COMMENT: The stadium. The finances. Of course Arsene Wenger will leave Arsenal in better shape than when he arrived. But what about his brief? His actual job? What has he left the man who will take his office at London Colney?

As abject as Arsenal were at White Hart Lane on Sunday, the good money remains on Wenger inking that two-year contract he has in front of him and staying. Reaching the FA Cup final has (just about) made sure of that.

But if the unlikely does occur. If the manager, after 21 years, chooses to walk away. What does he leave the next man? And, in terms of legacy, how does that compare with what he inherited from Bruce Rioch over two decades ago?

That back five. Built by George Graham. The one of David Seaman in goal. Of Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Steve Bould and Nigel Winterburn. Could any of the current lot force their way in? No. Of course they couldn't.

And what of Graham's successor? Rioch. Pretty much airbrushed from Arsenal's history. But it was Rioch who convinced David Platt, after three years in Italy with Juventus and Sampdoria, to return home. And it was Rioch who helped Dennis Bergkamp, after his arrival from Inter Milan, to settle into the English game and London life.

That was Rioch's two pieces of transfer business. Platt and Bergkamp. Two genuine, world class players. Two players who wanted to be with Arsenal. Two players who Wenger would later lean on to convince others to move to Highbury. Patrick Vieira. Marc Overmars. Manu Petit. The presence of Bergkamp convinced them all about Arsenal - and to buy what Wenger was selling. Fast-forward to today and the club's two biggest names - Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez - are counting down the days before the summer market. They're running away from the club - not convincing their peers to run to it.

Yes, it was Wenger who helped the Gunners sign Bergkamp. The Frenchman recommending the Dutchman to good friend David Dein. But don't dismiss how important Rioch was helping Bergkamp settle in. Indeed, the player, himself, has always spoken highly of the influence the former Bolton Wanderers manager had on his first months in England.

"(Rioch) nursed, cajoled, and eased me into what was a different style of football, and made my family feel so welcome in England," says the Gunners great. "He talked me through the different approach needed to be successful in England."

So a back five as good as anything the club has ever seen. Two world class additions. A group of players - a group of men - who were champions of England just five years ago. Big personalities. There's no need to repeat them. That dressing room Wenger inherited is simply incomparable to what he'll leave the next man. The selfie boys? The team that never grew up? Bar one or two exceptions, how many would survive in a locker room of Adams, Keown and Ian Wright?

And what about beyond the dressing room? Arriving at Arsenal, Wenger was able to lean on Dein. He also had Ken Friar to count on. Two Arsenal men. Two men who never made pro, but were football men through-and-through - and at the top of their profession.

In terms of football nous off the pitch. Inside the boardroom. Who is there for the next man to turn to? Ivan Gazidis? Josh Kroenke? Again, it's bordering on insulting to compare them with Dein and Friar.

On the eve of Sunday's humiliation at Tottenham, there was an admission from Wenger on French radio. It was missed by many, but the Gunners manager did concede there were problems with transfer policy.

"We can improve our recruitment," said Wenger. "When we talk about Mbappé, we could have had him sooner. Players like Griezmann or Kanté were possible for us.

"We missed them, not because of our financial limit. We need to be faster when players are not on the lists for all clubs."

So cash isn't the problem. It's personalities. And it's an issue which Wenger, as the one, overarching football director at the club, must take responsibility for. But again, these problems have been allowed to roll on. That succession plan everyone keeps touting should include Wenger identifying - and hiring - a modern day David Dein.

But like so many of Arsenal's problems, these issues are being ignored. We mention Friar. He began working at Arsenal at 12 years of age. Rose right through the ranks to managing director. Was at the coal face of developing stronger ties with fans and the local community. Where's today's Ken Friar at Arsenal? How would the relationship between the support and the board be with a Friar as liaison?

Okay, okay, we do tend to look back with rose tinted glasses. Graham was ousted because of his bungs scandal. Rioch never could get along with Dein and struggled to win over a stroppy dressing room.

And as far as the financial bottom line, there's no comparing the Arsenal of 1996 to the one today.

But that's not why Arsenal exists. It's about football. And football people. And entering the club, all 21 years ago, Arsene Wenger had it a lot easier than what he'll leave his successor to deal with when he eventually walks away.