“There is always life,” answered Arsene Wenger. “Arsenal Football Club is 130 years old and many big players have left. Will it go a bit less good? We will see. But there is always life afterwards.”

Wenger had been asked whether or not this victory over Crystal Palace had proved there is life after Alexis Sanchez. Of course it hadn’t, but the Frenchman’s answer lay bare just what has been happening at Arsenal over the past 14 years since they last won the Premier League title.

With every big player that leaves, it goes “a bit less good” for the Gunners. Not always in the short-term, but there has been a gradual decline that has seen the club go from one that was expected to win titles under Wenger, to one that blew them, to one that finished in the top four, to one that last season missed out.

And now, without Sanchez, Arsenal would no doubt deem a top-four finish as a big success, just as comfortable victories over relegation-threatened teams are treated by some as a cause for optimism.

Patrick Vieira, Ashley Cole, Thierry Henry, Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie wanted more than to play the Palaces of this world off the park while Manchester City, United and Chelsea fight for the real honours.