Famous players = Best Players??

Well i could not help to note that the shortlist for FIFA and FIFPro for World XI finally shows ZERO players from Arsenal.

The 55 players on the shortlist are:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid), Petr Cech (Czech Republic, Chelsea), Joe Hart (England, Manchester City), Manuel Neuer (Germany, Bayern Munich)

Defenders: Jordi Alba (Spain, Barcelona), Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy, Juventus), Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea), Dani Alves (Brazil, Barcelona), David Luiz (Brazil, Chelsea), Patrice Evra (France, Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (England, Manchester United), Mats Hummels (Germany, Borussia Dortmund), Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia, Chelsea), Vincent Kompany (Belgium, Manchester City), Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid), Javier Mascherano (Argentina, Barcelona), Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Spain, Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Spain, Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid), John Terry (England, Chelsea), Thiago Silva (Brazil, Paris St-Germain)

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Spain, Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Spain, Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool), Eden Hazard (Belgium, Chelsea), Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona), Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea), Luka Modric (Croatia, Real Madrid), Mesut Ozil (Germany, Real Madrid), Andrea Pirlo (Italy, Juventus), Franck Ribery (France, Bayern Munich), David Silva (Spain, Manchester City), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, Bayern Munich), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast, Manchester City), Xavi Hernandez (Spain, Barcelona)

Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Manchester City), Mario Balotelli (Italy, Manchester City), Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid), Edinson Cavani (Uruguay, AS Napoli), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Shanghai Shenhua), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, Anzhi Makhachkala), Radamel Falcao (Colombia, Atlético Madrid), Mario Gomez (Germany, Bayern Munich), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Paris Saint-Germain), Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), Neymar (Brazil, Santos), Robin van Persie (The Netherlands, Manchester United), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United), Luis Suarez (Uruguay, Liverpool).

Yes, our last two were RVP and Cesc who both are still in that shortlist.

Are we degrading? Yes, i happen to think so for the first time. But of course, we need to take such a list with more than a pinch of salt. For example, the list is heavily biased on Popularity rather than in-form players. what i kindly would suggest is the list favours the Champion Teams in each country more than others. It also has coaches and fellow professionals voting based on their affiliations or past-achievements.

No offenses to club supporters and fans of the following but i feel that for example, Buffon, D. Luiz, Evra, Ferdinand, Puyol, Busquets, Eto'o, Gerard weren't at their best of forms last year and yet still make the cut. They are in my opinion better players to be mentioned for last year. Leawondowski, Piscek, Abbiati, Wilshere, J. Mata (It was only this season his form dipped) etc.

BUT YES, it has finally happened. We are not represented on the list for the first time in many a years based on my memory. Perhaps you can prove me wrong. Is this a sign? Well, to br frank if Wilshere had not gone injured for the second half of the season last year, i am sure he would have been on this list. But alas, Wenger has to clearly re-think his faith in building the youths to be world-beaters like those in this list.

To be fair to Wenger, he is now trying to do so without throwing the baby out the window. He is still sticking to talented youths and moulding them but with an English twist. His belief that homegrown English youth would be more stayable and loyal to Arsenal. Only time will tell on this policy with Walcott being the first Litmus test. We gave the boy everything, his break, his training and even reliance on him.

Let's see. But clearly, my message as pointed out in the last article on Arsenal now being World Top 5 in terms of financial clout, it is ENTIRELY Wenger's fault if he can but Refuses to pay top $ for players like those in the list. Again, Wenger seems to have learnt well. He has now started to blend Exp players who have done it all, but not Won it all to join his hungry youths.

Let's see if that trend continues this end of season summer as i am sure, the departures would warrant openings in key positions in the team and he SHOULD buy some World Stars. If he insists not to buy and the next year is same story of Arsenal Youth failing to deliver, even the staunchest Wenger-fan i am have to admit that he needs to take a step-down form management and let someone who is not afraid to spend the cash and gel in these World Players to win something.

Change is a difficult thing. The word itself is difficult to stomach for many. But like in management, we need to learn to embrace it as long as it is positive change. We need to monitor and effect it before there is a forced change. Forced changes are painful and may affect the legacy that is Arsenal too much to the point it cannot be repaired.

Chins up and heads up Gooners. Wenger knows and still...In Arsene we trust!