Arsenal Warning: League Cup Trip To Manchester Means Nothings - Stoke City Are The Focus Now

If a team of Wenger's kids manages to beat Mark Hughes' frustrated draw-specialist superstars, it could signal more potential for the future, more hope and more dreams.

But in the cold light of day it is still just the Carling Cup. It is a pleasant diversion from reality; nothing more, nothing less.

No, the topic this week for Arsenal fans is, without a shadow of doubt, how to recover from the Chelsea crushing and keep this season on the rails. And that means, once again, reflecting on what the revered, respected and widely admired Arsene Wenger is going to do... 

The match that matters is going to kick-off at the Emirates on Saturday when Stoke City are the visitors and, even if he pretends he does not see it, another defeat could signal serious panic for the manager.

One important fact must be noted: Stoke City are ninth on 20 points and if they win at the Emirates Stadium they will move to within two points of erstwhile title-challengers Arsenal... 

Obviously, in the circumstances, it is a massive match for the Gunners, as most fans have acknowledged already. It also ushers in arguably the most critical period of Wenger's time as manager because the following weekend Arsenal go to Anfield to visit currently fifth-placed Liverpool after a midweek trip to face Olympiakos in Athens.

Hence, if Stoke are not beaten by a confidence-boosting display, the trip to Merseyside could turn into an unpleasant experience for everyone from north London. If Arsenal's season did not reach a turning point last Sunday, it certainly could do on December 13 - unless Stoke are crushed with real conviction.

Reinforcements are needed, as everyone knows, but that is only a solution if other problems are addressed.

They are: 

1) Does Wenger know who to buy and will he have the money to buy the kind of players required?

2) And even if he does, will he allow the team to shift its style to become competitive in the major crunch fixtures that require force as well as finesse?

My feature on Monday provoked much debate, but nobody argued with the basic need for greater experience, height, power and strength in the Arsenal team - though, sadly, many felt that the club are more interested in money than medals.

Here is one interesting example of the reaction: "Fans have every right to complain. Arsenal are being stingy with money and when we need to buy experience, we get another kid psychologically controlled by Wenger to play inconsistently! Chelsea can play confidently without a manager; can Arsenal?

"Even fans can be psychologically controlled by Wenger's words. The Chelsea game is a reality check. This team is being built cheaply and, psychologically, without the one thing we need - experience!" (ddd uk)

Clearly, it raises questions about Wenger's methods; most notably about the theory that he has so much control and power over the team's tactics, style and performance, that many of the players, as individuals, lack the individuality and mental strength to react differently when something different is called for. In other words, the manager's own inflexibility, his blind spots, have been coached into the team, too.

Didier Drogba's dominance of not only William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen, but most of the action on Sunday, was clear to everyone - yet Wenger chose to go into denial on this and instead damn Drogba with faint praise. He also suggested Chelsea were not the runaway favourites for the title that their performance demonstrated, repeatedly arguing that because he is "convinced" so everyone else should be. Why?

Wenger's achievements in his decade at Arsenal, his revolutionary zeal for progress with conditioning and preparation, his zen-like devotion to passing football and his likeable personality, dry humour and good manners have earned him enormous respect and deservedly so. But he is not always right.

Yes, he has proved himself to be one of the greatest scouts in the history of English football and has consistently introduced little-known players who he has transformed into established stars; but he has also signed a few flops.

Yes, he has created a style of play at Arsenal, which has helped to transform the club's image from that of an institution of dour traditionalism into something like a global entertainment brand; but that progressive change has resulted in a fragile, if beguiling, creation.

And, yes, he has saved money along the way; but at the expense of lifting a trophy in four years and winning the Premier League in five.

These last are, unfortunately, plain facts. Just as it is a fact that Stoke's visit on Saturday will be a serious examination - not of Arsenal's flair, style and talent, but of the team's resolution. A win will not solve the problems, but it will at least avert a crisis. For now... 

Tim Collings, Goal.com UK