Just what is going on at Arsenal?

A dejected looking Arsenal squad

What an awful week for the club. A 4-0 humiliation at the hands of a, let's face it, average side at best (they are certainly not on a par with their former teams) and then getting dumped out of the F.A Cup by a revitalised Sunderland team.

Richardson after his brilliant but somewhat fortunate strike

In fairness before a ball was even kicked a lot of Arsenal fans I spoke with knew the writing was on the wall, but nevertheless I'm sure they must have been faintly optimistic of at least clinching a draw and clawing through at home in the replay.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I've always admired Arsenal - as much as the banter will slip in when they get beaten, 8-2 is a scoreline that will live long in this United fans memory. The thing is I just no longer see them as a rival. In the past United vs Arsenal games were some of the biggest crunch games of the season, now, more often than not, Arsenal fade into a whimper against United. There are no clashes and fights between Keano and Viera, no jumping smashes from Keown on Van Nistelrooy...there is little or no spark there at all and I think this is the problem for Arsenal, they simply lack that spark...anywhere.

United have often been labelled a one man team, whether it was Ronaldo in the past or Rooney these days (although were that idea comes from I don't know, if any one man has done it for United this season it has been Valencia) But truth be told Arsenal are far more of a one man team. Take away Van Persie, who thankfully for the gunners has remained injury free this season, and what do they have? Wilshire is still out injured and definitely one for the future, but not an instant replacement for Fabregas and Nasri. Arshavin looks like he isn't bothered...still, Chamakh - does he even play for them still? The list could go on. As good a prospect as your Wilshire's, Ramsey's and Chamberlain's are you need a spine to base it around.

Even Bale looked flat against Stevenage

I can see Spurs taking over Arsenal's mantle from this season, they also seem to play great entertaining football but I can't see them winning anything, especially if Redknapp does leave to take over the England job and the draw against Stevenage only goes to emphasise they still have a lot to learn. No excuses from them, the team they had out should have beat Stevenage easily end of story.

The battle for fourth place continues, but looking at the teams in contention I can't say any of them have earned that spot and Spurs look good for their third place position. How things turn out we will just have to wait and see but across the board the big clubs need to perk up their ideas if they have any chance of competing against the likes of Barcelona.