Despite fielding a strong side, the Gunners were dumped out as their poor finishing cost them in Sunday's 2-1 defeat at home to Watford
If this season proves to be the end of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, it is becoming a slow and painful death.
The Gunners were beaten 2-1 at home by Watford on Sunday in the FA Cup quarter-final to ensure Wenger’s side will not win an historic three FA Cups in a row this season.
Second-half goals from Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura sealed Watford’s victory to leave Arsenal’s season hanging by a thread and Wenger staring at the abyss.
This performance came at the end of a week in which Wenger came out fighting having irritably said he was “bored” of having to defend himself, claiming only God could satisfy Arsenal’s demanding supporters.
But the inertia at the club and in the players surely stems from the manager. Average thinking leads to average results, comfort breeds complacency.
The rot has to stop and that must surely mean changing the manager at the end of the season. Wenger has won just two trophies in the last 11 years and has failed to win the league title since 2004, while the supporters have made their feelings clear in increasing numbers.
Wenger picked a strong team including star players Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, but they let him down here as the embarrassments keep piling up for the north London club.
A late strike from substitute Danny Welbeck was not enough to prevent the familiar sound of boos from the home supporters at full-time – and Arsenal only have themselves to blame.
The hosts dominated the ball but, as so often is the case, they were punished for some woeful finishing and some equally horrible defending.
Mohamed Elneny and Joel Campbell were the main culprits in front of goal as they missed first-half chances, while Welbeck missed a virtually open goal on the turn as the Gunners frantically pushed for a last-gasp equaliser.
It was only in the final minutes, with the score 2-1, that Arsenal showed any urgency. Until then, they had looked completely out of ideas as to how to break down Watford’s stubborn defence.
It was too late and Arsenal’s season could now be all but mathematically over within a week.
Their traditional Champions League last 16 exit will surely be confirmed when they face Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Wednesday before they face Everton in the Premier League next Saturday knowing they cannot afford to drop points.
Arsenal are currently eight points behind league leaders Leicester and it is difficult to envisage them embarking on the kind of run needed to win the title given they have recorded just one victory in their last seven matches in all competitions.
Once again, Arsenal’s season is imploding in spring time having looked so promising just one month ago when they beat Leicester 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium.
Wenger’s time is running out and this time you sense that there will be no great escape.
- Goal