Arsenal: Inconsistency Continues To Threaten Title Challenge

After five years without silverware, many, including myself, felt that this was finally Arsenal's year to end that barren run.

Although they are still firm favourites in the Carling Cup, most Arsenal fans will only be satisfied once Arsenal lift the Premier League or the Champions League trophy.

But following Monday's poor showing at Old Trafford, Arsenal's title push has suffered another setback.

Although Arsenal are still second in the table, two points behind Manchester United who have played a game less, what is becoming a major cause for worry for Arsene Wenger is Arsenal's inconsistency.

That was already Arsenal's fifth loss of the season, the second away from home and they are only 17 games into the season.

Whenever Arsenal seem to be going smoothly or are in a good patch of form, they put in a poor performance that brings them crashing down once again.

The match against Manchester United is a perfect example. Arsenal were riding on the back of two wins and were sitting pretty atop the table.

What followed was an inept display at Old Trafford that reaffirmed the belief that Arsenal can come unstuck against a more tactically sound and organised team. Manchester United displayed, once again, that when Arsenal come up against a team that shuts out their quick passing game they struggle and lack any major threat going forward.

At recent times, Arsenal have found it difficult to put together a string of good results and many a time have failed to consolidate their position in the table.

Even when Arsenal do win, at times it is highly unconvincing. Although it is good to dig deep and win matches, it's becoming an all too regular phenomenon and Arsenal are struggling to finish off teams that are far inferior.

Against West Ham, for instance, Arsenal required a 86th minute goal from Alex Song to beat the team that is languishing at the bottom of the table.

This is not the only worry for Wenger: Arsenal's indifferent injury form and defensive fragility are causes of concern as Arsenal continue their push for the Premier League crown. Arsenal have already managed three losses at the Emirates this season, one more than they managed the whole of last year.

These losses have come against West Brom and Newcastle (both newly promoted sides) and eternal rivals, Tottenham.

In the matches against West Brom and Newcastle, Arsenal failed to turn up and were clearly the second best side; against Tottenham, Arsenal contrived to throw away a two goal lead and ended up 3-2 losers.

This type of inconsistency is putting Arsenal's title challenge in jeopardy. Arsenal are conceding too many soft goals at the back and are giving weaker teams the opportunity to beat them.

All is not rosy on the European front as well. Arsenal were apparently coasting through their group when two shocking losses to Braga and Shaktar meant that Arsenal would have to settle for second place in their group.

This also means that Arsenal will play one of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Schalke. Although Arsenal do posses the quality to beat any team on a given day it doesn't seem likely based on their current form.

But for Arsenal fans, the positive is that most teams are playing some bad football. Chelsea are a team in crisis, Man United are drawing too many, Man City are too unpredictable and Tottenham are not defensively strong.

Arsenal fans can also be pleased with Samir Nasri's scintillating form and the emergence of Fabianski. Arsenal do posses a world of quality and depth in their squad and with Vermaelen set to return, Arsenal can turn their form around.

Although it is not time to ring the alarm bells yet, if Arsenal don't bring about a change in their indifferent form, Arsenal fans will have to endure another disappointing season and ask what might have been.