Our academy hasn't "gone to shit" in any way. If you're saying that it's because you don't really know what you're talking about quite frankly.
Jonker, despite the so-called dodgy track record, did a very good job of repairing the mess Brady created in his final years in charge. We really had gone to shit by the time he left.
Today we have the best facilities in the country, good coaches - although we still lag behind the big spending Chelsea and City in that regard - and our teams perform amongst the best at pretty much all levels. Most importantly, we produce talent constantly. At a rate which is as good or better than any of our rivals, including the aforementioned Chelsea and City.
We have always been at the top in terms of producing players from Hale End - players that we educate pretty much from start to finish - and in the last few years we have committed more money toward the recruitment of talent from elsewhere. Our scouting has improved dramatically and we are willing to compete with the ludicrous sums Chelsea, City and United throw at 16 year olds - which has seen us catch up quick in that regard.
Whether or not Mertersacker will prove to be a good appointment or not, we can't sit here and say. Certainly calling the club a joke because of it is something I can't take seriously. Wenger has known the guy for 5 years now, I'm sure they will have only given the job to him if he had shown them he was the right man - it's not like they would have been short of suitors.
