The team of 2003-04 used to start the match flying out the traps and were 3-0 after half an hour. On the 24th August 2003 Arsenal were 4-0 to the good on 60 minutes against Middlesbrough at the Riverside

I do not usually like to attach blame to our manager because he is usually correct in almost everything that he decides to do at our football club.

Last season we came to a crucial period in the season and collapsed when it really mattered. This season we are in big danger of imploding once again.

Our players have alot of confidence in their ability and alot of that is down to the manager. Wenger gets players used to his way, his structure, his vision of playing football and then he makes them believe how good they are.

Arsene Wenger is stubborn in his beliefs and does not like to go against what he stands for. This team has grown over the last few years and has surpass 99% of peoples expectations but now they are in this position they will not want to fall away.

Every team has lack of form and confidence levels drop. I can understand that and fully appreciate that players like Fabregas, Adebayor, Hleb cannot pull out top level performances in every game and in every circumstance.

But what I do not like to see is commitment and urgency levels drop. Arsenal have won 1 match in the last 5 games. That team was Ac Milan, last seasons Champions League holders. Arsene Wenger’s side went to the San Siro and showed great desire, commitment and urgency and played Ac Milan off the pitch from practically the first minute.

The word I would like to concentrate on is ‘urgency’

I have heard Arsene say that the players need to be patient and keep playing even when we are losing. He has said this many times and I understand what he is saying. But against Aston Villa, Blackburn and Middlesbrough we approached the game in 1st gear barely reaching 2nd gear.

Against Middlesbrough I looked at the clock and it was 75 minutes, I saw Cesc jogging with the ball playing a short pass to Hleb who turned back to Clichy who then played it back infield. All infront of the Boro defence and not looking like we were trying to win the game.

Far to often we look like we 3-0 up when the score is 0-0

The team of 2003-04 used to start the match flying out the traps and were 3-0 after half an hour. On the 24th August 2003 Arsenal were 4-0 to the good on 60 minutes against Middlesbrough at the Riverside.

I used to complain that we took our foot off the peddle in games where we could score more goals but how I wish we could go back to those days.

Alot is made of Arsenals late goals this season, pundits talk about the fitness of the Arsenal players being the reason for this but I disagree. The reason for this is because the players only seem to ‘try’ after 75 minutes.

Is Arsene Wenger to blame for this? Is it the players who try and win the match in first gear to conserve their energies for another game?

In a way this issue is similar to Rafa Benitez’s rotation policy because it causes the same problems results wise.

We have been the better team in at least the last 4 matches (arguably Villa were the better side a few weeks ago) and need to eradicate this from our game for us to be consistent in winning trophies.