I’ve left it two days to pen any thoughts after Saturday’s debacle. I wanted to calm down first (I haven’t managed it as people keep wanting to talk to me about the game) and I wanted to see the reactions of the fans and bloggers (but I have no interest in the press). Above all I wanted to see whether there was any contrition from the manager for the abject failure of HIS players.

At Stoke they are rather old-fashioned and they announce the team line-ups before you actually see the players warming-up. The sense of disbelief as the Arsenal line-up was introduced was palpable amongst the travelling Gooners. I fully expected Diaby to play, but I thought he would replace Denilson. I hoped that Bendtner would play, but surely he would replace the completely ineffective (against Tottenham) Adebayor. To leave out Walcott, Nasri and Van Persie was bordering on the criminal. Wenger had used “freshness” as his excuse for removing those three players from the fray on Wednesday night which in itself, given the outcome, was inexcusable. To then leave those same three players on the bench on the Saturday was completely beyond comprehension.

When the game started Arsenal controlled the first ten minutes but hadn’t had a shot in anger – nothing new there I suppose. The minute Stoke won a throw-in you just knew what was going to happen. You knew that our defence wouldn’t attack the ball, and that our goalkeeper would stand on his goal-line and watch the ball sail over his head like a plane-spotter at Gatwick.

Arsene Wenger’s tactical deficiencies have always been there for all to see through our travails in Europe. But the long-throw is not that difficult to deal with if you have a plan. Arsenal’s plan was to pull all eleven players back to “mark” the five Stoke attackers. So why the hell was someone not given the job of attacking the ball wherever in the area it was going to end up? This is basic stuff, especially with Dracula in goal (can’t go near crosses). As for the way in which Stoke win these throw-ins via long-punts from the full-back, surely playing proper wingers and pressurising said punts would have made a difference?

Even an opposition goal didn’t spark the players as it has in the past as Stoke dominated the remainder of the half.

The fact that Walcott’s introduction was only as a result of Sagna’s injury tells you all you need to know about Wenger’s views on the boy. He doesn’t rate him, even though he is probably (along with Clichy) our best player so far this season.

This performance was so lacking in desire and effort that Arsenal should be affording all of us with refunds for our tickets and travel. I keep seeing people picking on Denilson, but these supporters clearly haven’t been watching Arsenal live all season. Denilson may well be lacking slightly on the talent front alongside Fabregas, but he was one of only three men on Saturday (the others being Sagna and Clichy) that showed a willingness to put it on the line for Arsenal FC. Fabregas seems to be above criticism from the masses, and “is a victim of the lack of signings” – this statement may be true, but his lack of form and lack of effort since Christmas last year is criminal.

One of the worst aspects of Saturday was that, as soon as Stoke went 2-0 up, Wenger moved from his chosen position on the touchline (where he had stood since half-time barking orders) to hide in the dugout, leaving Pat Rice to pick up the pieces. What kind of message does this send to the players? Perhaps it’s the sort that makes your centre-forward get himself sent-off in the most childish and stupid act you’ll ever see on a football pitch. This reaction by Wenger sent some of the fans over the edge and lead to Arsenal supporters fighting amongst themselves because, of course, Wenger is above criticism isn’t he? Having said that, the little t*sser who hurled his beer bottle should be banned for life by the club as he probably hurt an Arsenal fan near the front.

So what now? Wenger must accept that his “experiment” has failed. He must spend the £30-odd million on a proper defender and a goalkeeper. He must play Diaby as the holding midfielder and stop leaving the lad to be embarrassed on the left wing. Between now and January we must see Djourou given an opportunity to stake his claim, and we must never see Almunia wear an Arsenal shirt again. If Wenger is consistent then Almunia will surely suffer the same fate as Lehmann last season, but that would mean admitting you were wrong wouldn’t it Arsene?