Time for a change at Arsenal?

Rich Kitto believes something has to change soon at Arsenal after the Gunners' latest Premier League capitulation at Stoke.

The definition of insanity, according to pioneering scientist Albert Einstein, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. As Arsenal, led by their own professor Arsene Wenger, once more lost their footing in the title race with defeat at the hands of Stoke City, surely questions must be raised - with Wenger in charge, will Arsenal ever lift the league again?

So it's that time of the season already then. A second Christmas for supporters of their rivals, and a bitter realisation for those dressed in red, as Arsenal's chances of winning the league begin to diminish and dissipate as the season approaches climax.

Like night follows day, there was an inevitability around the 1-0 defeat at the hands of their 'bogey team' on Saturday afternoon. Against a team renowned and denounced for their 'gritty' style of play, Arsenal once more failed to produce the sort of resilient result that converts chancers into contenders.

There is a reason that Stoke enjoy playing Arsenal, and it's because Wenger has never prepared his team effectively enough to overcome such encounters. How many years have people been saying that 'if you put it up them they won't like it?' It doesn't take a footballing mastermind to recognise that Wenger's team do not enjoy the rough, tough tactics so historically deployed at The Britannia.

In the past seven fixtures between the two teams at that stadium, Arsenal have tasted glory just once on Feb 27, 2010, a game hugely overshadowed by the horrific injury caused to Aaron Ramsey. Goals in the 91st and 94th minute from Cesc Fabregas and Thomas Vermaelen gave them victory on that day, and offered a superb example of how to dig in and triumph in the face of adversity.

Speaking after the result at the weekend, Stoke's Steven Nzonzi laid bare their for-all-to-see approach to the game: "We know Arsenal play good football but when you start kicking them a little bit, it gets harder for them. They don't like it, we know that."

The pain felt by supporters will be greater, as the Gunners now face an extremely difficult month which could see their cup and league prospects disappear for yet another season, as the club begins to approach a decade without any form of glory.

A tricky FA cup tie at home to Everton, who played them off the park when they met in early December, is followed up four eye watering fixtures - Bayern Munich away, Spurs away, Chelsea away and Manchester City at home.

Whilst the team should progress past the Toffees, even the most optimistic of supporters would be surprised to see them get past Pep Guardiola's superb Bayern side. Their following three league games are ginormous, and if results go against them it could see them grappling with their North London neighbours to just keep in the reckoning for fourth spot.

Such is the lack of faith in Arsenal, and the expectancy around their demise, that bookies have placed them at 20/1 to lift the league, whilst Liverpool - who it should not be forgotten are still only level on points with Arsenal despite being everyone's flavour of the month - are priced at 5/1. Such is the lack of confidence from others that this situation will be overcome.

They say that if you fail to prepare, then prepare to fail, and blame must surely be placed at the feet of Wenger for their seasonal collapses. In previous campaigns he had the excuse of a lack of money to fall back on - and it was widely accepted that his club would understandably struggle against the financial heavyweights of Chelsea, United and City - though not this season.

Initially the capture of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid was a masterstroke, though now he looks tired, jaded and a defensive liability - unsurprising when considering that in three full seasons in La Liga he completed 90 minutes just 28 times.

To call Ozil a flop would be unfair and untrue, though the loan signing of Kim Kallstrom was unacceptable. Why, when your team is pushing for honours and it's clear that players are in need of a rest (Olivier Giroud being another example) do you strengthen in January by bringing in a crocked midfielder?

Its true that January doesn't offer the best value for money, but Chelsea's signing of Nemanja Matic is a large reason as to why they are the ones currently sitting top of the league and not Arsenal. The fact that Kallstrom will likely be fit and ready once his new team are no longer fighting for honours is laughable.

Equally, whilst revelations about Giroud's private life are certainly untimely, why was a striker not drafted in? Manchester City showed in the Carling Cup final on Sunday the returns that quality investment gets you, whilst Yaya Sanogo - a promising but extremely raw frontman - spurned an excellent chance to level the scores for the Gunners on Saturday.

Equally Wenger may point to the lengthy injuries of Ramsey, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, though Liverpool have been without the services of Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard for long spells throughout the season as well. Its just the nature of the game.

Ultimately, the best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour, and as supporters face the realistic outcome of a ninth season without success, surely something has to change soon?