With four games remaining in the English Premier League it appears inconceivable that Manchester United will not collect a record nineteenth title (and twelfth in the nineteen years of the Premier League era).

With Arsenal and Chelsea falling into line behind, the picture is near identical to any of the last fifteen years in which the same three sides have monopolised possession of the prized trophy.

Throughout this period these sides have been led by Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and, at Stamford Bridge, a cavalcade of continental coaches du jour.

Ferguson is customarily bullish as another plaudit-laden campaign draws to a close. The current sophisticate riding Abramovich's blue bull is preparing to dismount as gracefully as possible, while up the road at Ashburton Grove, there is much wailing and gnashing of teeth from M. Wenger; bewildered his (perennially) young and (perpetually) injured charges have been denied the metallic affirmation their artistry deserved.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

Only it's not entirely the same this year. While Ferguson continues to resemble the cat that got the cream (laced with Glenfiddich) and Ancelotti is shuffled politely out the back door, Wenger, for the first time in his tenure, is under scrutiny.

In recent years around this time the urbane Frenchman confirms to the world that his oh-so-young starlets suffered a disproportionate number of injuries and endured an unjust number of refereeing decisions during the 38-game season.

These deadpan soliloquies are delivered head bowed, with a red-and-white tie knotted so tightly, but hanging so limply, it resembles a pre-emptive noose. And he is believed as devoutly as any pontiff. "In Arsene We Trust."

Often he is right in his assessment. His squad is, and has been for a number of years, young. It does suffer a large number of injuries during a season. And, considering the amount of time they spend attacking compared to defending, there probably is an imbalance in the number of goal-scoring decisions that have not gone in its favour.

The problem for Wenger is that, for the first time, Arsenal fans and the football media, instead of simply accepting such milksop, are finally asking ‘why' and ‘what are you going to do about it?'

That Arsenal's squad is young is a credit to Wenger. His philosophy of prioritising youth development has enriched the game as a whole and guaranteed Highbury and The Emirates have hosted some of the best football ever seen in the English game.

However, it is a conceit to suggest it is the reason Arsenal has failed to win any silverware since 2005. If Wenger is serious, he should be fired for failing to do his job properly for the last six years, or sectioned, using the Einstein maxim that insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly but expecting different results.

Arsenal has suffered from a lack of leadership and physical presence since 2006-07, when the spine of the team contained Henry, Gilberto, Toure, Gallas and Lehmann. Their replacements, Chamakh, Wilshere, Koscielny, Djourou and Fabianski - while talented, simply do not have or have yet to acquire, the fortitude required to compete at the required level for the required duration.

A side can be young without being callow; it can be inexperienced without being naïve. From the outside it feels as though Wenger almost delights in his side's youthfulness as it immunises him from criticism.

Similarly, Wenger's claim that his side suffers more injuries than most is an excuse that only stands up for so long. At what point does bad luck become a systemic failure of the medical and conditioning process? If not necessarily to reduce the amount of preventable injuries (particularly soft tissue issues) but to repair the players sufficiently to return to action at an appropriate rate.

The view from the outside is that Arsenal players are more brittle than their counterparts and return to action less quickly and less successfully than players of other leading sides.

There is also the case that certain players are either so injury prone or not suited to the combative nature of the Premier League that losses need to be cut in favour of tougher, more resilient bodies.

It seems almost as though Wenger is attempting to do the exact opposite.

The difficulty in evaluating Wenger's decision-making comes down to what he and his club stands for. If it is to play a particular brand of football, develop young talent and ensure the club is never held to ransom by spiralling wage bills, then Wenger has succeeded. If it is to win trophies, he has failed. If he blames his own strategy for his failure, his employers have failed.

At the moment, Wenger and Arsenal are caught between competing realities. On one hand is the Corinthian ideal of athletic beauty and of pure football and pure footballers. On the other is the multi-billion dollar mega-industry of the modern game and its mounting commercial imperatives.

Wenger and Arsenal are struggling to strike the balance between doing what they want and doing what they have to.

After what is becoming a worrying trophy drought and under new ownership, the next few months will be crucial.

Arsenal has long been one of the best-run football clubs. Owned by the same small group of investors and board members for generations, it is frugal but pragmatic. The decision to relocate to a bigger, newer stadium, for example, eschewed the traditionalism associated with Highbury's marbled halls but delivered financial security as a result. Arsenal backs its coaches, invests in youth development and enforces a practical wage ceiling.

But, even at Arsenal, the times are changing. American businessman, Stan Kroenke recently acquired a majority stake in the club and this summer is set for a boardroom battle with Uzbek billionaire, Alisher Usmanov, to secure total control of the business.

What this means for the football club is too early to tell, but some things are for sure. There will be less tolerance of failure. There will be more money to spend, but greater accountability associated with it. Fundamentally, the status quo of recent seasons will be gone.

For Wenger then, it becomes a summer of put up or shut up.

With Manchester City on the march, Chelsea sure to replenish, Tottenham desperate to repeat their Champions League adventure and an almost forgotten Liverpool side ready to mount an assault on their assumed spot in the top four, next season promises to be as competitive as any in recent memory.

Arsenal, and Wenger have to respond. To begin with they have to keep hold of their crown jewels, chief amongst them, Cesc Fabregas.

Then, Wenger has to swallow his pride and address the frailties his squad has laboured with for so long.

A mature, consistent goalkeeper has to be top of the list, along with experienced personalities in the defence, midfield and forward line - preferably figures with a track record of winning major trophies. Arsenal's first champion side under Wenger was the metaphorical iron fist in a velvet glove. Vieira, Petit, Keown and Adams could mix it with anyone.

Wenger's second great team, as indicated above, had a powerful core and as they went the 2003-04 season undefeated, intimidated opponents physically as well as technically.

Arsenal and Arsene Wenger are at a crossroads. The next few months will witness decisions that could see them leading the pack once more or falling behind an ever-growing list of contenders.

We will learn what the club stands for and where the power lies in the new boardroom.

What is clear is that Arsenal fans are no longer satisfied to be the prettiest also-ran in the contest. They want success. At the very least they want a new goalie.