Published: 15 March, 2012
by RICHARD OSLEY

IF you believe Roy Keane and all the others who have doubted Arsenal – including some of Arsenal’s own fans – the current crop of Arsenal players are atrocious.

It is, we are told, the worst Arsenal team since Chris Kiwomya. The worst Arsenal team since Bruce Rioch

. And coneman (if you don't know who coneman was then you weren’t paying attention in the 1990s).

It’s the worst Arsenal team since terraces, since Highbury.

The worst since the days a marching band would entertain us on the pitch at half-time.

It’s the worst Arsenal team since David Hillier.

Jimmy Carter.

Stefan Malz.

And Ray Parlour – before we started liking him.

It’s the worst Arsenal team since Gus Caesar.

It’s worse than the team that lost to Luton in the League Cup final.

It’s the worst Arsenal team since the times of Britpop, since John Major was on the throne.

It’s the worst Arsenal team since Lucozade came in glass bottles and Snickers were Marathons.

It’s the worst Arsenal team since any of us knew how to work the internet – or had a mobile phone.

The worst since the invention of the Champions League.

The worst since the days you could watch Spitting Image on TV, or Noel’s House Party or Dogtanian or Dani Behr.

It’s the worst since Wrexham.

In contrast, this is the best Spurs team since 1961.

This is the best team since Danny Blanchflower and Dave Mackay.

This is the best Spurs team – wait for it – since George Clooney was born.

The difference between them?

One point.

• Follow the New Journal’s Arsenal news on Twitter@CNJArsenalFC