Rome was not built in a day.

And Arsene Wenger faces a massive task if he wants to see Arsenal transformed into the biggest club in the world during his time at the Highbury helm.

The Gunners boss clearly believes, and rightly so, that his current side have all the makings to break Manchester United's dominance of the domestic game.

Wenger is also convinced that Arsenal, playing some of the most scintillating football since he took over in 1996, can emulate United's treble-winning exploits of 1999 to put the London club firmly among Europe's elite.

Add to this the prospect of a new state-of-the-art 60,000 stadium, and the future looks bright for Arsenal.

"I just want to take the club as far as I can," said Wenger.

"And like at every big club it is a construction - there is a scaffolding you build up and up and up.

"The club now has recognition in Europe but we want more and there is still a lot to bring.

"We want to become the biggest club in the world.

"If you look at the potential of Arsenal with the new stadium, you cannot say you want to be the second best in the world."

Missing trophy

But most would acknowledge that it takes more than bricks and mortar to build a football club.

Sustained success on the pitch and commercial success off it are the ingredients vital to any club aspiring to greatness.

Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United, Inter and AC Milan, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Ajax have all, at one stage or another, set the standard for others to follow.

All have won the continent's greatest club prize - the European Cup - on more than one occasion.

Yet Arsenal have failed to make the final, let alone win the trophy since its inception in 1955.