So, the dust has just about settled on one of the most anti-climactic and disappointing nights for Arsenal in a long while. It was more disappointing than the defeat in the quarter finals at Anfield last season, the defeat at home to a Wayne Bridge inspired Chavski in 04 as well as the majority of other Wenger defeats. This is due to one simple reason. I can accept being outplayed, but it is the fact that we were so ridiculously outfought in all departments on the pitch, over the entirety of the tie, not just Tuesday night.

The early goals were obviously, and understandably a complete shellshock to everyone in the ground, especially due to the manner of them, coming via errors in quick succession, after a bright start. From then onwards, it was painful viewing. Of course no one expected us to fight back, but it was the apathy and helplessness of all our players, without exception, that was almost heartbreaking to watch. That 90 minutes, in a way, encapsulated the last four years under Wenger. He must now recognise that he has gone down the wrong route ever since the unbeaten season, which now feels like an eternity ago. I’ve always said he dismantled that squad far, far too quickly, and it has caused severe damage to our hunt for trophies.

Sure, we have produced fantastic individual performances and played with an unrivalled swagger, but we lack the muscle, the know how in the big games, and the passion. We lack players like Darren Fletcher, Essien, Flamini, even Gilberto. Speaking to a United fan after the game, we agreed the gulf in class between the sides over the course of the tie, was partially down to this painful difference in experience, and squad depth. Just compare the centre midfielders in the two squads, minus Cesc, we have Denilson, Song, Diaby, Wilshere and Ramsey. Compare that with Anderson, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Giggs, and that’s even discounting Hargreaves to return and the difference is clear.

We are always told that Wenger has copious transfer funds to spend, and the signing of Arshavin was a rare step in the right direction. Now, enough of signing the flair, lightweight players like Hleb, Rosicky, Reyes etc. We need a Gareth Barry, a Xabi Alonso desperately. Someone in that mould, to play with Cesc, who is one of our genuinely world class players would make us title challengers once again. It is forgotten now that last season with a player like Flamini in the squad, we were the frontrunners in the league until the beginning of March. So I do believe we are maybe one player away from a return to that mindset. Wenger just has to get off his high horse, and accept that Song, Denilson and Diaby are squad players and are not good enough to start every week for Arsenal.

To conclude, the news that Adebayor has said he will stay next season was the worst I got this week. I have ranted about his despicable attitude before, so I won’t again for fear of sounding like a broken record, but seriously when he says ‘Arsenal have made me into one of the biggest strikers in the world’, I hope he is referring to his height or muscle because surely even he is not as delusional to think he is one of the best strikers in the world. In my opinion, he’s not even one of the best in the Premiership, let alone in the world. I just wish he would shut up and leave. Maybe that’s a bit too harsh, but in positive news, I was reassured by Nicklas Bendtner’s recent comments ‘I know I can be one of the best players in the world, that’s why I take it easy’. You have to admire his self confidence, and to be frank, darn right stupidity. I say bring back Franny ‘fox in the box’ Jeffers. I miss him.