IF ARSENE Wenger is the 'Professor', then this is his laboratory.

This is the place where the Arsenal manager puts his plans into fruition; the sanctuary where he spends countless hours plotting the downfall of his Premier League and Champions League rivals; the nursery where he polishes raw gems into diamonds.

This, my friends, is the place where stars are made.

Welcome to Arsenal's headquarters at London Colney.

Built at a cost of ??pounds;30 million ($78m) in 1998, the football training centre was painstakingly designed by Wenger.

Till this day, only a privileged few have been allowed into the exclusive compound.

Earlier this month, The New Paper was given a rare glimpse of the facility.

The moment you stand outside the main entrance, you get the feeling there is serious business going on behind the high steel gates.

Intimidating, with a tinge of awe and respect.

A huge sign warned autograph hunters not to wait for players outside the gate.

'Players are not allowed to stop to sign autographs. This is not their decision,' it emphasised, absolving the Gunners stars of blame.

Probably another directive from the protective Wenger, one might guess.

An authoritative voice crackled at the intercom machine at the gate, asking you what business do you have here.

HIGHLY SECURED

Only after the security personnel are satisfied with you answer, will the steel gates creak open.

The moment you enter, you realise you are in a highly secured compound.

You look around: High fences, grilled windows, patrolling security personnel carrying walkie talkies, and cameras - countless of them.

You realise you are being watched.

Countless close-circuit television cameras scrutinise your every move.

The high level of security is enough to put some Detention Centres to shame.

Why build an Alcatraz around a football training ground?

A 25-year-old security official - who only wants to be known as Tim - says Wenger is wary of spies.

'Nobody is allowed free and easy access around the place,' said Tim, who has been with the club since 16.

'Especially the media. The gaffer is very particular that his methods are not being exposed to outsiders.'

That explains why no members of the media are allowed to watch the first-team train.

Very few fans and guests are granted the privilege to attend the first-team's training sessions.

And even when they do attend, they only get to watch a token 15 minutes of the session when the players are just limbering up or jogging.

The serious training is done away from public eyes.

In the quest for glory, there is just no room for error. Every bit of advantage is crucial. Wenger knows that too well.

'Don't wander too far off by yourself,' warned our guide Sean O'Conner, who is also the facility manager of the London Colney training ground.

'You don't want to get into unnecessary trouble if you enter the wrong room.'

Touche.

At nine in the morning, Wenger was the first to arrive for training.

The Frenchman pulled into the first-team car park in his silver Lexus.

It is obvious he has not forgotten his coaching stint at Japanese side Grampus Eight.

Then, veteran German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann arrived in his Porsche Carrera 911. He was followed by midfielder Tomas Rosicky in his Mercedes SLK, who parked beside his former Dortmund team-mate Lehmann.

Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia was next to arrive.

He was about to park beside Rosicky, but stopped abruptly when he saw Lehmann's car was there.

The Spanish goalkeeper slammed his foot on the accelerator and sped off to the other end of the carpark, far away from his German arch rival.

The bad blood between the pair, it seems, continues to boil.

Third-choice goalkeeper Fabianski arrived for training in his Audi SUV, followed by defender Phillippe Senderos in his Ranger Rover.

The young Swiss centre-back, who reportedly is suffering from depression, was clearly troubled as he hardly breaks into a smile as he walked past us.

ALLEGIANCE

Then, a sleek black Maserati came roaring in.

The car door opened and it was a dashing Mathieu Flamini, Ray Ban shades tucked above his forehead.

That was just days before he signed a four-year deal with AC Milan, but it was already clear where his allegiance lay via his Italian sports car.

As we tried to ask the players for photographs, O'Conner stopped us.

'You are not allowed to stop the players for pictures or autographs,' said our clearly irritated guide.

'They have to rush for training.

'And don't take the pictures of their cars. We don't want any paparazzi or fans stalking our players on the road.'

Too late. We had already snapped a few shots of the star-studded car park at London Colney.

High security, indeed.

But, how else to tell this security story best than by breaching it.