delude ourselves that it should be an end in itself or use it as a crutch to explain away failure.

It is amusing though that these days Spurs can’t even argue that they are the best footballing team in North London.