Headed For A Heartbreak

Morning came and I was on my way, when you reminded me I had too soon forgotten, it was you who set me free -- Kip Winger

Something has gone in us, not in our attitude, but in our confidence -- Arsene Wenger

Another season that began with Arsenal amongst the favorites for a trophy haul in England and another season that looks to end in heartbreak. While the idea that this club - or any club in this footballing era - could think of a quadruple (Barcelona aside) was a creation by the English media that placed a phenomenal amount of pressure on this squad.

Over the past several weeks we've witnessed them lose to Birmingham in the Carling Cup final, suffer a men against boys defeat in the Champions League against Barcelona and now they have been eliminated by Manchester United in the FA Cup quarterfinals.

Their only hope remains catching that same United squad in the Premier league and overtaking them for a first league title since the 2004-2005 campaign. This is not impossible given the apparent shakiness of United. Yet, this could very well be impossible given the injuries that have piled up at Arsenal and there is without question a crisis of confidence.

The players are doubting themselves. They are doubting whether they have the resilience and the fitness. Questions should be asked of the physio room come the end of this campaign as to why there is such fragility up and down this squad every year.

But the physios are not currently under fire the way Arsene Wenger is. This is the man that has made his ethos the guiding force of a rich London club rather than get
sucked into the big spending that the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and now Manchester City are accustomed to.

That is not how Wenger believes you build a squad. He nutures players from a young age. He teaches them to play expansive football. Attacking football that can at times be so flowing and beautiful it is like they are alone on the pitch. Cesc Fabrega, Samir Nasri, Theo Walcott, Robin Van Persi and their cohorts ghost around the pitch with such grace and elegance that they deserve being dubbed the Barcelona of England.

But then they play the real Barcelona and are exposed. Or they play a team fighting relegation and are exposed. Exposed as being weak at the back, and unable to win ugly. Unable to scratch and claw to pull out the desperation winner like Manchester United have done so well over the past several years. Like Chelsea have done recently under Jose Mourinho and last season under Carlo Ancellotti.

Pundits, fans and journalists are calling for Wenger to be fired. The manager is in danger of going a sixth season without a trophy. What these critics fail to see is that if you remove Wenger the entire House of Gunner falls to the ground. To replace Wenger means bringing in a new manager that will require new players to fit his philosophy. It will mean mixing these players that have known only Wenger with someone that is not Wenger.

It means taking what he has been building and admitting defeat - admitting the system and players failed and telling them they need to start over. Make no mistake that is exactly what this would be. A relegation of sorts.

Wenger cannot go another season without winning something and yet Arsenal cannot function without him. This is quite the conundrum a giant club is staring at. Their current campaign looks destined to be headed for a heartbreak. If this turns out to be their fate it may be time to surrender.

Arsene Wenger has been a revelation for English football. He is an icon. But at some point the Gunner fans may be singing "I won't play your game and I won't play your fool."