May 1997 was the last time Arsene Wenger and Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League.
The Gunners finished third behind Newcastle on goal difference in Wenger’s first season in charge and had to be content with a place in the UEFA Cup. It has not happened since. Arsenal have taken their place among Europe’s elite for 16 years in a row.
That record is under serious threat in the wake of Sunday’s lame surrender at Everton, Arsenal’s only remaining challengers for fourth spot. His title hopes long since disappeared, Wenger is now clinging on to Champions League qualification by his fingertips.
Everton have a harder run-in but they will go two points clear of Arsenal if they beat bottom-of-the-table Sunderland at the Stadium of Light next weekend while Wenger’s side are playing their FA Cup semi-final against Wigan at Wembley – a game that offers the Frenchman his last chance of lifting a trophy for the first time in nine years.
That record is simply not good enough for many Arsenal fans. Their patience with Wenger has been stretched to the limit. They have put up with excuses about the financial constraints brought on by moving to the Emirates while their rivals have spent big and reaped the rewards.
They have waited for their beautiful tippy-tappy football to win more than just admirers. And they have watched this season while Wenger has played peek-a-boo with the club over signing a new contract.
The question is whether that offer should even remain on the table if they fail to deliver Champions League football again? That, after winning three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, it will be time for Wenger to go?
A poll of more than 8,000 Arsenal fans last week revealed that nearly half think that the 64-year-old should leave if he does not win the FA Cup and finish in the top four this season.
After another chastening away day for Wenger and his players at Goodison Park, Arsenal legend Ian Wright – a long-time supporter of his old manager – was publicly championing Roberto Martinez as his successor.
It was the manner of the 3-0 defeat that will concern supporters most. Everton were not only better, they simply wanted it more than Arsenal. The first and third goals came from home players reacting more quickly to a loose ball, while the Gunners gave Romelu Lukaku the freedom of Goodison to score the third.
It was the first time Everton had beaten Arsenal there in seven years, and only the second time they had scored three goals against them in the Premier League era.
In March, Arsenal were hit for six at Chelsea – just as they had been at Manchester City earlier in the season. ‘I take full responsibility,’ was Wenger’s take on that one. ‘We were not at the level today and after 20 minutes it was game over.
There are many who feel that Wenger is running out of excuses as fast as his team appear to be running out of ideas. Arsenal have not tasted victory since winning the north London derby at Tottenham five games ago.
There is still time to turn it around. Five remaining Premier League games against West Ham, Hull, Newcastle, West Brom and Norwich should yield a significant amount of points, while Everton still have to face both Manchester clubs and a difficult trip to Southampton.
