These are strange times in which to be a Gooner.

After nine consecutive seasons in the top two we are faced with the relative ignominy of a second year languishing among the chasing pack, feeding off the gold-plated scraps of a top four finish and Champions League qualification – never was mediocrity so highly rewarded.

With the memories of an unbeaten season and a titanic team still fresh in the memory, it is ironic that so soon after a team so strong it was able to pick itself, we find ourselves with a squad so weak that, in vastly different circumstances, too many players are guaranteed starters. When Wenger has tried to rotate, it has resulted only in the inadequacies of the squad being further underlined: The booing that Song received in the first half at Craven Cottage was not justified but it was inevitable, being as it was the culmination of a frustration that has been building ever since the last title was sealed over two and a half years ago.

And yet -

And yet we have in Henry, Cesc and Toure arguably the best players in their position in the Premiership (there are none better than Henry, there will be none better than Cesc; Toure remains vastly, inexplicably underrated). We have two of the Premiership’s most promising, dynamic players in Walcott and Eboue, and we have players of the highest calibre at their peak in Gallas and Gilberto. This is a spine good enough to win any Premiership or, arguably, Champions League. The reason they won’t win the Premiership can be explained by those players not already mentioned. Ljungberg, Rosicky and Hoyte are, respectively: past their best, injury-prone and as yet unproven, and unproven. No title team can carry passengers below their best; we are carrying a plethora.

The second group not mentioned – Clichy, Van Persie & Hleb – are handicapped not by their own merits, but by their merits relative to those whom they have replaced: Cole, Bergkamp and Pires. Yes, Wenger is building a new side, but the slow demise of Bergkamp and Pires was telegraphed years in advance. The departures of both Vieira and Cole were hardly a shock, either.

It is said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly but expecting a different result each time. With each of Wenger’s titles, he has relied too much on what has been achieved and too little on how to emulate those achievements. Continuing success is ‘Tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow’ but Wenger, seemingly content to hold what he had – and unable or unwilling to overhaul and refresh each successful squad - has reaped the harvest of ensuing failure each time.

Yes, these were world class players, devilish to find and hellish to replace, but expecting young players to fill their places is unrealistic whilst expecting ‘customers’ (or whatever we’re called these days) to pay increasingly exorbitant sums (both in Club Level and the ‘ordinary seats’) to watch a team assembled on the cheap is an irony that, without the succour of success, too many people might find too rich to stomach.

Lucky then that this Saturday saw Spurs at home. Nothing concentrates the mind more than the pure, distilled enmity of a local rivalry. Beating them has made the world seem a happier, more benign place. What a contrast from the feelings after the trip to Fulham.

Strange times at the Arsenal, indeed. Still, at least we’re not Chelsea.