arsenal have lost their standard excuse for failure. Whatever anyone thinks of their last-minute buying in the transfer window, or of the job richard law, their chief negotiator, has done, a continued trophy drought could not be blamed on youth this season.
The average age of arsene wenger's 22-man senior premier league squad is just over 27-years-old, compared to 24 years and six months last year, which is quite a big jump in statistical terms.
Experience has been added by another year in the league for the players who were there last term and from abroad with four of the six key summer additions (mertesacker, gervinho, park chu-young, santos - arteta and benayoun).
Wenger has been talking about his squad growing up for years but if his new signings don't click, he will have to focus on something else.
Injuries, anyone, as a replacement explanation?