It is widely acknowledged that if you want to be ‘the man’ and take the belt off the champion, you’ve got to knock them out - grinding out a points victory just won’t be enough to impress the judges and get you the decision.

Using that criterion, there can be no arguments that Manchester United is still ‘the man’ then after their epic clash with Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday. The Gunners though showed that they are worthy challengers. They also demonstrated that they have a granite chin as they climbed off the canvas twice to bloody the nose of the current champions in a pulsating two-two draw. 

Staying with the boxing analogy, this match was dominated by the current two best European players in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo and Cesc Fabregas. There is no doubt in my mind that this rivalry has all the potential to be one of the best English or world football for that matter has ever seen - it’s Ali-Frazier, Tyson-Holyfield…and with luck we’ll witness their battles for many more seasons to come.

One doesn’t like to boil down an epic match between two players because as the LA Galaxy have found out it’s not about one player but it is hard to look beyond the current players & writer’s player of the year against his apparent heir in waiting.

Looking back at the ninety minutes from North London, Fabregas was the guv’nor when it came to running the show. If United could’ve stopped him perhaps they would’ve left with the three points but they couldn’t. Ronaldo on the other hand was largely anonymous and yet still had a massive say in the result with a goal and assist.

So just who is the best player from the Iberian Peninsula - let’s look at the tale of the tape.

Cesc Fabregas   Cristiano Ronaldo
Age: 20                       Age: 22
Fee: $0                       Fee: $24 million
Premiership Apps: 99  Premiership Apps: 103
All Competitions: 141  All Competitions: 153
Goals: 13                    Goals: 57
Goals this season: 10  Goals this season: 7
International Apps: 2  International Apps: 36

That’s the raw data but what of the intangibles…

Flair & Skill (Ronaldo)

Unless you live on Mars this category would have to go to the Portuguese flyer. Ronaldo has more tricks than David Copperfield and isn’t shy about demonstrating them.

Consistency (Fabregas)

The Spaniard brings it every single game. For sure he’s more involved in the center of the park but you hardly ever see him having an off game.

Goal Scoring (Ronaldo)

Fabregas is in the richest scoring vein of his career but he doesn’t hold a candle to Ronaldo who has the full locker.

Toughness (Ronaldo)

Both players are incredibly durable however I feel that Ronaldo takes more of a beating while Fabregas is in the habit of dealing out the pain.

Discipline (Fabregas)

Over the course of their careers, Ronaldo has seen red three times to one by Fabregas. The Arsenal player definitely picks up more yellow cards but Ronaldo is the more hot headed and has actually missed more games through suspension than his rival.

Versatility (Ronaldo)

Ronaldo can play anywhere across the front line, tuck in behind the strikers or create from midfield. Fabregas is more limited and specializes in his midfield role.

Determination (Fabregas)

A very hard category to judge as both players are warriors however the Gunner has demonstrated an unquenchable thirst over the last couple of campaigns.

Leadership (Fabregas)

Fabregas will lead Arsenal for years to come and his teammates will run through a brick wall for him. Ronaldo tends to disappear at times and you can’t have that from you focal and vocal point.

International Appeal (Ronaldo)

You only had to be in Germany and see girls swooning everywhere that the Red Devil heartthrob would have no trouble picking up a modeling career once he can’t play football anymore.

Value (Ronaldo)

In 2001 Zinedine Zidane moved from Juventus to Real Madrid for a staggering $94 million. Is Ronaldo worth that much…not yet but I’m sure Sir Alex Ferguson would want in the $60-70 million range for his superstar. Arsene Wenger would probably want the same kind of fee for his protégé however until Fabregas scores goals on a more consistent basis, Ronaldo, will command the bigger money.

It’s almost to close to call isn’t. On current form if I was going to build a team around either one, I would have to pick Fabregas. Just look at the supporting cast the Spaniard has at the Emirates compared to the riches that surround Ronaldo at Old Trafford but if I had a must win game to play then Ronaldo would get the nod. Either way this a rivalry that hasn’t even matured yet and it’s impossible to take your eyes from it.

Until then, get the beers in.

Gambling is an integral part of football on the pitch. Players are constantly betting that they can force opponents into mistakes, create timely interceptions or make storming 60-yard runs to get on the end of crosses while leaving space behind them. On the downside there is the knowledge that if they’re wrong, they can leave the team open to be scored upon but with matches lasting ninety minutes, losing bets made early on can be recouped at a later stage.

Gambling off the pitch though is an entirely different proposition and Arsenal Football Club are currently making the two biggest wagers in their 120-year history – and they can’t afford to lose.

The first roll of the dice is Emirates Stadium. A fitting venue for one of the most forward thinking clubs in the world but it comes at a big, big price. The Ashburton Grove project has cost the North Londoners somewhere in the region of $730 million dollars. Simple economics dictate that it needs to be bursting at the seams every other weekend for the Premiership as well as enjoying deep long runs in cup competitions especially the Champions League.

In the Arsene Wenger era over the last decade the team has become used to incredible success, however unless that continues, empty seats will become a reality, as a fickle public will want to support winners…not losers! The financial pressure is intense and many a club in the past has buckled to this fact plummeting to the depths of painful, suffocating debt.

The question though is…can this team of kids assembled by the Frenchman become instant winners?

Aside from a stirring run in the Champions League and the surprising development of some of these kids, last season was undoubtedly a disappointment as they squeaked 4th place in the Premiership on the last day of the season. When you consider the fact that the EPL is generally considered to be the toughest learning environment in the world, it’s hard to see how the Gunners can expect to compete on a week-to-week basis.

Seven of the players who appeared on Saturday in the shock but somehow not unexpected loss to Manchester City were 23-years-old or younger. With a combined 122 EPL starts between Cesc Fabregas (56), Robin van Persie (26), Emmanuel Eboue (13), Emmanuel Adebayor (13), Johan Djourou (8), Justin Hoyte (6) and Theo Walcott (0) it would take a very brave punter to throw down some cash on them winning anything for at least two seasons. Obviously Wenger is betting that his youngsters can mature in the course of the campaign much like Sir Alex Ferguson and his fledglings did way back in 1996 when Manchester United won the title.

Die hard supporters will also claim that once the defensive injury crisis that currently bedevils the side becomes a distant memory, all this frailty nonsense will disappear however other than Lauren (152), inexperience defines the Arsenal back line as crocked Philippe Senderos (31), Gael Clichy (19) and Abou Diaby (9) have only 60 starts combined. This is why I believe the second roll of the dice by the Gunners will have season lasting ramifications.

The Ashley Cole saga is now in its ninth month and it has become a ‘must win’ situation for the Arsenal board. The poker they are playing with Chelsea over the valuation of the England international is reaching critical status and with the transfer window about to close funds are desperately needed to buy a top quality defender.

Supposedly the Gunners want close to $50 million dollars for their left back – in all honesty an extraordinary amount of money for a defender. The Blues though despite their riches are equally determined not to be taken to the cleaners and appear to have the ace card in that they do not need Cole after signing the versatile Dutch international, Khalid Boulahrouz as well as enjoying the benefits of a fit again, Wayne Bridge. There is a wild card in all this wheeling and dealing though and that is William Gallas.

The Frenchman has fallen foul with Jose Mourinho and it seems his Stamford Bridge career is coming to a close. I believe that it is imperative for Wenger and Arsenal to make a deal and bring the vastly experienced 29-year-old Gallas to North London while sending Cole to West London with a somewhat reduced fee.

A central partnership of Kolo Toure and Gallas is a sturdy proposition and with a few extra million lying around, the Professor can make his usual foray into the European transfer market and make those unknown signings he is so apt at doing.

Whatever the outcome though, in my mind Wenger and Arsenal are gambling for today in the hopes of a big payout tomorrow. It’s Vegas, North London style!

Until then, get the beers in.