This summer marked the 40th anniversary of English football’s nadir. At a time of rampant hooliganism, fatal stadium tragedies and a ban from all European competition, an editorial in The Sunday Times infamously derided football as “a slum sport played in slum stadiums increasingly watched by slum people.”

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal now stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Europe's elite, but admits his reign will only be complete when the club clinches a major trophy. The Spaniard made a bold claim that his side have been "transformed" since he took charge,