Manchester United vs Arsenal: Humiliating Defeat Another Blow for Arsenal Status

Last week, I questioned whether or not the current state of Arsenal would have an adverse effect on the club itself.

Judging by the performance yesterday, it may very well happen.

There has been enough talk about Wenger being fired immediately. As much as I believe he should have been gone for some time now, firing him at this current moment will do no good.

I could go on with the reasons as to why that would not be a good move for the Gunners, but that is not the topic of today.

The future of the club itself is at stake. The status of the club is at stake.

For the last few years, the team has become an afterthought where success is concerned. The constant fight for fourth place seemed to be enough for the board, manager, and even some fans. The youth policy is a confused one and, considering Manchester United's lineup yesterday, a failure. The board is able to fill their coffers with the sales of big players, knowing that the manager will not spend even half that amount in return.

In a series of articles, another B/R author has looked into the changes of the club during the last few years. While I agree with the author's premise of selling ourselves into decline, and the need to clear out the deadwood, I do not necessarily agree with some of the future steps presented.

However, it is quite clear that the change in philosophy in the club has not been for the better.

This defeat was both historic and significant. The gulf in class between the teams was evident, regardless of the number of players missing.

Arsenal faces an uphill battle this season to stay in its habitual fourth place. This season could mark the beginning of an era for the club, and it is not a good era. While it may be too drastic to consider such a change in fortune already, it seems as if this is where the team is headed.

The season has to play itself out, and the team could well finish fourth, surprising as that may be at the moment.

The competition, the team (manager included), and the club itself are all factors that could result in Arsenal becoming a team that begins to annually fight for fifth place.

The Competition

Right now the top four will not include Arsenal.

Those spots are the property of Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool, in whatever order.

Manchester United look as good as ever and, with a very deep squad, they will be sure to  challenge on all fronts to the very end.

Chelsea plucked Juan Mata from Valencia, something that Arsenal could not—or would not—do. He has already made an impact, and with a seasoned squad, coupled with some new faces, Chelsea are perennial contenders.

Manchester City sent out a title warning with their thrashing of Tottenham, with Samir Nasri playing and integral part. Though they may not cope well with added pressure of the Champions League, they look to be a force on the domestic scene.

Liverpool continues to get better under Kenny Dalglish and, if and when Stephen Gerrard ever gets over his injury worries and returns to top form, they will be even tougher to beat.

Sadly, these teams to do not seem to be Arsenal's main competition the way this season is shaping up.

Arsenal could very well finish fifth but will have face stiff opposition in the form of Everton, Tottenham, and, possibly, Aston Villa. Yes, these clubs have not had fantastic starts to their seasons either, but they have generally hovered in positions five through eight throughout the years, and that doesn't look to change.

In its current position, Arsenal looks like it will battle for those places for the next few seasons.

I can understand the occasional third and fourth place finish, considering the teams in top six of the league, but is fighting for fourth place, or lower, every year enough?

Is this what Wenger envisioned?

No big club accepts losing for six years without shaking things up. Sir Alex Ferguson wouldn't.

The Team

It has all been said before regarding the team, so there is no need to spend much time here.

We need new players, quality ones, and there is basically no time left to get them.

The Park Chu-Young transfer, though somewhat distasteful, is a necessary one considering the African Nations Cup absences in January.

Where the Gunners need players the most is in midfield and defense, but moves for players in these positions are not likely.

The team that played at Old Trafford was missing players, but if the majority of the lineup was the second team, the season will be a long one.

The six starters who were missing, and the seventh player who is likely to get a good amount of playing time, will still need rest during the season. When, not if, injuries come up again, the fans will have to get ready for some bad results.

Even with a full-force team, can the Gunners finish better than fourth or fifth in the league? Chances of that are slim.

The Club Itself

It is unclear as to who really is in charge at the club.

Stan Kroenke has barely said a word to the fans, and probably to Wenger, too. He has taken over the club but has not given any sense of direction.

He may be too involved with the current NBA negotiations, which concern his Denver Nuggets team. He could just want things to stay as they were, knowing that he won't have to shell out too much cash, and gain a decent profit with Arsene Wenger in charge.

Who knows.

Ivan Gazidis seems too scared to really take Wenger on where transfers are concerned, making him basically useless.

Wenger has no one to take him aside and say how it is going to go. Oh, how we miss David Dein.

The rest of the board are probably satisfied enough with the money they receive that they could not care less what goes on among the three men above.

One can only wonder how things may have been different had Alisher Usmanov taken over the club. Money would have been spent for sure, but Arsenal need not emulate Chelsea or Manchester City.

I preferred Kroenke because I did not want a massive spending spree, but I did not expect no money to be spent.

This club has great history, but success, or failure, also breeds history. At the end of the day we, the fans, can only work with what we are given. After years of brilliance, we have endured years of frustration.

Frustration could become a common occurrence if things don't change.

If the youth policy continues the way it has, players leave the way they have, and the team performs the way it just did (scoreline aside), then success may not be synonymous with Arsenal anymore.

An unsuccessful club cannot call itself a big club.