Show me someone who thought Arsenal would beat Atletico Madrid and I'll show you a member of the 'Wenger In' brigade.
Arsenal's only away victories since the turn of the year have been over Swedish titans Ostersunds, and the 7th place side in Serie A, AC Milan. It's also worth noting they played Ostersunds when they were basically in their off-season, and the side is currently 11th in the AllSvenskan table.
The problems at Arsenal began a long time before a ball was kicked this season, something Kevin Kilbane highlighted during his OTB AM appearance this morning.
Speaking to Adrian Barry and guest co-host Risteard Cooper, Kilbane said that Arsenal have been a different side since their successful periods in the late 90s and erly 00s, and that last night's 1-0 loss to Atletico shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
"That's what they've done in key games over the last 10 or 15 years. When they've had to go open sides up, when sides have defended deep and been disciplined defensively against them they've found themselves wanting, and that was the case last night again".
Kilbane went on to say that there has been a change in the culture of the players at Arsenal since Wenger's arrival, as the side no longer have the steel or grit that was associated with the players during George Graham's era, the players Wenger had initial success with during his early tenure.
"I think there has been a serious lack of discipline within the Arsenal set-up for a number of years now. I think he went into a perfect scenario where he had so many strong characters, real leadership within that group. A lack of professionalism, yes, but he had really strong leadership. I think that took him through to maybe the... Vieira, Petit, Pires, Ljungberg, the players of that era probably benefited from what was there before Wenger when he went in".
Kilbane, who played against the next generation of Arsenal players, post-Invincibles, simply didn't have the mindset of those who were there before them, and that they had an air of arrogance about them that the other tops sides didn't.
"That next generation, personally I felt they lacked professionalism, and I'm talking on the pitch. I'm talking about that real humility. I felt as well that there was a certain arrogance about them that...yes, you play against Man United, Chelsea, very, very good players, top players, but there was never that sense of entitlement that I felt was constantly there with Arsenal. I think that set in over a number of years, and I think that real discipline that was within other clubs was severely lacking at Arsenal".
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