Presence. It’s a fine underrated album by Led Zeppelin. It’s also something Arsenal used to possess in spades. Lukasz Fabianski sure doesn’t have it. In the current edition of The Gooner I asked for goalkeeping coach Gerry Peyton to be given his P45. However, if Peyton did enforce the view last summer that a goalkeeper had to be purchased as the two contenders for the jersey were not good enough, then it is the manager who should get his cards. Who knows the truth outside of the club? But the bottom line is that the frailty in the position has been exposed so many times this season it’s become a standing joke, or at least standing until there’s a gust of wind. Then it’s flat on its arse.

After defeat at Blackburn, I have serious concerns about third place. Certainly, if Spurs win on Wednesday night at Eastlands, I can see nerves playing a part when Fulham visit Arsenal next Sunday. Wenger’s team could seriously be looking at a qualifying tie to make the Champions League the way things are going, and I wouldn’t even rely on them to win that.

The Highbury Spy sent a text after the match which read: ”I think the players have stopped playing for Wenger. That’s really serious. I’m very worried about keeping Wenger for another season. It’s over for him but no-one at the club will take responsibility for it.”.

It was something of a shadow team that took the park at Blackburn, but despite many of them not being automatic first choicers, they are paid handsomely to play for the club as and when required. Yet there is something missing. There is little sense of unity. I’ve stated before that lately the side have looked like a disparate bunch of individuals and saw nothing to disprove that in the 2-1 defeat. It was painful viewing, and the vast gaps in the away section reflected the fact that many could see such a performance coming and had no wish to waste their bank holiday travelling up the motorway to endure it.

In his press conference leading up to this match, Wenger stated, “We have a basic squad and I believe in the squad I have. But if I can make an addition – two or three maximum – then we will do it.” I have to hand it to him. With a large collection of relative dross in the squad, he’s done well to get the club to the last eight in Europe and have supporters believing for a while that Arsenal could actually challenge for the title. But at some point, reality had to dawn. The run of wins after the defeats at home to United and away to Chelsea gathered pace and for a while, it looked like momentum could actually carry the team to the 13 wins in a row that would give them a final tally of 88 points and the title. But players were rested at Birmingham ahead of the Barcelona first leg, resulting in the run of victories coming to a halt. The wheels then came off big time, unless you count a last minute home victory over Wolves as a satisfactory result. Once hopes of reaching Madrid were done and dusted, the players seemed to lose interest in the season completely, going by their lack of discipline and questionable attitude.

To say the squad only needs two or three additions is living in cloud cuckoo land when at least a third of the players are patently not good enough. One fears that the manager has been allowed to run things his way for so long he has become delusional. The question for the board is whether they are prepared to tolerate the lack of trophies (and the attendant drop in commercial income) in return for healthy balance sheets. Going on past form, the answer would seem to be indisputably yes. So we can expect more of the same, with a contract renewal for Wenger.

But things have gone seriously stale. Towards the end of George Graham’s reign, the players had heard it all before and by and large stopped playing to the level they were capable of. The same with Terry Neill. And Bertie Mee. There comes a moment when it is best for everyone to move on and remember the good times. If Wenger does only buy two or three players this summer, what is going to happen in central defence? Are Gallas, Campbell and Silvestre all going to be awarded fresh contracts? I’d take the first two, but for the life of you, can you seriously see Gallas accepting the one year deal he has been offered? It has to be assumed the wages will be less than the staggering amount he blackmailed the club into paying him in 2006. Of course not. He will be off to Italy or Spain where they don’t have hang ups about defenders in their 30s. And on that note, remember a bloke in his 30s called Tony Adams? Won two doubles after passing the big three o. Crap wasn’t he?

Arsenal have had poor luck with injuries this season, but isn’t that a permanent state of affairs these days? And on that basis, shouldn’t the club – the third most valuable in the world apparently – be able to afford a squad that can compete over the course of a season? The manager told shareholders last autumn that his team would win something this season. The last time I saw it, the Gunners were topping the fair play league. I could accept the recent defeats if I thought the players had given their all, but even when there was actually something to play for, the performances looked half-baked, lacking any real drive and thrust. Without Fabregas, the team are like a blunt instrument, lacking the wit and ability to break down defences.

Arsenal have lost nine league matches this season. In the top eight, only Liverpool have lost more. For all the promise of the season, when all is said and done Arsenal might just finish marginally ahead of Tottenham, but it will be by a hair’s breadth. Now if that isn’t indicative of serious decline, I don’t know what is. And worryingly, things might get worse before they get better.

Still, no need for concern. The manager’s content. The keeper position ”isn't an area that I necessarily want to strengthen”. So that’s alright then. He’s paid £6 million a year for that kind of wisdom. Arsène knows? He certainly knows something I can’t see for the life of me.