AC Milan 4, Arsenal 0: Introspection time

Gordon Flood

I really and truly thought that Arsenal had a chance to go into Milan last night, get at least a draw, and with a good break along the way, maybe even head back to London with the win and a valuable away goal or two. None of this was to come to pass, however, much to the chagrin of Gunners fans everywhere. Kevin-Prince Boateng's masterclass of a volley on 15 minutes made sure of that.

From the point when Arsenal went down 1-0 thanks to Boateng's goal of the round candidate, they just never looked like getting back into the game. This was a team that looked listless and even scared of the occasion, and with Robinho afforded far too much free space for his two goals on either side of halftime, Arsenal were resigned to their fate well before Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted a 79th minute penalty to add insult to injury.

Make no mistake about: this edition of Arsenal is one that truly, perhaps even fatally, lacks in any real grit, strength and resolve that can be relied upon when faced with the tall task of taking on the best clubs of Europe. Yes, they can still play it around a bit, look pretty in doing so, and put up an obscene number of goals in games against inferior opposition (as seen against Blackburn recently), but when opposed by a team that can take a game to them and not allow them to string passes together unabated, Arsenal simply crumble. Such examples have become far too familiar this season, ranging from the blowout losses to Manchester United and AC Milan to the damning lapse of focus in losing away to Swansea.

The standard set by the Arsenal squads of the early part of the century, especially the 2003-04 team that went undefeated in the Premier League, is one that was extremely high and just about unattainable for even the biggest clubs around the world, but however fairly or unfairly, the modern-day Arsenal continues to be judged against that benchmark. It's hard to blame the fans for this, as it's easy to become accustomed to winning with both style and aplomb.

With Arsenal seemingly showing that they can't compete with Europe's absolute best or even the title contenders in England (four losses in four games against Manchester United, Manchester City, and Tottenham in the league this season) with whom they used to bump elbows, now is the time for Arsenal to decide just what they are going to be in the future and where they are going to go. Are they going to be that team that looks attractive in simply playing for fourth year in and year out, or are they going to take the steps needed to become contenders again?

The lack of inspiring transfer activity, or at least incoming transfers, has drawn the ire of Arsenal supporters for years now, but it has to be said that after years of frugality not always displayed by clubs of their stature, there must surely be something in the coffers to snap up a dynamo of a defensive midfielder who can marshall the midfield and not allow them to look so soft as they have against quality opposition this season. While Patrick Vieira's ghost still lingers, Arsenal would greatly benefit from a player who is even half as good as him.

Finally, Arsenal certainly need to become less reliant upon Robin Van Persie and display the multifaceted threat they once possessed; it is telling that Mikel Arteta and Gervinho, both with four goals in the league, are currently tied for second on Arsenal's scoring list, some eighteen goals been van Persie's total. This point was made all the more glaring by the impotence of Arsenal's attack against AC Milan with Robin Van Persie rendered silent. With Thierry Henry now going back to New York, the likelihood of this scenario playing out again a few times before the season is out is quite high; never mind what would happen if Van Persie were to be injured again. Another true striker to go along with Arsenal's plethora of wingers is undoubtedly a must, but it's too late to do anything about that this season. Wenger is just going to have to play with this deck, this deck he has built, into May. Whether it will be good enough to qualify for next season's Champions League hangs in the balance.