Skysports.com picks the bones out of the best talking points from this week's Champions League action.
Skysports.com picks the bones out of the best talking points from this week's UEFA Champions League action
Arsene Whinger
It's difficult to envisage Arsene Wenger ever applying to become Lord Sugar's Apprentice but more and more his post-match briefings are resembling ugly episodes in the boardroom.
After Tuesday night's humiliating defeat to Braga the Frenchman ignored the fact his side were dire from start to finish against a side they'd dismantled 6-0 in September and instead launched a withered tirade against the 'useless' match officials. Nearly as useless as your side's defending, Arsene.
Few would disagree with Wenger's assessment that his side were dealt a rough hand at key times in the match, Carlos Vela's booking for simulation after being butchered in the penalty area was laughable, but in failing to take responsibility for his side's failings he's starting to come across like some sad sack middle manager in a nylon suit who'll do anything for that 'six-figure salary'. He'll be tucking his jumper into his strides next and saying it's all the PM's fault. Like we didn't know that already.
The cliche of Arsenal not liking it up 'em is as tired as being amazed at Matt Cardle singing a girl's song in a falsetto, but they do still desperately need a goalkeeper who commands his penalty area and a dominating centre-half.
Add to that his picking of Cesc Fabregas despite his captain clearly not being fit and subsequently picking up a more serious injury and the small matter of failing to win a trophy since the Osmonds were top of the hit parade, it's no surprise a growing swell of Gunners are beginning to question whether the club have settled for a lack of silverware in return for pretty football and a healthy bank balance.
Messi magic
Signing an initial contract on a napkin in the restaurant of the Pompey Real Tennis Society in the Montjuic district of Barcelona in 2001 was one of the most significant agreements in the history of Catalan football.
The unusual accord secured the future of Lionel Messi and neither club nor player have looked back since, with the mercurial Argentine scoring his 150th goal for the Spanish giants in Wednesday's 3-0 win in Panathinaikos.
Cluj coach Sorin Cartu also demonstrated on a Perspex panel of a dugout that he packs a significant amount of power and accuracy in his feet, while Cristiano Ronaldo continues to earn plaudits. But Messi's phenomenal pace and purpose, combined with the rare personal traits in modern football of humility and good grace, mark the 23-year-old as undoubtedly the greatest player of his generation.
It is difficult to offer much more praise for a player who first opened his account against Albacete on 1st May 2005, however, Messi seems intent on continuing to amaze and he has now scored a staggering 15 goals in his last nine matches.
Rooney renaissance?
Never did a player need a goal more than Wayne Rooney at Ibrox. Reinstated to Manchester United's first XI on Wednesday night after receiving a mixed reception from the club's supporters during a cameo appearance against Wigan, the fallen idol looked nervy in the first half in Glasgow. It'll take a while for his touch to come back and against a side who parked the bus from the off, other than a header that flicked off the top of the bar, he was largely subdued. His winning goal from the penalty spot was empathically dispatched but let us not forget his only other goal for United this term, back in September, was also a spot-kick.
The major plus for Sir Alex Ferguson will have been yet another Champions League clean sheet. United have yet to concede in four group games, a feat that can only be matched by the Juventus team of 2004/05. A centre-half partnership of Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling would have given Rangers hope prior to kick-off but the youthful pair were solid throughout and comfortably kept a Gers side, who are admittedly hardly famed for their buccaneering abandon in Europe, quiet throughout.
Few will be buying a DVD copy of a match that was instantly forgettable but for Rooney it may just prove the catalyst in his bid to resurrect his soured love affair with United's supporters.
Stylish Spurs
The memories of Jimmy Greaves, John White, Dave Mackay, Danny Blanchflower and company are flooding back down the Seven Sisters Road.
Tottenham's comfortable 3-0 victory over a wretched Werder Bremen team on Wednesday night at White Hart Lane secured a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League and has sparked flashbacks to the club's heydays in the 1960s.
A cruel European Cup semi-final defeat was suffered at hands of Benfica in the April of 1962 but it has been suggested that Harry Redknapp's current crop are now ready to produce achievements to compare to the most illustrious outings from their club's past.
Spurs look unstoppable at home in the Champions League and, after a victory over Dutch champions FC Twente and a blistering destruction of reigning kings of the Europe, Inter Milan, the demolition of Bremen offered another indication of continental calibre.
Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon are producing old-fashioned British wing-play to tear defences apart and, if indeed the glittering Sixties are back in style, Spurs fans will probably be happy to accept the irony that they could struggle to repeat last season's fourth-placed finish in the Premier League.
