I wrote a couple of months back following the Villa abortion whether it was time we, as Arsenal fans need to ask questions of Le prof, of his methods and of his policies if we are to stop going backwards as a team (something even the most staunch of gooners cannot deny at this point in time)

I just want to start firstly by saying how funny this here game of football can be. Despite all the recent Arse-related doom and gloom, I have to say that I write this in a somewhat joyous mood after Sunday’s footy.

I was in the middle of watching the snorefest that was the Carling Cup final when I decided that Lennon’s eyebrows were offending me far too much and that I needed to take a break. I thought I’d the Premiership scores. Villa were one-nil up and I wasn’t even disappointed because I wasn’t in the slightest bit surprised.

Back to the final and this time it was Nani’s face that wound me up so I had to change the channel again. This time, I saw that the final score at Villa Park was in fact 2-2. Cue uncontrollable joy. When I clamed down, naturally I realised the gap is still six points and Arsenal will more than likely draw (again) come the West Brom game but for about 87 seconds I was experiencing my most enjoyable footballing moment of 2009 so far.

That was soon to be surpassed as the cup final went to Penalties where as we all know, David Bentley screwed his penalty wide and ultimately handed another trophy to Man United and Sir Alice Furnaceface. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke.

People may say that as an Arsenal fan in current crisis-ridden times, I should be looking at our problems (which I will come to in good time) rather than those of others. To those people I’d say do one! If an opportunity for schenfreude presents itself you better believe I’m going to welcome it with open arms.

Anyway, to the point of this article. I listened to the Fulham game on T******** radio. Stan Collymore was on commentary and naturally because of his Villa allegiances was as smug as you like at the result. The topic of his post match phone in was whether Arsene Wenger should leave Arsenal following the result.

Now, on this point, I wrote a couple of months back following the Villa abortion whether it was time we, as Arsenal fans need to ask questions of Le prof, of his methods and of his policies if we are to stop going backwards as a team (something even the most staunch of gooners cannot deny at this point in time).

Needless to say the reaction not a good one. I was accused of not being a real fan and other such hurtful remarks that have at the heart of my reasons for not writing anything since then…

…no, actually it’s because I’m lazy but I digress.

The fact that I dared to question Arsene Wenger was and still is to some people is a disgrace. However, it’s no secret that the dissenting voices are increasing. The reaction at the end of the game will tell you that. Whether the booing is justified or not is not what I want to discuss but what cannot be denied is that there certainly was booing and that it’s no longer a minority who are doing it.

I’ve seen, heard and read a lot of knee jerk reactions over the past few weeks. But like the booing, these have increased and the questioning of Wenger’s stewardship has become more prevalent amongst even the most hardcore of Arsenal fans.

Having had time to think, many people will still be prepared to give him time to build the kind of team that strikes fear in the hearts of premier league teams once again. Many will not. Either way, I believe Arsenal are entering the biggest 12 months of Arsene Wenger’s reign.

Between now and the end of the season, this team needs to salvage what it can from what has been a dismal campaign and yes, it has been dismal thus far. Arsene needs to rally the troops, kick on in the league and hopefully launch an assault on at least one of the two cups in which the team are still competing.

The FA Cup run from here on looks fairly generous and while Chelsea and Man U are both still there, we’ve beaten both this season and are capable of doing so again if need be.

The Champions League may be slightly more challenging a proposition but this team’s ability to raise it for big games could mean a very happy day in May.

Villa are stuttering. Arsenal are unbeaten in recent weeks. One big win (Tuesday?) could help be the spark for a decent run and it’s not unthinkable that Villa could be overhauled.

But of course, this is all best case scenario. On the flipside, we could be surpassed by Everton in the league, suffer an FA Cup upset against Burnley and get our annual bout of Champions League inferiority complex which sees us losing to teams we should be beating (Liverpool, I’m looking at you!).

Right now, it looks unlikely we will make fourth and as for the cups? I wouldn’t put all my eggs into either of those baskets given the very nature of cup football.

So the season could more than likely end up in disappointment. In which case, the manager surely has to carry the can as it is he who has picked the players who would have led to the failure.

Basically, from May onwards, Arsene Wenger MUST delve into the transfer market to find players who are good enough and rid the club of those who aren’t (no need to name names. I’m sure people know who I’m alluding to).

The youth experiment, while noble in its intentions has not bore the fruit it once promised. Arsene Wenger’s primary objective as a manager is to bring success to the club he manages, not nurture young footballers. It’s no good him or anyone else coming out a preaching patience as going from serious title contenders last season to the realistic possibility of 6th place in just one year is not a sign of progress or development in anybody’s eyes.

How Wenger does business this summer will be key. With our main rivals all likely to strengthen, Wenger needs to perform some serious surgery on his squad in order to avoid falling further behind. This constant waiting for the youngsters to come good will be pointless if Arsenal are a mid table side by the time they do.

Next season, most fans will be expecting to be back in the title hunt hopefully and as we pass Christmas and move into the second half of the season, the team in good enough shape to sustain a serious challenge. If this means a bit of fine tuning during the January transfer window, then so be it. Of course, a Champions League campaign alongside the premier league would be ideal.

That would bring us right around. I don’t think what I’m suggesting is too far fetched and given our standing in the game, not an unrealistic aim. I don’t want to be here in March 2010 still hearing about ‘transition’ and ‘patience’. Arsenal have dropped at a steady rate (last season’s challenge proving to be the exception rather than the rule) in recent years and are in serious danger of falling away from the upper echelon of the Premier League for good. The need for improvement over the next 12 months can not be underestimated otherwise the voices calling for Arsene Wenger’s departure will undoubtedly get louder.