LONDON –

In most countries the leading international goal scorer and the player who has won most caps would be revered. Both would be held in the highest esteem, national legends admired by all.

If one player held the two most prestigious honors available at international level and broke the scoring record of the country's most popular club he could probably run for president.

So why isn't Wayne Rooney looked upon in the manner of other countries' record holders such as Pele, Cafu, Gigi Buffon, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lothar Matthaus and Miroslav Klose?

Players who break down club allegiances to win national appeal.

The Manchester United and England captain will win his 100th cap against Slovenia in a Euro 2016 qualifying tie on Saturday. Rooney has scored 219 goals for United and 43 goals for his country — he needs 31 and seven more, respectively, to break the club and international records, which are both held by Sir Bobby Charlton.

At 29, Rooney has at least three years in which to overtake Peter Shilton's record of 125 caps. Sometime in 2016 Rooney will probably be England's record cap holder plus his club and country's top scorer. That is some CV.

He should be a national hero, on everyone's list of true greats, yet he will never be as popular or respected as Charlton, Shilton, Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker or David Beckham, even with United supporters.

United fans cannot forget that Rooney has twice asked to leave the Reds, in 2010 and 2013, on the first occasion being rewarded with a mega-contract to stay. Fans have long memories and can never understand why a player would want to leave their club, be it Manchester United or Hartlepool.

Those England supporters who traveled to South Africa in 2010 were less than impressed when Rooney criticized them. As he left the field after a tepid 0-0 draw with Algeria, Rooney said to a TV camera: "Nice to see your home fans boo you, that's loyal supporters."

Rooney has been to five major finals with England, bursting on to the international stage at Euro 2004 when his youthful fire and enthusiasm saw him score twice against both Switzerland and Croatia, giving hope for even better things to come. Since then Rooney, and England, have flittered between disappointing and embarrassing at major finals, his contribution hampered by injuries and suspension for group games. In 15 subsequent Euro and World Cup finals he has scored two goals.

He opened his World Cup finals account on the third attempt when England was on the point of elimination in Brazil. In contrast, Lineker scored 10 goals in two World Cups, though the England teams he played on were significantly better than those Rooney has been part of.

Despite impressive statistics, Rooney's form over the last three years has been nowhere near the standard he set for himself when he would charge past defenders like a tank, thread a pass with precision accuracy and score goals most of us can only dream of.

Yet even far from his peak, Captain Rooney remains an automatic pick for club and country. While dissenting voices regarding his place in the national side are becoming louder, with Raheem Sterling, Rooney remains England's most potent attacking force.

Rooney's disciplinary record is brought up by his critics and he has been sent off six times in almost 650 games for clubs and country (Everton one; United three; England two) spread over 12 years. That is hardly the record of a serial thug, yet such is the scrutiny on Rooney when he saw red against West Ham in September there were absurd calls for him to be stripped of the England captaincy.

His good far outweighs the bad. Yes, he has made mistakes which he has acknowledged. Yes, his goal tally has been helped by playing against San Marino and other world minnows, a luxury his predecessors did not enjoy.

For whatever reason, Rooney has not been able to peak at major finals, which is how the top players tend to be judged.

However many caps and goals he ends his career with, Rooney is unlikely to be remembered as an all-time great. An all-time very good, yes, but not one to be placed alongside even those whose achievements may be less. Rooney's stats may contradict this, but his international contribution has been consistent though with few highs.

In the meantime, the would-be centurion remains England's best bet for a goal against Slovenia as the Three Lions continue their inevitable qualification for France 2016.

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MANY A TRUE word is spoken in jest, but the fan who said the only pleasure Arsenal fans have is watching Tottenham struggle and vice versa had a valid point. It has been a frustrating, underachieving season for both north London clubs and there is little evidence of improvement.

For Arsenal, it is another Groundhog Day campaign. Another failure to sign a commanding central defender and a holding midfielder who can dictate play.

Another season with the soft underbelly which has seen Arsenal drop a Premier League high nine points from winning positions.

Another season of inability to defend set pieces.

Another season when Arsene Wenger is unable or unwilling to make the sort of substitutions Jose Mourinho would impose to close down a game.

Another season without a realistic title challenge.

It is the same old story for Arsenal.

The Gunners led Anderlecht 3-0 and Swansea 1-0 yet failed to kill off either match, drawing one and losing the other. Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, PSG and the other top European sides do not let opponents out of jail.

Wenger's early teams had the mental strength, physical capability and tactical nous to keep their foot on their opponents' throat, but in recent years this killer instinct has vanished.

Arsenal can play wonderful football, and in Alexis Sanchez it has a striker oozing class, but Wenger's side has become a soft touch, incapable of beating the best teams.

Christopher Davies was a longtime Premier League correspondent for the London Daily Telegraph.