It has been a horror week for Gunners fans worldwide. A 4-0 drubbing at the hands of AC Milan in midweek was followed by a 2-0 loss in the FA Cup to Sunderland.
Effectively out of two cup competitions in days, already out of another cup competition (Carling Cup) and out of the running for the league title, it has been a season to forget for Arsenal.
The start to the season was horrific enough for any team anyway with only a draw and 2 losses in their first 3 games including an 8-2 drubbing at the hands of Manchester United. There is no doubt that the Gunners were hit horrifically by the loss of inspirational captain and midfielder, Cesc Fabregas to his hometown club, Barcelona in the summer transfer window, along with Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy to cash-rich Manchester City
Arsenal as it was, were quite a weak side with plenty of young, inexperienced players who hadn't been toughened up by the rigours of the Premier League. It is only down to the fact that Robin van Persie is in the form of his life and having a record goal-scoring season that the Gunners are still in the reckoning.
It is a shame really that Arsenal choose to have quite a shocker of a season on this, their 125th anniversary season. Mind you it appears anniversaries and farewell seasons don't bode well with the Arsenal - their last season at Highbury was probably their worst in the Premier League for some time until this one.
Arsenal's initial success under Arsene Wenger was built on a stout defence of course, with that famous backline of Adams, Keown, Bould, Winterburn and Dixon. Eventually those brave, courageous men had to retire and Wenger to his credit tried to turn Arsenal into a modern day Ajax with pleasing and eye-catching football.
Unfortunately, while the players were hired to play that, the defence was somewhat neglected even with the likes of William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre signed. It's not just the players at the back that makes a defence good - it's also down to the midfield and for all of Nasri and Fabregas' invention and creativity, they missed the hard nosed tackling of Patrick Vieira in his prime. Matthieu Flamini was close to emulating his compatriot and Arsene Wenger's most fatal mistake may have been to let Flamini leave for AC Milan.
Arsenal have played out of their skin over the last couple of seasons at home and in Europe - they were of course the first side from England to beat Milan at the San Siro, but this season, Arsenal just haven't been good enough to measure up to Europe's best. And at this stage it is still hard to see them make the Champions League for the 15th consecutive season.
And as this Liverpool fan would say, it's a tricky hole to climb out once you're down.
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