Has the Youth Project failed at Arsenal? I know this question has been discussed recently ad nauseum. The reason I'm asking is that usually an experiment has to come to an end for the results to be analyzed and a report of success or failure given. So based on that, I have two questions. 1)How will we know when the experiment has run its course, and 2) Who will decide that?
The easy answer to the second question is that Wenger knows when the experiment has run its course. He created, nurtured, and developed the idea of it, carried out the intricacies of catalysts. And therefore, one would think he gets the final say. But with fan pressure and new ownership, it may not necessarily fall to him. I personally think that the experiment needs more time to play out. I know, I know. We're all exasperated and depressed and probably sporting coifs with bald patches because we've been tearing our hair out by its roots. But hear me out.
We probably all read Cesc's controversial (or not) interview with Don Balon. If you didn't read it, here is a translated article in the Guardian. I was particularly struck by the end of the interview where Cesc describes his conversation with Caveman Carlos regarding winning trophies.
"I speak with [the Barcelona captain Carles] Puyol, who says that he didn't win a thing until he was 26. Patience and hard work are the most important things in life"
Right now, the average age of our squad is 23. What Cesc is saying makes sense. Most players don't peak until they are 27 years old. We have a squad full of players who have just started down that road. Many are under 23 but have loads of match experience. So what does this mean? Does it mean we have to wait three more years until Cesc et al are at the right chronological age? Can you imagine waiting that much longer for silverware to be lifted at the Emirates? With the wolves howling at the gate as it is, I can't.
What I can imagine, however, is mathematically skewing the age average. Bringing in two players who are 27 - 30 years of age and unloading a couple of players under 24 years of age (Denilson, Bendy, Vela - take your pick) will bring the average age up to 25 or 26 years, and then we're almost there. If the new, older players are those who know how to fight and win things, that ingredient could affect the average as well. See? We're at the 26- 27 year average right there. Creative arithmetic can go a long way.
Plus - tweaking the experiment doesn't mean it's come to a close. I'm sure medical researchers go off on different tangents depending on what ongoing results they find. Cancer has not been cured as of yet, but I'd hazard a guess that the expermients for a cure have undergone many manifestations.
The move to the Emirates was the initial catalyst for the initial experiment. Seeing our boys struggle to get over the trophy hump is an indication that it's time another element was added - an element of knowing how to win, of feeling open to disagreeing with the manager, an element involving two by fours hitting people in the backside when they don't seem properly motivated.
Like I said - just a tweak.
For right now, I don't think we can say The Project has failed. Because it's not done. It's still evolving. It may, in fact, never be truly finished until it's creator leaves Arsenal. And that's my answer to Question #1.
What are your answers?
That's all for now. Catch ya later Gooners.
