Most Gooners accept that the team are already building for next season, and can’t wait for January 1st so that the manager can start getting on with it. The league is all about getting in the top four. The Champions League will see a visit to Roma’s Stadio Olimpico after all but only thanks to UEFA’s goldfish bowls and over two months before the team would have chosen to be there. But forget the final. The FA Cup is the trophy Arsenal have the best chance of winning until Wenger inevitably decides to mix and match and weaken the already weak.

What the team needs is some new blood to re-instil some basic footballing principles. To put it bluntly how to win a football match. Until the right personnel are aboard, then every time the Gunners do win a match, the points, or cup progress, must be cherished. If the club fail to make the Champions League in 2009/10, the financial implications, although not disastrous, do mean that the wait to become credible title contenders again will be delayed even longer. And it’s painful being outside of the group of teams who have serious aspirations to do that.

Arsenal were fortunate enough to come up against a team with an even loopier manager than Arsene Wenger. Lacking pace, drive or wit, the first half was only remarkable in that Pompey were unable to take advantage of such a poor home display. More of the same in the second, until Carlos Vela was brought on and injected a little extra into the Arsenal attack.

The Gunners eventally put David James under enough pressure to force a late goal, and I was grateful for it. The performances don’t matter now. The more fundamental aspect of how to get into a winning position and then retain it is what is crucial.

But it is ironic that Arsenal are so light on the entertainment factor these days. It doesn’t matter to this viewer. Style is a luxury for when you are capable of winning. If you add it to the mix in certainty that it is part of three points, then it’s fantastic to see. But Arsenal have dropped so many stupid points this season, that the basics have become more important. What use all the flicks and tricks if half of the team have trouble playing a simple ten yard ball to a colleague accurately and at controllable pace?

Eboue was warmly applauded off yesterday. It was a generous gesture, but his play certainly didn’t warrant it. His form was typical, and his commitment questionable. There are others in the team like that though. It struck me during the game. You pay these young men such vast amounts of money that they seem to feel – in some instances – that running and harrying the opposition, or working hard to find space and be available for the ball – is beneath them. There was an instance where Arsenal won a throw on the right in Pompey’s half. Sagna went to take it and Nasri came short. But Eboue stood some ten yards behind the Dutchman and didn’t seem to be taking any interest in the throw. He was hiding.

Arsenal fans will put up with bad players if they see them give what they’ve got for the team. Too few of them are doing that at the moment, but they are on long contracts and highly-paid. What’s in it for them to bust a gut? Too often this season we have seen players effectively fail to turn up. And do so certain in the knowledge the manager will not drop them. That is why it is so difficult to win matches. That is why every point is now precious. Arsenal are playing with a self-imposed handicap.

If Wenger can get this bunch of unmotivated sloths into a top four slot come May it will rank up there with his greatest achievements. Because it is patently clear that so many of them simply don’t give two figs about the club. It’s a situation Wenger’s created. Go sort it. He's paid enough money to do so. The culture of complacency is alive and well in London N5.