The reaction to Arsenal's capitulation at Crystal Palace from many Gunners fans bordered on apathetic. This was, after all, The Arsenal, travelling to a Sam Allardyce-managed team lying in 16th position in the Premier League. They might as well have been travelling to play 2009 Barcelona.
With rumours rife that Arsene Wenger is set to extend his 21-year stay at the club - this in spite of 'Wenger Out' signs now popping up at various global events with the same regularity as Kerry jerseys - the inertia of Goonerism looks set to continue into 2018 and perhaps beyond. As to whether or not they'll even be in a position to exit the Champions League to Bayern Munich in the last 16 stage next season remains to be seen.
Chris Sutton has been one of this season's stand-out performers, becoming arguably the first pundit to amalgamate Eamon Dunphy's 'It's showbiz, baby' wind-up antics and Gary Neville/Jamie Carragher's succinct analysis to become a super-pundit of some description, and the Celtic legend made no bones about the fact that he believes Wenger's time at Arsenal is up.
"Wenger managed the Invincibles, he's now managing the Invisibles" - Chris Sutton
Are there any #Arsenal fans that want Arsene to stay? pic.twitter.com/TScOP1vv6j— BBC 5 live Sport (@5liveSport) April 10, 2017
Sutton concluded that Arsenal's players are no longer listening to their manager, and that a new boss could 'absolutely' do a better job than Arsene Wenger.
This may or may not be true, but it's certainly aligned with the views of many Arsenal fans who are at wits end after over a decade of false dawns.
