Life’s a Pitch: Another Arsenal crisis

Going into last weekend 21 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United and embarrassingly knocked out of the League Cup by League Two side Bradford, this season was already shaping up to be a testing one for Arsenal fans. But the FA Cup exit to Blackburn and the footballing lesson the Gunners had handed out to them by Bayern Munich in the Champions League have taken things to a new low.

Arsenal’s chances of overturning a 3-1 deficit in Germany are so slim they’re barely worth considering, so now the prime focus for Arsène Wenger’s men is to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League for the 16th consecutive year. No mean feat, given the number of likely contenders.

Speaking after the Bayern loss, the Life’s a Pitch team struggled to find positives in an increasingly bleak situation. The Mirror’s John Cross wondered where on earth Arsenal go from here, while the Sunday Mirror’s David Walker reckoned only a £70m splurge on two or three top-class players this summer could transform the Gunners.

But is Wenger the man to lead the revival? No, says the People’s Dave Kidd, who likened the Frenchman to Brian Clough in his desperate final season at Nottingham Forest, albeit for very different reasons.

Even before the Bayern masterclass, Mike Calvin had seen enough and outlined his five reasons why Wenger ought to call it a day this summer.

And when the time does come for the Frenchman to leave the Emirates, John Cross hopes he gets the respect and recognition he deserves for what he has achieved at Arsenal.

Despite the opening of the summer transfer window seeming light years away, the rumour mill is well underway. Our pundits ran the rule over the juiciest transfer gossip, assessing the likelihood of rumours ending up as done deals.

Expert pundit videos

“Where on earth do Arsenal go from here?”

The Life’s a Pitch team assess the fallout from a calamitous week at Arsenal and wonder what under-pressure Arsène Wenger should do next.
Crossroads >

“Wenger should be carried out of Arsenal as a hero”

The Mirror’s John Cross is dreaming of a happy ending for Arsène Wenger at the Emirates, but argues that the Arsenal boss needs to change a little first.
Respect >

Iturra to Liverpool, City eye Cavani, Spurs keen on Eriksen?

Liverpool, Man City and Spurs are making plans for next season already, but are Manuel Iturra, Edinson Cavani and Christian Eriksen likely to be part of them? The Life’s a Pitch team take a good look.
Transfer talk >

Arsenal in for Jovetic, Benteke to City, Villa after Deeney?

The Life’s a Pitch experts discuss which moves Arsenal, Man City and Aston Villa are considering ahead of the summer transfer frenzy.
On the move? >

Lively opinion blogs

Five reasons why Wenger should leave Arsenal this summer

With Arsenal’s trophyless run set to reach eight years and counting, Mike Calvin suggest why it’s time Wenger stepped down.
Time to go >

Van Persie the main reason why Ferguson has eclipsed Mancini

Ed Malyon looks at how the respective transfer business conducted by Man Utd and Man City last summer determined their title fortunes this season.
The key signing >

In-demand Laudrup unlikely to stay at Swansea for long

Mike Calvin believes instant success and a history of changing clubs will see Swansea boss Michael Laudrup leave south Wales sooner rather than later.
Soon to be leaving? >

How Everton wasted their chance for a Champions League push

Adam Bate is puzzled over Everton’s inability to bolster their squad in January for a top-four challenge, given the struggles of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool.
Missed opportunity >

Visit Life’s A Pitch

The football website for big interviews, expert pundits and blogs from the UK’s top writers.

Visit Life’s A Pitch