GERMAN GLORY FOR ARSENAL AND WHAT IT PORTENDS

In the wake of Germany's victory over Argentina, joyous scenes unfolded in the middle of the Maracana pitch; Per Mertesacker, a late substitute, danced with surprising dexterity to the tune of the hip hop music blazing around the Maracana speakers. Mesut Ozil, who had produced his best display of the competition, had his shirt nabbed by a starstruck Michel Platini. Lukas Podolski, meanwhile, let his young son take penalties in front of the cavorting German fans. The next generation is already being groomed for success. 

In France 16 years ago, a flowing move saw Patrick Vieira provide the pass for Emmanuel Petit to score the third goal in Les Bleus' World Cup final victory over Brazil. The next morning the Mirror tabloid ran with an unforgettable headline, "Arsenal win the World Cup". There will be no such claim this time, but the gunners certainly made their presence felt. The success of the German contingent merely adds to the optimistic mood around the club.

It began with the FA cup win in May, a victory that snatched away the albatross that had hung around Arsenal's neck for nine years as buttressed by Mikel Arteta during the recent Arsenal Kit launch: "It's a different summer when you win something." Players were able to head off on their holidays with a medal in their cabinet and a spring in their step. The exceptions, of course, were those players who had business to attend to in Brazil. Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's FA Cup-high might have been somewhat dampened by England's poor showing this summer. However, most of the Arsenal players involved enjoyed positive tournaments. Olivier Giroud and Laurent Kosielny contributed well to the French cause, starring in a resounding victory over Switzerland during the group stage, while Joel Campbell impressed for the Costa Rican upstarts.

And then the Germans, Podolski, Mertesacker and Ozil return to London with another medal for the collection. Winning is a habit and these boys are getting into the groove. once they have rested their weary limbs, their return to training will give a sense of triumph to continue to linger over London Colney. Ozil must be particularly delighted. His decision to move from Real Madrid to Arsenal was widely questioned, but less than a year later he has won both the FA Cup and the World Cup. It's inevitable that a player with his price-tag and reputation will attract scrutiny, even criticism. However, it's far easier to deflect that carping when you can point to a healthy collection of silverware. 

For Ozil and Arsenal, it's very much a case of 'so far, so good' -- but it ought to be better. Arsenal fans will hope that next season he takes to the field with the swagger befitting a World Cup winner.

The good mood around Arsenal has been reinforced by the acquisition of another World Cup star in Alexis Sanchez of Chile. A year after Ozil's arrival, the signing of Sanchez signals Arsenal's intention to kick on again. The FA Cup is not enough for this illustrious club, they want to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League and are finally prepared to spend big money to do so.

Arsenal are with momentum, with Arsene Wenger due to return from his sojourn on the beaches of Rio, preparations for the new season will begin to ramp up. Despite the inevitable glowing atmosphere at the training ground, Arsenal still require further reinforcements ahead of the new season. The club must act decisively to ensure that the summer of 2014 is remembered as the start of a glorious era rather than a brief window of respite.

SEYI OWOLABI

PATRIOTIC NIGERIAN, LIFELONG ARSENAL SUPPORTER AND A BANKER BY PROFESSION

An African All-Star for the World Cup

The thought of having the entire African continent under a single government, a 'dream' nursed by the Late Mammar Ghadafi of Libya, that African countries come together ruled by a central government wherein a single currency (as with the Euro) will be used; whilst also encouraging a shared commonwealth of resources -seem a grand plan, but needs no soothsayer to know it's failure before fully hatched. A sample of this failed experiment in Africa is the separation of Northern and Southern Sudan. The federation of Nigeria is threatened by this seemingly ugly farce amalgamation of totally different cultural beliefs and religious background.

Watching the United Kingdom Football team at the last Olympics in London dates our minds into a fantasy of what would have been if players like Kenny Dalgish, Ian Rush of the Liverpool 1980s fame were to combine their skills with Gary Linekar and John Barnes in the World Cup. To the present times of Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale in the same line-up as the current young budding stars in the England set-up.

 The performances of African teams in Brazil, still sparks the flame of errors of the past years. The mistrust between players and administration over bonuses got even more notorious, giving way to a more sophisticated accusations(?!) of match-fixing. The soccer talents has been on decline on the African continent, with the last of the golden generation of Cote D'ivore going almost into retirement without achieving together as a team. Cote Divore failed Africa, they were the HOPE, the Spain of Africa. The only bright spot for the African contingent  has been the performance and tenacity of the Algerian team (sorry Nigeria). 

OK then, how about maximizing the potentials of the tit-bits that make up the five representatives from Africa. The players will be happy to do business with FIFA directly over their bonuses. No Maigari, Bwalya, Nyantakyi or Uncle Hayatou to 'safeguard' bonuses...How about having Enyeama(Nigeria) in goal, with  Omeruo (Nigeria), Nkoulou (Cameroon), Halliche (Algeria) in the DEFENSE. Asamoah (Ghana) and Serge Aurier as WINGBACKS. Onazi (Nigeria), Feghouli (Algerie) and Yaya Toure holding fort in MIDFIELD. Emenike (Nigeria), Gyan (Ghana), and Slimani(Algerie) making up the attack. The pace of Ahmed Musa and Gervinho would have stretched opponents in the second half, the experiences of Odemwingie and Drogba on the bench would add depth to this fantasy team. Coached by who? the very pragmatic Jose Mourinho. This is the team ... Africa let's give it a GO.