Abject Arsenal need touch of the unexpected

IF ever there was a moment which encapsulated the glum air of resignation which has gripped Arsenal, it came towards the end of his stalest of stalemates.

Arsene Wenger’s side had laboured desperately for 85 mind-numbing minutes when the fans, fed up with seeing attack after attack founder on West Ham’s claret and blue rocks, began streaming for the exits. Joining the fed-up throng were a father and his young son, who were half-way up the steps when their team were awarded a free-kick in a promising position deep inside West Ham territory.

The youngster duly began lagging behind to see if his side could snatch a late winner. “No, we’re leaving now,” came the stern response from Dad. “They won’t score.” He was right.

There was a time, not so long ago, that the last word that could be associated with Arsenal was predictable. Even when their form has been patchy, as in the 2004-05 campaign when fourth spot was swiped from under the noses of Tottenham Hotspur on the final day, they played with some swagger and sass, scoring 48 home league goals and reaching the Champions League final.

Now, where there was once dash and verve, there is simply plodding banality. Hence a poor result against meek, also-ran opponents, which would once have prompted outrage in the stands and hysteria in the press box, was greeted with a mere collective shrug of the shoulders.

These are strange times in this corner of north London. Wenger had used his programme notes to praise Robin van Persie to the heavens, calling him the club’s “most complete team player”, and then dropped him to the bench, only dispatching him in the 68th minute, when West Ham were already well set.

Wenger claimed that he could not risk the notoriously fragile van Persie for the third time in a week, but the thought occurred that the Dutchman was being saved for the FA Cup fourth round replay with Cardiff tomorrow. Arsenal prioritising the FA Cup? If it was ever going to happen, this might just be the season.

If nothing else, Wenger’s team selection proved how limited Arsenal are in van Persie’s absence. They might have enjoyed overwhelming superiority in possession and chances but the fact remains that West Ham were largely comfortable: James Collins and Matthew Upson won everything in the air, they were well protected by a tigerish midfield and, when Arsenal did cause the odd moment of panic, their finishing was wretched.

Emmanuel Adebayor, that powerhouse of last season, now looks utterly hapless, slicing one effort wide from six yards after Bacary Sagna had, for once, cut back from the by-line, and then directing a header straight at Robert Green from Carlos Vela’s cross.

There was never a hint that Arsenal would supply one of those trademark late goals and, in the final reckoning, they were simply grateful that Aston Villa had failed to capitalise on the slip-up against Wigan.

This is a team crying out for creativity in the absence of the injured Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky and, while Andre Arshavin might provide an element of spark, it is surely asking too much of a player who has spent his entire career in the Russian league to single-handedly haul Arsenal back into the top four. As it is, the spectre of a fifth-placed finish — or worse — remains all too real.

“We’ve been in the Champions League for the past 10 years so it would be a big blow for the club and for the fans,” Gael Clichy, the defender, admitted. “The season is not finished yet but we will have to work hard now because I’m sure Villa will not drop many points.”

REFEREE: Steve Bennett (Kent) 7: Refused to be tricked by Carlos Vela into awarding an Arsenal penalty, correctly booking the Mexican for diving.

MATCH RATING: ** Nothing to stir the blood on a freezing afternoon. Arsenal laboured without van Persie, West Ham defended well but were depressingly timid.