There was a great deal of familiarity about the game last night in Porto. We’ve seen a lot of quick free kicks in Arsenal matches in recent seasons, and as such, the Gunners, of all people, should have been fully aware that it is something other sides can do. Evidently not. As for Arsenal players saving the opposition the trouble of scoring by putting the ball in the net on their behalf, we’ve seen it all before. And a little too often of late.

Against a better side than Porto, Arsene Wenger’s team would already be as good as out. In the event they do qualify from this round, logic dictates it is just a matter of delaying the inevitable. Arsenal will be taken apart in humiliating fashion by a superior side. One that has a goalkeeper worthy of the name, and some concept that the game of association football is about defending your own goal as well as attacking the opposition’s. The Gunners didn’t even manage the latter particularly well in Portugal. As one text from contributor Ian Henry pondered, ‘Is Bendtner on the pitch?’

Here are some others that reflect the events of the evening -
Ian Henry (again): Everyone will blame Fabianski for the goal but yet again a winger gets in a cross unchallenged. When will they learn to defend?
Ian Tanner: Professionals 2 Amateurs 1
Ian Henry (yet again): What a f***ing liability the keeper is
Garry Williams: Did the referee’s assist count in my fantasy league?
Garry Williams (again): Sol and Fabianski’s fault. Sick of Wenger putting up with sh*t players. Did you hear Fabregas at the end? He’s completely fed up. Would you blame him for leaving? He doesn’t deserve playing with these muppets.

Arsene Wenger stated before the game that Manuel Almunia had been playing through pain in recent matches. And for once, the Arsenal supporters can identify with one of the highly paid players, because boy, we’ve been feeling it too. Perhaps, having finally had a decent game against Liverpool, the manager felt able to ‘rest’ him without it being obvious he’d been dropped. Certainly, there have been many calls to give Fabianski a run in the team on the basis that he couldn’t be any worse than the Spanish waiter. Maybe we were wrong. The only conclusion that can be taken from last night’s 2-1 defeat is that the sooner Fabianski’s fellow Pole on loan at Brentford comes back, the better.

Yet Arsenal failed to buy Thomas Sorenson from Stoke in the recent transfer window. So the manager obviously knew he had a problem in this area. Word has it there wasn’t time to complete the deal as the sought after keeper couldn’t get down to London in time – presumably to complete a medical and sign the contract? Who knows. What I do know is that 31 days was long enough for this situation to have been avoided. At times, Arsenal have the turnover of a European giant, but the mentality of Ryman League part-timers. It’s sad that it’s come to this, and as one of the texts above states, no-one would resent the current skipper moving on to play alongside superior players.

Let’s go through the starting eleven last night and call a spade a spade. Let’s be honest about these guys.

Fabianski – Not good enough

Sagna – Out of form this season, but could contribute to a better team. Worth persevering with

Campbell – Valiant effort, but should we be relying on a player who struggled against Morecambe at the beginning of the season? His touch on the ball for the second Porto goal was unintended to these eyes, but the keeper should never have taken the chance of picking it up

Vermaelen – Good enough, no doubt

Clichy – Not good enough. Simply doesn’t block enough crosses and is a liability at full back. Beaten far too easily far too often

Diaby – Inconsistent, and ultimately, not good enough

Fabregas – Head and shoulders above too many of those around him. Painful to watch him in the same side as some of the jokers he is asked to combine with

Denilson – There is a ceiling to his ability. Wouldn’t look out of place at Fulham. How many times has he been called up for full international duty? Once. How many minutes did he get on the pitch then? None. Draw your own conclusions. Dunga sure has. Not good enough for Arsenal

Rosicky – Could be carried in a better team, but too much is asked of him in Arsenal colours at the moment, and he can’t deliver

Bendtner – The skied second half attempt kind of said it all. Not short on self belief, just basic ability

Nasri – What does he contribute? Nothing really. Just the idea that he is good, but really, the quality moments have been so fleeting. Not worth his place in the team

The subs were Walcott, Vela and Eboue. I won’t bother. Hell, they might as well not have.

So three or four out of eleven of the requisite quality. Fabregas talked of schoolboy standard football after the match. And Arsenal fans are paying top dollar to watch this week in week out. The manager has built this team, and his refusal to dismantle it leaves that privilege to the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea on a regular basis. We all want to believe in the idea that a great side can be developed that will dominate football in England and Europe for years to come, but there comes a time when even the most dedicated believer in what Wenger is trying to achieve has to face a reality that the manager will never admit to.

I have an occasional correspondence with a long time Arsenal follower who prefers their views to be kept between us, but I am going to break ranks for once and just reproduce a few lines from their email after the recent defeat at Stamford Bridge…