Around the Arsenal training ground and squad right now, you really wouldn’t get the sense that they are a side under siege, badly in need of a win against Manchester City this weekend.

There is a good mood, the same "banter". It backs up something rather substantial that Arsene Wenger said on Thursday, in an answer to what is one of the biggest questions about the club right now, beyond the big question.

The Arsenal boss was typically trying to stifle yet more talk about his own future, only to say something rather eye-opening from discussing it. He claimed that the uncertainty over whether he will sign a contract extension is not affecting the team.

Arsene Wenger's worst Arsenal defeats Show all 8 1 /8 Arsene Wenger's worst Arsenal defeats Arsene Wenger's worst Arsenal defeats AC Milan 4 Arsenal 0, Champions League last 16 first leg, 2012 Another last-16 elimination, and another example of the tie being over before the second leg. A Robinho brace and goals from Kevin Prince-Boating and Zlatan Ibrahimovic meant Milan took a hefty lead back to the Emirates. The Gunners won that 3-0 but it was too little, too late. Getty Images Arsene Wenger's worst Arsenal defeats Manchester City 6 Arsenal 3, Premier League, 2013 Arsenal were top of the league at the time but were blown away by City to close the gap to three points. Slack defending cost them and even when Per Mertesacker headed in a late consolation goal to make it 5-3, Yaya Toure still had time to score a sixth. Getty Images Arsene Wenger's worst Arsenal defeats Bayern Munich 5 Arsenal 1, Champions League Group Stage, 2015 Yes, remarkably, Tuesday night was is not even the second time Arsenal have lost 5-1 to Bayern. In last season’s Group Stage, Robert Lewandowski, David Alaba, Arjen Robben and two Thomas Muller goals saw to an embarrassing night for Wenger. Bongarts/Getty Images Arsene Wenger's worst Arsenal defeats Liverpool 5 Arsenal 1, Premier League, 2014 Liverpool were rampant three years ago and stormed into a four goal lead inside the opening 20 minutes at Anfield, including two goals from centre-back Martin Skrtel. Raheem Sterling made it five with Mikel Arteta’s penalty a mere consolation. Getty Images Arsene Wenger's worst Arsenal defeats Tottenham 5 Arsenal 1, League Cup semi-final second leg, 2008 A humiliating scoreline – made all the worse by it being against the Gunners’ most bitter rivals. The defeat cost them a place in the League Cup final as Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Adebayor nearly violently clashed on the pitch. Getty Images Arsene Wenger's worst Arsenal defeats Manchester United 6 Arsenal 1, Premier League, 2001 Dwight Yorke bagged a first-half hat-trick at Old Trafford as United raced into a 5-1 lead by the break. Teddy Sheringham added a late sixth as the Red Devils went 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League. Getty Images Arsene Wenger's worst Arsenal defeats Chelsea 6 Arsenal 0, Premier League, 2014 Not the best way for Wenger to celebrate his 1000th game in charge of Arsenal. Chelsea were 3-0 up inside 17 minutes in a game which also saw Kieran Gibbs sent off in a case of mistaken identity with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Getty Images Arsene Wenger's worst Arsenal defeats Manchester United 8 Arsenal 2, Premier League, 2011 Wayne Rooney grabbed a hat-trick to help inflict Wenger’s biggest defeat as Arsenal boss. It was made all the worst as it was by a Manchester United team with a midfield of Tom Cleverley, Anderson, Nani and Ashley Young. Getty Images

That is a sizeable statement, given that how Arsenal finish the season will greatly fire debate if he stays, something now seen as almost inevitable.

“No,” Wenger so clearly responded when asked the question. “The priority in life is always to focus on what is important and not to look for excuses. At the moment our results are not going the way we want, but as well we have to make sure that the priority for us is what happens on the pitch.”

And yet, what is happening on the pitch would appear to offer the greatest evidence against that view. They don't look unaffected.

Wenger coy on Arsenal future

There is, first of all, the fact that Arsenal are currently on the worst run of Wenger’s entire time in north London, having lost four of their last five league games, and only won three games at all in the last two months. Those victories were at home to Hull City and against two non-league sides in Sutton United and Lincoln.

You could put the latter stat down to the fact it has been such a disrupted months, with so many extended breaks due to the FA Cup and international week, but then there’s the second problem from the pitch: just how bad they looked in the 3-1 defeat to West Brom. It was just so lax, and like a team that didn’t have that inner drive or motivation of fighting for something bigger than that one game. It naturally led to a lot of criticism over whether they were fighting for their manager, and Jamie Redknapp was one of those to say “they have let him down”.

Iwobi has voiced his support for Wenger (Arsenal FC via Getty)

Wenger dismissed that, maintaining the more even-handed mood he struck after that defeat. Despite how bad the last two months have been, he felt it was just one of those days.

“It was the kind of game you can get in England. I agree that we had blind possession - we had 70 per cent possession going nowhere. With the possession we had, we had not enough goal chances.

“We had two shots on goal, when you have 70 per cent of the ball, that’s not good enough. We were caught where West Brom are strong and where we are usually quite good, defending set-pieces. Is it down to the fact that the players went to international games, had their minds already not completely, were we underestimating West Brom? It’s difficult to say, but I agree with you that something was missing there.”

The last few words would seem to cut across Wenger’s own line about 'not looking for excuses'. At the same time, those close to the club say that if you were to look for players unsettled or concerned about the manager’s situation, you would struggle to find them. The mood is relaxed. Even more importantly, the mood is also that Wenger should stay.

When players like Alex Iwobi and Olivier Giroud publicly back the manager, it is understood they are not just saying it because they pretty much have to. It is because they greatly believe it. The overwhelming majority view is that Wenger should continue.

Arsenal have the same season every year Show all 8 1 /8 Arsenal have the same season every year Arsenal have the same season every year Surprise early defeat A surprise early defeat, such as 2013/14's to Aston Villa or 2015/16's to West Ham United, makes July's Emirates Cup win seem like a distant memory. Getty Arsenal have the same season every year Impressive win against top club A promising win against a title rival, like last season's 3-0 victory over Manchester United or this season's win over Chelsea, has the Emirates hoping for the best again. Getty Arsenal have the same season every year Injuries start to mount up However, a long queue starts to form outside the treatment room. Key players, as well as regular absentees, tend to be the victims. Getty Arsenal have the same season every year November curse strikes again Arsene Wenger's side then begin to unravel in November, with the curse kicking in after an away defeat against one of the top flight's lesser lights. It's around now that the already-faint hopes of a title challenge start to fade. Getty Arsenal have the same season every year Champions League elimination The most predictable part of it all comes in February, with Champions League elimination, usually to Bayern Munich, Barcelona or Monaco, if they are really unlucky. Getty Arsenal have the same season every year Title hopes finally killed off A heavy, signature defeat to a fellow top six side puts paid to any lingering hopes of a title challenge in late February or March. 2013/14's 6-0 reverse at Chelsea, Arsene Wenger's 1,000th game in charge, is perhaps the most memorable example. Getty Arsenal have the same season every year Strong rally to finish The pressure is off, time to turn the style on. A rally at the tail end of the season does wonders for Arsenal's league standing, but little to combat allegations of flakiness. Getty Arsenal have the same season every year Top-four finish Arsene has his 'trophy'. Champions League football is coming to the Emirates again next year. What more could the fans want? Getty

As admirable as that loyalty is, it also raises a lot of questions about how the squad is put together, and its guiding mentality. One reason the players like Wenger so much is that he essentially indulges them, with his intention being that such faith will gradually allow them to express themselves with excellent football. One big flaw with that is that it means there are no real exacting standards at the club, and no real punishment for below-par displays - beyond the lack of truly elite medals.

It’s difficult not to feel some disgruntlement or worry about the managerial situation would actually be a good thing, because it would reflect worry about whether this team is still on course to challenge for proper trophies - whether Wenger stays or not.

Instead, it’s even more difficult to escape the analogy that the Arsenal dressing room is like one of those school classrooms where the long-serving teacher is greatly liked, but partly because the lessons are so easy-going. That’s fine and enjoyable, until it comes to exam-time… or the time to win the big games.