Young gunners breaking new ground

(CNN) -- Some observers are calling it the greatest display of football ever seen -- and for those privileged enough to have witnessed it, there can be few who disagree with that opinion.

Arsenal's 7-0 Champions League destruction of Slavia Prague not only had fans and pundits alike reaching for the record books, but also for their dictionaries, looking for new words to describe the standard of football on display at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Manager Arsene Wenger has long advocated his version of the beautiful game, modeled on the total football of the great Dutch side of the 1970s, and during his 11 years in charge Gunners fans have gorged themselves on a style of play never before seen on British shores.

Wenger has led Arsenal to three titles and four FA Cups, as well as two domestic doubles, breaking records and winning new friends along the way. The 2002 side went unbeaten away from home all season, while the 2004 champions matched that feat, but remained unbeaten at home as well -- the first English side ever to go through the season without defeat.

Yet, despite the trophies, the accolades and the glory of all the proceeding seasons, what Arsenal are achieving now is threatening to take the club to new, even greater heights.

Top of the English Premier League with eight wins and a draw from nine games, top of their Champions League group with three wins out of three, Wenger's hungry young lions have now won their last 12 matches and are closing in on the club record of 14 wins in a row -- a feat even the "Untouchables" of 2004 did not achieve.

Don't forget, this was a team being written off in the summer following the sale of talismanic striker Thierry Henry. Critics were labeling them too young and were castigating Wenger for his lack of signings.

Written off by the bookmakers, many experts believed Arsenal would struggle to even hold off big-spending north London rivals Tottenham for a Champions League place.

How ironic then that just 24 hours before the Gunners overpowered their Czech opponents, Tottenham were losing 3-1 at Newcastle to remain firmly entrenched in the Premier League's bottom three.

What sets this Arsenal team apart from Wenger's two other great sides is the sheer youthfulness and togetherness of the players.

Wenger's first double side relied heavily on the famous English back five of Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Bould and Adams, inherited from George Graham, blended with the canny signings of Patrick Vieira, Marc Overmars and Emmanuel Petit.

The second side had the huge experience of Vieira, Sol Campbell, Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp, added to the goals of Henry -- all top international players, performing at their peak.

But this team is different. Tuesday's side had an average age of 23 and, with the exception of captain William Gallas, not one of the players on show was a top name before Wenger spotted their potential.

And make no mistake, this is a real team. For all the headlines the magician that is Cesc Fabregas or the raw talent that is Theo Walcott will make, there are players proving themselves to be just as vital to the Arsenal cause.

Mathieu Flamini's emergence as Fabregas' minder and midfield sidekick has left Brazilian captain and World Cup winner Gilberto Silva kicking his heels on the bench. Gael Clichy's unlimited engine at left-back has meant fans have quickly forgotten about Ashley Cole, while Alexander Hleb's nimble feet and ability in tight situations hastened the departure this summer of club legend Freddie Ljungberg.

Perhaps scarily for their rivals, seven goals were scored on Tuesday without injured top scorer Robin Van Persie or Croatian Eduardo Da Silva -- who cannot find a regular place in the side despite lying second with 10 goals in the Euro 2008 qualifying scoring charts.

An indication perhaps that now they are freed from the shackles of Henry's huge presence in the dressing room, Arsenal's young guns are sharing out the goals between them.

Wenger is still playing a straight bat and is keen to not get over-excited by his team's current form. Admittedly the Premier League table has a lop-sided appearance with six of Arsenal's nine games having been played on their own pitch.

Their next opponents are Liverpool at Anfield, with Manchester United the visitors to north London the following weekend. Should Arsenal come through those two fixtures unscathed, it would take a brave man to bet against them finishing this season without a major trophy. E-mail to a friend