Arsenal were sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League  not long ago but we now enter March with them four points adrift and only in second place because teams below them have games in hand.

Arsene Wenger will no doubt blame Stoke’s physicality and the referee for his teams defeat today, but the Gunners failed to threaten the Stoke goal enough to cause real problems.

But why have Arsenal slipped? Has the pressure grown on them? Are the fans demanding too much? Let’s take a look.

Lack of January transfer business

Wenger is renowned for keeping his hands in his pockets during the transfer window but surely this January was the time to spend.

Top of the table, still in the Champions League and FA Cup – why not go out and buy some quality?

A striker was a must and their reliance on Olivier Giroud is evident, but another centre back and a winger would have been nice too - Only one man to blame here surely?

 Losing their bottle

Today proved that Arsenal have not got the same steel as Chelsea and Manchester City when it comes to battling for a scrappy result. Arsenal don’t seem to do scrappy. Unfortunately for them you cannot win every Premier League game playing free flowing football and their lack of adaptability in pressure games has been their undoing.

 

Supporter’s expectation

A group of Gunners fans were calling for Arsene Wenger’s head after an opening day defeat to Aston Villa, but after the signing of Mesut Ozil that quickly died down. Again the fans made their feelings clear when Arsenal were booed off after drawing at home to champions Manchester United last month – so surely they need to lower their expectations? The Gunners fans celebrated finishing fourth like they had won the Champions League last season so what has changed?

 

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