Rooney's right, Arsenal are a distance from the Premier League's great teams - for now

The laughter from Theo Walcott and Gabby Logan's nod to Wayne Rooney 's rapid response masked what was seriousness behind the latter's comments.

In front of the Amazon Prime cameras, Walcott curiously asked Rooney how he would compare the current Arsenal team to the Champions League -winning Manchester United side he played in.

The answer was immediate and emphatic.

"We'd batter them," Rooney replied instantly. "I think we would, I have to be honest."

Though he laughed, Walcott will know there was no humour intended from Rooney.

He meant it, and with good reason.

Manchester United 's 2007-08 vintage was Sir Alex Ferguson's last great side, and arguably his best. Between 2007 and 2009, the Red Devils won three consecutive league titles and reached back-to-back Champions League finals.

Cristiano Ronaldo claimed a Ballon d'Or. Rooney and Carlos Tevez tormented teams. Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Edwin van der Sar stood firm against any opposition.

The first of those European deciders saw Chelsea edged on penalties in Moscow, a fixture famous for John Terry's shootout slip at a rain-soaked Luzhniki Stadium.

That season saw United outlast Chelsea in the Premier League title race, ending the campaign two points clear of the West Londoners.

Fine margins, but both in favour of Ferguson's side.

Until Arsenal can get over the line when the pressure is really on, talk of parallels between Arteta's side and the Premier League pantheon are premature. For three straight seasons, Arsenal have finished as Premier League runners-up.

Fine margins, but against the Gunners.

Last season, Arteta's men lost to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals. Arteta argued his side had been the better team over two legs , though it mattered little. PSG progressed on route to a maiden European crown.

Arsenal , right now, are the favourites both at home and in Europe. The North Londoners boast a seven-point lead in the Premier League , while they've qualified for the Champions League 's last 16 with a perfect record. Their impressive 3-1 win at Inter Milan made it seven straight wins in the Champions League for the first time in club history.

Encouraging, no doubt, but the big prizes are handed out in the spring.

This is the best Arsenal side since the Invincibles and may even achieve something that famous team never did, if elusive European success arrives at the Emirates this season.

Arsenal are a good, perhaps potentially even a great, team. But not every great team wins, nor is every winning team great. Winning is what truly writes a legacy.