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In the same way Arsenal's truncated summer dealings contributed to a disastrous start, the club's stalling in the January transfer window is threatening a fresh slump from which they may not recover.
The Gunners have been unfortunate to be struck by an injury crisis so acutely localised in their defence.
Arsene Wenger is also sensible in his assertion that acquiring new players is often a rash solution when patience with what you have should win out; it is a policy he appears increasingly likely to adopt this month as the Frenchman gradually abandons his plan to sign defensive cover.
Having begun the month intent on adding a player to offset the depletion at full-back, Wenger has, by his own admission, embarked upon a chase with a criteria that makes success virtually impossible. The advert is specific. 'Wanted: An experienced left-back able to slot in straight away on a temporary basis. Young players requiring time to bed in or those looking for a permanent deal need not apply.'
Few players fit the bill, especially in the winter window when individuals have selfish interests to reinvigorate their careers rather than choose the right club. Wenger has already called for the abolition of the dual window system and his consternation only enhances the likelihood there will no new arrivals this month. But while his search stagnates, so does his team. The damage done while Wenger waits for his injured players to return continues to increase at an alarming rate.
Arsenal are 10 points behind Tottenham in the race for north London bragging rights but of more importance is the four-point gap that has suddenly opened up between Chelsea in fourth place and the Gunners in fifth.
With Champions League football paramount for the club, the precarious nature of Arsenal's situation would force many clubs into expenditure as insurance against failure.
Not Arsenal. The debate continues as to whether Wenger has his hands tied by the board or the Frenchman's own stubbornness creates a myopia that does not allow him to address his team's obvious shortcomings.
It is hard to believe Wenger is blind to such frailty but, whoever is responsible, the club are playing a dangerous game in risking their top-four status through their inactivity. Enquiries have been made regarding Barcelona's Eric Abidal and Lyon's Aly Cissokho but both appear non-starters as loan moves have been ruled out.
Arsenal must find a solution and their scouting network is under pressure, as is the club's medical department to bolster an ailing back four. Manchester United visit Emirates Stadium on Sunday with Arsenal centre-half Thomas Vermaelen hoping to return from a calf problem - his inclusion cannot come soon enough. The panic that seemed to spread throughout Arsenal's defence yesterday - eventually contributing to the otherwise excellent Laurent Koscielny erring for Swansea's winning goal - is an alarming trait compounded by constant stopgap solutions in an ever-changing back four.
"It is difficult to understand what is going on," said Wenger. "We are a bit too nervous. We cannot panic every time they have the ball in the final third of the pitch. We have to show more composure and ambition."
Wenger answered one question in post-match press conference before getting up to leave but there are many imponderables regarding his team that the Frenchman cannot walk away from.
At the Liberty Stadium, the Gunners were outfought and outmanoeuvred. Arsenal led through Robin van Persie's fifth-minute opener and appeared in command until Aaron Ramsey was judged to have fouled Nathan Dyer in the box - the penalty was "complete imagination", according to Wenger, and Scott Sinclair dispatched the spot-kick.
Dyer then put the hosts in front before Theo Walcott equalised. But within a minute, Koscielny lost Danny Graham and the striker beat Wojciech Szczesny to seal the points.
Reader views (17)
wenger has slowly killed the club to the point that all hopes for is 4th place ...and NOT finishing in the top spot...he is a LOSER!! end of story, I think Wenger needs to go upstairs and Pat Rice ...thank you for your service...some of these players NEED to understand "who they are" ..."whom they represent" ..if not ..get rid of them....
- Mak, London, 18/01/2012 13:22
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I have been an Arsenal fan 40 years & I remain confused because of conflicting reports whether or current predicament is the fault of the board and, or manager. Depending on who or what you believe or read you take your choice of which or if both are culpable. Things have changed at AFC and not for the better. This change seems to me to have started at about the time David Dein departed. This may be coincidental. I can't say definitively.
Wengers stubborness/reticence increased. Contractual cock ups allowing players to leave either free or cheaply became the norm. It seems that even the number and seriousness of injuries to our players multiplied. Perhaps the frustration, soul searching and pulling my hair out has left paranoid and delusional! Who knows but surely every genuine Arsenal fan must agree that something is very very wrong in our beloved club and if it is not rooted out and dealt with ASAP then the future is bleak indeed. The fans must demand answers because the vested interests are happy with the status quo. Why I ask?
Do they really think that if we sit on our hands that financial fair play rules will make us competitive again? It's already abundantly clear that however welcome these rules are that they will be circumvented. Or is it that they believe that the noveau fan base/AKB brigade will remain loyal no matter what happens to the team? I wouldn't bet on it. I respectfully suggest the board shouldn't gamble on it either. Wake & smell the coffee NOW!
- Pat Healy, Portaferry, 17/01/2012 18:06
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To ASH London
I have been supporting Arsenal for over 55years , so who the hell are you telling to go away. Poeple like you are bringing Arsenal down because you are accepting failure and refusing to attack the failures that has been going gone at Arsenal for a long time.
With reference to you calling idiots, who regard Arsenal as top club shows how you know nothing about Arsenal.
Arsenal are a top european club but the arrogance of Wenger and people like you are not living in the real world of football. Those real Arsenal supporters want trophies and not excuses and second rate players like Squallaci,Diaby,Rosicky,Arshavin and Mertesacker.
Wenger is past and now he is failing in all departments so he must go.That is the reality of football.
- A,Messina, San Gwann- Malta, 17/01/2012 13:19
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BBD, Arsenal's faults are there for all to see but comparing them to Spurs makes little sense. Spurs last won the title over 50 years ago; the FA Cup over 20 years ago. With establshed stars or kids, where is Spur's success? Facts please; I thought not
- gaz, n7, 17/01/2012 12:35
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Ash, London, 17/01/2012 08:05
it's been 7 (SEVEN) years since you could say that - we may as well bang on about the 20th century if we're going to go that far back!
As for HR moving on to the England job - it will not be the end of Spurs because we differ from your lot in one important area - we buy players and are not deluded into thinking that we can win the lot with kids.
The only person that cannot get his head around that fact is the Grinch! Unfortunately, you and yours will have to continue dreaming as the stage is set for a long, long wait for silverware over at the Ashburton library! COYS!
- BBD, Enfield, Middx., 17/01/2012 11:31
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Arsenal have been going backwards for a few years but now they are running backwards.
The transfer policy of over the hill freebies or young cheap unknown kids is not working.
The wage structure attracts or keeps no one, look at Fabregas, Nasri, Clitchy etc. Wenger was interested in Cahill, where did he go !!!
Arsenl fans are the most patient in the Country, the club has won NOTHING for years and will not win anything in the coming years as long as Wenger runs the club as a money making business and not a football club in the results and silverware winning business.
Where does all the revenue from sold players and the 60,000 home gate money go ?
- Bill, Herts, 17/01/2012 08:34
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@ DavidtheSpur, Kent,England, 16/01/2012 13:17
As a fan, football is about dreaming, hoping and hopefully winning!!! Isnt that why you DREAM that one day your team will win the league? Just as Liverpool fans do...
@ BBD, Enfield, Middx., 16/01/2012 15:37
Your stats are wrong, we won the FA cup and finished 3rd in 2005 with Fabregas. Also we expect to win cos we're Arsenal, you will lower your expectations when Harry signs for England in the Summer and you're back to mid table mediocrity.
- Ash, London, 17/01/2012 08:05
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They've never won a thing since they let Cygan go.
- bw, london, 16/01/2012 19:02
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Arsenal are going backwards,thanks to the stubborn AW!
- Penny, Hornchurch, 16/01/2012 16:58
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It's becoming a shambles if it wasn't one already.
The word to describe it is Patronizing. The club is run like a corporation now. They probably sit there doing a cost benefit analysis of spending $30m to win $20m and say screw it.
But the 60,000 that go there every week paying the highest prices in the league are being royally screwed. When you are charged for steak and get given a burger then that is called being screwed.
The only aspect of it that is not wholly corporate is that if you and I were as ineffectual at our work as Walcott and Arshavin, we would be long gone. But then again we don't' have ridiculous contracts.
- Scott, Boston USA, 16/01/2012 16:20
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Where is Rob Gooner today ?
- DavidtheSpur, Kent,England, 16/01/2012 16:13
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Sundays like yesterday make Mondays all the more tolerable - especially when the Grinch (Wenger) fills the papers with his constant moaning and groaning about the ref.
Swansea were value for money and gave the gooners (and the Grinch) a pure footballing lesson - all the stats demonstrated that including the most important one (3-2)
Ash - you must be on something if you think that the Gooners are going to finish 4th and win the cup - you never managed that with fab the gas and that little pixie Nasri in your team - BA could fly a 747 (unnoticed) through your back 4 at the mo!
Lower your expectations (considerably)and look forward to finishing behind Liverpool and the Toon army (and maybe even stoke!) COYS!
- BBD, Enfield, Middx., 16/01/2012 15:37
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A.Messina makes some very good points. If Arsene Wenger is only willing to pay two bob for all his signings then it's just a matter of time before we end up with a two bob team.
Being an Arsenal supporter doesn't mean you should just accept every eleven players that run out onto the pitch each Saturday. I fel that AW has now lost it and needs to be replaced in May.
- GoonerPensioner, Islington, 16/01/2012 15:07
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Ash
DREAM ON - you will NOT finish 4th and you will NOT win the F.A. Cup. Wake up and smell the roses .
- DavidtheSpur, Kent,England, 16/01/2012 13:17
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Gooner Unit, your post disgusts me and I apologise unreservedly to all or any Spurs fans who are offended. Please crawl back under your rock.
- gaz, n7, 16/01/2012 13:11
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@ A.Messina
Who are you? Please go away!
Quote "Wenger has made the most negative results at Arsenal" - he has also led the club to numerous trophies, an incomparable invincible season, a brand new 60,000 seat stadium and CL football every Year, with a ridiculously tight budget.
Quote: "Arsenal has struggled with all the bottom clubs" - yet we sit 5th in the table.
There are flaws at the club and they maybe due to the owner and or management not having enough money, it seems most of these started when David Dein left, this is not Wengers fault. With regard to current below par performances, i admit they are not good enough, the injuries we have are unfortunate. We do need to be better in the transfer market, but lets be honest we cannot compete with most of the global footballing powerhouses on that front...
Good luck Arsenal and Arsene! Let's get fourth, win the FA Cup and progress further in the CL to shut idiots like this guy up!
- Ash, London, 16/01/2012 13:00
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Arsenal seem to be going on the same slump as when the league started. Wenger seems to have no idea how to handle this problem but instead arrogantly goes to the
press telling them Arsenal does not need to buy.
Arsenal has struggled with all the bottom clubs and failed to win most of them, which shows how poor Arsenal has become.
WENGER/ RICE MUST GO otherwise Arsenal will remain without trophies and lose several millions of pounds.
Wenger has made the most negative results at Arsenal.
Losing to MAN 8-2 tops the list.
With regards to buying , I would like to remind Arsenal supporters about Alvarez who INTER took from underneath Arsenal's noses because they are slow.His price has already increased by 5 Million pounds
- A.Messina, San Gwann- Malta, 16/01/2012 11:23
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