The dangers this season, however, feel especially acute. Chelsea, Liverpool and the two Manchester Clubs have all made huge off-field statements in the last 12 months that has fuelled a sense of momentum that is sadly lacking at Arsenal. It prompts numerous questions.

The first policy that needs challenging is Wenger’s insistence on a minimum holiday for his players and his suggestion yesterday that his team not being physically fully prepared was almost out of his control. There are other potential solutions. Sir Alex Ferguson would often give his players mini mid-season breaks as recompense for a shortened summer holiday so that he could get them back at the start of the season.