If not for Arsene Wenger and the sacrifices he’s made, it’s hard to imagine where Arsenal would be today. The stature, the reputation or even the identity Arsenal have as a club among all other European giants is all down to the Frenchman’s contributions. Compare the club’s state prior to Wenger’s appointment and the state thereafter, and you’ll get an idea. The most one can say of what Wenger has done to Arsenal is that he has transformed the north London club into one of world soccer’s biggest, most richest brands that has an identity not powered merely by the trophies they’ve won but the kind of soccer they play. It’s been quite a journey from a compact Highbury to the Emirates Stadium that speaks a lot of what the club is at present – powerful and rich. It is “The Arsenal.”

For anyone who has ever been privileged enough to pay a visit to the home of the Arsenal, the deafening silence there tells the truth about a club that has constantly underachieved for more than a decade. And among that silence, particularly over the past two to three years, are the shrill voices pleading for Arsene Wenger to be kicked out of the club. “Arsene, thanks for the memories, but it’s time to say goodbye” is a famous line in Islington these days among the Arsenal faithful, and rightly so to some extent because of the repetitive nature of Wenger’s failures at the club.

To some extent, the fans are right in demanding for Arsene Wenger to be sacked. They have every right to raise their voices regardless of whom are they being raised against, but, it may well be that the fairyland they keep dreaming of post Wenger’s departure could be a disaster in disguise. Just take a look at what has happened at Manchester United with a change of manager. When Alex Ferguson left, there wasn’t one person who could see the Red Devils finishing in seventh the next season. David Moyes didn’t do much wrong. It was just that the pressure of the expectations of the world’s biggest club that got to him, and he simply crumbled under the pressure. He never got to terms with what Manchester United as a club was all about and failed miserably. Louis Van Gaal’s case is no different.

SEE MORE: Schedule of Arsenal games on US TV and live streaming

Any person aware enough of the roots of the modern Arsenal knows the consequences that could follow if Arsene Wenger’s philosophies and ideals – the foundation stones of Arsenal as it is today – are tampered with. Mind, not anyone and everyone can realize what Arsenal Football Club is about. Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola were both of the Wenger league, but with both of them being appointed elsewhere that means there isn’t an ideal candidate on the market to replace Wenger. Truth be told, any manager in the world is an apparent ersatz when tried to replace the Frenchman. The fact that Arsenal under Wenger have never finished below the top four regardless of how poor a side they’ve played tell us how tough it will be to replace Wenger.

Just imagine if a possible replacement such as Diego Simeone, with his more defensive-minded tactics, manages Arsenal to an eighth place finish in the league? Not only will that harm the club on the financial front but it could also mean that the club loses its identity both on and off the pitch. It’s this identity that makes Arsenal one of Europe’s top guns.

The bottom line here is that Arsenal need to stick with Wenger for the time being until they can find someone exactly of his ilk, someone like Joachim Low for example. Yes, the Arsenal manager is past his best, but even a disappointing Arsenal under Wenger is better than what most of his friends could do at the club. That’s how good Wenger is. The choice is Arsenal’s. Don’t regret telling Wenger to step down.

While English soccer was still bathing in Danny Welbeck’s fairy-tale return for Arsenal, the West Midlands were in shock and utter despair, not least because of Aston Villa’s 0-6 annihilation by Liverpool, but also because of an inexplicably rudderless performance.

Nearly four decades ago, the Villa Park that now is characterized by deafening boos and countless critics used to be home to the glories of a proud English football club. How times have changed. The Villans are an absolute mess at the moment, and one that doesn’t appear like it can be resuscitated anytime soon.

Aston Villa’s current state of affairs is a damning indictment of both the players’ and owner’s unquestionably hazardous mentality. While the players are in hiding, Lerner is still busy trying to sell the club with no new owners on the horizon.

The appointment of someone as passionate as Remi Garde was seen as a welcome gesture at Villa Park. A few erudites apart, just about everyone was of the opinion that a managerial change – as generally is the case – would do a world of good at Villa Park. Sadly, for Villa, his impact has been negligible.

Aston Villa face a future doomed in the Championship for several seasons. If the fans actually want a change, they must stand against the management for the club. It’s these Aston Villa supporters now who are the only solution to what has been a long-standing problem at the club. The Villa are going in no direction whatsoever, which will only result in it all ending with a club so rich in history, getting lost somewhere in the history books. Come together, and get the lot of them sacked.

The Villans can probably look to Leicester City for inspiration. Just take a look at how well managed with relative small resources. The scouting, the recruitments, and the finances have been all been handled systematically and henceforth, it’s no surprise that Leicester City are riding high. The board and the owners there aren’t concerned about money. Even if they are, it’s second on the list of priorities, with the first being “playing your hearts out for the fans.”

Villa need the same. That, however, can only happen if extreme measures are taken with immediate effect, and that includes not turning up at Villa Park for a single game, since there’s no point in watching a team of money-minded unprofessionals who don’t care about the club, the fans or anyone. If they can do that, the ones hiding behind will almost inevitably have to come out of their shells, and walk straight out of the club eventually, which is exactly what’s needed.

The beginning of a remarkable demise for Manchester United was the 0-3 defeat against Arsenal in October. As you’d expect, especially in England, the manager is the one taking all the flak, and on this occasion, rightly so. To be frank, Louis Van Gaal and Manchester United were never made for each other.

The methods and the ideologies Van Gaal has are all very contrasting to the popularly established ways at Old Trafford. This was once the biggest club in the world that had its own identity and playing style. Van Gaal never really realized or cared what the club was about.

It appears they could well be making another blunder, this time a bigger one, by choosing Jose Mourinho over Ryan Giggs. It may sound like the right decision, but in truth, it isn’t, not by a long way. The Portuguese’s appointment could be a portent of the bad times to come. Yes, he can deliver results but then again, he’s not someone whose methods suit Manchester United. To have him as the manager is more like having an upgrade on Louis Van Gaal. He may win them trophies in the short term, albeit with some extravagant spending, but do mind that he isn’t the one who likes to plan for the long-term. When he leaves after 2-3 years, there won’t be a legacy left behind. There’ll be memories, and then there will be the wretched ruins to clean up.

SEE MORE: Why Jose Mourinho is the absolute wrong choice for Manchester United.

Manchester United’s man is Ryan Giggs – the man who, sadly, can only watch but can’t influence what is happening. Giggs should never have been overlooked in the first place. When David Moyes was sacked, the former United footballer should have been seen as the natural and the most obvious successor, but instead Manchester United went in a different direction. Giggs is no Pep Guardiola – yes, but even Guardiola was no Alex Ferguson, Carlo Ancelotti or an Arsene Wenger when he first burst onto the scene.

There is hardly anyone who knows the club as well as Giggs does. He knows Manchester United inside out, and is fully aware of what the fans expect. As well as improving the team in the technical aspects of the game, what he brings in the package is a timely reminder to the players about what is it all about to don the Manchester United jersey.

Ryan Giggs managing Manchester United feels like it’s written in the stars. It may seem like a gamble, but it’s actually worth it, for when you look at the rewards the Red Devils could reap for it few years down the line, you wonder what level could it take the club to. Whether the clubs wants a passionate former player – arguably their best ever – or a man who has a record of being sacked because of his penchant for negativity and confrontation, the choice is Manchester United’s.

English soccer fans are fortunate to be witnessing one of those incredible seasons set on fire with its unpredictability and surreal results aplenty.

The quality of the soccer when compared with the spending has been highly questionable with none of the title-challenging teams matching the quality of soccer that one would expect. Be it Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur or anyone else, they’ve all been inconsistent in terms of the performances produced, and at times the results too.

It’s certain that at some stage, even in this excitingly messed up season, the inconsistency will cost a fair few, henceforth, bringing about an end to the title hopes of those still in it. Will it be Arsene Wenger who has the last laugh, or will Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham stomp their way to a historic title win?

Let’s assess the current top four’s title chances:

Arsenal

On paper, the Gunners are probably the best in the Premier League. If there’s one team that can be banked upon to win the Premier League this season, at least on the basis of the overall squad, it’s Arsenal. As they’ve shown, they aren’t all about Alexis Sanchez or Mesut Ozil, there’s more to them and the statistics prove why.

However, even for a team as talented as Arsenal’s, they haven’t been able to nail down the number of opportunities they’ve had throughout the course of the season to make the top spot their own and that is probably due to the weaknesses that exist within, which resurfaces the same old doubts – do they have what it takes to win the league? The answer, as always – and more so on this occasion – is yes. This is supposed to be the season when Arsenal finally end their decade of hurt.

Manchester City

The team with the experience. But for injuries to the players they rely the most upon, Manchester City could’ve been in a better position than they presently are. Without Vincent Kompany, their defence is a shambles and without Sergio Aguero, the attack lacks the cutting edge. Any team would miss Aguero – yes – but to be overly dependent on him having spent millions on other forwards doesn’t seem right.

The attack, though, isn’t what’ll worry them, it’s the defence that will. With Kompany out of action until the latter part of the season, you wonder how (and if) they will realize their title dreams. Notwithstanding, Manuel Pellegrini’s side have as good a chance as any other team.

Tottenham Hotspur

Pochettino’s side are inexperienced but not incapable of winning the Premier League trophy. Tottenham Hotspur have been a joy to watch. They’ve played fearlessly entertaining soccer all season long, yet they have managed to have the best defensive record, which, in itself reveals just how finely tuned this Spurs side is.

But then again, apart from the fact that an injury to Harry Kane would put Pochettino’s team in deep trouble up front, what makes one doubt Tottenham’s title credentials is the big question as to whether they can hold on to their nerves once the expectations rise, being the young side they are. They can go all the way, but would they be able to? It may be too early to make a call, but Tottenham’s wait for a league title could go on.

Leicester City

The Foxes are the most confident side in the Premier League. Leicester City’s brave challenge for the Premier League title isn’t just fading away as many thought it would. Instead, they are top of the table going into February – just let that sink in. They may be overly dependent on Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, but even when they haven’t been firing on all cylinders, they haven’t lost (only 2 defeats in 24 games), which is astounding.

There are plenty of weaknesses in Claudio Ranieri’s side, but since no one has been able to exploit them to the full except Arsenal, how do they drop points with no other cups to play in? It’s a tough question – one that only time will answer.

Predicted finish:

1. Arsenal
2. Manchester City
3. Leicester City
4. Tottenham Hotspur

What do you think? Vote in the poll below and feel free to share your opinions in the comments section or on our social media accounts.

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Mesut Ozil has been a long-standing favorite for critiques and critics alike. More than a year ago, as the German returned from an injury that kept him out for the more decisive part of the season, the shadows of detractors lurked over his shoulders, cavorting and taunting the German about his physical shortcomings and the failure to live up to his supposedly bloated price tag.

As scathing as the opprobrium was, Ozil nonetheless continued to put in the hard yards, which many thought he wouldn’t do. Now, if there’s a midfielder no team wants to face, it has got to be the Arsenal no. 10. When he’s on the ball, you know you’re only one pass away from conceding a goal, but what you don’t know is how and when will he play that defense-splitting ball. It’s not so much that pinpoint accuracy that is the undoing, it’s more the decision making; the when to make the pass that makes him the threat he is. He keeps lurching around, and just as you think he’s switched off, he’ll produce something that’s akin to a work of art. Barely believable.

SEE MORE: Stat for stat, how Mesut Ozil stacks up to Riyad Mahrez.

No wonder he’s the best player in England, and officially the best from Germany, too, having now won the German Player of the Year award for the fourth time in five years. Beating players like Thomas Müller, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos, Marco Reus, Manuel Neuer, Mario Götze and Jerome Boateng is a testament to the player he has become. Surely, a case made for the ultimate prize in football, the Ballon d’or?

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and company may be from a different planet, but Ozil has been putting up equally mind-boggling performances. The only difference is that his name isn’t Messi or Cristiano. 16 assists and four goals at the halfway mark in a season is nothing to sneeze at, and to do it without a high-priced striker makes those numbers even more impressive (not that Olivier Giroud isn’t top drawer).

Of course, it’s obvious that Ozil has to win trophies for him to propel his case. He’s played his part for Germany so far and hopefully can continue to do so when it’s time for the Euros. The same goes for Arsenal, too, where a league title is the bare minimum. Another FA Cup won’t win him the Ballon d’or, not when he’s competing against Barcelona’s MSN or Real Madrid’s BBC, who’ve claimed major honors during Messi and Ronaldo’s runs.

The real keys for Ozil, though, are to maintain his consistency and try to continue improving, which will inevitably draw attention from voters who haven’t given their award to a midfielder in nearly a decade. Few might think a non-goalscorer can win the Ballon d’or when Messi, Cristiano, Neymar, Bale, Lewandowski, Muller, etc. are still in their primes. It’s a wild idea, to say the least, but to think it’s impossible is an insult to any midfielder, not just Ozil. The middle of the park is where those forwards get those goals.

Ozil for the Ballon d’or is a realistic prospect. As he continues embarrassing defenders and producing unparalleled numbers, there’s little doubt. He may not win it next year, or the year after, but there’s a sense of belief that the 27-year old will at some stage knock down those doors. His chances are on the rise.

It’s not very often that Premier League’s rich giants are ready to chop each others’ heads to specks to secure the signature of a manager, and that too for a sum larger than Wayne Rooney’s, the highest earning player in the Premier League. The day Pep Guardiola officially announced he would depart Bayern Munich at the end of the current season, one could see how helter-skelter it was going to get among the big boys to land the Spaniard at their club.

It certainly isn’t a surprise to see so much speculation about Guardiola; even in the middle of a season, even at a time when the title race should be the focus. This is no ordinary manager. He is the hottest managerial property in the game, the possession of whom can only termed to be a prized one. This is shown by the impact he has had not just on the clubs he has managed but on Spain and Germany’s national teams as well.

Having conquered the two leagues he has worked in, Pep’s now ready for his English adventure. While it’s hard to say which one of the Premier League’s big boys will be able to land him, it feels like a simple choice to pick the club he’s most suited to – Arsenal.

It may sound strange considering the penchant Guardiola has for taking up “projects” at big clubs who need. He could get just that at Manchester City, but that’s a club which doesn’t quite fit the bill, though, for a manager who has a certain sehnsucht for clubs with passion. Pure passion.

SEE MORE: City should reconsider ditching Pellegrini for Guardiola.

Arsenal and Pep Guardiola looks like a relationship that was always written in the stars, just as Arsene Wenger and Arsenal was. As Paul Merson rightly pointed out, if the former Barcelona manager took up the job at The Emirates Stadium, nothing would change, as nothing would have to change. Pep likes blockbuster football, has a love for possession and passing – that, too, quick passing. That’s what Arsenal has been all about since Wenger was appointed. His principles, his ideologies are all very similar to Guardiola’s, except that the Frenchman doesn’t quite like pressing “very-very high” up the pitch and doesn’t play a 2-3-5 formation when going full Monty.

At Arsenal, Pep Guardiola will already have the mentality and the base to work with, and there’ll be no time wasted in trying to impose his own methods upon the team. Also, there are a fair few wonder kids waiting somewhere in the academies to make a mark on the big stage. Pep would absolutely love that.

Arsenal suits Pep, and Pep suits Arsenal. That’s the best that can be said about the two, but it’s the board that has to make the decision sooner rather than later. Arsene Wenger has done a fantastic job at the club during his tenure, and he’ll no doubt go down as one of the greatest managers ever, but time does catch up, even with someone as exceptional as Wenger. He may have 2-3 years more left in him, but who knows what Guardiola’s mind-set would be at that point of time?

Chiefly, 2016 is the best opportunity Arsenal will ever have to replace Arsene Wenger. In Guardiola, they are almost getting an update on their current manager and a guarantee of a better future – the future Wenger has prepared the club for with all his nous and intelligence. Arsenal surely don’t want a managerial change to become the Gordian’s Knot, which’ll only result in a loss of identity, and the murdering of the club’s brand of football and ideologies.

Pep will bring a revolution to the Emirates. He’ll make the boys men with all his objurgating and his pursuit of perfection. Plus, he’ll bring a different mentality in his package, the kind of mentality that brings you European trophies. To miss out on such a manager would be one of the biggest blunders the Arsenal management will ever make. At a time when they themselves look set to dominate, to let Pep go to another club would possibly be the end to Arsenal’s hopes, while going all-in for the Spaniard would the spark the beginning of an era never witnessed in North London.

The last time Arsenal held the pole position in the Premier League (2013/14), the manner in which they blew their title became a story tough to describe and hard to digest. The Gunners were on course for their fourth Premier League title and were table toppers until February, when fourth-placed Liverpool gave them a reality check with a 5-1 drubbing. A month later, Chelsea inflicted yet more damage with a 6-0 win over their London rivals. Soon after, Arsenal’s title hopes were done and Manchester City went on to lift the title despite having led the table for just 12 days.

Arsenal have come a long way since then. As they’ve proved throughout 2015, they have much more potential and quality, with Mesut Özil’s psionic powers leading the title charge.

But for all of Arsenal’s quality thus far, Saturday’s 4-0 mauling at St. Mary’s Stadium rekindled the question many thought had been buried: “Do Arsenal really have the mental strength required to go all the way?” It is perfectly reasonable to ask the question, more so for a side that seems to fear success, even when it knocks on their door with open arms.

As Victor Wanyama crushed Gunners attackers with his ebullience and strength, Arsenal had the demeanor of a haplessly, shabby old dog, begging to be dragged out of its misery. Their recovery on Monday against Bournemouth may be cast Southampton as a hiccup extenuating from cold legs that were still enjoying Christmas festivities, but with a few more guest appearances of those hiccups, Arsenal will find themselves competing for just a place in the top four, yet again.

SEE MORE: Wenger vows to get January transfer business done early.

Arsenal have successfully dodged a number of bullets on their way to the top spot, but the beginning of 2016 is where the real test of character, mentality and consistency begins. In addition to daunting trips to Anfield, the Etihad Stadium, Old Trafford, White Hart Lane and the Britannia Stadium apart, the pressure to retain the FA Cup and a Round of 16 pairing against FC Barcelona will demand a lot off Arsene Wenger’s side. To perform at their very best becomes sacrosanct. It’s not going to be a passeggiata by any means. All of those away games will define the season.

Just as it is important to come away unscathed from those trips, so it is to not prescind from making significant additions to what looks a depleted squad. If the BBC is correct, Arsenal are very close to signing Mohamed Elneny from FC Basel, and he’d be an excellent signing for the defensive midfield position. But that has to be the first of three or four signings. Two more forwards and at least one more midfielder are the needs of the hour. To fulfill these needs would be a huge stride toward lifting the title.

The Premier League is known for its vagaries, and Arsenal have for some time been the sufferers of such shifts. With 2015/16 increasingly looking like Arsenal’s season and a few obstacles already awaiting them, the Gunners need to toughen up.

It’s Christmas period, and Leicester City are top of the table. Meanwhile Chelsea are still enduring a chastening season, with their beloved Jose Mourinho sacked in what seems a strange move – unless, of course, they’ve got someone like Diego Simeone lined up as “The Special One’s” successor.

Perhaps to their delight, Chelsea aren’t the only Premier League giants consumed by chaos and problems. Manchester United are nearing such a phase as well. Louis Van Gaal’s men are still generating dissatisfaction with the brand of soccer they play, with a fair share of luck needed to maintain their place near the top four.

You could always sense that, once their fortunes called time, Manchester United would find themselves in real trouble. That’s exactly what has happened. They were knocked out of the Champions League and then handed a painful defeats by Bournemouth and Norwich City. They may be willing to spend more money in the January window, but that won’t solve the problem.

SEE MORE: NBCSN has a gaping hole in its Premier League coverage.

Forget about Chelsea getting Lionel Messi or United signing Neymar – these aren’t the dream destinations for a star player anymore. Those clubs will have to take the more sinuous paths to glory, i.e., nurturing their academy players. But then again, there isn’t any real talent coming through from their academies either, and if there is, their respective managers have been reluctant to give them enough playing time.

Manchester City aren’t doing too well in this respect either. They may have invested huge sums of money in players such as Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph, Patrick Roberts and a top quality midfielder in Kevin De Bruyne, but aside from Kelechi Iheanacho, they don’t have a single player coming through their own academy. With David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany each on the wrong sides of the primes, where from do City get equally good replacements? It’s an interesting question, given the transfer market doesn’t look like the answer.

For over a decade, English Premier League titles ahve been all about the Manchester teams and Chelsea, but that looks like it won’t be the case anymore. Arsenal, having paid off all their debts, are getting bigger and better every single day. Their league position reflects the same. They have some exceptional young talent coming through their academy in Chuba Akpom, Gedion Zelalem, Serge Gnabry while Hector Bellerin, Francis Coquelin, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere could still develop into frontline stars.

Arsenal’s North London rivals also seem to be going the right way. Tottenham Hotspur have assembled a fine young squad, almost all of which is a product of their own – may it be Harry Kane, Ryan Mason or Tom Carroll, to name a few. Similarly, Liverpool have a feel-good factor about them, and there’s no doubt they are in the right hands under Jurgen Klopp, who will focus more on preparing for the future with his exceptional abilities to make a player world-class.

Elsewhere, Leicester City, Crystal Palace, Swansea City (ignore their current position), West Ham United and Southampton continue to improve, and to play against them is no longer an easy job. In the next two years, they’ll be even stronger and ready to compete for the top four. These aren’t one season wonders, and to think so would be foolish.

As it stands, the Premier League is on the verge of a major power shift and that would mean not one, not two, but a few teams being in contention for the title and European spots. The days of “who spends the most wins” appear to be departing, as the current state of the transfer market leaves few superstars available. The margins have come down to how much you produce yourselves, at the club itself, which is news for English soccer. It’s a good time to be alive for Premier League fans.

The extravagance of Real Madrid when compared to the results of the new Galactico Era has become shocking. Utterly shocking. Eight-goal wins over Malmo not withstanding, compared to where Los Blancos were before Florentino Perez’s 2009 return, the club hasn’t made progress, having regressed from the heights of their 10th European title a year-and-a-half ago. And any chance Madrid preparing for the long-term were reset with departure of Carlo Ancelotti, whose sacking in was a reflection of Perez’s pathetic handling of the club.

It isn’t that Real Madrid haven’t won anything at all. They have won trophies must European clubs would crave, but those trophies are almost nothing when the net spending of the club. From Kaka and Ronaldo to Bale, James and Modric – spending that much means you get judged against the best, and over the six years since Perez’s return, Madrid have rarely been Europe’s best.

And it doesn’t look like that will happen any time soon. Rafa Benitez’s more defensive side have got off to a reasonably good start, one they should have capitalized on. Yet the team stumbled in El Clasico. Not just that, their exit from the Copa Del Rey, coming at a time when the David De Gea transfer blunder is still fresh in the memory, hints at what really is wrong with this club. It feels like Real Madrid are being run by a bunch of insouciant schoolboys.

SEE MORE: Ronaldo insists Benitez is doing well, deserves more time.

Barcelona, Madrid’s constant point of reference, have been flourishing under Luis Enrique, who has changed the whole face of this team. Mind, he didn’t arrive during the best of times. He had Lionel Messi’s poor form to deal with, Pedro’s future to handle, not to mention the club’s administrative issues. He dealt with all of it, leading his team to the treble and reestablishing Barcelona as the world’s best club.

Comparatively, you can’t help but think Real Madrid isn’t in a safe pair of hands. Perez is ever-ready to make a mess of matters, such as creating an environment where his best player (Cristiano Ronaldo) is unhappy, and his general tendency to spend millions and millions on superstars around the world only to sell them a few seasons later undermines the club. It still feels like Real Madrid are more obsessed with commercial success than trophies, a sad state of affairs for a team with the resources to be unstoppable.

This misguided money-mindedness is responsible for Real Madrid’s battering on the biggest of stages, but for the playing staff, it’s also a rapier that hangs over their necks. As a player, all you want is the backing of the club’s officials and management, but at Perez’s Madrid, that backing doesn’t exist. The departed Iker Casillas and the nearly-departed Sergio Ramos are the most recent examples, as is a player like Sami Khedira, who eventually departed for Juventus after new Galactico signings squeezed him out of the squad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSHKmZtZFiI

Then there’s Benitez, Perez’s latest hand-picked coach, whose horror shows on and off the field have been well-documented by the Spanish media. His trouble meshing with the squad is another symptom of Madrid’s problems.

The only solution for Real Madrid is a complete overhaul, one that doesn’t focus on the players but the people running the club. Players aren’t a problem for this side; they never have been. Real Madrid’s current squad is young enough, world-class and, on talent alone, capable of achieving more than Barcelona But the club seems to be neither patient with their crop of players nor capable of getting the best out of what they have.

Even if unwillingly, Madrid have to adapt to a different model. They need a Pep Guardiola-style manager, and they need an executive with a David Dein-like personality. When all of these are trussed together, Real will have a recipe for success.

Once and for all, they have got to shut the Galactico Era down. Jumping into the transfer market every year and being the cynosure of it is not the answer. The sooner that is realized, the better it will be for an otherwise jejune future.

For all the brilliance Arsenal have produced throughout the Premier League season, their current situation seems to be a bit of a shemozzle – a wonderful mess that has resulted from their own failures, both on and off the field. And the situation is not even a surprise, because over the past decade or so, it has always been like that for Arsenal, with each ambitious yet realistic title challenge ending with an age-old feeling of what could have been.

SEE MORE: Cazorla diagnosed, out four months.

It could be the same this season, as well, once you take a look at Arsenal’s celebrated injury list, one that includes Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Francis Coquelin and Mikel Arteta. Half of the names there have become fainéants, considering how much time have they spent on the bench. Why do they keep getting injured? It’s an interesting question, the answer to which may well be with Arsene Wenger and his backroom staff, who seem to send players out with glasses instead of bones in their bodies.

Similar questions can be asked of players’ form, which falls to pieces when the pressure tends to rise, with those swoons reflected in November’s poor showings: played five; won one (at home against Dinamo Zagreb); drawn two; lost two. Go a bit deep into those stats and you’ll find that the North Londoners picked just two points from a possible nine during the month in the Premiership – the very month when Arsenal had multiple chances to nail down the league’s top spot. That shows how weak they are under pressure, and how inconsistent Arsenal can be in any description.

A whole team of mentally “weak profligates” to go with a manager who’s overly reluctant to spend is a fatal combination, and that better be realized by none other than Wenger himself. Arsenal need to get to terms with the fact that this really is their chance to win the title, maybe their last chance to win it for a few years. With a series of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale-like superstars increasingly looking like they might change places, and the Manchester teams plus Chelsea ready with millions in hand alongside Jurgen Klopp’s rejuvenated Liverpool, it could get exceedingly tough in 2016-17.

If Arsenal win the title this season and follow that up with major additions next summer, they’ll have overcome their fatal combination. But if they fail to win the Premier League before going in the transfer market, they may as resign themselves to an empty-handed summer. Compared to their biggest rivals, the club have relatively less financial power to fund huge deals, and they won’t have the trophies to cajole the big names, either.

Arsenal’s fate still rests nicely in their own hands, it’s only about seizing the initiative and making this season, possibly a few of them, theirs.

More Premier League:

• Koscielny’s health a boost; Sanchez still a doubt.
• Klopp giving Liverpool reason to think beyond top four.
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There are stories, and then there are stories we will always remember. Leicester City’s rise from the bottom on the Premier League is becoming the latter. From the start of the 2014-15 season to this point, 13 rounds into the campaign, the Foxes have played as title contenders do. It should be no surprise to see them at the top of the table. With week after passing week, they are getting better, showing no signs of slowing down. Their fearless approach is working.

Credit where it’s due, manager Claudio Ranieri — formerly known as the Tinkerman — has done a great job. He hasn’t just titivated. He has transformed this squad by instilling an ideology, one that his side reflects well on the field by playing with a definite intent to win the game. For much of last season under Nigel Pearson, the side seemed more concerned with avoiding a defeat. See the change?

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Perhaps more importantly, he’s made Leicester more organized. Under Ranieri’s predecessor, that standard of organisation was missing. You could always see some bit of indiscipline in the team’s style of play, and while they were an attack-minded team back then as well, they never looked too difficult to run over. All of that has changed since Ranieri has arrived. Leicester now appear to be a totally different side – a side that can dominate opponents.

What is more fascinating about the Foxes this season is their calmness and strength of mentality under pressure. Whenever they have fallen behind, except for the odd occasion, they have come out on top, or at least rescued a point from unbelievable situations. Rather than giving up when the heat is on, they take the game to the opposition, attacking with absolution and murdering with disdain. It’s quite merciless stuff.

But when talking about being merciless, Jamie Vardy is the one man that comes to mind. Algerian international Riyad Mahrez has also been important to Leicester throughout this surge, but Vardy has become the team’s driving force. The haughty Englishman has arguably been the league’s best player this season, and there’s no doubting he’s the major reason why Leicester are where they are. An intense, industrious character who, with all his verve and zest, performs above his ability every time on the field, the Englishman sets the right example for his fellow teammates, who themselves have raised the bar to play beyond expectations. Vardy makes this team tick.

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Perhaps his presence explains another reason Leicester have been so overwhelmingly excellent: their cohesion. It’s important for any squad to share a bond and play as one –not as individuals looking for personal glories — but Leicester City look like a group of true friends – players who are united by a common goal, not personal interests. They belong to different nations, but what brings them together is a hunger we don’t see in many teams, seemingly willing to give everything for the club and the fans who pay to come and see them every week.

It’s hard to predict what awaits the brave Leicester City, but this weekend’s match shapes up as a litmus test. Manchester United, second in the league, visit the King Power Stadium and are set to give the Foxes their first major test since Arsenal drubbed them 5-2 earlier this season. This game is extremely vital to Leicester City’s this season. They’ll know this is the start of a phase where they’ll face top opponents, one after the other. To send a message right away by beating a title contender is what they’ll dearly love.

Regardless of this weekend’s result, Leicester have made a jaw-dropping start to the season, so much so that questions of whether they are serious title contenders are being thrown their way. Now, Ranieri’s men have embarked on their most difficult test, with the pressure to perform coupled by these new, loftier expectations.

There may be a dip. Stories like this rarely persist as we’ve seen in the previous seasons when an unexpected side worked its way to the top, falling right back as and when the pressure rose. However, one would like to believe there’s something different about Leicester’s rise. Unlike many others, they do back themselves to pull of miracles, and to do what has never been done. It’s what sets them apart from many of their ilk.

Come what may, the Foxes are giving English soccer a reason to celebrate, and a story to cherish.