Arsenal lose aura of invincibility

ONLY A couple of months after Arsenal were being compared with some of the greatest club sides in footballing history, there is growing evidence that Arsene Wenger’s diamond geezers have a least one, if not several, serious flaws.

On their day, there can be little argument that Arsenal are the most forceful and attractive attacking side in Britain. On an off day however, their defence is prone to panic and even functioning at their best appears unable to function as a cohesive unit.

The protection afforded to the back four by Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva is paramount to Arsenal’s success but that superb partnership papers over the cracks in the defence, and when Sol Campbell is not playing those cracks can become chasms.