I’m not sure what hurts more now. The team’s poor displays in every area of the pitch or Arsene’s post-match press conferences, which sound more and more like the utterings of that veteran of post match nonsense, Steve McClaren.

Arsene’s latest quote following a 1-4 defeat by Chelsea:

“I still feel I was more worried in February when we were drawing 0-0 without creating a chance. On Sunday I feel we created the chances and had an interesting game. When you see that in a team it's always easier to correct what doesn't work defensively; if you don't create chances you are always more worried.”

Translated into plain, honest, real-world talk, the above transcript might read something like this:

“We are not as bad as we previously were, but we are still bad. On Sunday we created chances where previously we couldn’t, but the end product is nevertheless still the same; zero or little reward for our efforts, which frustrates the hell out the watching, paying fans. When your team cannot defend and your forwards cannot score, you have the situation that if by luck or a rare piece if individual brilliance you do score 4 goals, you are guaranteed that quality opposition will bag an equal amount because we cannot defend to save our lives, however much I talk up this collection of individuals.”

Do you remember when Middleborough lost 0-7 at Highbury in 2006? Steve McClaren was interviewed by MOTD and tried in vain to spin a 7-0 defeat into a positive experience for his club’s younger players:

They're the future of Middlesbrough football club. And this is an experience they'll always remember."

In terms that are often too increasingly akin to the mutterings of Steve McClaren, Arsene talks consistently of mental attitude. Based on performances throughout the season (4-4 Spurs, 0-2 Villa, 4-4 Liverpool, 1-3 Man Utd, 1-4 Chelsea) is that a delusional attitude of the mind that Arsene is referring to?

Fans will always debate the rights and wrongs of the “beautiful game”. But this season’s undercurrent of poor displays have transmitted to the stands and fans are now bickering with each other and coming close to exchanging blows, a scene I’ve witnessed all too often recently. Fans know things aren’t right, despite Arsene’s vain attempts to tell us otherwise.

But what really counts is not what the fans think, but what the players think individually and collectively as a team. Deep down, does this team of players believe they are good enough to win the Premiership, to win the CL? Surely not. Or are they as deluded as Arsene?

Arsene might look to kid some of the people some of the time. But his days are numbered if he thinks he can kid all of the fans all of the time. Ask Steve McClaren.