So with one group game remaining in this season's Champions League and what odds would you have that only one English team was guaranteed to qualify to the knock out stages. Given that Man City, Man United and Chelsea are the three struggling who would of said that Arsenal would be leading the European charge.
It is a sign of how things can turn around during the course of the season. Back when Man United beat Arsenal 8-2, United had a fit squad competing for selection and everyone was playing with confidence. Arsenal didn't know who was staying or going and pretty much sent out a sacrificial team at Old Trafford. Not that those lambs showed themselves up despite the score. Had situations at key moments been different and so could the outcome.
Fast forward to this week and United look a team generally needing ideas an inspiration. Who would of thought Tom Cleverley would turn out to be such a miss for them this season. Meanwhile at Arsenal somehow Arsene Wenger has managed to jump start Robin Van Persie. There will be questions over his fitness for the course of a season but the more matches he plays will see those comments disappear. Yes Wenger needs an old professional striker around the club. One that knows he won't start to many matches but one that is ready to come off the bench when necessary. Apart from Van Persie there is nobody a Arsenal to do that.
Over at Man City the money men are coming to terms with some harsh lessons. First money can't make you young German defender happy or want to stay. Second money can't keep a world class player like Carlos Tevez happy to be on the bench of a team he was captaining last season. Thirdly that money can't make your young Italian striker play with a smile nor can money guarantee international recognition for all your young English defenders. Fourth money can't do a thing if your player gets a long term injury. All lesson that Chelsea have learnt over the last few seasons.
Even spending £50m on Fernando Torres hasn't brought Chelsea any closer to the holy grail of the European Cup. You might argue they are further away now than ever before. Well this season is beyond them. Providing all 4 English clubs get through to the knockout stage it doesn't prove that the Premier League necessarily the best any more. It may well be the most competitive but there are at least teams with genuine chances of winning this years trophy and the English clubs are a mere afterthought.
Defending Champions Barcelona are on a mission to become the first team to defend their title since the inception of the Champions League. Domestic rivals Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo will have something to say about that and are not to be written off. The other team that I think will sneak into the latter stages unfancied is Bayern Munich. They were my tip before the competition kicked off and have made a potentially difficult group look easy. Remember they faced Man City, Napoli and Villareal. They are one of those teams you want to avoid for as long as possible.
If the English sides can successfully negotiate their way into the knockout rounds they will fancy their chances. One final thought that will be giving United, City and Chelsea fans sleepless nights. All 3 can still finish in the Europa League. How those three teams would swap for Arsenal's position now.
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