The Arsenal conundrum has been around for a lot longer than Mikel Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta appears dejected after the Premier League match against Wolves last month. Picture: Julian Finney/PA 

There was a film back in the 1930s called The Arsenal Stadium Mystery, a thriller in which a Scotland Yard detective investigated the murder of an amateur footballer during a charity match at Highbury; but these days it is the team rather than the stadium which is a mystery to most people.

The Arsenal conundrum is baffling everyone; from supporters to pundits and players to analysts. One minute Mikel Arteta’s side appears to be making progress — an FA Cup triumph against Chelsea, a Community Shield win against Liverpool, an EFL Cup victory at Anfield, a Premier League win at Old Trafford — all completed with a new defensive solidity and a youthful exuberance.