Seriously, Arsenal’s defeat to Nottingham Forest is no surprise. Fans are furious – and rightfully so – but very few thought losing was out of the question.
Because for too long, Gunners fans have had to put up with the mediocre. Forest won today because they took the game to Arsenal and it is a game that sums up the last decade of football at the Emirates.
At this point 10 years ago, Arsenal looked good for the Premier League title. Manchester United had Cristiano Ronaldo but that did not matter. Eduardo, Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor was a trident with enough firepower to land them the title.
Then Eduardo got injured and the wheels came off. And now, 10 years later, Arsenal have never recovered. Mentally, in particular.
In pubs and bars around the country you will find an Arsenal fan who swears to you that, had Eduardo not suffered a horrifying injury against Birmingham, they would have won the title.
But the truth is they would have more silverware if Wenger was the one on the sidelines – permanently. Watching from afar. As a spectator. Rather than ruling the roost.
Arsenal have some majestic players in their side and have done in the years since their last title tilt. Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette is a strikeforce good enough to be challenging for the biggest trophies on offer.
But they don’t. Challenge, that is. Arsenal are never mentioned as silverware contenders these days, even if three FA Cup wins in four years suggest they should be. Wenger deserves credit for that at least.
But the feeling the Gunners can be beaten on any ground at any moment is also down to the Frenchman. Arsenal are nothing compared to the Premier League’s elite nowadays.
The 68-year-old has lost his aura and this chastening defeat against Fores is another nail in his coffin. You will find it hard to find fans insisting they stick, rather than twist, in the wake of this defeat.
His recent ramblings about refereeing conspiracies have done nothing to help his cause. Leaders emerge from setbacks always hellbent on righting the wrongs next time out. Arsene Wenger needed a response today and did not get it.
His team selection was nothing short of bizarre. Sure, Arsenal have the Carabao Cup to focus on. But can they really be confident of scooping the prize when Manchester City will likely lie in wait in the final?
Because, as earlier in the season showed, Arsenal are far from City’s level. Nobody is, but the Gunners are really, really behind.
Is it a loyalty thing keeping Wenger at the Emirates? Do club chiefs really think he is worthy of sparing just because he has won them three trophies since 2004?
They shouldn’t do. They really shouldn’t do. Because at clubs like Real Madrid and Chelsea – where the axe falls more often than many would realistically want – they reap the rewards from being so trigger happy.
Real have had 13 managers since the turn of the century. Even though Barcelona have been La Liga’s biggest force in the time since, Los Blancos have still managed 26 trophies in that time.
Chelsea, too, have always replaced managers at the right moment. Antonio Conte is their 13th since the turn of the century. The Blues have won 18 trophies in that time.
Then there is Manchester United, who continue to pick up trophies despite losing arguably the best manager of all time. Three since 2013 is not great but still better than Arsenal’s three in 14.
Even City, currently blossoming under Pep Guardiola, always seem to upgrade rather than settle for what they have. Roberto Mancini was great but lost the plot. Manuel Pellegrini then steadied the ship. And Guardiola is now the man lucky enough to have the best team in the country at his disposal.
Arsenal are wrong to have such blind faith in Wenger, if that is what you can call it. How long fans have to suffer remains to be seen but it is painstakingly obvious a change is needed.
And the board need to make the right decision. You cannot charge the most ridiculous of ticket prices when Arsenal players – and Wenger – give the fans precious little to see.