Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey reacts to Arsene Wenger's emotional defence of his philosophies and wonders whether the Frenchman and the board could be reaching a crossroads with his board after yet another trophy free season.

Arsene Wenger admitted that his side has no chance of catching United at the top of the Premier League in wake of their defeat at Old Trafford yesterday.

Tellingly, he also issued an emotional plea defending his own footballing principles that many think are the reason for Arsenal's lack of success this season.

Wenger told The Times.

"Football is about opinion and I feel we have done a lot this year for the promotion of the Premier League all over the world,

"I am not an idealist. I want to win trophies and I am sad that we did not manage to win one this season, but I feel we have done a lot of football and we want to continue the way we play."

It could be argued that, in fact, Wenger is the ultimate idealist. Idealism in football, however, is a self defeating attribute and Wenger should shoulder the blame for his team's failings.

"It is a very thin margin, but that is what sport is about and we have to go beyond the system where the winner is praised, sometimes beyond reason, and the guy who doesn't win is slaughtered," he continued.

"Football is more than that."

Wenger's romantic view of the game, though wholly commendable, means that as a manager of a top club he is too vulnerable and stubborn for his own good.

He claims that Arsenal produce world class football, but is this too much to take for Arsenal fans that have now gone three years without a trophy?

He was been criticised for his seemingly self-imposed transfer embargo and Arsenal have a smaller squad than most in the Premier League. Rafa Benitez is said to be under pressure for his inability to steer Liverpool towards a Premier League challenge, but he has bought time with Champions League success. Arsene Wenger, on the other hand, has not.

He has now seen his side throw away the lead against Liverpool, Chelsea and Man United, which highlights the lack of depth and strength, mentally and numerically, in the squad, factors that Wenger must be held accountable for.

The Arsenal board now have a huge decision to make.

They can stick with Wenger, seen by many as revolutionizing English football and continue to play their self-styled brand of attacking football that, unfortunately for those involved at the club, yields little in the way of silverware.

Or, they can demand success and show Wenger the door? Highly unlikely I know considering his popularity in North London, but this is now a very real possibility.

So, who should shoulder the blame for Arsenal's failings this season? Is it time for Wenger to go? His attitude can not be faulted one bit, but it has got to the point where he seems to be playing a particular type of football to prove a point, rather than to win matches.

Phil Scolari is being touted as a possible replacement at Man City, but is this the sort of manager that could bring success back to the Emirates?

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